Jeff Vahle, President, Disney Signature Experiences

[Disney4me]

Jeff Vahle is the president of Disney Signature Experiences, leading several key growth businesses for the Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products segment and inspiring teams around the world to deliver the company’s unrivaled brand of family vacations. Based in Celebration, Florida, he oversees Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, Golden Oak and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.

Jeff began his Disney career in 1990 and is a respected senior executive who is committed to driving creativity and innovation, exceeding guest expectations and delivering long-term business growth. During his 28-year career with the company, he has held a series of high-profile leadership roles in operations, engineering, technology and global support services.

At Disney Cruise Line, Jeff is responsible for the entire award-winning business, including the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruise ships, as well as Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island in the Bahamas) and Disney’s Port Canaveral cruise terminal. Jeff will also oversee the much-anticipated expansion of Disney’s cruise fleet, with the delivery of three new ships in 2021, 2022 and 2023, all of them showcasing the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and unparalleled service for which Disney is well known. Since its launch in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has established itself as a leader in the family cruise market, sailing from ports around the world on exhilarating itineraries to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera, among others.

Jeff also leads the team at Disney Vacation Club, the company’s popular vacation-ownership program. The club offers a portfolio of 14 themed resorts, from its newest property, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, to properties across Walt Disney World Resort, at Disneyland Resort and in Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. A 15^th resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, will open near Epcot in 2019. His other responsibilities include Adventures by Disney, the company’s guided group travel business with nearly 40 itineraries across 30 countries, and Golden Oak, the company’s luxury whole-ownership community of custom homes at Walt Disney World Resort.

In addition to his duties with these high-growth vacation businesses (collectively called Disney Signature Experiences), Jeff oversees Global Operations Support & Technology for Disney theme parks worldwide. These teams are responsible for technology, engineering and industrial engineering, maintenance, construction, utilities, manufacturing, sourcing and procurement, and asset management programs at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the Disneyland Resort in California, Disneyland Paris Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disneyland Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort.

Jeff is actively involved in the Central Florida community, currently serving as chairman of the board of directors for Give Kids the World and previously serving on the Central Florida Salvation Army board of directors. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University and a master’s degree in business administration from Rollins College.

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