
Title: General Manager
Company: Disney California Adventure Park West
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, California, United States
Gary Maggetti, General Manager at Disney California Adventure Park West, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism.
Mr. Maggetti has established a distinguished career spanning three decades with The Walt Disney Company, demonstrating expertise in multi-unit leadership and strategic thinking. Since 2016, he has served as the general manager of Disney California Adventure Park West at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts U.S., where he leads attractions, retail, and food and beverage guest show operations for World of Color. Mr. Maggetti’s responsibilities include overseeing central bakery operations and park banquets supporting both theme parks, conducting daily park walks to gauge guest sentiment and support cast member performance, and driving strategic planning for new attraction development and construction impact readiness.
A hallmark of Mr. Maggetti’s legacy is his pivotal role in establishing and managing the unique festivals at Disney California Adventure Park. He has been involved in every festival since its inception, except during a brief hiatus in 2010 due to redevelopment projects such as World of Color, Ariel’s Undersea Adventure and Cars Land. Upon his return in 2016, Mr. Maggetti successfully revived these events, adapting them to the transformed landscape. These festivals, which span approximately 50 days each year, engage approximately 35,000 cast members who volunteer from various roles across the resort. Mr. Maggetti takes pride in cultivating a culture where participation is driven by enthusiasm and anticipation, reflecting his belief that true leadership ensures employees and guests genuinely want to be part of the experience.
From 2013 to 2016, Mr. Maggetti held the position of director of food and beverage and merchandise at Disney Parks. In this capacity, he oversaw diverse business lines while emphasizing transferable skills over subject matter expertise among his teams. Mr. Maggetti championed leadership style and personal reputation as critical components of success, encouraging collaboration and empowering team members to exercise their better judgment.
Between 2011 and 2013, Mr. Maggetti served as the general manager of food and beverage and store operations for The Walt Disney Company. Earlier, from 2010 to 2011, he achieved a long-held aspiration by serving as the director of food and beverage at Tokyo Disney Resort. This international assignment allowed Mr. Maggetti to broaden his perspective on hospitality management while navigating cultural nuances unique to Japan.
Before his tenure abroad, Mr. Maggetti was the general manager of food and beverage for The Walt Disney Company from 2009 to 2010. He managed large-scale operations during a period marked by significant development projects within the parks. Mr. Maggetti also excelled as the director of theme park food and beverage for The Walt Disney Company between 2005 and 2009. Notably, he was part of the original opening team for Disney California Adventure in 2001 and later managed its reopening in 2012 during the launch of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street.
Throughout his tenure with The Walt Disney Company, Mr. Maggetti has been instrumental in establishing leadership teams and operational frameworks for new attractions, planning and executing major park festivals, such as the inaugural Food & Wine Festival, the Lunar New Year Festival and Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park. He has become recognized for removing roadblocks, prioritizing initiatives, and aligning frontline leadership to ensure operational clarity and guest satisfaction. Mr. Maggetti’s efforts continually foster environments that inspire guest return visits and cast member engagement.
Mr. Maggetti’s educational foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts in hotel and restaurant administration from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, earned in 1995, following his graduation from Oak Grove High School in San Jose, California, in 1991. His academic background provided him with essential knowledge in hospitality management that has underpinned his professional achievements.
Active in his professional community, Mr. Maggetti has been a member of several industry organizations, such as the California Restaurant Association, where he has served on the board of directors since 2014. He previously held leadership positions for the association, including second vice chair, vice chair and board chair.
Beyond his professional commitments, Mr. Maggetti has contributed significantly through civic engagement. He has served as an advisory board member for the Customer Experience Program at the University of California, Irvine, since 2021, after initially chairing its Customer Experience Advisory Council for over five years. He is also a member of the executive board for the Hospitality Program at California State University, Long Beach, and serves on the board of directors for the Tim Salmon Foundation. Mr. Maggetti’s generosity has included volunteering with book and canned food drives, supporting Toys for Tots, participating in Disney Service Anniversary Celebration Events and contributing time as a Disney VoluntEAR.
Mr. Maggetti’s dedication has been recognized with several honors, including receiving the Gold Spirit of Disneyland Award from The Walt Disney Company in 1998 and being inducted into The W.A. Franke College of Business Hall of Fame at Northern Arizona University in 2023. As a leader in his field, his insights have been featured in Greer Wylder’s book “Born in OC” as well as numerous media interviews and spotlights.
Mr. Maggetti attributes much of his success to those around him, as well as colleagues whose positive influence has shaped his growth as a leader. He also values authentic interactions with team members at all levels, believing that genuine care involves both listening attentively and providing honest feedback when necessary. This philosophy has fostered a culture built on empowerment and authenticity throughout his teams.
Looking ahead, Mr. Maggetti remains passionate about contributing further to The Walt Disney Company. He continues to embrace new experiences that align with his expertise while supporting those closest to him as they pursue their own aspirations.
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