As part of our on-going "5 Minutes With" series, every month we’ll introduce you to a new member of our Disney Meetings & Events team at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Resort in California or Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii. Whether they work in our Disney Convention Resorts, Theme Park Operations, Catering and Convention Services, Sales, Entertainment or dozens of other event-support areas, these Cast Members and their teams are responsible for creating magical experiences and unforgettable events for meeting and event industry professionals, and their important attendees and guests, every single day.

Let’s meet Laura Fitzgerald, Senior Sales Manager at the Disneyland Resort:

How do you and your team work with meeting and event planners? 

We spend a lot of time on relating with the client by asking discovery questions, such as, “What did you like best about your last meeting and location? Why?” Once we feel that we have gathered as much information as we can, we send a recap of our conversation to the client so we can begin brainstorming ideas together to tell their group’s one-of-a-kind story. 

It is always nice to get the meeting planners on property for a site inspection. From our discovery, we can tailor the site according to what the meeting planner shared. We always try to sprinkle a little magic along the way. One example was a planner mentioned to me that she loved our turkey legs. As a surprise, we ate turkey legs for lunch while she was onsite! 

Can you describe one of your best Disney memories related to your position assisting a convention/meeting group? 

One group that I have worked with for years is a pest control organization. I met our Director of Horticulture and his team to a create horticulture tour, which was a truly customized experience that the organization was looking for. This was a great way to help them tell their story through a customized Disney experience, utilizing our experts in the field.