Josh Damaro: Last News

Mark Bozon, who spent 12 years at Apple in creative and gaming executive roles, has been hired by Disney in a senior post to help oversee the company’s push into the metaverse.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorDisney hired Mark Bozon, a top gaming executive from Apple, as a senior creative leader for its cross-divisional Next Generation Storytelling initiative — which encompasses Disney’s “metaverse” ambitions.In a May 20 tweet, Bozon announced he was leaving Apple after 12 years, saying “I’m headed to an absolute dream job” (without revealing he was heading to Disney). Most recently, he served as games creative director for Apple Arcade, the tech giant’s game-subscription service.Bozon was hired by Mike White, Disney’s SVP of Next Generation Storytelling & Consumer Experiences, a 10-year company veteran who earlier this year was appointed to lead development and coordination of Disney’s metaverse strategy.

Disneyland is creating its own town so fans can live in “the happiest place on Earth” forever.The theme park giant says Disney “imagineers”, who create the magical effects at its parks, have designed a desert community.The new town, dubbed Cotino, will be staffed by cast members and centred around a 24-acre turquoise lagoon set in the Coachella Valley, California.Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, said living in Cotino would mean “you can be part of Disney all of the time”.He said: “We can’t wait to welcome residents to these beautiful and unique Disney communities where they can live their lives to the fullest.“Every single element of these communities will be steeped in a story.”The town will have 1,900 homes on 618 acres, and feature a neighbourhood for senior Disney fans aged over 55.Michael Hundgen, of Walt Disney Imagineering, said: “An imagineer’s story is at the heart of everything we do.“We love bringing authentic places to life to immerse you in those stories.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.“There is an incredible natural beauty in the landscape. You can see why Walt Disney used to escape to the desert to dream the impossible.“He treated the area like his creative oasis.

Disney will be building new master-planned communities called ‘Storyliving’ with the first to be developed in Rancho Mirage in California’s Coachella Valley. Other sites are under exploration “as more and more fans look for new ways to make Disney a bigger part of their lives,” the company said.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorDisney CEO Bob Chapek installed veteran exec Mike White into a new role coordinating the Mouse House’s “metaverse” efforts going forward.White, who has worked at Disney for a decade, is assuming the new role of senior VP of next generation storytelling and consumer experiences at the Walt Disney Co., responsible for connecting the dots among the company’s initiatives that blend “physical and digital worlds,” Chapek wrote in a memo to staff, obtained by Variety. White adds the metaverse role that to his existing duties leading consumer experiences and platforms in the Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution (DMED) division, overseeing the technology strategy, engineering and product teams charged developing digital experiences across brands including ABC, ABC News, Disney, ESPN, FX, Marvel, National Geographic and Star Wars.

The Walt Disney Co. plans to move about 2,000 jobs in Southern California to a new regional facility in central Florida, it announced on Thursday.

In a bid to make sure all employees feel included at their parks, Disney has dropped its traditional phrase “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.” The iconic phrase typically played before all performances, but they’ve now made the decision to change this to “good evening, dreamers of all ages.” Disney’s new language is rolling out in parks around the world and it’ll be added to all pre-recorded announcements.The chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Josh D’Amaro, wrote on the company website in April: “Inclusion is essential to our culture and leads us forward as we continue to realize our rich legacy of engaging storytelling, exceptional service, and Disney magic.

In the months since Disneyland announced it is sunsetting its annual pass program, frequent park guests have fretted about the loss. Now we know what’s next: a membership program.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced on Tuesday that Disney properties were making changes and “creating a place where everyone is welcome.”

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterFrom the newly built Avengers Campus at California Adventure Park, Disney Parks head Josh D’Amaro revealed at a press conference that the new land will be open to the public on Friday, June 4 — two days after Marvel chief Kevin Feige’s birthday, he noted.The immersive land will be made up of “several heroic locations, each hosted by a different Avenger to share their unique powers, technology and knowledge with recruits,” according to the Disney Parks blog.

Disney World their brand new Star Wars rooms might clinch the booking. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel is still being built, but Disney Park’s Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared some snaps of the mock-ups at the International Association of Amusement Park Operators Expo this week.And, boy, are we impressed.Kids and adults alike will be transported into the intergalactic universe when they lay down their heads in this hotel. Would you stay at this hotel? Tell us in the comments... The rooms are designed to look just like a galactic starcruiser.There’s even a “window” in the wall which shows the galaxy outside and a screen displaying navigation information.Kids who dream of becoming astronauts may be a little overwhelmed by the

Disneyland Paris is giving superhero fans plenty to get excited about with a new sneak peek inside its upcoming Marvel themed hotel.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing Editor“We don’t anticipate in the immediate term any of these larger parks opening until we see more stability in terms of the data.” Those were the long-awaited words of California Governor Gavin Newsom on the fate of the state’s still-closed amusement parks.“We feel there’s no hurry to put out guidelines and we continue to work with the industry,” he continued. Those words will not land softy on the ears of those who run local theme parks.

Erik Pedersen Managing EditorTwo days after Disney announced some 28,000 layoffs in its U.S. parks business, chairman Bob Iger has resigned from California Gov.

Disney employees are to lose their jobs as the coronavirus pandemic has stopped visitors going to its theme parks.Disney is set to axe 28,000 staff due to the lack of tourists since the deadly bug took over earlier this year, reports Mirror Online.Josh D'Amaro, Disney's head of parks, sent a letter to staff which revealed the company had to make "difficult decisions." According to reports, of the thousands set to be let go, two thirds will be part time workers.During the pandemic, Disney's park in Florida, Paris, Shanghai, Japan and Hong Kong have reopened though the company was forced to limit the number of visitors to allow for physical distancing.California Adventure and Disneyland in Anaheim, California, remain closed to visitors.Mr

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterDisney Parks is laying off 28,000 U.S. employees, two-thirds of which are part-time, due to the pandemic’s impact on Disneyland and Walt Disney World, according to Disney Parks chairman Josh D’Amaro.Calling the decision “heartbreaking” in a letter to employees, he said that this was “the only feasible option we have” due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the parks to limit capacity and the ongoing closure of Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

Jill Goldsmith Co-Business EditorWalt Disney’s parks chief Josh D’Amaro said Tuesday the company will be laying off staff at its theme parks, the segment of the company hardest hit by the pandemic.In a memo to employees, D’Amaro said the decision is painful. He said approximately 28,000 domestic employees will be affected, of which about 67% are part-time.

The Walt Disney Co.'s parks chief on Tuesday made it clear to Gov. Gavin Newsom that the company wants clearance to reopen the Disneyland Resort.

Dave McNary Film ReporterDisney’s top theme parks executive is pleading with California officials to allow a reopening of Disneyland, which has been closed since March 14 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney parks, experiences and products, made the request in a Tuesday investor presentation, contending that state officials should allow its signature theme park to begin operations again. He added that the theme park sector has not received equivalent treatment to other sectors of the state’s economy.“To our California government officials, particularly at the state level: I encourage you to treat theme parks like you would other sectors and help us reopen,” D’Amaro said.

Jill Goldsmith Co-Business EditorJosh D’Amaro, the new chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Tuesday begged California officials to let Disneyland reopen and to “treat theme parks the way you treat other sectors.”California Governor Gavin Newsom promised last week that news about Disneyland’s reopening would be coming “very soon.”But ‘soon’ is subjective and with nothing forthcoming, executives ramped up the heat during a webcast today for key stakeholders to provide an update on the parks business. D’Amaro and other execs shared progress across the parks’ operation with a focus on Walt Disney World in Orlando since it reopened in July.

multiple reports.Disney's Hong Kong park initially closed its doors on Jan. 26 as COVID-19 cases began to surge in Asia, and reopened on June 18.