Disney World Cast Member Celebrates 40 Years of Gardening Excellence at EPCOT

40 Years of Growing Magic: EPCOT Cast Member Helps Shape Disney’s Living Landscape

At EPCOT, the magic does not just sparkle, it grows. And for one Cast Member, that growth has been a lifelong journey rooted deep in the soil of Walt Disney World.

Gary, who began his Disney career more than 40 years ago as a gardener, now serves as an Urban Forester, helping lead the care of thousands of trees across Walt Disney World Resort. His work is part science, part storytelling, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes magic that guests feel every time they stroll through a shaded pathway or stop to admire a perfectly placed garden.

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What started as a love of working outdoors quickly blossomed into something much bigger. Over the decades, Gary has helped shape landscapes that do more than look beautiful. They create immersive environments, support guest comfort, and bring Disney stories to life in living, breathing ways.

EPCOT has remained especially close to his roots. Gary was there in the early days and even supported the very first EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival back in 1994. At the time, it was a modest celebration of horticulture. Today, it has grown into a full-park spectacle filled with elaborate topiaries, vibrant gardens, and creative displays that transform EPCOT each spring.

While Gary is not the one designing the festival’s showstopping displays, he has played a role in every single one since its beginning. His work focuses on the heavy lifting behind the magic, from coordinating large-scale installations to ensuring everything is placed safely and sustainably. Think cranes, overnight installs, and carefully orchestrated setups that guests never see, but always enjoy.

Beyond the blooms, Gary’s work is rooted in a deeper mission. Mature trees are not just part of the scenery, they are essential to it. They provide shade, environmental benefits, and a sense of place that cannot be recreated overnight. His team works year-round to inspect, protect, and preserve these natural assets, balancing the demands of new development with the importance of maintaining the landscapes that define Disney parks.

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One of his proudest accomplishments is helping build an arboriculture program that will carry this work into the future, training the next generation of Cast Members to care for Disney’s ever-growing environment.

As EPCOT continues its transformation and Walt Disney World evolves, Gary’s story is a reminder that the magic is not just built. It is grown, nurtured, and cared for over time. And every flower, tree, and garden guests admire is part of a legacy decades in the making.

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