Walt Disney World is enforcing long-standing rules banning third-party services on its property, disrupting small businesses and leaving some vendors feeling the magic has been lost.
The crackdown targets independent vendors, many former Disney employees, who provided services such as princess makeovers, family photography, custom baked goods, room decorations and private chef experiences.
In recent months, Disney security has issued warnings and cease-and-desist letters to numerous businesses, instructing them to stop operating on Disney property and to remove any advertising referencing Disney from their websites and social media, according to The Washington Post. Vendors are also prohibited from using Disney characters, designs or trademarks to promote their services.
The letters, reviewed by the outlet, warn that anyone attempting to provide services on-site may be considered trespassing, and Disney could involve law enforcement if violations occur.
“We’ve seen an increase in unauthorized third‑party vendors at our resort hotels, and these activities can raise safety and operational concerns and impact the Guest experience, which is why they are not permitted under our long‑standing property rules,” Disney said in a statement to The Post.
The crackdown particularly affects businesses launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, when furloughed employees turned their skills into side ventures serving Disney visitors, the Post reports. For families, the enforcement could limit independent options for personalized vacation experiences. Many vendors had filled gaps when Disney-run services, like princess makeovers or professional photography, were fully booked or unavailable.
Sheila Campion, owner of As You Wish Magical Experiences, began offering princess makeovers independently after leaving her role at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, located in the Magic Kingdom Park, during the pandemic. She said families she had previously worked with sought her out after parks reopened. Word spread quickly, and requests for princess and pirate makeovers surged.
Campion expanded her business by hiring furloughed Disney workers, eventually employing more than a dozen stylists. Demand remained strong even after the park’s on-site boutique reopened, as some families preferred in-room styling or struggled to secure reservations.
After receiving a registered letter in mid-February, Campion had to contact families with upcoming bookings to explain she could no longer provide the services.
“The worst part of it was for the little ones that had no options,” she told the Post. “They knew they couldn’t get into the boutique. I’ve had mothers crying when I called them.”
Campion said she continues to serve clients at non-Disney hotels and Airbnbs while exploring additional off-site options, though more than half of her previous business came from guests staying on Disney property.
Similarly, baker Ashlee Santmyers, who launched her cottage bakery Storybook Delights after being furloughed as a Disney pastry cook, has been forced to rethink her operations. She sold and delivered customizable breakfast boxes, cookies, cupcakes, and cakes, with Disney resorts serving as her primary customer base. When she received a cease-and-desist letter, she had nearly 200 orders on the books and took out a small business loan to issue refunds.
Santmyers said her business has slowed in the current off-season, and she now receives three to five orders per week instead of per day. She is adapting by serving customers off-site and updating her menu to include more shippable items.
“It’s not the end of Storybook, but it is a new chapter, and I’m not ready to give up,” Santmyers told The Post.
The latest enforcement follows Disney’s 2023 actions, when the company issued notices to unofficial tour guides who escorted guests through the parks.
While the letters target unauthorized vendors, Disney continues to partner with about 2,500 Florida-based businesses, including providers of strollers and wheelchairs and a Tampa roaster that serves as the parks’ official specialty coffee, according to an Oxford Economics study, based on fiscal year 2022 data.
The Independent has contacted Disney World for comment.
More Popeyes locations have closed after major franchisee filed for bankruptcy
Over 150 cruise guests and crew sick after norovirus outbreak
10 best spring break destinations: Family trips, beach escapes and party cities
Popular cruise line under fire for quietly raising onboard charges
This US city has been named the fifth best in the world
10 of the best last-minute spring break deals, from ‘kids stay free’ to ‘50% off’
