864 · What Does It Actually Take to Lead Disney? Chairman Thomas Mazloum - His First Interview
WDW Radio: Your Guide to the Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise and More Disney Magic!
Lou Mongello - Disney Expert
4.8 • 3.3K Ratings
🗓️ 4 May 2026
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
864 · What Does It Actually Take to Lead Disney? Chairman Thomas Mazloum - His First Interview
What does it really take to lead Disney at a global scale... while still making every single guest feel like they matter?
In this episode, Lou Mongello sits down with Thomas Mazloum in his first interview since stepping into his new role as Chairman of Disney Experiences - overseeing 12 theme parks, 57 resort hotels, Disney Cruise Line, Imagineering, and more than 180,000 Cast Members around the world.
Recorded live during a special Make-A-Wish event at Disneyland, this is a rare, candid, and deeply personal conversation about Disney leadership and guest experience... and why scale doesn’t change what matters most.
Thomas shares his own Make-A-Wish story, the emotional impact of granting wishes, and the responsibility that comes with being chosen by families during some of the most important moments in their lives. He also reveals his three guiding pillars - trust, quality, and simplicity - and how they shape every decision across Disney parks, resorts, and experiences worldwide.
From the future of Disney Cruise Line and global expansion, to the philosophy behind Disneyland Forward, to what Walt Disney still means to him every single day... this conversation goes far beyond strategy.
It’s about people, purpose, and creating a “perfect Disney day” for every guest.
This is a very real conversation with one of the most thoughtful, people-first leaders in the company’s history.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why Disney leadership starts with trust
- How guest experience drives every decision
- The role of Cast Members in creating magic
- Why scale doesn’t change what truly matters
- What’s next for Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line
If you care about where Disney is going... and why... this episode is for you.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome aboard the Walt Disney World Express Montereil, our highway in the sky to the Magic Kingdom. |
| 0:23.8 | Wayne, thank goodness you're all right. Is everything okay? |
| 0:26.2 | Honey, I shrunk the audience. |
| 0:36.1 | Journey with us now to the dawn of recorded time as we explore the amazing story of human communication. W. |
| 0:36.9 | VW Radio, your information. story of human communication. What does it really take to lead 12 Disney theme parks, 57 resort hotels, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Disney Signature Experiences, while also supporting |
| 0:56.6 | more than 180,000 cast members around the world, and still make every single guest feel |
| 1:04.2 | like they're the only person in the room? |
| 1:07.2 | Well, I sat down with Thomas Maslum, the new chairman of Disney experiences in his first interview since taking over the role from now Disney CEO Josh Tomorrow as he is the man who now has that responsibility. |
| 1:20.0 | And we spoke one-on-one at Disneyland in a very honest, thoughtful, and I think powerful conversation, |
| 1:31.3 | and what he told me about trust, people-first leadership, |
| 1:35.3 | guest experiences, the future of Disney parks around the world, and what Walt still means to him personally, |
| 1:38.5 | is something that every Disney fan needs to hear. |
| 1:41.4 | Andy explains why what matters most hasn't changed even as |
| 1:46.2 | everything else has hello my friend and welcome to wdw radio your guide to |
| 1:52.0 | Disney parks and experiences around the world I am Lou Mangelo and this is |
| 1:56.2 | show number 864 and whether this is your first time listening or you've been |
| 2:00.3 | with me since the very |
| 2:01.5 | beginning more than 20 years ago, thank you for being here and welcome home. |
| 2:05.5 | Before we dive in, come join the community and conversation over in the WW Radio Clubhouse. |
| 2:10.4 | Watch and chat with me every Wednesday night at 7.30 p.m. Easter on Facebook and YouTube |
| 2:14.5 | for WW Radio Live and sign up for my free weekly email newsletter over at |
| 2:19.5 | www.com. And when you're ready to plan your next Disney vacation, visit my friends over at |
... |
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