Disney 2026: New CEO, bold AI plans for Disney+, and ticket price changes at the parks

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. It felt like a changing of the guard. For the first time, Josh D'Amaro took the stage as the company's new CEO, and he made it crystal clear where the future lies. If you thought Disney was all about streaming wars and superhero flicks, think again. The empire is now firmly being run from its theme parks – and they're about to call the shots 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 reins to 58-year-old D'Amaro, who was most recently head of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. It's a massive vote of confidence in the division, which pulled in over NZ$70 billion in revenue in 2025 and accounted for more than half of the company's total operating profit. In my view, it sends a crystal-clear signal: real-world experiences are set to lead the charge from now on. 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: AI-generated video and user content on the way

But don't be fooled. Even though D'Amaro comes from the parks, he's got his sights firmly set on the digital future. The meeting served up some of the boldest plans for the Disney+ streaming service we've heard in a long time. Alongside top boss Bob Iger (now "just" a board member and advisor), they unveiled a strategy that's sure to make competitors sweat.

Get ready for a whole new kind of Disney+. The platform will soon host AI-generated videos made by users themselves. Yep, you read that right. Disney wants to let the rest of us play with its iconic characters. Imagine being able to whip up your own short film featuring Darth Vader dancing with Olaf from Frozen, and sharing it directly on the service. It's a massive step for a company that's otherwise world champion at protecting its copyright. Teaming up with AI firms and with their hefty investment in Epic Games (yep, the Fortnite crew) 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 damage in 2026?

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

• Disneyland (California): A single-day ticket during the absolute busiest times will now set you back US$224. But you could pay as little as US$104 if you hit a quiet day. Keep an eye on that calendar!
• Walt Disney World (Florida): Over here, peak prices for Magic Kingdom top out at US$209, but you can still experience the park for around US$119 on the right days.
• New experiences: It's not just the prices that are changing. Over at Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland, you'll be able to meet Luke Skywalker, Leia and Darth Vader from April – something new is brewing. And in Florida, the wild Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is getting a Muppets-themed relaunch in time for summer.

It's classic Disney dynamics: crank up prices on busy days to spread the crowds, and pour money into new attractions to keep the magic alive. With the new boss coming from the parks, you can bet the physical product will stay front and centre.

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 New Zealand 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'll be just fine – because he knows better than anyone what guests actually want.