Disney Engineering cast members recently turned 11,000 orange cups into something incredible—a towering Orange Bird sculpture for a great cause. Before donating the cups to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Disney VoluntEARS built an 8-foot-tall citrus-inspired creation for this year’s Orange Bird CANstruction event.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the team made it happen.
Step 1: Choosing the Icon
This year’s CANstruction theme was “ICANic Central Florida,” with companies across the region designing food sculptures to raise awareness for food insecurity. Disney selected Orange Bird as its featured character—a fitting tribute to the company’s Central Florida roots. Created in 1970 as the mascot for the Florida Citrus Commission. Orange Bird has become a fan-favorite and cultural icon at Walt Disney World.
“It’s a beloved piece of Disney history and culture that represents the company’s roots in Central Florida,” said Disney architect Jeremy Rumph.
Step 2: Designing the Model
Engineers used the Orange Bird sipper cup as inspiration, building a detailed 3D model using architectural software. The program helped them scale the sculpture and calculate how many orange cups were needed.
“It’s a different challenge working with food items instead of traditional materials,” Jeremy added. “But we use the same skills and tools we rely on every day.”
Step 3: Building with Purpose
With the design finalized, Disney VoluntEARS—joined by their families—spent eight hours assembling the sculpture at the event. Each cup was carefully placed to bring Orange Bird to life in vivid, citrusy detail.
Step 4: Giving Back
After a few days on display, Disney VoluntEARS took down the sculpture and donated the 11,000 orange cups to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. An organization Disney has supported for over 30 years. Through programs like Disney Harvest, Walt Disney World has donated millions of meals to those in need.
Participation in Orange Bird CANstruction has contributed thousands of pounds of food to the community, blending creativity, volunteerism, and giving back.
Congratulations to the Disney Engineering VoluntEARS for turning their talent into something truly meaningful.
