New Disney (DIS.US) CEO Outlines $60 Billion Investment Strategy, with "Core Fans" as the Main Focus

There are not many occasions where a crowd would cheer for an animatronic electric Yeti, but at the Disney (DIS.US) D23 Expo, the audience is far from ordinary—these core fans are at the very heart of Disney’s theme park investment strategy.

According to Zhihu Finance APP, Disney plans to invest about $60 billion in this sector over the next decade.

“We’re going to bring the Yeti back to life,” announced Thomas Mazloum, Chairman of Disney Experiences, at a business showcase event in Anaheim, California to an audience of 12,000 Disney park fans.

The “rebirth” he refers to is the animatronic Yeti in the Expedition Everest attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Since 2006, the Yeti model in this attraction has been immobile. When it first debuted, it was the largest and most complex animatronic ever built by Walt Disney Imagineering; however, it broke down just months after entering service.

Because the animatronic is located inside a finished attraction, repairs are extremely difficult. Thus, Imagineers switched it to “B-mode,” using strobe lights to create the illusion of movement. Since then, the broken animatronic has been affectionately known to fans as “Disco Yeti.” Now, it is finally getting a “second life.”

Mazloum took the helm of the park business after Josh D'Amaro was appointed CEO of Disney. Last Saturday, he announced the Yeti restoration plan to the most loyal Disney fans, as well as the return of popular characters “Dreamfinder” and “Figment” at the Epcot park in Florida, and the overall renovation of Tomorrowland in California.

This series of moves sends a clear signal: Disney will focus on its flagship business segment—Disney Experiences. This sector includes theme parks, cruise lines, and consumer product sales. As Disney continues to expand globally, the company needs to rely on its most dedicated visitors and highest-spending customers to face challenges posed by macroeconomic uncertainty and fluctuations in tourism trends.

“It may not sound like a big deal, but the Yeti, Figment, or the thoughtful Tomorrowland overhaul mean an awful lot to many, because they grew up with these stories,” Mazloum said in an interview.

“These projects are small but impactful, and they're full of meaning,” he added.

Striking a Balance

For Mazloum, a core challenge while leading Disney Experiences is balancing two directions: On one hand, major expansion plans—building new lands and redeveloping areas based on popular IP to attract out-of-state and international visitors who don’t come often; on the other, offering targeted updates and upgrades for annual passholders and frequent guests.

“Our job is to listen to everyone and find ways to reconcile different needs and expectations,” he said.

“Most simply put, my real focus is on ensuring fans, consumers, and guests are at the center of our decision-making,” he said.

Mazloum said these efforts are already yielding results. Citing the company’s recently released Q3 FY2026 financial report, he noted that the Experiences segment’s revenue approached $10 billion, up 10% year-over-year, hitting a new quarterly high.

“I believe that the final results are because we did the right things at the start, and the most important element is putting fans at the center of our focus,” he said. “That’s why, even though some other companies reported varying performance results, we’ve done extremely well in Florida and have been very successful in California—because we listen carefully and respond to the right consumer needs at the right time.”

Last month, competitor Comcast (CMCSA.US) reported a decline in theme park attendance, especially in the Orlando, Florida region. However, domestic Disney park attendance actually increased by 3%, and visitor spending rose by 4%.

The company credits this to the “Cool Kids Summer” promotional campaign, featuring kid-centric character meet-and-greets, dance parties, air-conditioned rest areas, and perks like letting resort guests access water parks for free on arrival day.

Disney has also recently refreshed and renovated several attractions in the parks, including “Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin,” “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad,” and the Muppet-themed “Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.”

Driving Attendance Through IP

Next, the classic attraction “Carousel of Progress” is scheduled for renovation to be completed by late spring 2027. At the same time, the new “Monstropolis” area themed to Monsters, Inc. is set to open in 2027.

Meanwhile, Disney is pushing forward on long-term projects, including expanding Avengers Campus, creating a new Villains Land, transforming Frontierland with a Cars theme, and developing a brand-new “Tropical Americas” land.

Since the very first park opened, Disney’s vast library of IP has been the foundation of its theme parks, and over the decades, that content library keeps growing. The company has a virtually unlimited trove of stories and characters to draw visitors in.

Though new lands and themed redevelopments are for all visitors, the primary goal is to tap into the infrequent, long-distance guest market and give out-of-state and overseas tourists a fresh reason to visit.

“Among visitors to Shanghai Disney Resort, a very, very high proportion come specifically for Zootopia,” then-CEO Bob Iger said during the company’s Q1 financial report call in February this year.

Giving Back to Loyal Guests

Equally important are those guests who visit Disney parks frequently. They make the deepest emotional connection to the parks and have the most opportunities for ancillary spending on merchandise and dining.

While loyal guests appreciate the opening of major new lands, that’s not the only reason for their frequent visits. Those who come annually or multiple times a year are often deeply passionate about live performances, character encounters, limited-time foods, seasonal celebrations, parades, and nighttime light shows in the parks.

At last Saturday’s presentation, Disney also announced the return of two beloved nighttime spectaculars—Disneyland’s “Remember Dreams Come True” fireworks show and the original “World of Color” at California Adventure. The “Magic Happens” parade is also returning to Disneyland.

“These new announcements show that Disney is really listening to its fans,” said Gavin Doyle, founder of MickeyVisit.com. “The audience response was cheering and thunderous applause. People felt Disney had truly heard what they’d been wanting for a long time.”