Disney 2026: New CEO, Massive AI Plans for Disney+, and Park Price Adjustments

It was a packed house at this year's shareholder meeting for The Walt Disney Company, and for once, it wasn't just about the numbers. This was a changing of the guard. For the first time, Josh D'Amaro took the stage as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, and he made no secret of where the future lies. If you thought Disney was just about streaming wars and superhero movies, think again. The empire is now, more than ever, being run from its theme parks – and now, they're getting to set the course on the digital front, too.

Goodbye to the Iger Era? The Parks Guy Takes the Helm

It's official: After months of speculation, Bob Iger has handed the keys to 58-year-old D'Amaro, who until recently was at the helm of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. It's a huge vote of confidence for a business segment that generated over $55 billion CAD in 2025 and accounted for more than half of the company's total operating income. In my books, this sends a crystal-clear signal: it's real-world experiences that will lead the charge moving forward. D'Amaro himself has said that "the parks drive the empire," and now he gets the chance to prove it on the biggest stage.

Disney+ Gets a Major Facelift: Now with AI Video and User-Generated Content

But don't be fooled. Even though D'Amaro comes from the parks, his focus is firmly set on the digital future. During the meeting, they unveiled some of the most ambitious plans for the Disney+ streaming service in a long time. Alongside top boss Bob Iger (now "just" a board member and advisor), they laid out a strategy that's sure to make competitors sweat.

Get ready for a whole new kind of Disney+. The platform will soon feature AI-generated videos created by users themselves. Yes, you read that right. Disney is going to let us play with their icons. Imagine being able to create your own short film where Darth Vader dances with Olaf from Frozen, and share it directly on the service. It's a massive step for a company that's otherwise world champion at protecting its copyright. In partnership with AI companies and with their major investment in Epic Games (yes, the folks behind Fortnite) in their back pocket, it's clear they're aiming to capture the next generation of users. It's no longer just about watching content, but about creating it.

The Parks in California and Florida: What's the Ticket Price in 2026?

While streaming gets new toys, just as much is happening on the ground. If you're planning a visit to Disneyland Park in California or Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, there are some concrete things you need to know. Prices have, as usual, crept up slightly, especially during peak season. But it's not all bad news. In fact, they've tweaked their strategy to make it more rewarding to travel outside of school holidays.

• Disneyland (California): A single-day ticket during the absolute busiest periods is now $224 USD. But the price can drop as low as around $104 USD if you hit a low-season day. Keep an eye on that calendar!
• Walt Disney World (Florida): Here, prices top out at $209 USD for Magic Kingdom during peak season, but you can still experience the park for about $119 USD on the right days.
• New Experiences: It's not just the prices that are changing. Over at Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland, you can meet Luke Skywalker, Leia, and Darth Vader starting in April – something new is on the horizon. And in Florida, the wild Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is being relaunched with a Muppets theme this summer.

It's classic Disney dynamics: they raise prices on busy days to spread out the crowds, and they invest heavily in new attractions to keep the magic alive. With the new boss coming from the parks, you can bet that the physical product will remain a top priority.

What Does It All Mean?

We're at a crossroads. The old guard under Iger turned Disney into a streaming giant. The new guard under D'Amaro is set to turn it into an experiences giant. Whether it's heading to Walt Disney World Resort and staying in a new, futuristic hotel, or sitting at home in Canada creating your own AI-generated short film with Disney characters, the way we interact with the House of Mouse is about to change radically. It'll be fascinating to see if the "Parks Guy" can hold his own on the Silicon Valley playground. My bet? He's got this – because he knows better than anyone what guests truly want.