Disney Arborists: The Backbone of Landscaping
Did you know that a select group of Cast Members are the quiet guardians of thousands of trees found across The Most Magical Place on Earth? More than just tree trimmers, many call arborists the unsung heroes of landscaping. These arborists are entrusted with the overall health and longevity of our beautiful trees that provide shade across 30,000 acres of property.
As we celebrate National Military Appreciation Month in May, meet Josh, a skilled arborist at Walt Disney World and Marine Corps veteran.
“As a first-shift arborist, every day is different,” said Josh. “The day can vary from pruning and cleaning trees throughout our Disney Resort hotels, all four theme parks, two waterparks, and roadways.”
As a practitioner dedicated to understanding and preserving the variety of trees on Disney property, Josh, along with the other arborists, is responsible for performing scheduled routine arboriculture maintenance. They remove tree branches to ensure the landscape onstage looks immaculate for the millions of Guests who visit us year-round.
How did Josh’s Disney journey start?
Josh shared that he learned how to climb and rappel while in the military, two skills he uses as an arborist. “I look for any opportunity to climb and do tree pruning,” he added.
However, he states that his pursuit of becoming an arborist for Walt Disney World started when he and his family were vacationing at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. That’s when he decided to look at the Disney Careers site and start his application process, since he was already an arborist by trade in South Carolina.
Today, Josh has celebrated more than a year of being a Disney Cast Member. He has completed assignments he never thought he would as an arborist, such as loading and hauling some of the stunning plants and topiaries displayed at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.
“I enjoy coming in to work and doing different things every day,” he added.
Want to Be a Part of the Walt Disney World Horticulture team?
To be a Walt Disney World arborist, candidates should be familiar with industry safety standards, have a valid CDL Class A license, and have the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certifications, among other skills. To learn more about the arborist position, click here.
