By Jim Carchidi
May 18, 2026
Disney Signature Experiences president Joe Schott will succeed Jeff Vahle as president of Walt Disney World Resort. The announcement comes a week after Vahle announced his upcoming retirement in a social media post. Schott will assume the role by the end of July.
New appointments
Disney executives Joe Schott, Natacha Rafalski, and Christophe Murphy will assume new company roles this summer. Images courtesy of The Walt Disney Co.
Schott is one of three Disney executives taking on new roles. In a statement posted on the Walt Disney Company website, Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum also named Natacha Rafalski as president of Disney Signature Experiences and Christophe Murphy as president of Disneyland Paris.
From Jungle Cruise to Disney Cruse Lines
Schott began as a Magic Kingdom cast member and currently oversees Disney Cruise Lines as president of Disney Signature Experiences.
Schott joined Disney as a Walt Disney World front-line cast member in roles that included a Jungle Cruise Skipper. He currently has more than 40 years of leadership experience across the company's international destinations. In his most recent position as president of Disney Signature Experiences, Schott oversaw the launches of two new ships: Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure.
He previously led Walt Disney Attractions Japan, supporting Tokyo Disney Resort during its 25th anniversary. He also aided the revitalization of the Disneyland Paris parks and hotels as Chief Operating Officer, and went on to serve as general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort.
During his time at Shanghai, Schott led a major expansion that included the debut of the Zootopia-themed land, which contributed to the resort surpassing 100 million guests in less than a decade.
Onward and upward
“Disney Experiences is in the midst of unprecedented expansion with more new projects underway across our global portfolio than at any other moment in our history,” said Mazloum in a prepared statement. “Joe, Natacha, and Christophe have a deep appreciation of the guest experience, possess extensive financial and operational expertise, and a proven ability to deliver at scale. I have complete confidence in each of them to build on the remarkable momentum underway across these businesses and to write the next chapter of Disney’s story.”
Walt Disney World is preparing to debut several upgrades and new experiences as part of Cool KIDS’ Summer. All three executives will begin their leadership roles at the end of July.
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About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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