THE SUN NEVER SETS on Jill Estorino’s vision—or responsibilities.
As the president and managing director of Disney Parks International, the charismatic leader guides the teams at Disney’s theme parks in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Paris. Between these four properties and her base of operation in Burbank, California—on the same historic studio lot where the Disney company made their headquarters in 1940—is a swath of 17 time zones.
“I bring a globally minded perspective to the table,” Estorino says. “It helps me, on a daily basis, to really maneuver from Paris in the morning, to the three Asia sites in the afternoon, understanding the consumer, understanding the media landscape, understanding how we operate a bit differently in Tokyo versus Paris.”
It’s a broad territory of four resorts that include six gated theme parks and 18 hotels and lodging properties.
“I always say that every touchpoint is a brand touchpoint. From the guide map, to how we position ourselves in the marketplace, to the opening of World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland, every action is a reflection of our brand,” she says.
Since the start of the decade, Disney Experiences—the arm of the company responsible for designing and operating theme parks, resorts, and cruise ships; crafting personal vacation experiences; and creating consumer products—has embarked on an ambitious global expansion of its international theme park properties.
The opening of Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland in late 2023, which features a signature trackless dark ride, is one of Estorino’s favorite projects to date. The story is as fun as the attraction is thrilling, where each scene keeps riders guessing what’s next through unexpected turns, spins, slides, and drops, with appearances from Audio-Animatronics characters like Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, Clawhauser, and others along the journey.
Looking ahead to 2026, a 2-billion-euro investment at Disneyland Paris’ second gate will lead to a reimagining of more than 90% of the park’s original offerings and roughly double its footprint since its 2002 debut.
How does Estorino serve as a conductor keeping parks across a wide geographical span and their teams from diverse cultures in concert? She focuses on something Estorino calls “heartware.”
“Our cast members are one of the most valuable parts of our company. I refer to them as heartware,” she explains. “You have the hardware of the physical park—the rides and the attractions and the shows. But, then there’s the heartware: the cast. At the end of the day, that’s where the human interaction happens.”
Estorino, a seasoned 34-year veteran of the attractions industry, sat down with Funworld for a conversation on growth, leadership, and the importance of self-care for busy attractions leaders.