Disney Honors Custodians with Stunning Water Art on National Custodian Appreciation Day. Earlier today we wrote about Disney Magic Kingdom Custodial Cast Member Joel Hernandez Rodriguez who creates Water Art seen around the Park. ABC News featured him in a special video and how he shares the magic with guests visiting Walt Disney World. Now, Disney Parks just put up a special celebrating the custodial cast members and how they create the water art featured around the Magic Kingdom, with a special Haunted Mansion version of The Hatbox Ghost.
If you look closely at the brooms the Custodial Cast Members carry, you may spot one that has a rubber band tied around the bristles. Without being creepy, follow them (Or go and ask them if they will be doing any water art soon). These are specially trained Cast Members who have gone through a few-hour course on water art. After some behind-the-scenes practice, they go into the Parks and draw Disney Characters on the ground with water.
Check it out, here is how the water art is created in three steps.
When you walk into the gates of any of our theme parks, do you ever wonder why it feels so neat and clean? Spoiler Alert: It’s because of our cast members – most notably, our 4,000+ custodial team that make our theme parks, resorts, and entertainment venues sparkle and shine every day. And today on National Custodian Appreciation Day, we’re shining a spotlight on this humble, supporting role that makes happy happen for our guests in some surprising and even artistic ways.
After making sure all the routine custodial tasks are done, many of our magic makers will pick up their simple tools – a broom, a dustpan, and water – and draw in an audience of guests, creating many favorite Disney characters, from Mickey Mouse to the Hatbox Ghost, in a unique Disney art form known as Water Art.
How do custodial cast members bring Water Art to life? Just ask Joel, one of our many custodial artists, who makes even the smaller moments of visiting a theme park even more special.
Step 1: Sketch It Out
Like most works of art, Joel starts with a simple sketch. He draws the character on paper to learn the lines, shapes, and details it takes to bring the character to life.
Step 2: From Parchment to Pavement
After mastering step 1, Joel picks up his pan and broom to practice creating the character on the pavement.
Joel’s pro tip: Drawing circles with a broom is easy. He simply holds his broom steady and turns his body in a full 360-degree rotation.
