Central Shops: The Can-Do People Who Actually Do it All at Disney World

Right now, behind the scenes at Walt Disney World, the team at Central Shops is probably taking apart your favorite ride. Don’t worry, it’s all part of the schedule. Since 1969 — before Magic Kingdom even opened — this one-of-a-kind workshop has upheld Walt Disney’s legacy of seamless magic by caring for our iconic rides, Audio-Animatronics, signage, props, and more. 

To a lifelong Disney fan, stepping into Central Shops is like entering a 300,000-square-foot wonderland. So, when Director of Manufacturing, Fred Cox and Manager of Manufacturing, Rich Votava invited us on a tour, we happily donned safety goggles to fall down the rabbit hole. 

Over 400 skilled artisans, machinists, and craftspeople come together at Central Shops to build, repair, and restore Disney magic amid a constant whir of tools and heavy machinery. 

Here, ride vehicles from every corner of Disney World mingle as they come in for a check-up. Fred led the way past a fleet of pristine Space Mountain ships poised to take their place again among the stars. Nearby, a hunk of metal parts promised to give Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind its signature swagger. Just around the corner, Pooh’s honeypot awaited a cheerful fiberglass refresh. 

We were dazzled, but Fred picked up the pace, ever on schedule. “You see those pieces behind you?” He gestured toward a row of metal wheels and bars, “Some of those are Tron, and some of those are Seven Dwarfs.” Fred is in his element. A Disney cast member for nine years, he recently returned to Central Shops for the opportunity to work with his team on the rides that come to the shop floor. Carousel horses, pirate ships, and Doom Buggies alike eventually come to see Fred, Rich, and the Central Shops team through their Cycle-Overhaul Program. 

As we wandered through a small yard of disassembled Mad Tea Party teacups, Fred explained that the Cycle-Overhaul Program schedules attraction vehicles, set pieces, and other parts to come off the ride and into the shop for regular maintenance. Our field of teacups had a long-standing appointment on the calendar to show up, and after rigorous maintenance and inspection, they will keep another date to twirl again at Magic Kingdom.

For roller coaster vehicles, the “meter-based” program is used instead, which requires inspection and maintenance after a vehicle runs a predetermined number of times around the track. Fred explained, “The entire coaster is brought back to this facility … and we tear it completely down into itty-bitty pieces. When I say we tear it apart, we tear it apart. We rip that bad boy up!” 

Fred does not mince words when it comes to ride maintenance and the importance of safety inspections. The maintenance is rigorous, taking each coaster vehicle down to the smallest components. To service a coaster, Fred said it can take 12 to 18 weeks from the time it arrives at Central Shops to when it’s put back in service, with Tron and Guardians taking a bit longer due to their complicated ride systems.

Next, Fred showed us a few of the specialized tools utilized by the Quality Assurance Team at Central Shops and stressed the importance of the role. As Fred said definitively, “These guys are the ones that make sure everything is functioning and working properly.” 

Here, we discovered part of routine QA that few guests may have considered, like X-ray machinery to check for rotting wood and drones deployed to access hard-to-reach places for inspections (including underwater). Incorporating new technology into Central Shops has been integral for keeping up with every single need of the Disney World parks and resorts.

Our tour brushed near a machine the size of a small office, where we could peek in a window to witness a dancing laser happily blasting a castle outline into a thick sheet of metal. Fred smiled and held up a version of the finished product, a recognition award for retirees of the Walt Disney Company. At Central Shops, this and other specialty equipment are used by skilled craftspeople to create awards, signage, and even the nametags you see worn by every cast member in the parks and resorts.

Every part needed for Disney World rides, props, animatronics and more is built, repaired, or restored in-house. For example, Fred told us that if they need a specific bolt for a ride, the team can consult with Imagineering and the original ride blueprints, then custom-machine that bolt in-house. 

Fabricating new parts and even all-new sights at Disney World is a big part of the Central Shops work. Rich, a 23-year cast member who has been with Central Shops for 15 years, cited the Ariel and Flounder icon at Art of Animation Resort as the most memorable project he’s worked on at Central Shops. 

Rich recalled, “If you see it, it has three little seaweed leaves that come up and support Flounder. We had to build that here in Central Shops to withstand hurricane-force winds. And when you see a 6-foot Arial grow into a 25-foot Ariel inside this building — it’s truly amazing.” Rich said taking his kids to see the icons he worked on is one of the highlights of the job. 

Over the years, work orders for teacup touch-ups have increased to high-tech development of cutting-edge ride systems — like the entire room we saw dedicated to upkeeping the Avatar: Flight of Passage vehicles. But, while we saw advanced computer technology at Central Shops, we also saw timeless hand-crafted artistry at work. 

Traditional artists and craftspeople like sculptors, painters, and woodworkers collaborate here every day to create and maintain ride scenery, props, and specific costuming elements. They make sure every piece meets Disney’s high standards and maintain the show quality that guests have come to expect. Even backstage props that will only be seen by cast members find their way here for a refresh.

Fred and Rich displayed a pristine doll ready to rejoin “it’s a small world” and a fuzzy baby elephant taking a break from Jungle Cruise. We learned that his tiny trunk hairs had to be patiently inserted one at a time by hand. This level of care and consideration for the look of opening day rides is one way Central Shops carries the timeless wonder of the Disney legacy.

Looking ahead, Rich has his eye on the innovative new Monsters, Inc. coaster coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Fred is excited about the upcoming Villains expansion at Magic Kingdom. But most of all, they are excited to see guests enjoying the finished projects in the parks. 

The cast members at this behind-the-scenes powerhouse are how Disney World attractions remain immersive, safe, and magical for millions of guests every year. The size and scope of Central Shops is a phenomenon unique to Disney World, and the dedication of the team shines through in the enthusiasm and pride of Fred and Rich, who carefully usher beloved fan favorites in the bay doors and then back out to the parks and resorts.

Fred said taking their own families to the parks and seeing guests enjoy the result is the most rewarding part of the Central Shops. “It gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment because you know that you and your team personally brought it to life.” Rich added, “It is truly amazing when you see your children’s eyes open in amazement, knowing you helped.”