Disney World is Cracking Down on Outside Businesses Providing Unauthorized Guest Services

Walt Disney World has sent cease and desist warnings to third-party vendors providing unauthorized guest services on Walt Disney World’s private property. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen news like this, but the latest round of cease-and-desist warnings has prompted multiple viral posts online from impacted businesses. These notices are the result of enforcement of stated, longstanding Disney policies that are posted on the website and available in person at the resort.

Below is a look at the official Walt Disney World rules for third-party services on resort private property and the businesses that were impacted. Plus, a look at a previous similar crackdown. This is the first report that we know of to dig into these new cease and desist notices. At Mickey Visit, we report on recent Disney news like the February Disney World ride closures and the changes at Disneyland’s Lunar New Year festival.

READ MORE – 11 Unwritten Rules of the Disney Parks You Really Need to Follow

Disney Sends Cease and Desist Warnings to Local Businesses

Disney vets and approves certain vendors to do business on Walt Disney World property. They do this to ensure guest safety and to make sure that businesses providing services to guests have the appropriate licenses and registrations. These rules are available and we would expect they are known in a community of small businesses operating around Walt Disney World. Now, Disney has taken steps to enforce existing rules following, what feels like, an influx of service providers who are connecting with guests in Facebook Groups and on social media.

According to reports circulating on social media, cease and desist warnings were sent to a number of local small businesses providing services on Walt Disney World property. Some of these businesses include photographers, massage therapists, chefs and catering companies, stylists performing services like princess makeovers in hotel rooms, hotel room decorators, and more.

We spoke with admins of Ear For Each Other, a Facebook group that promotes a collection of artisans and makers who came together during the pandemic. What began as a way for furloughed tourism workers in Orlando to connect their services with buyers evolved into a thriving marketplace of small and local businesses with over 294K members. One admin of the group shared that “over time, our side hustles became our full-time jobs”. The popularity has brought scrutiny from Disney.

The group admin shared that six businesses within the community have received the cease and desist notices. This crackdown could have come from a rise in awareness about this group and others like it. A recent Fodor’s Travel article cited services from members of Ear For Each Other and other similar services from ex-Cast Members as a top way for guests to save money at Walt Disney World. This increase in mainstream awareness and influx in guest interest in the offerings may have prompted Disney to take action to enforce their existing policies.

This recent wave of notices is part of an ongoing effort by Disney to ensure that commerce happening on property is properly vetted and safe. In late 2023, multiple local tour guide businesses were issued trespassing notices during a similar crackdown. At the time, a Disney spokesperson shared “Unauthorized commercial activities are not permitted at Disney World, as clearly stated in our property rules” in a statement with Business Insider.

Why Third-Party Services Create Risk on Disney Property

These rules have been in place at Walt Disney World for quite some time, but this recent news suggests that Disney just executed a larger enforcement effort. The increase in service providers also means that there is a broader safety and security risk to guests if something were to go wrong.

Some guests might assume Disney restricts third-party business out of fear that they take revenue away from Disney, but it’s far more complex than that. Beyond the physical risk, allowing unapproved third-party businesses could create legal or insurance risk for Disney. For instance, a guest could experience some kind of physical injury or harassment during a third-party service.

The same concern applies to property damage or health-related issues. Examples could include foodborne illness from catering services, harassment by massage providers, damage caused by room decorators, or sanitation issues stemming from makeup or beauty services. This does not imply that these outcomes are common or expected, but they do represent potential risks we imagine that Disney is accounting for.

With some of these services, Disney does not even offer an alternative, which suggests the decision is driven more by safety and liability concerns. For example, Disney does not provide professional photography services at Disney Resort hotels, so restricting third-party photographers in those locations is not about redirecting business to Disney. Perhaps the demand for these services is a sign that Disney should expand their Capture Your Moment photography sessions to Disney Resort hotels as well.

We also know that Disney works closely with big and small businesses in Central Florida to power the Walt Disney World experience. When they work with outside companies, there is a heavy emphasis on vetting and licensing to ensure that all commerce happens in a controlled way. A recent example of a sanctioned partnership is the airport bag service run by BagCheck, an outside company that Disney has specifically vetted to handle guest luggage in their expanding airport bag service.

We have collected statements and a look at the public posts from some of the impacted businesses on social media at the bottom of this article. One person also shared the full notice they received from the Vice President of Walt Disney World Security.

According to Walt Disney World’s official list of prohibited activities, many of these businesses appear to be operating in violation of those rules. These rules apply across Walt Disney World Resort (theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and resort hotels) and are published on the official Walt Disney World website:

Prohibited commercial activity without prior written approval from Disney includes:

• The sale of goods or services, or the display of goods or services, unless prior written approval has been obtained.
• The distribution of printed or recorded materials of any kind unless prior written approval has been obtained.
• Unauthorized events, speeches, or use of any flag, banner, sign or other material for commercial purposes, or as part of a demonstration.
• Photography, videotaping or recording of any kind, or otherwise engaging in any activity, for unapproved commercial purposes.
• Unauthorized solicitations of any kind, whether commercial, religious, educational or otherwise, or conducting any unauthorized commercial activities, including solicitations of money or other contributions or donations

Official Disney Notice and Responses From Impacted Businesses

Here is an example of one of the letters that was posted to the Cali King Cuisine & Catering social media page.

The service this business provided was on-site catering, often setting up in Disney Vacation Club rooms, based on comments from past customers.

Another local business, a photographer who frequently works at Disney Resort hotels, shared a statement on their social media page. That statement from Natalie Szolomayer Photography is copied below.

“Third party photographers are no longer allowed to shoot at the Disney resorts. I was holding out hope until I heard it first-hand, but it seems that my days of shooting at the Disney hotels are over. To say I’m heartbroken is an understatement. I’m utterly DEVESTATED. I love what I did, I loved capturing your memories and milestones on your vacations, and for what it’s worth – I had permission from MULTIPLE resort managers that I was allowed to photographer there as a professional. I even had some managers go out of their way to help make a crying kid laugh or a baby look toward the camera. During every shoot at the hotels, I felt supported and not in any way a nuisance.I don’t know for sure the reasoning behind this move. Their photopass team and fine art photography do not offer portrait sessions at the hotels, so I was in no way taking business from them. In fact, I’ve had clients fly to Disney SPECIFICALLY for photo sessions with me – so while it was a drop in the bucket of a billion dollar corporation, I DID bring them some money.

What hurts the most is that so far the cease and desist letters seem to be targeted and focused on vendors in the Ear For Each Other group, which was started after a bunch of cast members were furloughed or let go during covid. That’s where we’d post our side hustles – so other cast members or vacationers looking to support former or furloughed cast members could find various services, knowing they were helping a small business of someone who no longer had a job. That’s where 90% of my business came from.

And now 90% of my business is gone. We had planned to travel to Japan as a family since Josh has a gig there in a few months – but we’ve had to cancel that now. It’d be foolish to go after taking a financial hit like this.

I will still be a central Florida photographer, but…one of about 8000. The market is so saturated, which is why I found the EFEO group to be such a blessing: it was just me and a handful of other photographers – among many other types of vendors – and we all had plenty of customers to go around.

I will also still be able to shoot at Universal, including INSIDE the parks – USO, IOA, and Epic. Universal is super chill about it, and doesn’t mind us third-party riff raff (many because their own photographers are third party, fun fact). But those tend to be my most expensive shoots, so I don’t always get too many bookings for those either. And of course, I can continue shooting at the local parks, gardens, and beaches. Needless to say…I’m sad. I’m trying to figure out how to pivot from here and regrow my business from, what feel like, scratch. Love you all, and it has been a pleasure working with every single one of you.”

Another photography business, Root Photography, shared in a Disney Fairytale Wedding Facebook group that they also received this notice, stating:

“I spoke with the head of DFTW directly the other day and, sadly, this is true.  We’re so sad about it, but it sounds like ALL third party vendors are barred from services at the resorts unless it’s on the wedding day. Not just photographers. (The implication, I imagine, is that each vendor has been given the rules about things *and* have signed the waiver.) We’re pretty bummed because Disney is THE destination for so many of our couples; whether it’s for engagement, anniversary, or family sessions. Lots of memories built up over the years! To be clear, we (and others) are still allowed to photograph weddings and events. That isn’t changing. But heading to the resort for photos that aren’t ON your wedding day or attached to a booked event is off the table. If someone tells you otherwise, please know that they’re risking their reputation and could put you in bad spot as well.”

In the case of photographers and other wedding-related vendors, Disney Fairytale Weddings rules allow guests to use third-party services only on booked wedding days or other officially booked events.

Have you heard about specific other businesses being impacted by this crackdown? We will continue to monitor this story and provide additional updates on changes and news. Let me know your thoughts.