When thinking of Disneyland Resort, you might picture iconic roller coasters, smiling princesses and beloved Mickey Mouse-shaped snacks. But beyond fan-favorite attractions, countless teams work behind the scenes to keep this happy place running and looking beautiful every single day. One of these teams is the horticulture department, responsible for tending to the plants, trees and flowers that bring the different themed areas of Disneyland Resort to life.
Tree Assessment Specialist Anne Watson is one of the horticulture department’s talented cast members who play an important role in the appearance of Disneyland Resort.
Anne’s passion for trees begins… and grows
For Anne, horticulture wasn’t always part of her career plan. Her goal was to remain in the racehorse business, as she was the director of client relations for a racehorse merchant company. Anne decided to pursue a degree in sports turf management. This led her to discover her love of horticulture, and more specifically, trees.
Anne switched gears from turf management to horticulture and would eventually gain her arborist certification. She later became the grounds and gardens supervisor at the Getty Villa, a museum and educational center in Pacific Palisades, California, for 13 years. After over a decade at the Getty Villa, Disney reached out to Anne to ask her if she would return to Disneyland Resort. She happily accepted and came back after hiring into the resort as a gardener.
Anne in front of the dreaming tree, the most recent member of the “Hero Tree” family in Mickey’s Toontown.
Anne’s role in making magic
As a tree assessment specialist, Anne focuses on the trees at Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park. To keep track of the more than 15,000 trees at the resort, each tree has an annual check-up and is recorded using a numbered tag. As part of a team of “tree geeks,” as she calls them, Anne is responsible for making sure the trees are healthy.
Disney’s Horticulture Department: Magic behind the scenes
Horticulture cast members don’t typically work when Disney guests are enjoying their time in the parks. So, it’s easy to overlook the role trees and other plants play in the image of the resort.
Anne in front of the Dominguez Palm in Adventureland.
Every tree adds to the immersive atmosphere of Disneyland Resort. But some trees are so important they have their own classification: “Hero Trees,” such as the Dominguez Palm. The historic Dominguez Palm towering over Adventureland near Indiana Jones Adventure has stayed in the same location since it was planted in the late 19th century.
“I think people may not understand how complicated it can be and how much effort it is to keep the resort looking the way it does,” Anne said. “A lot goes into everything we do here. And not just our team. It’s everyone.
Some of the variety of plants welcoming guests at the iconic Tomorrowland entrance.
A beloved Disneyland Guided Tour makes a comeback
At Disneyland Resort, everyone can find something to enjoy. Recently, the Cultivating the Magic Guided Tour returned as an offering for guests to learn more about the subtle touches that plants bring. Tour participants even experience a unique ride aboard the Jungle Cruise, but instead of listening to knee-slapping jokes, they learn how types of foliage inspire the feeling of journeying through some of the world’s most treacherous rivers.
The plants at Disneyland Resort come in all colors of the rainbow!
A moment of Disney Horticulture appreciation
“I know a lot of it goes unseen,” Anne said, adding, “but one of my favorite things about Disney is the detail, in general, that Disneyland cast members put into this place.”
As Walt Disney said, “It takes people to make the dream a reality.” As beautiful as Disneyland Resort is, it takes many teams, including the horticulture department, to make Disneyland Resort the iconic vacation destination that it is, and it’s thanks to dedicated cast members like Anne for continuing a legacy in splendor and detail.