Behind the magic: Companies powering Disney guest experiences

As America celebrates its 250^th anniversary this year, Disney Experiences is spotlighting the thousands of small businesses across the country that provide critical behind-the-scenes support for Disney’s parks, resorts and experiences.

When guests sightsee on an Alaskan Disney cruise, delight in a colorful parade, enjoy the enchantment of an on-stage production or refill their popcorn bucket to the brim in the Disney parks, it’s the businesses that work alongside Disney that are an integral part of these magical moments.

Disney Experiences works with thousands of small businesses across the nation, from family-run companies and farms to fabricators and designers. Many of these relationships span decades.

The collaboration offers many benefits for both Disney and its vendor companies. For many businesses, working with Disney Experiences is more than a single project. These longstanding relationships can help companies grow, hire employees and invest in their local communities.

One of Disney’s vendors, Allen Marine offered this insight into working with Disney Experiences: “Allen Marine is a family and Indigenous-owned business. We’ve been running boat tours in Southeast Alaska for nearly 60 years, and today we operate out of Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Yakutat, Alaska for tours at the Hubbard Glacier” said Zakary Kirkpatrick, Chief Marketing Officer, Allen Marine Tours.

He added, “Working with a company like Disney provides predictable volume—and that’s vital for a seasonal business. With that stability, we can confidently make long-term capital investments back into our fleet and sustain year-round maritime and shipyard jobs in our local Alaskan communities.”   

Part of a much larger picture, Disney’s U.S. parks generate nearly $67 billion in economic impact and support more than 403,000 jobs nationwide. With $30 billion planned in U.S. investments through 2023 —the largest period of growth in the company’s history—Disney is doubling down on the communities, industries and small businesses that make its story possible.

"When we work with businesses, we search for expertise and specialized craftsmanship that helps us create the magical experiences our guests rely on us to deliver. We work with thousands of businesses across the country—many of them are small or family-owned, and many we have worked with for years, even decades,” said Sarah Salvador, Sr. Manager, Strategic Sourcing, Walt Disney Imagineering in a statement.

A sampling of these businesses includes:

• Allen Marine Tours (Sitka, Alaska) — family-owned day cruise operator helping guests explore and sightsee wildlife, glaciers and coastal landscapes since Disney Cruise Line’s first Alaska sailings.
• Southeast Dairy Processors (Tampa, Florida) — a longtime dairy supplier that has supported Walt Disney World since opening day.
• Rando Productions (North Hollywood, California) — a design, engineering and manufacturing company collaborating on Disney showpieces and parades for more than 20 years.
• Y. Hata & Co. (Honolulu, Hawaii) — a family-owned foodservice distribution company that has supported Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa since opening day.
• PGAV Destinations (St. Louis, Missouri) — a design firm supporting projects like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and contributing to the Midwest’s economy.
• Richloom (New York) — a textile company that creates custom fabrics and furnishings for destinations including Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Line.
• Advantage Colorgraphics (Anaheim, California) — a printing company helping guests navigate the magic of Disneyland for nearly 40 years through theme park maps.
• Popcorn Junkie (Orlando, Florida) — a family-owned business supplying gourmet popcorn to Walt Disney World for nearly a decade.