Thomas Mazloum Joins Make-A-Wish America Board — Disney Experiences Chairman Steps Up

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Disney’s commitment to making wishes come true just got even stronger. Thomas Mazloum, Chairman of Disney Experiences, has been appointed to the Make-A-Wish America national board of directors — and this isn’t a symbolic gesture. It’s a continuation of a relationship that stretches back more than four decades and has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of children facing critical illnesses.

If you’ve ever witnessed a Make-A-Wish moment at a Disney park — and chances are you have without even knowing it — you understand just how powerful this partnership is. Now, with Thomas Mazloum joining the national board, that connection at the highest leadership level grows even deeper.

Quick Summary

• Thomas Mazloum, Chairman of Disney Experiences, is joining the Make-A-Wish America national board of directors
• He fills the board seat previously held by Josh D’Amaro, who recently became Disney’s CEO
• Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, was also appointed to the board
• Disney has been Make-A-Wish’s #1 wish-granting partner since 1980
• A Disney wish is granted every single hour of every day — year round
• Mazloum oversees 180,000+ cast members across Disney’s parks, resorts, cruise line, and more
• Make-A-Wish America operates 57 chapters across the United States

Thomas Mazloum and the Make-A-Wish Connection

The seat Mazloum now holds was previously occupied by Josh D’Amaro, who led Disney Experiences before stepping into his new role as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. The handoff keeps Disney’s representation on the Make-A-Wish America national board continuous — a strong signal of how seriously Disney takes this partnership.

Mazloum brings serious credentials to this role. As Chairman of Disney Experiences, he oversees Disney’s parks and resorts around the world, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Disney Consumer Products, and immersive experiences — with a team of more than 180,000 cast members. His career with Disney stretches back to 1998 when he joined Disney Cruise Line, and he has held leadership roles across Walt Disney World, EPCOT, Disney Springs, Disneyland Resort, and Disney Signature Experiences.

Make-A-Wish CEO Leslie Motter said both new board members “bring extraordinary leadership and a passion for creating meaningful experiences” — a description that fits Mazloum’s Disney career perfectly.

Disney and Make-A-Wish: A Partnership That Spans Decades

Disney has been Make-A-Wish’s number one wish-granting partner since 1980 — the same year Make-A-Wish was founded. That’s not a coincidence. Disney’s parks, characters, and experiences create the kind of magic that sick children dream about most. A day at Magic Kingdom or a cruise on the Disney Dream isn’t just a vacation for these kids. It’s often the brightest moment in an incredibly difficult chapter of their lives.

The scale of this commitment is staggering. A Disney wish is granted every single hour of every single day. Think about that — 24 wishes, every day, 365 days a year. Across all categories, Disney wishes account for a massive share of Make-A-Wish’s total wish fulfillment in the United States.

Make-A-Wish America operates through 57 chapters nationwide, reaching children and families in every part of the country. Disney’s partnership spans across all of them — whether that means a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Disneyland in Anaheim, or a sailing on Disney Cruise Line.

What Mazloum’s Appointment Means for Disney Families

For Disney fans and park visitors, this appointment is a reminder that your Disney trips — the tickets you buy, the hotels you stay in, the cruise ships you sail on — are part of an ecosystem that gives back in a big way. Disney’s size and reach is exactly what makes its Make-A-Wish partnership so impactful.

Having Mazloum at the board level means that the person making major decisions about Disney’s parks, cruise line, and resort experiences is also directly involved in shaping how Make-A-Wish grows and operates. That’s a meaningful alignment of priorities at the top.

Joining Mazloum on the board is Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International — another major player in the family travel and experiences space. The combination of Disney and Royal Caribbean leadership on the same Make-A-Wish board suggests a strong focus on experience-based wishes going forward.

Final Thoughts

Thomas Mazloum’s appointment to the Make-A-Wish America national board of directors is one of those stories that reminds you why Disney’s role in the world goes beyond theme parks and entertainment. With Josh D’Amaro’s seat now in the hands of Mazloum, Disney’s leadership commitment to Make-A-Wish continues without missing a beat.

If you’ve been thinking about planning a Disney trip, know that a piece of what you spend supports an organization that grants the wishes of children who need it most. And with Thomas Mazloum now helping guide Make-A-Wish America’s future, that connection between Disney magic and real-world impact has never been stronger.

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