Disney is entering a new era under CEO Josh D’Amaro, with the entertainment giant making a series of changes to its operations and theme-park experience, including the return of traditional gendered greetings at Walt Disney World.
The development has drawn attention because Disney had previously moved away from phrases such as “ladies and gentlemen” and “boys and girls” as part of a broader effort to make its parks more inclusive.
The traditional greeting has recently been heard again on the Magic Kingdom Express Monorail, with videos showing announcements using the phrase “ladies and gentlemen.” The change has been interpreted by some observers as a reversal of Disney’s previous approach to gender-neutral language.
However, Disney has not publicly announced a company-wide policy eliminating gender-neutral language. The company also did not respond to PolitiFact’s request for comment on the reported change.
A new era under Josh D’Amaro
D’Amaro became Disney’s CEO on March 18, 2026, succeeding longtime chief executive Bob Iger.
The 28-year Disney veteran previously served as chairman of Disney Experiences, the company’s parks, resorts and cruise business. His appointment was significant because Disney Experiences had become one of the company’s most important growth engines, generating $36 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025.
At Disney’s 2026 annual shareholders meeting, D’Amaro outlined his vision for a more connected Disney, saying the company would focus on bringing its businesses together to create more personalised and immersive experiences for consumers.
His arrival has also been accompanied by a broader corporate restructuring, including significant changes to Disney’s marketing organisation and workforce.
The return of “ladies and gentlemen”
The gendered greeting became particularly controversial because Disney had deliberately moved away from it several years ago.
In 2021, Disney Parks announced a series of changes intended to make its parks more inclusive. D’Amaro, who was then chairman of Disney Parks, wrote that the company wanted guests to see their backgrounds reflected in Disney experiences and wanted employees to feel a stronger sense of belonging.
That same year, Disney removed “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” from the Happily Ever After fireworks show at Magic Kingdom and replaced it with “good evening, dreamers of all ages.” A similar change was made at Disneyland.
In 2022, Disney’s then diversity and inclusion manager Vivian Ware said the company had removed gendered greetings from its live park announcements and was training employees to use expressions such as “hello, everyone” and “hello, friends.”
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Why the change is attracting attention
The development comes against the backdrop of a much larger debate over Disney’s corporate culture.
During the previous years, Disney became increasingly associated with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and LGBTQ+ representation. Its changes to park language, employee dress policies and attractions became part of that wider strategy.
The company has also faced significant political controversy over LGBTQ+ issues, particularly its confrontation with Florida authorities over legislation concerning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender.
Against that background, even a seemingly small change such as restoring “ladies and gentlemen” can become a symbol of a wider cultural shift.
For supporters of Disney’s earlier inclusion policies, the change raises concerns that the company may be stepping back from its previous approach.
What D’Amaro has actually changed
The language controversy is only one part of the changes taking place under D’Amaro.
The new CEO has presented his strategy primarily around business growth, innovation, technology and connecting Disney’s various businesses rather than making cultural policy the centrepiece of his leadership agenda.
His background in Disney Experiences also means he comes into the job with extensive experience in the theme-park business, where customer experience, attendance and spending are critical to Disney’s financial performance.
