William “Sully” Sullivan, a Disney Legend who worked with The Walt Disney Company for 38 years, passed away on July 16th, 2024. Sullivan was 88 years old.

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William Sullivan was born in Fullerton, California. At age 19, Sullivan recalled watching the opening ceremonies for Disneyland on TV. “The following Saturday I went down and applied for a job. Monday I quit Northrop Aircraft, and Tuesday I reported to work as a ticket-taker at the Jungle Cruise,” Sullivan told Disney.

Sullivan met his future wife during his time as a Jungle Cruise skipper and worked his way up to an operations supervisor at Disneyland. He said in an interview with Disney, “I took a summer job, and I’ve been here ever since.”

Later, Sullivan acted as an assistant manager for Disney’s attractions at the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair. He also worked on the operations team for the opening of the Winter Olympics in 1960, working with Walt Disney himself.

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Throughout his career, Sullivan was part of the operations management of various Disney film premieres, including the 1964 Mary Poppins film. By 1968, Sullivan was part of the project management team for the Walt Disney World Resort project in Florida. Sullivan was able to create Disney World’s first security force. He also prepared operational layouts for Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, and the Transportation and Ticket Center, later contributing to Disney’s first hotel division.

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In 1971, when Walt Disney World opened, Sullivan was overseeing operations for Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, and Liberty Square. His positions went on to span from the director of PICO (Project Installation and Coordination Office) to the director of EPCOT Center operations, and Sully even served as vice president of Magic Kingdom Park in 1987. Years later, Sully worked on the team that opened Euro Disneyland (Disneyland Paris). After 38 years with Disney, Sullivan retired in 1993.

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Sullivan was named a Disney Legend in 2005. You can find a tribute to the Cast Member on two windows on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom: one above the Crystal Arts shop that lists him among the charter members of the “Windermere Fraternal Hall” and a second above the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, which references Sullivan’s love of hunting and fishing, reading, “Sully’s Safaris & Guide Service / Chief Guide / Bill Sullivan.”

Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, said, “Few people have contributed as much to Disney theme parks as Bill Sullivan,” adding, “His personal connection with Walt Disney and his incredible career spanning multiple decades and several destinations helped pass along Disney heritage to generations of cast members and guests around the world.”

Our thoughts are with his family at this time.