Holiday decorations at Downtown Disney District appear overnight for guests, but cast members begin planning months in advance. The Product Development and Visual Design team, led by senior manager Rebecca Atterbury, creates immersive holiday environments using sketches and established style guides. Maricela Valadez describes the goal of creating welcoming and joyful shopping experiences that encourage exploration and memory making. Senior manager Christine Dunklin and her Visual Merchandising team then select products and design presentations focused on guest experience. Teams collaborate closely, with Distribution Services delivering needed items and Store Planning organizing retail spaces for optimal operations. After decades of work, Atterbury finds the greatest inspiration in seeing guest joy and wonder during the holiday season. The ultimate hope is for visitors to remember how the resort made them feel warm and connected. Behind the scenes creativity and collaboration transform simple ideas into festive magical moments for guests.
Key Points:
- Disneyland cast members begin holiday preparation as early as January, months before decorations appear for guests
- Senior manager Rebecca Atterbury has over three decades of visual merchandising experience shaping holiday retail experiences
- The Product Development team translates creative concepts into immersive retail environments using sketches and style guides
- Distribution Services team handles the logistics of picking up and delivering products needed for holiday installations across locations
- After 26 years with the company, Atterbury finds the holiday guest experience the most inspiring aspect of her work