Disney Experiences has announced a new round of senior leadership changes across three of its major travel and resort businesses, naming new presidents for Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Signature Experiences, and Disneyland Paris.
Joe Schott will become president of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, succeeding Jeff Vahle, who is retiring. Natacha Rafalski will move into the role of president of Disney Signature Experiences, while Christophe Murphy will take over as president of Disneyland Paris. The company said all three appointments will be in place by the end of July.
The reshuffle is significant because it affects some of Disney’s most important travel-facing businesses at the same time. Walt Disney World remains one of the company’s flagship resort operations, while Disney Signature Experiences includes Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Aulani, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, Storyliving by Disney, and Golden Oak. That makes Rafalski’s move especially notable, as she will now oversee a broad collection of premium travel, cruise, vacation ownership, and residential brands under one division.
Each executive brings long internal experience. Schott most recently led Disney Signature Experiences and has previously held senior roles in Shanghai Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney Attractions Japan, and Walt Disney World itself. Rafalski has led Disneyland Paris since 2018 and previously worked in Disney’s China business, including on the development of Shanghai Disney Resort. Murphy, a longtime Disney executive, has been with the company since 1991 and has held multiple operations roles connected to Disneyland Paris and Disney’s Japan business.
The appointments come as Disney says its Experiences division is in a period of unusually high expansion. In that context, the changes look less like routine succession and more like a leadership realignment designed to support execution across a growing global portfolio.
