Orange County Register

As the last guest leaves the Disneyland Resort’s theme parks at night, a crew of 10 makes its way out and starts opening up the windows in front of the shops.

The 10 make up the window-decorating crew of the Resort Enhancement team and they’re responsible for keeping the displays in the windows fresh and updated in both theme parks, the hotels and Downtown Disney.

“We want the displays to fit in with the seasons,” said Dawn Keehne, a Resort Enhancement manager.

The team recently worked along Main Street in Disneyland, completely changing out many of the displays from a winter to a spring theme.  With all the windows in the park, it can take a week to change them all.

Though the displays are unique, the tools they use are not.

We use all the same tools as most craft people,” said Mark Apepe, lead for the window-decorating team. “Basic tools from drills, hammers and screwdrivers to scissors and a sewing kit.”

Once the seasonal theme is installed, the crew members will add appropriate holiday overlays such as  Valentine’s Day.

They will also incorporate the needs of a particular store’s merchandising line, and work with Walt Disney Imagineering and the studio’s animation department.

When they’re not working in the parks, the team is back in a warehouse building located off-property in Anaheim, where they design window displays for other seasons and holidays.

Some of the props used in the displays are antiques or purchased from unique vendors. Because of the unique nature of the displays, the team also manufactures many props and items, from models of the Disney characters to a genie’s lamp.

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