Walt Disney World has named Susan Dubiel the new vice president of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, placing a longtime Disney leader in charge of the park as it moves through one of its most active periods of development and transformation in years.
Dubiel brings more than 21 years of experience with The Walt Disney Company to the position. Most recently, she served as general manager of Magic Kingdom Park Operations, giving her direct experience overseeing the day-to-day operation of Walt Disney World’s busiest theme park. Her Disney career has also included leadership experience in transportation and other operational areas across the resort.
In her new position, Dubiel will oversee Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Cast Members responsible for operating its attractions, entertainment, restaurants, merchandise locations and other guest services. Park vice presidents play a central role in both daily operations and the implementation of longer-term projects, working with teams throughout Walt Disney World and Disney Experiences.
Dubiel succeeds Jackie Swisher, who has served as vice president of Disney’s Hollywood Studios since July 2020. Swisher took over the position from longtime Disney executive Phil Holmes when he retired after nearly five decades with the company.
Swisher’s tenure covered a particularly eventful period for the park. She stepped into the role during the reopening of Walt Disney World following its temporary 2020 closure and later oversaw operations as entertainment returned and several new projects moved forward. Recent additions have included the Muppets transformation of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster and major changes to the former Animation Courtyard.
Dubiel takes the leadership position as Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues to evolve.
Construction is underway on Monstropolis, an expansive new area based on Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. Disney has been steadily revealing details about the land, which will invite guests into the monster city for “H.U.M.A.N. Day.” Plans include the first suspended roller coaster at a Disney park, inspired by the film’s famous door vault sequence, along with dining, shopping and entertainment.
Another significant transformation is taking place elsewhere in the park with a reimagined area inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios campus in Burbank. Disney has announced The Magic of Disney Animation as one of the centerpieces of that project, along with character experiences and family-focused spaces designed to bring the animation studio environment to life.
Those projects arrive alongside established areas such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, continuing the shift that has reshaped Hollywood Studios from its original movie-production-inspired concept into a park focused heavily on stepping inside Disney, Pixar and Lucasfilm stories.
Dubiel’s background in Magic Kingdom operations gives her extensive experience with the logistical demands of running a major theme park, including crowd management, attraction operations, guest service and large Cast Member teams. Her previous work in transportation also adds experience with one of the most complex operational systems at Walt Disney World.
Disney has not indicated that the leadership change will alter any of the projects currently planned for Hollywood Studios. Instead, Dubiel will inherit a park with several significant initiatives already underway and more changes expected as construction progresses.
Her appointment marks another step in a broader period of leadership transition at Walt Disney World. With substantial investment planned across the Florida resort over the coming years, Dubiel will now help guide Hollywood Studios through the opening of new attractions and lands while managing the daily operation of one of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks.