Citing many tensions within her division, Barbara Bouza, president of Walt Disney Imagineering since late 2021, revealed Saturday she is leaving her job.
In an Instagram post on her account, she referred to angst stemming from plans to move staff from California to Lake Nona in Orlando, job cuts, pandemic pressures and “unprecedented hyper-escalation on projects” as part of her tenure.
“It is bittersweet as I wrap up my work as president of Walt Disney Imagineering this month before I create an even bigger impact for the world,” she wrote.
Bouza also saluted Imagineers and their projects, which have “fueled the turbocharged growth of Disney Experience through $60 billion of investment over the next 10 years.”
Robert Iger, CEO of Walt Disney Co., has announced plans to spend that amount on as-yet-unspecified theme-park projects in Disney parks around the world over the next decade.
Walt Disney Imagineering workers were among about 2,000 people to be transferred from their Southern California base to Disney’s $1 billion Lake Nona campus. That project was announced in July 2021 but dropped in May 2023 for what the company called “changing business conditions.”
The cancellation came after Iger revealed plans in February 2023 to lay off 7,000 workers, about 3% of its global workforce of 220,000. Layoffs were planned for every division of the company as it tried to save $5.5 billion in costs.
The Lake Nona campus was also axed amid the company’s battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The governor and Florida Legislature dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District, Walt Disney World’s governmental body, after Disney’s then-CEO Bob Chapek vowed to fight for repeal of the Parental Bill of Rights law, which opponents dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”
The law limits instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools.
Chapek was ousted by Disney’s board on Nov. 20 and replaced by Iger, who was returning to the company’s helm after leaving in 2020.
Bouza’s post did not elaborate on her future. She said WDI would be in the hands of chief creative officer Bruce Vaughn, “an exceptional creative leader.”
Disney: New Star Tours scenarios, characters land next month
Bouza came to Imagineering in 2020 to oversee its business management, design and development. She replaced Bob Weis, who resigned in 2021. Before Disney, she served as co-managing director, principal, for Gensler Los Angeles.
“As a licensed architect, I was recruited by the Walt Disney Company to challenge the norm and bring broader global industry perspective and expertise,” she wrote. “Joining Walt Disney Imagineering in June of 2020, I truly believed humanity needed Disney more than ever.”
Vaughn worked at Disney for more than two decades before leaving in 2016. He returned to Imagineering to co-lead WDI with Bouza last year.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
Disney: Howard Roland, who helped shape Contemporary, Polynesian, has died
