(October 16, 2025) — Thank you to the Disneyland Resort and their entire team for their extraordinary hospitality and for hosting CAPA’s 2025 Fall Board of Directors and Annual General Membership meetings.
Here’s a recap of our time together:
A Leader’s Vision and Future Focus
In a conversation moderated by CAPA Vice Chair and Director of External Affairs for the Disneyland Resort, Carrie Nocella, Disneyland Resort Park President Thomas Mazloum was so generous with his time in sharing powerful leadership insights. He discussed how “people are the solution,” underscoring that Cast Members are the heart of the guest experience. Mr. Mazloum also talked about the need to “ruthlessly prioritize”, applying the 80/20 rule—where 80% of results come from 20% of efforts—to focus on initiatives that truly “materially move the needle.” He stressed the value of embracing constraints, stating that “limitations enhance creativity,” and his most potent advice: “Say no to good ideas so you can say yes to great ideas.”
While 2025 marks the celebration of the Disneyland Resort’s 70 years, there’s no doubt the focus remains firmly on the future. Mazloum also shared upcoming expansions of the Disneyland Resort under the DisneylandForward initiative:
- Infrastructure improvements which include a new transportation esplanade and a pedestrian bridge to improve guest access.
- Major investment in new attractions, including projects that will double the size of Avengers Campus and tap into the beloved Pixar IP “Coco” to attract new audiences.
- A continued focus on high-quality new culinary and retail offerings for Downtown Disney visitors and park guests alike.
CAPA’s Success in 2025: Amplified by Member Engagement
CAPA Executive Director Sabrina Lockhart shared how 2025 was one of the most demanding, yet successful, advocacy cycles in CAPA history. Our primary goal is always to protect your ability to focus on curating our guests best memories, not wading through regulatory red tape.
CAPA was able to stop or negotiate amendments to almost all of the priority legislation it opposed. That is not just a success; that is a testament to the power of our unified voice.
In a bill that would have created legal hurdles for providing discounts for guests, CAPA members engaged by providing technical expertise to educate policymakers about how this misguided legislation would have ultimately hurt consumers. Other members leveraged relationships with local elected leaders and made personal calls to share how this bill would hurt their businesses. These efforts helped encourage amendments to the bill that removed CAPA’s opposition.
Another bill would have restricted the use of cameras in the workplace, which would have put team member and guest safety at risk – in violation of pending Cal/OSHA workplace safety regulations. Our members’ unique perspectives helped shape the conversation and the bill ultimately did not move forward this year.
In the final days of session, a charter school accountability bill was amended to prohibit education funds to be used for field trips to theme parks, family entertainment centers, and zoos. CAPA worked to amend the language to protect one time admission while prohibiting the purchase of annual passes or memberships. The Governor vetoed this bill but the issue is expected to return in 2026.
Click here for a full list of the status of all the bills CAPA tracked this legislative cycle and whether the Governor signed bills that reached his desk.
Ride Safety: Operational Excellence and Preparedness
The meeting also offered critical operational and safety updates from International Ride Training (IRT) Associate Consultant, Lisa Howard Sitler. In an engaging and interactive presentation, she emphasized the importance of standard operating procedures requiring the delivery of verbal safety instructions on every ride, every cycle. With clients around the globe, IRT provides the gold standard in operational safety services to the amusement industry. The company has audited nearly 1,800 rides this year alone.
Regulator Roundtable
Safety is the top priority of our industry and open lines of communications with our regulators plays an important role in that goal. Chief Deputy of the Department of Industrial Relations, Carl Paganelli, and Tuyet Tran, Supervising Attorney of the Department of Industrial Relation, provided an update on the Amusement Ride and Tramway (ART) Unit within DOSH. They are still accepting public comment on pending administrative and technical regulations updates and hope to submit the package to the Cal/OSHA Standards Board in 2026.
What to Know About California’s Climate Disclosure Laws
Members received an overview of new mandatory California climate laws from regulatory expert, Jon Costantino, from Tradesman Advisors.
He explained how the final rules are still being developed. The new California laws, Senate Bill 253 (SB 253) and Senate Bill 261 (SB 261), establish mandatory climate-related financial reporting for large companies doing business in the state. These laws were originally intended to serve as a backstop to federal SEC climate reporting rules and require affected companies to disclose data to investors, the public, competitors, and opponents, which will demand a material amount of work to complete.
SB 253 requires companies with revenues exceeding $1 billion to disclose their annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3). SB 261 requires companies with revenues exceeding $500 million to prepare a biennial report on climate-related financial risks, with the initial report due by January 1, 2026. Given the short timeframes and strict reporting deadlines, many companies are engaging external consultants to manage the process, with the acknowledgment that non-compliance carries the potential for enforcement, although enforcement discretion has been granted for the very first round of reporting.
CAPA members who are manufacturers and vendors may not be subject to reporting to the state but they will be asked by their customers for supply chain emissions data when Scope 3 reporting requirements go into effect.
Click here for a copy of Jon Costantino’s presentation.
Creative Problem Solving
Attendees participated in an introduction to the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Method, a problem-solving technique facilitated by Jonathan Hughes. Participants built three-dimensional LEGO models in response to questions, which serve as the physical basis for group discussion, knowledge sharing, and decision-making.
Magical Ending to a Productive Day
The day of learning ended with a reception at Disney’s California Adventure overlooking the picturesque Pixar Pier. Along with making network connections, attendees enjoyed seasonal culinary offerings from the park.
Join Us Next Year in Santa Cruz
We are excited to announce that we are working with the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to host our 2026 annual meeting. Stay tuned for more details!
