Every Tour Guide at Disneyland Resort brings history to life, believing that it’s more than dates and places: it’s about people, and the stories they leave behind to inspire generations to come. For Justin Turrentine, a Tour Guide since 2012, that belief was born from his own family story, and led to the creation of the Women Who Make the Magic Guided Tour in Disneyland Park
Justin’s inspiration came from two important women in his life: his mother and aunt. When his aunt, who helped raise his mother, passed away in 2019, he reflected on her life story, her influence on his mother, and the importance of keeping those stories alive.
The impact his mother and aunt had on Justin followed him into his role as a Disneyland Tour Guide, and he began to conceptualize a tour that celebrated the empowering women who have influenced The Walt Disney Company throughout its existence.
“I wanted to work on a history tour that focused on the women of Disney, because they were there from the beginning. In fact, before the beginning,” recalled Justin.
Tour Guide Justine Turrentine smiles in front of “it’s a small world,” whose key designer, Mary Blair, is featured on the Women Who Make the Magic Guided Tour.
He presented the idea to his leader, Marissa Day, who supported the concept and its development from day one.
“I immediately said yes!” remarked Marissa, who has served as a co-chair for Disneyland Resort Women’s Inclusion Network, a Belonging Employee Resource Group that empowers women’s voices within the company. “This is what we need: meaningful stories of the women who made the magic that can open the door for the stories of the women who make the magic.”
While the concept was sparked by Justin’s imagination, he knew he needed the right collaborators to bring his idea to life. Fellow Tour Guides, Karen Fleishauer and Abby Gonzalez joined him to develop the tour and brought not only their passion for Disney history, but also their lived experience as women in uniquely creative roles that help shape the guest experience.
Tour Guide Karen Fleishauer stands in the heart of Disneyland Park, sharing Ruth Shellhorn’s influential design of the park’s walkways and layout.
“I’ve gotten to help develop a couple [of tours], but this one has probably been my favorite that I’ve gotten to work on,” said Karen, who has worked as a Tour Guide, trainer and lead since 2007. “It’s unlike anything we’ve ever done, and it shines a light on those things that most people don’t know about.”
Abby Gonzalez, who became a Tour Guide in 2022 and has since become a lead, trainer and tour developer, couldn’t agree more.
“There’s a sense of pride that I get to do this,” said Abby. “I love learning about this company; it has such an extensive history. We get to share those stories with guests in a new and exciting way.”
Tour Guide Abby Gonzalez steps off the tour at the front of Disneyland Park and shares the creative legacy left by Flora Disney, Walt Disney’s mother.
The team began by making a list of women’s stories they wanted to tell, from Walt Disney’s mother, Flora Disney, to Mary Blair, whose beloved art style influenced fan-favorite Walt Disney Animation Studios films and attraction “it’s a small world.”
“Then we split it up and we each kind of took on our own research as far as finding the books, finding the information, and then began writing it,” said Karen. “Getting to look into some of these women who I didn’t know anything about, and learning more about their achievements has just been really inspiring.”
Click the photo above to learn more about how developing this tour and learning about these inspirational women left a mark on these incredible cast members.
The result is an inspiring journey in the footsteps of women that have helped create and shape the stories, art and innovation that Disney fans have come to love for over 100 years. With stories from women in animation, Imagineering, Disney Parks and beyond, the tour’s developers hope that guests leave feeling inspired to move forward in pursuing their own dreams, while paving the way for more to follow in their steps.
“Growing up, I’ve had women guiding me my entire life,” said Abby, which set her perspective on how to uplift other women around her. “It’s about recognizing our talents and recognizing what we can bring to the table. That mindset carried into my adult life and into my role at Disney today.”