MARNE-LA-VALLEE, France - French President Emmanuel Macron accompanied Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro on Friday as they presented newly opened sections of the Disneyland Paris resort, with Disney saying the development will generate 1,000 new jobs.
The visit marked a public unveiling of the new lands. Speaking at the event, D’Amaro framed the expansion as part of the resort’s ongoing appeal to visitors, saying he expects Disneyland Paris to remain a leading tourist destination and to continue adding employment opportunities.
"I believe we will continue to be the number one tourist destination. I believe that we will continue to add jobs. In fact, we’re adding 1,000 jobs, just for this new land that we have built," D’Amaro said.
D’Amaro officially became Disney’s chief executive earlier this month. His prior leadership of Disney’s theme park operations - which the company says generated a substantial share of profits last year - was a key factor in his elevation to the CEO role.
Disney reports that its theme parks unit accounted for 57% of last year’s profit, out of a total profit figure of $17.5 billion. That concentration of profitability underscores the importance of park operations to the company’s overall earnings.
Context and implications
The announcement couples a high-profile political visit with a corporate milestone: the opening of additional areas at one of Europe’s largest tourist sites and the confirmation of new employment tied directly to the development. The public remarks from both leaders highlighted job creation and the resort’s role in the region’s tourism offering.
Financial note
The remarks also reiterated the financial significance of the parks business to Disney’s broader results. With parks contributing 57% of the previous year’s $17.5 billion in profit, the unit remains a central driver of company earnings as leadership transitions take place.
What was not addressed
The event focused on the opening and the job figure, but did not include additional detail on timing beyond the unveiling, nor did it provide further operational or financial projections tied to the new areas.