Legendary Former Disneyland President Shares His Thoughts On Incoming New President

Disneyland has had many different presidents over the past couple of decades. Disneyland presidents may change every few years, but their impact can shape the resort for years after they leave the position.

Now, Disneyland is getting a new president as part of other leadership changes and we just heard some thoughts on this leader from a previous Disneyland President who is hugely respected by fans.

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Former Disneyland President Shares His Views on Thomas Mazloum

All Disneyland Presidents leave their mark on the resort through key projects. Outgoing Disneyland President Ken Potrock's projects included getting DisneylandForward approved to secure the future of the resort, improving food and beverage offerings at the resort across the theme parks and Downtown Disney, and reopening the resort after the 2020 closure.

One of the most respected presidents in recent history was Matt Ouimet, the president of the resort during the 50th Anniversary. He was president at a pivotal time for Disneyland. He led the resort out of an era of cost-cutting and neglect. He came over to Disneyland from Disney Cruise Line and brought with him a guest-first mentality that helped to return Disneyland to its former glory.

He was only president of Disneyland from 2003-2006, but during that period, he laid the groundwork for the impactful 50th anniversary and righted the ship. He championed the large-scale refurbishments of Space Mountain and the Jungle Cruise and reestablished Disneyland as a beloved destination. We can point to his work as a key turning point that allowed for the expansions and current success of the resort today.

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This is all important context for the quotes that Matt just shared about the new President coming to Disneyland. He shared the below…

There is a new leader coming to Disneyland. His name is Thomas Mazloum. I’ve known him for more than twenty years and so has my former colleague.

I saw a comment on a fan site that questioned whether someone who came from the Disney Cruise Line was qualified to lead the Disneyland cast. I know for a fact that it isn’t the first time that challenge has been voiced.

Thomas is an extremely talented executive, an accomplished businessperson and a compelling leader. His emails end with the following: “Aspire to become the kind of leader that people will follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position.” I believe he holds himself to that standard.

Leading Disneyland has never been more complex than it is today. If corporate provides the support and resources that are necessary, Thomas will make a real difference.

If he gives a little extra attention to the Jungle Cruise and the Mark Twain, that is understandable.

Shared via Matt Ouimet on LinkedIn.

Commentary On Quotes About New President

Hearing this sentiment about Disneyland's new leader gives me increased confidence and frankly just gets me excited about what Thomas could achieve at Disneyland. I wrote in my initial coverage that his appointment may only be a way to get Thomas ready to take over as Chairman of Disney Experiences if Josh D'Amaro becomes Disney CEO. However, Matt's comments give me new hope that this might be more than a stopover.

Disneyland is in far better shape today than it was when Matt Ouimet arrived at Disneyland in 2003, but there are certainly areas for improvement. Live entertainment has been cut back across the entire resort (more cutbacks happened in recent days) and new attractions are still multiple years out. I am excited about the upcoming kickoff of the Disneyland 70th Anniversary but know there will be an immediate need to refresh that celebration with additional offerings to keep it fresh for the entire year+ run.

Based on the comments from Matt Ouimet, I am hopeful about Thomas Mazloum delivering for us at Disneyland. Under his watch at Disney Cruise Line, the fleet has been set up for massive growth – directly negotiating the deals for new ships – and that division has consistently delivered the highest guest ratings of any Disney Experiences business. I'd love to see Disneyland held to that high standard in every regard to keep the resort as the Disney crown jewel. Of course, as Matt wrote in his post, Thomas will need the support of the bigger corporate powers to impact real change.

Thomas Mazloum's time has officially started at Disneyland President, as noted in a LinkedIn post of his own from the Disney Cast Member service celebration last week. What changes do you hope to see from the new president?

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