Magical Quests Blog

Tag: disney travel agent

  • Navigating Disney World: Transportation Tips for Your Visit

    Navigating Disney World: Transportation Tips for Your Visit

    Walt Disney World is the size of San Francisco! The idea of getting around property could be daunting, but Disney makes travel time part of the whole vacation experience. While you can rent a car, if you really want to experience the Disney Bubble in all its glory, I say use Disney Transportation. From the fun theming to the kind cast members who get us from place to place, Disney efficiently and seamlessly moves millions of guests around its parks each year.

    General Tips and Info:

    • All Disney World Resort guests can use Disney Transportation, as well as off-site guests and locals, with a couple of new caveats that are detailed below.
    • Use of Disney Transportation is included with your stay, and there is no additional cost.
    • Guests using mobility device and parents with strollers can use all forms of Disney transportation.
    • The My Disney Experience app will list wait times for busses at your resort (toggle to your reservation screen, and swipe to the bus schedule), and notify you of any service disruptions due to weather or other factors.
    • You can also use the My Disney Experience app to plan your route and understand how long your travel will take. Getting to some locations may require transferring from one bus to another, or from one mode of transportation to another. Use the search function to type in your destination, select it from the results, and then tap “Get Directions” on the next screen. It will use your current location if you are on property, or you can type in starting location if you are using this to plan your trip in advance.
    Walt Disney World Transportation Map

    Disney Bus Transportation

    Most common and very accessible, Disney busses are free and convenient. All Disney resorts have bus transportation to take you to and from each theme park – with a few caveats for resorts that are on specific Monorail, Skyliner, and Boat routes (more on that later). Disney buses run every approximately 20 minutes, and will frequently arrive at closer intervals in the morning when people are heading to the parks, and at night after fireworks end and the parks are emptying out.

    The Disney buses can accommodate guests of all mobility options, with assistance for those using ECVs (mobility scooters), wheelchairs, etc. Guests with young ones in strollers will need to collapse their stroller when getting on the bus, and have their kiddo sit in their lap. In the morning and evening especially, they will *completely fill* these buses, asking for people to stand in the aisle as well.

    Most bus rides will average 10-12 minutes from resort to theme park. Some resorts in the Animal Kingdom area like Animal Kingdom Lodge and Coronado Springs Resort can take a little bit longer to get to the Magic Kingdom area, but in my experience staying at each of these resorts, the ride was only about 5 minutes longer than other locations.

    Aboard an empty Disney Bus before Rope Drop!
    Early Morning on the Disney Bus!
    Disney Bus by night at Contemporary Resort

    Guests can also park hop using the Disney Bus Transportation system. Beginning at 10am each day, “park to park” buses will begin running, allowing you to hit early entry rope drop at one park, spend a few hours enjoying the attractions, and then hop to your next destination for lunch.

    Buses stop running approximately one hour after the park closes. However, never fear – you will not be left behind at a theme park. If you take your time strolling down Main Street USA to capture those magical pictures of an empty park with Cinderella Castle glowing in the distance, Disney Cast Members will be sure to get you back to your resort.

    As of June 28, 2026, bus transportation from Disney Springs to the Walt Disney World Resorts will require confirmation of a reservation in order to board. Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resorts will continue to be able to use the bus system from Disney Springs to any resort by showing their room key card or verifying their reservation in the My Disney Experience App. (My guess is that there will be handheld readers for tapping Magic Bands as well.) Off-site guests will need to show proof of a dining reservation or enchanting extra at a resort in order to board the bus. They will be allowed to travel to the resort from Disney Springs up to 2 hours before the start of their reservation. The same system will be in place for boat access to the resorts on the Sassagoula River from Disney Springs – Saratoga Springs Resort, Old Key West Resort, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Port Orleans Riverside.

    Disney’s Skyliner

    The fan-favorite mode of transportation is arguably Disney’s Skyliner. Opening in September 2019, this gondola system services Pop Century, Art of Animation, Riviera Resort, and Caribbean Beach Resort. Guests staying at these resorts will have to use the Skyliner to access EPCOT or Hollywood Studios – there are no busses from the Skyliner resorts to those two parks, except during severe weather and scheduled maintenance downtime. (They do have bus routes for Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom from here.) Guests staying at the EPCOT resorts also have easy access to the Skyliner for resort hopping or just enjoying the ride.

    The main “hub” of the Skyliner is at Caribbean Beach Resort. Guests will fly to the CBR hub, and transfer from there to either the EPCOT line (which also stops at Riviera Resort) or the Hollywood Studios line (which has no additional stops). There is a bathroom at the hub stop, and if you are not in a time crunch, you can also exit the hub/loading area to visit the Joffrey’s stand nearby and load up on a nice iced Shakin’ Jamaican before the next leg of your trip.

    Disney's Skyliner

    Travel time can vary, and you will have to factor in a morning wait time if you are heading to rope drop – especially from Pop Century or Art of Animation. On average, it takes about 12-15 minutes of flying time to get where you’re going on the Skyliner from Pop Century and Art of Animation, with less time from Caribbean Beach and Riviera as they are farther along the route. If you have aspirations of being at the head of the crowd for rope drop, you need to be up and out before the Skyliner starts running (around 7am, or one hour before early entry opening).

    My favorite aspect of the Skyliner is the space that you have, compared to riding the bus or monorail. Often, your party will have its own gondola, or you might share with another small group. Everyone has a seat – you’re not allowed to stand in these gondolas – and it makes for a really pleasant ride. Single strollers do not need to be folded up (though double strollers do), and ECV riders will have a stationary gondola to board.

    I do encourage guests to bring a handheld fan if you have one; the Skyliner gondolas are not air conditioned, and the line occasionally stops for guests who need mobility assistance to get on or off. When the gondola slows or stops, so does the breeze, and it can get quite warm in these floating boxes in the hotter months!

    Anyone can ride the Skyliner and you do not need to show proof of a reservation to hop aboard. If you are planning a resort day during your vacation, riding the Skyliner to explore new places around Disney World is a great way to spend your downtime, or an evening at the Boardwalk.

    Disney’s Monorail

    Perhaps the most recognizable form of Disney Transportation is the Monorail. Running since 1971, this is the quintessential way to get around any Disney property. For some guests, the boarding welcome recording is the first Spanish phrasing we learned: Please stand clear of the doors. ¡Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas!

    If you’ve rented a car or drove your own to Disney World, you’ll park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and board the Monorail (or a Ferry Boat) to the Magic Kingdom. Guests staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, the Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower, and the Polynesian Resort and Village are required to use the Monorail to travel to EPCOT, and can use the Monorail to travel to Magic Kingdom. (Though for many of these guests, using the walking path is the most efficient way to get to the park.)

    Anyone can ride the Monorail, and you do not need to show proof of a reservation to board. Enjoying a Monorail Bar Crawl or checking out the gingerbread houses at Christmastime are a couple of way to enjoy this transportation on a non-park day. The Resort Monorail line stops running about 2 hours after park close, and the Transportation and Ticket Center Monorail stops running about 1 hour after park close.

    Fun Monorail Facts:

    • There are 12 trains, each identified by color lines: peach, teal, red, black, coral, orange, gold, green, blue, lime, silver, and yellow.
    • The Magic Kingdom Monorail services approximately 50 million riders annually.
    • In severe weather, Monorail service will stop with sustained winds over 39mph. In these situations, two trains are parked inside the Contemporary Resort with the storm doors closed (as well as parked in other areas of the line).
    • When the Monorail first debuted (and for many years) the doors were not automated and had to be opened individually by Cast Members – they also opened outward like a regular door, rather than sideways.
    Aboard the Empty Monorail!
    Monorail at EPCOT
    Walt Disney World Monorail

    Disney Boat Services

    My favorite mode of transportation at Walt Disney World is by boat! This often-overlooked means of getting around is only available in a few areas, but it is easily the most relaxing conveyance of them all. Over at Crescent Lake in the EPCOT resort area, guests can board a Friendship Boat and travel from the Boardwalk Inn, Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Swan & Dolphin Resorts to the International Gateway at EPCOT, or to the entrance of Hollywood Studios. You can also park hop from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios by boat, making the resort stops along the way. Traveling from end to end takes about 20 minutes, and sure beats walking in the blazing sun – though, you can walk all the way from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios if you wish. It takes about 20 minutes.

    Over along the Sassagoula River, guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort or those who have dining reservations at the resorts along the river can board a boat in Disney Springs (showing proof of reservation as noted in the bus section), and travel by Ferry Boat to Old Key West Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort, Port Orleans French Quarter, or Port Orleans Riverside. The farthest stop on the river is Port Orleans Riverside, and the trip to/from Disney Springs can take about 20 minutes.

    Friendship Boats to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
    Boat Transportation to Disney Springs

    As mentioned in the Monorail section, there is also a Ferry Boat from the Transportation and Ticket Center over to the Magic Kingdom gates. Truthfully, this is the faster way to get to the park, versus the Monorail. The Ferry has a very high capacity and can fit many more guests per run than the Monorail can. You are also less likely to be on top of your fellow guests, with more room to roam around the deck.

    Magic Kingdom also uses boat launches as another way for guests at Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness Campground to get to and from the park (and is the only way for Wilderness guests to travel there). These boat launches are the most efficient way to get to and from Magic Kingdom from these resorts, unless you are walking from Contemporary. The only time you may find a delay on these boats is at the end of the night, when the Electric Light Pageant is making its way across the Seven Seas Lagoon for the classic nighttime show. But, you get a front row seat to a bit of classic Disney entertainment as a silver lining.

    Perhaps the most overlooked boat service in Disney World is actually within a theme park. If your feet are aching and you just want to be transported from the front of the World Showcase to either Morocco or Germany, you may get lucky and find that the lagoon boats are running. These boats are not always in active service, but if you do see them ferrying guests across the World Showcase Lagoon, this is a unique way to get around the (very large) showcase.

    Tori Gate, Japan Pavilion, EPCOT
    Morning stage show at Magic Kingdom
    BBQ Beef Brisket Melt and a Cold Beer at Woody's Lunch Box in Toy Story Land

    Is there anywhere I can just walk to?

    Yes! If you are lucky enough to stay at the EPCOT resorts – Boardwalk Inn, Beach Club, Yacht Club, or the Swan & Dolphin, you will be able to walk to EPCOT via the International Gateway (which places you in the back of the park when you enter), as well as Hollywood Studios.

    If you find yourself at the Magic Kingdom Resorts, you can walk from the Polynesian Resort and Village, Grand Floridian, or Contemporary Resort. The walk from Grand Floridian will take about 15 minutes depending on what area of the resort you are staying in, with the trip from Polynesian taking closer to 25-30 minutes. Walking from Contemporary is probably the most luxurious entrance of all – it takes no more than 5 minutes and includes its own separate security line.

    Other walkable routes are:

    • Port Orleans Riverside to/from Port Orleans French Quarter – a great way to enjoy beignets and a little jazz at the Scat Cat Club
    • Pop Century to/from Art of Animation Resort – a fun way for kids to explore the larger than life themed areas
    • Saratoga Springs Resort to/from Disney Springs – a 5-10 minute walk that is discouraged after dusk due to wildlife, but a great daytime route to the Springs
    • All Star Sports to/from Blizzard Beach – a 10-15 minute walk, this one is a little wild because it is a sidewalk along a road but it can be done and there is signage for pedestrians!

    I do really enjoy the ease of using Disney Transportation, whether that be by ground, sky, or water. With a property as large as Walt Disney World, I couldn’t fathom having to take a Lyft around property or schedule rides and transfers along the way. The efficiency of Disney Transportation really cannot be beat, when you step back and look at how many people use these modes of transportation each year.

    What is your favorite way to get around Walt Disney World? For planning assistance, including how to use Disney Transportation during your stay, contact me today!

  • Experience the Charm of Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort

    Experience the Charm of Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort

    Walt Disney World offers over 30 resorts in its collection, which fall into four different categories – Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas.  Guests can honor their budget by picking a Value Resort or splurge for the trip of a lifetime to stay at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort. But the middle category – the tried-and-true Moderate Resorts – is the happy place between the “just for sleeping” style of the Value Resorts, and the “am I underdressed?” elevated feeling of the Deluxe locations. This April, I stayed at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort and I was blown away by the amenities and asthetic. Read on to discover the reasons why you should consider this Moderate Resort for your next stay in the magic.

    Getting to Port Orleans Riverside

    I almost always take Mears Connect from MCO to my Disney Resort. It’s cheap for one person, they handle your luggage, and it’s a safe, relaxing ride. On my visit, Port Orleans Riverside was the second stop after Port Orleans French Quarter, and it was a breeze getting there.

    MyDisneyExperienceApp Countdown Screen
    MCO Carpet!
    Breeze Airlines
    The Magical Gates to Walt Disney World

    Southern Charm, Disney-Style

    Port Orleans Riverside is themed to – you guessed it – the rivers and bayous of Louisiana. This charming resort has several bridges over rivers connecting the lobby area to the main pool at Ol Man Island, and then off to the other sections of the resort: Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend. There are gorgeous magnolia trees lining the walkways and horse drawn carriages clomping by, adding to the Southern charm of this resort. Guests can also see the boats traveling to and from Disney Springs, which adds to the casual yet kinetic energy of this resort.

    Checking in

    Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resorts always have the option of checking in on their phone through the My Disney Experience App. I have done this many times in the past, and it’s a quick and easy way to check in if you truly do not care what area of the resort you wind up in. Online check in was developed during COVID so that guests didn’t have to interact with Cast Members, and it has remained in place for the convenience factor. (You can actually check in as soon as you’ve made your final payment for your visit!)

    However, I do prefer to handle the check-in process in person these days for a few reasons:

     1. It allows me to politely request a specific area, floor, or building of the resort. Cast Members cannot always accommodate requests, but it never hurts to ask nicely.

    Real Life Example: I requested a refurbished room and luckily, my wish was granted! My king-size standard room placed me in the Magnolia Section of the resort, just a short walk off the bridge to Ol’ Man Island.

    2. I like to get the lay of the land, especially if I am staying at a new-to-me resort. While I do like to wander and discover the location, sometimes you just need to know where the elevators are, where the quick service location is, and the easiest way to get to the bus stop. Note: Not every building at this resort has an elevator – if you need to use an elevator, you will need to let the Cast Member know at check in.

    Real Life Example: When I chatted with the Cast Member checking me in, she let me know that there was an elevator in my building, but it was located in a different section of the building. I was given a map, and she drew the route for me to my elevator. Once I got to the Magnolia section, I realized that it was a little tricky to find, and I may have given up and hauled my 45lb suitcase up to the second floor, if not for this short interaction.

    3. When you check in at the front desk, the Cast Member can check to make sure your Magic Band is linked properly to your room so that you don’t have any issues unlocking the door. (Sometimes the older bands don’t automatically link anymore sadly.) They can also give you a key card as an analog backup. Some of these resorts are pretty spaced out, and I know from experience that having to walk back to the front desk (with luggage) to pick up a physical key card is a bit of a pain after traveling all day!

    Real Life Example: Guess what? When I checked in and had my band checked, it was not linked to my room! The helpful Cast Member linked my band and gave me a physical key card just in case, saving me another arrival day frustration.

    Checking-in in person takes all of 10 or 15 minutes, and can save you a ton of unforeseen hassle. The Cast Members can offer directions around the resort, provide the schedules of activities, and pass along helpful tips for your stay with them. 

    Standard King Size Room

    I paid a little extra per night to have a single king-size bed for this solo trip. This gave me more space, versus having a second unused queen bed. The room itself was gorgeous. The color scheme perfectly matched the Princess and the Frog accents, and the art on the walls and headboard added a relaxing touch to the space.  As with all rooms, this standard king size room came with a coffee/Keurig set up, beverage cooler (not a mini fridge), small table and chairs, a safe, ironing board, hair dryer, and a step stool for kids.

    One feature that I really loved having in this room that you won’t find at a Value Resort is a simple ceiling fan! It might not seem like much, but the ceiling fan elevates the look of the room, and having air moving in my space really felt nice. Moderate Resorts are like Value Resorts in that almost all of them are “motel-style” rooms with exterior doors, and no balcony. I found the walkway outside my room on the second floor to be a nice spot to step outside and drink my coffee.

    Standard King Size Room Port Orleans Riverside
    Standard King Size Room Port Orleans Riverside
    Standard King Size Room Port Orleans Riverside
    Standard King Size Room Port Orleans Riverside

    Dining Delights

    There are many options at Port Orleans Riverside, with something for everyone. The Riverside Mill has all of the basic options like burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, and pasta, but the real gems are the unique offerings that fit the theme of Port Orleans – particularly the gumbo and jambalaya! YUM. These dishes were so good, and they have a real kick to them, unlike a lot of “spicy” food at Walt Disney World.

    I also really appreciated the coffee counter at Riverside Mill where you can get a cold brew with sweet cream. I feel like Disney has upped their cold brew game at the Florida parks, with more cold/iced options available at more locations than in the past.

    Panko Chicken and Spice Smoked Gouda Potatoes at Boatwrights
    Peanut Butter Pie at Boatwrights
    Gumbp and a Yuengling at Riverside Mill

    The sit-down dining location here is Boatwrights, and it was fantastic. After a long day at Universal Islands of Adventure, I was very thankful to have a solid dinner option at my resort. I ordered the Spiced Smoked Gouda Potatoes as well as the Panko Crusted Chicken, served with seasonal farro rice (risotto style) and greens. This was delightful – cozy comfort food with a light touch. I wrapped things up with the Peanut Butter Pie for dessert, which was honestly one of the best sweet treats I’ve had at Disney.

    Port Orleans Riverside also has nighttime entertainment at the River Roost Lounge. Yehaa Bob on the piano is a fun time for all – kids included – and it gets really lively. If you are looking for a more adult-centered nighttime option, head down to French Quarter to enjoy jazz at the Scat Cat Lounge. There is a walking path that brings you to the sister resort in about 10-15 minutes – which is great for walking off the beignets you’ll enjoy as well!

    Beignets at French Quarter

    Fulton’s General Store

    As with all resorts, Port Orleans Riverside has a small market in the lobby, called Fulton’s General Store. This shop has a great selection of merchandise, mugs, snacks, beverages, and necessities. (For the first time in my 25+ trips to Disney World, I forgot my sunscreen! They had me covered at Fulton’s.) And as a fun added tid-bit, this store has statues of Mickey’s nephews Morty Mouse and Field Mouse, who are not represented anywhere else on Walt Disney World property!

    Mickey's Nephews with Goofy at Fulton's General Store
    Boat Transportation to Disney Springs

    Recreation

    Port Orleans Riverside has some of the best recreation for guests at an of the Disney World Resorts. In addition to the fun themed pool on Ol’ Man Island, and hammocks scattered around the property, you can also cast a line at the Fishing Hole, experience a luxurious horse-drawn carriage ride, play games at Medicine Show Arcade, catch a nighttime movie on the lawn, or roast marshmallows around a campfire.

    I also really liked that there are many quiet pools scattered around the resort. Ol’ Man Island can get a little busy during peak times, with a fun slide and Muddy Rivers pool bar located there, and having a pool close to my room for a quick dip was really convenient.

    Transportation

    Guests at Port Orleans Riverside will use Disney Bus Transportation to travel to the theme parks. This is a big resort, so there is also an internal bus loop around the resort, offering stops within Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend. When you check in, the Cast Member helping you can show you on the map where your bus stop will be. If you are headed to Rope Drop early in the morning, plan accordingly for a few extra minutes looping the resort, depending on where your stop is.

    One elevated feature of this resort is the Boat Transportation to Disney Springs and Port Orleans French Quarter. This runs every 15-20 minutes starting at 10am, with the last boat leaving Disney Springs at 11:30pm. (Always check signs when you are there for any changes to the boat schedule due to weather or other factors.) The voyage to Disney Springs is about 20 minutes and it’s a unique way to get across Disney property. There is a bus to Disney Springs as well if you don’t want to travel by boat, or if the weather prevents them from running (which is rare but can happen).

    Overall Thoughts

    The way I evaluate how much I am enjoying a particular resort is the feeling I get when I start to think about wrapping up my park day or taking a midday break. Am I excited to go back to my resort and hit the pool? Can I get a delicious dinner there if I am too tired to head back out? Is my room cozy enough to just chill out there for an hour before I make my next move? Is there any entertainment going on “at home” after the parks close?

    Staying at Port Orleans Riverside, I found myself quite content to go back to my resort and take a break. My room was extremely comfortable and with multiple quiet pools around, it was very easy to take a dip without feeling crowded. I planned to eat two dinners at Riverside and I am so glad I did not miss out on Boatwrights or that delicious Gumbo – it really was the best food court meal I have had at Disney World.

    Tiana and Lotti, Disney's Port Orleans Riverside
    Tiana and Lotti, Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside

    With the right balance of theming, delicious dining, cozy vibes, and an additional transportation option, Port Orleans Riverside has jostled itself into the position of #1 Moderate Resort in my books. Ready to plan a trip to Walt Disney World, but unsure which resort is right for you? Let me be your guide! Contact me today to plan your next Magical Quest!

  • The Wonderful Women of Disney

    The Wonderful Women of Disney

    Every Disney fan knows the famous female characters in the Disney lexicon – Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Tinker Bell, Princess Ariel, Moana, Princess Tiana, and Mirabel, to name a few. But do you know the famous real-world women behind the colorful scenes and immersive attractions? From animators to imagineers to business executives, the women of the Walt Disney Company have kept the world going from the very beginning. On this International Women’s Day, let’s take a look at some of the influential females who have brought Disney magic to life.

    Alice Estes Davis
    Harriett Burns
    Mary Blair and Walt Disney
    Ruth Shellhorn
    Jennifer Lee
    Kim Irvine
    Leota Toombs

    Clockwise from top left: Alice Estes Davis, Mary Blair with Walt Disney, Leota Toombs, Kim Irvine, Jennifer Lee, Ruth Shellhorn, and Harriett Burns

    Ruth Shellhorn – 1955’s Woman of the Year was an influential landscape designer in the Southern California who had major contributions to the planning of Disneyland. Ruth Shellhorn joined an all-male team who desperately needed her expertise to effectively move people around the park. To do this, Ruth designed the “castle hub” at Disneyland, with “spokes,” or paths, that lead off into the other lands around the park. Ruth worked with the landscaping designers and imagineers to implement the pathways that would easily move people around the lands and lead them back to the hub and park icon of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The hub-and-spoke design is famous throughout Disney parks and replicated at other theme parks around the world, including Universal’s newest park, EPIC Universe.

    Disney's Magic Kingdom Hub and Spoke Design
    Disneyland Hub and Spoke Design
    EPIC Universe at Universal Orlando
    Disney's Animal Kingdom Hub and Spoke Design

    Ruth designed the transitions into the various lands as well, so that as you walk from the hub to Adventureland you feel a natural transition of space and recognize the theme in the new area without a jarring visual transition. This is accomplished by using flora that blends into the next theme, and a bit of forced perspective, so it looks seamless to guests. In Landscape and Architecture Magazine, Shellhorn is quoted as saying,

    “It seems like a dream, a dream in which everyone operated to the utmost to build the park for family entertainment, which has been in Walt Disney’s mind for 20 years.”

    And on the topic of doing the impossible:

    “…but it was Disneyland, a sort of Fairyland, and Walt’s belief that the impossible was a simple order of the day so instilled this spirit in everyone that they never stopped to think that it couldn’t be done – they just did it and with amazing speed.”

    Take a short walk around the Partners Statue at Disneyland, in the hub designed by Ruth Shellhorn:

    Harriett Burns  – The first female Imagineer back when the company was known as WED Inc. (Walter Elias Disney), Harriett interviewed for the Animation Department when they “weren’t hiring women” for film animation. Instead, her first job with the company was in set design, and she was responsible for the original iconic set of the Mickey Mouse Club. Harriet also worked on many of the models and small-scale sets for the design of Disneyland and was instrumental in designing and feathering the bird animatronics for Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.

    Original set design for Mickey Mouse Club House by Harriett Burns
    Original set design for Mickey Mouse Club House by Harriett Burns

    Harriett Burns also created the models for the animatronics in Pirates of the Caribbean and worked on the intricate details of these characters. Ever notice the pirate with the hairy leg hanging off the bridge? She more than likely attached each of those leg hairs to his calf, and it is said that she modeled that animatronic after the family milk man. The more you know!

    Pirates of the Caribbean, Adventureland, Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World
    Pirates of the Caribbean, Magic Kingdom
    Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland

    Leota Toombs – Perhaps the most well-known of the original leading ladies, Leota Toombs joined the “Ink and Paint” Department of WED in 1940. Even though the Animation Dept. was primarily full of men, the Ink and Paint Division was almost entirely composed of women, affectionately known as “the color girls.” The color girls’ job was to transfer the animators’ drawings to sheets of transparent celluloid and use pen and ink to outline the characters, literally “putting down color” for the final product. Eventually, Leota made her way onto the Imagineering team, contributing to the audio animatronics for such attractions as it’s a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, and Country Bear Jamboree.

    Haunted Mansion Magic Kingdom
    Haunted Mansion Stretching Room
    Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square at Disneyland
    Tomb Sweet Tomb, inside Haunted Mansion at Disneyland

    Leota Toombs is probably most recognized for lending her face and voice to Madame Leota, the floating head of the fortune telling gypsy from the seance scene in the attic of the Haunted Mansion. Madame Leota recites a series of incantations recorded by Leota Toombs, such as “Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat; send in the spirits, wherever they’re at!” As you exit the ride, she also encourages you to “hurry baaaack” to visit the 999 happy haunts. Hear her conjure ghouls in the clip below:

    Mary Blair – Some of the most recognizable artwork in Disney animation as well as the Disney Parks is credited to Mary Blair. Mary joined Walt’s team in 1943 and was well known for her ability to put down highly contrasting, vibrant colors that defined the classic animation style of the Walt Disney company. Her credits and concept art design include Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). If you are a fan of the Disney parks, you’ll find Mary Blair’s art and influence throughout – she was the lead designer for it’s a small world, as well as Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros at EPCOT. One of my favorite examples of her art is The Grand Canyon Concourse Mural at the Contemporary Resort, which can easily be viewed from the Monorail.

    Grand Canyon Concourse Mural at Contemporary Resort
    Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

    Alice Estes Davis – Wife of Marc Davis, one of the original Nine Old Men of Walt Disney Imagineering, Alice originally wanted to be an animator but was told that was a job “for men.” She instead began work at Beverly Vogue & Lingerie House, where she became lead designer. Shortly thereafter, Walt Disney was looking for a designer for an upcoming project called Sleeping Beauty, in order to outfit a live action model used to help mimic natural movement in animation. After a fateful meeting with Disney discussing (of all things) elastic material, Walt hired Alice to outfit over 150 dolls in it’s a small world, which would debut at the 1964-65 World’s Fair. (In this project she got to work with “her hero” Mary Blair.) She also led the costuming for the animatronics in Pirates of the Caribbean, creating nearly 50 pirate outfits the ride — which put her in the same room as Harriett Burns, creating an attraction (and future movie franchise) we all still know and love today.

    Kim Irvine – The daughter of Leota Toombs has continued to keep the magic alive at Disneyland. Kim began her career at the Imagineering Model Shop in 1970 where she attached feathers to birds in the Disney World version of The Enchanted Tiki Room – while her mom still worked for the company! Later, Kim Irvine served as the Art Director for Disneyland, and later held the position of Executive Creative Director of Walt Disney Imagineering until her retirement in 2025. Most notably, Kim led the team responsible for the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge expansion, envisioned the repainting of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland with deeper pinks, and lent her face and voice to Madame Leota for the Nightmare Before Christmas Holiday Overlay of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland – a full-circle moment continuing her mother’s legacy.

    Millenium Falcon, Galaxy's Edge
    Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at night

    Jennifer Lee – After a friend called her for a little help on a project called Wreck-it-Ralph, Jennifer was asked to be part of an upcoming project about two sisters and a snowman, called Frozen.  While she first joined the team as a screenwriter, she quickly became co-director, making her the first female to direct a full-length feature film for the Walt Disney Company. Frozen went on to earn $1.29 billion worldwide and was followed up by Frozen 2 which also cleared the $1.49 billion mark. (And yes, that makes her the first female director to surpass the $1B mark for a full-length animated film.)

    Beyond these accomplishments, Jennifer Lee was the first female Chief Creative Officer for the Disney Company, serving in that role from 2018 – 2024, and has creative leadership credits on other smash hits such as Big Hero 6, Moana (and Moana 2), Zootopia, and Raya and the Last Dragon. Jennifer Lee stepped down from the CCO position in 2024 in order to focus full-time on movie making, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

    Journey of Water at night, EPCOT
    Frozen topiaries at EPCOT

    From the moment Walt Disney broke ground at Disneyland to the planning design of new park expansions, women have been an instrumental force in making magic at the Disney Company since the 1940s. Whether it’s designing costumes, building audio animatronics, or creating storyboard for the next record-breaking movie franchise, the passionate women behind these scenes and stories continue to bring our imaginations to life.

    Let’s plan your next trip to the Disney parks to see this living history in person! With discounts galore (including the month of May!), and FREE dining for kids all year, now is the perfect time to visit the parks. Let’s map out your next Magical Quest today!

    References

    International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1946) – Lantern – Color Girls

    McCormack, Molly (aka Mammoth Club). (2023, March 13) Disney Would Be NOTHING Without Women | Women’s History Month At Walt Disney World: Snacks & Drinks. YouTube.

    Legendary Disney Imagineer and Haunted Mansion Royalty Retires After 55 Years

    A brighter Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is just one way Kim Irvine keeps the magic in Disneyland – Los Angeles Times

    Alice Estes Davis – Wikipedia

    Today in Disney History, 1955: Mickey Mouse Club Airs Its First Episode – WDW Magazine