As America celebrates its 250th 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.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
