Disneyland worker reveals 'hidden gem' job that earns her up to $209 per custom order

A Disneyland employee who was once intrigued by a sketch of Mickey Mouse is now one of a handful of artists who is selling their artwork inside the park for up to $209 per picture.

Emily Henderson was inspired to become a sketch artist after she spotted a drawing of the beloved Disney character while she visited the California theme park as a kid.

'I saw the sketch artist here, doing this same thing, and I wanted nothing more than to do that in the park,' Henderson told SFGATE.

Henderson is now one of the few sketch artists to work at Disneyland and her drawings can be found in Disneyana, which is the art gallery on Main Street USA.

'The fact that I get to draw Disney characters all day for my job is pretty sweet,' she stated. 'It feels a little more special, like it’s a little hidden gem.'

A Disneyland employee and artist who was intrigued by a sketch of Mickey Mouse is now one of a handful of sketch artists that's selling their artwork for up to $209 per picture.

Emily Henderson was inspired to become a sketch artist after she spotted a sketch of the beloved Disney character while she visited the California theme park as a kid

Henderson is now one of the few sketch artist's to work at Disneyland and her work can be found in Disneyana, which is the art gallery on Main Street USA

Henderson and the other sketch artists at Disneyland in California work all throughout the park and create unique souvenir art for guests.

She auditioned for her job as a sketch artist in December 2023 while she was still in art school with the hopes of being an animator.

All of the sketch artists who work at the park were required to prove that they can draw in the Disney animation style. Henderson and the other artists also had to prove that they could do so while park guests were watching and talking to them.

Henderson's fans aren't just park visitors. She also has proudly boasted online about meeting American animator and cartoonist Floyd Norman.

Norman, who has worked for various animation companies, was inspired by films like Dumbo and Bambi, and has since been credited for his work in Disney movies like Mulan, Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc.  

According to Glassdoor, a sketch artist's hourly pay is around $19-$24 per hour and their estimated annual salary is $44,175 per year.

Artwork by Henderson and other Disneyland sketch artists are worth between $49 to $209 per item.

Henderson and the other sketch artists at Disneyland in California work all throughout the park and create new and unique art for guests to buy and take home as souvenirs

Henderson's guests aren't just park visitors. She also has proudly boasted online about meeting American animator and cartoonist Floyd Norman. Norman, who has worked for various animation companies, was inspired by films like Dumbo and Bambi, and has since been credited for his work in Disney movies like Mulan, Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc.

Disneyland visitors who are looking to purchase one of the unique pictures must go into the Disneyana gallery and look through the artists' portfolio books. The guests can then order the artwork they want and what they prefer for an illustration style.

A single Disney character that is a minimalistic sketch starts at $49 and a full-color illustration starts at $89 per character.

A full-color illustration with up to seven Disney characters who worth $209.

'People can request specific sketches out of our book to be recreated for them,' Henderson says. 'They're all by hand, they're all done to order.' 

Henderson revealed to SFGATE that some individuals want to watch their artwork be created by the sketch artist.

'People who are here for a couple of days can pick them up at the end of their visit, but some people will come back and watch them being done live while you're working on it,' she said.

'It’s just really fun to see your own custom piece being made right in front of you.'

A sketch that features one Disney character usually takes less than an hour to finish, but the pictures with multiple characters may take at least two hours to complete.

'There have been times when someone will come in at the very beginning of the day and order like 12 sketches,” said Henderson. 

'I'll be like, "OK, well I’m booked for the day.'"

Guests can also have the chance to create their own artwork with a little help from Henderson and the other Disneyland employees.

Disneyland visitors who are looking to purchase one of the unique pictures must go into the Disneyana gallery and look through the artists' portfolio books

Henderson loves to draw animals from the hit Disney films Lady in the Tramp and The Aristocrats

Visitors who are looking to draw their own sketches can participate in the Animation Academy, which is where a sketch artist will give step-by-step directions to guests on how to draw a Disney character.

The sketch artists who work at the Off the Page gallery in the park's Hollywood Land usually get more visitors. However, the Disneyana gallery where Henderson works 'is tucked away in a little corner of Town Square.'

'Over here, I feel like you kind of have to seek us out a little bit more... which is kind of more fun,' she added.

Henderson loves to draw animals from the hit Disney films Lady in the Tramp and The Aristocrats.

However, what the sketch artist really loves to do is to 'be the inspiration for younger artists.'

'It's neat that I get to pass that down, you know? That's probably my favorite thing about it.'