Disney in Florida: Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is coming up on Nov. 30! Did you know there are lots of ways to shop small while visiting Walt Disney World?

Disney works with more than 8,500 small businesses nationwide who provide a wide range of goods and services. Thousands are local to Florida and many even have storefronts across Disney World that you can shop at. From tasty treats to unique gifts and homemade creations, here are seven of my favorite spots I recommend you visit this Saturday.

Calling all foodies! Blue Ribbon Corn Dog, a fan-favorite from Disneyland Resort, opened this year at Disney’s Boardwalk. It is one of many Disney dining locations owned and operated by a small business called Working to Give.

This business is extra special because it donates half of its net profits to charitable organizations all over the world. That means when you buy a corn dog, you’re helping both a small business AND communities from all over. Talk about a win-win.

“Disney has been a huge blessing and a gift to us in many ways,” said Matt Holguin, Working to Give Founder and CEO. “They have allowed the business to grow, but more importantly, have allowed us to give more to causes all around the world.”

Looking for a fun, personalized gift? The Art Corner at Disney Springs is the perfect one-stop shop for custom art pieces, including one-of-a-kind drawings from renowned artists or creations YOU can bring to life while there.

“It’s a big, big honor and blessing to have been with Disney this long,” said Keelan Parham, Founder and Chief Creative Office of Artistic Talent Group. “It is an absolute privilege to be able to create great artwork and also great memories for the guests who visit us.”

Bonus! The small business behind The Art Corner, Artistic Talent Group, has also operated caricature locations across our parks and resorts since 1999. Pop by to be drawn live or give them a photo of your loved one or pet and they’ll draw you up a custom caricature.

This next small business is always my first stop at the parks: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea. These Florida-based roast masters started working with Disney in 1995 with just 10 employees. It has since grown and have more than 150 employees at shops across Walt Disney World.

 Joffrey’s knows how to make a mean cup of joe and its specialty themed blends are the best! A bag of Joffrey’s beans or single-serve pods are another great gift idea for any coffee fanatic.

“We started as a small Florida business and our brand was not well known at all,” said Ted Abrams, the CEO of Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company. “Working with Disney has helped us grow so much and now we’re a recognized consumer brand who receives positive comments from guests all the time.”

Don’t forget about your four-legged, furry friends this holiday season. Happy Hound at Disney Springs sells toys, treats, collars, tags and more. The owners of the business, Elizabeth Vultaggio and her husband Matt, are big dog lovers and started operating at Disney in 2016.

“Working with Disney is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I’m truly so grateful to be at Disney Springs,” said Co-Owner Elizabeth Vultaggio. “I love going to work and talking with guests – we chat about each other’s dogs together, and it feels like we’re our own little family honestly.”

Bonus! The owners behind Happy Hound also run Lefty’s – The Left Hand Store at Disney Springs, which has a huge selection of practical products designed just for those who are left-handed. Think items like utensils, mugs, can openers, scissors, notebooks, pens and more. Another perfect holiday gift for that lefty in your life.

NOTHING beats the comfort and taste that comes with a home-cooked meal! At Cilantro Urban Eatery, the small business owners love to bring the flavors of their home in Venezuela to guests at Disney Springs. The best part? It’s a family-run business.

They serve up Latin-inspired dishes like Argentine Empanadas, Mexican Tostadas, Cuban sandwiches and more. My personal favorite? Their signature dish, the Venezuelan-style Burger-rrito, which is a Venezuelan-style burger served in a wrap. I’m getting hungry just writing this …

“We feel so welcomed here at Disney and it’s so special that we can bring a bit of our food from home in Venezuela to Orlando,” said co-owner Carolina Medina. “It’s a blessing, and it also means so much to us when guests choose to eat our food.”

Know someone with a sweet tooth? I’ve got the perfect stocking stuffer for them: handcrafted flavored marshmallows from Wondermade. This Florida small business opened up at Disney Springs just four years ago and the owners have grown their business to new heights ever since.

Wondermade now offers more than 30 different flavors of marshmallows, including seasonal favorites like gingerbread, peppermint and sugar cookie.

“Disney is everyone’s dream, no matter which way you look at it,” said Wondermade co-owner Nathan Clark. “It’s people’s dream vacation, it’s people’s dream employer, it’s people’s dream partner. Opening our Disney Springs location has been life-changing for our business and our family because it’s helped us grow significantly and reach new sales records.”

Disney is home to some of the most talented culinary masterminds out there – including some who have gone on to create their own small businesses after working at Disney.

The Polite Pig at Disney Springs was created by award-winning chef, James Petrakis, who started his career at California Grill before launching multiple thriving dining spots in Orlando. His location at Disney Springs is one of his most popular and has helped his other businesses expand.

“Our work with Disney is a huge driving force for our whole operation,” said James Petrakis, owner of The Polite Pig. “The success has allowed me to do things that I wouldn’t have been able to do, like expand my brewery, build beer gardens, remodel restaurants and go into airports. We’ve been able to reach a broader market and people from around the world!”

We can’t forget the small businesses working behind the magic, too. Let’s keep the recognition going for the hundreds of small businesses who work with our team behind the scenes to bring the magic of our parks and resorts to life.

From construction projects to printing park maps to stocking our resorts with towels and bedding, there are talented crews from all over Florida and beyond leaving their mark at Walt Disney World.

This Orlando construction group has made a huge impact at Walt Disney World with their top-notch craftsmanship and passion, working together with Disney Imagineers for 15 years to bring some iconic spots to life.

They’ve helped build and refresh many favorites across the resort like Regal Eagle Smokehouse at EPCOT, Trail’s End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness, the Tambu Lounge at the Polynesian and more.

“It feels great to know that our work has brought joy to so many families,” said Poli Construction Vice President Pawel Szatkowski. “Working with Disney has also allowed us to grow and expand our business. There’s so much opportunity here and we appreciate all that Disney has done for us.”

These printing experts are behind one of the best and most helpful park resources out there: park maps! The maps at all our theme parks are printed by Colonial Press, a small business from Miami and one of the largest Hispanic-owned commercial printers in the nation.

“The Disney Parks maps are a fundamental core piece of business for us. We print maps every single week, and you will always see a Disney map somewhere in production at our plant,” said Jeff Statler, the Executive Vice President of Corporate Sales at Colonial Press. “Working with Disney has allowed us to have consistent work, keeping our workforce flourishing over the years.”

I am a firm believer that the comfiest beds on earth are at a Disney Resort hotel. Nothing beats jumping into plush blankets, sheets and pillows after a long park day.

Well, these superb linens are sourced from Sobel Westex, a small business we’ve worked with for more than 20 years. They provide our resort with linens – everything from bedding to towels, table linens, sheets, blankets and more.

“It’s a great feeling of accomplishment to know that the products you provide are loved so much,” Walter Palaez, the Chief Executive Officer of Sobel Westex, said. “These last two decades with Disney have been full of growth for us. It feels like we’ve got the winning hand and it’s been phenomenal.”

This is just a taste of the incredible work that small businesses are up to at Walt Disney World. We’re thankful for the happiness they bring to guests not just on Small Business Saturday, but every day.