Joyce Carlson

Career Carlson first became involved with Walt Disney Productions in Burbank, California in 1944, when she took a job in the traffic department delivering mail, art supplies, coffee and other necessities to various departments. Additionally, she worked as a costume designer for raccoons, chickens, geese, dogs, etc. on a show called America Sings. The characters were later appropriated for scenes in Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain attraction.

She continued to work on newer attractions at Disneyland, Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Resort Paris.

She became the first female Disney employee to reach the 50 and 55 years of employment milestone in 1994.

She was declared a "Disney Legend" in 2000 and honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The commemorative window, which is Disney's version of a hall of fame, is a rare honor bestowed on employees who have made significant contributions to the company and its theme parks.

Carlson's window, which is on the second floor of a structure along Main Street U.S.A, reads, “Dolls by Miss Joyce. Dollmaker for the World. Shops in New York, California, Florida, Japan and Paris. Owner and Founder Joyce Carlson.” Another tribute was made in her honor when imagineers created a Joyce Carlson doll that is featured in the Florida attraction.

Death Joyce Carlson died of cancer at age 84 at her home in Orlando, Florida on January 2, 2008.