Bill Sullivan obit

 

Disney Legend, Friend of Walt, Tragically Dies at 88

He was not on the list.

Known for a storied career at Disneyland and Walt Disney World (and beyond!) Disney Legend Bill “Sully” Sullivan has passed away at the age of 88.

After seeing the opening of Disneyland on television, Sully promised himself he’d work there and found work at the park where he progressed from ticket-taker to ride operator to operations supervisor.

Having worked at the Jungle Cruise for nearly three years, Bill earned the title of “jungle bunny”, an unofficial name given to the attraction’s hosts back in the ’50s. This experience gave him the opportunity to move around the park, rising through the ranks of park operations and supervising various attractions.

He was subsequently sent to Squaw Valley as a member of the operations team that assisted in the opening and operating of the Winter Olympics in 1960, where Disney was in charge of Pageantry. Sully then served as assistant manager for the Disney-designed attractions at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.

Sully participated in the operations management of a number of Disney film premieres, including Mary Poppins at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and The Happiest Millionaire at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. He relocated to Florida for the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971.

While in Florida, Sully served a stint as director of PICO (Project Installation and Coordination Office), coordinating operational design input and installation of owner-furnished equipment at EPCOT Center, after which he was the director of Epcot Center operations. In 1987, he was named vice president of the Magic Kingdom, and was responsible for operation of the Park including attractions, merchandising, transportation, entertainment, ticket sales, guest relations, costuming, foods, custodial, maintenance, planned work, and horticulture.

Two windows on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park pay tribute to Sully. One lists him as a charter member of the “Windermere Fraternal Hall,” while another identifies him as Chief Guide of “Sully’s Safaris & Guide Service” – referencing his time at Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise.

Sully also served as Vice President of the Magic Kingdom from 1987 until 1993, allowing him to oversee the openings of Delta Dreamflight, Magic Journeys, Mickey’s Birthdayland, and Splash Mountain.

In 1993, Bill retired after 38 years with Disney, and he would be named a Disney Legend in 2005. In 2015, he wrote the book, From Jungle Cruise Skipper to Disney Legend: 40 Years of Magical Memories at Disney.

On the afternoon of July 16, journalist David Koenig reported that William “Sully” Sullivan had died at the age of 88.

Bill Sullivan was raised in Southern California, just minutes from the area that would soon house Disneyland Park. He recalled turning on the television to watch the opening of Disneyland in 1955 when he was just 19. He quickly realized how special Disney was and just days later, he went down to Disneyland and applied for a job.

 

When Disneyland opened, guests would purchase a ticket book that would allow them to ride the various attractions in the theme park. Bill started out as a ticket taker on the iconic Disney attraction, The Jungle Cruise. He was dedicated to his job and worked his way up to ride operator and then operations supervisor for the entire park.

But Sully had bigger dreams, and he was determined to achieve them.

In 1960, Sully was sent down to Squaw Valley, California, where he would help Walt open and operate the Winter Olympics. Just a few years later, he would head to New York, when he served as the assistant manager for the Disney attractions that premiered at the legendary 1964-1965 World’s Fair.

Sully fondly remembered that time in his life and what it meant to him to work with Walt Disney before his passing in 1966. “Walt was a really warm individual. He had a great sense of humor, and he loved people. He was an executive, but not what you perceive as an ‘executive.’ He was a real team guy.”

In 1971, Sully relocated to Florida and helped open the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. And, in 1987, he was named Vice President of the Magic Kingdom. He was in charge of all theme park operations, from food to attractions, merchandising, tickets, transportation, entertainment, horticulture, and more.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Disney Legend Bill “Sully” Sullivan. May he rest in peace.