The story behind Daydreamer Scenic Studios
Daydreamer Scenic Studios began the way all great stories do with a spark of imagination.
What started as childhood backyard haunts, handmade props, and a love for horror evolved into large-scale scenic fabrication for some of the world’s most iconic themed entertainment experiences. From Halloween Horror Nights Orlando to ambitious projects within Epic Universe, each chapter shaped the heart of what Daydreamer is today:
a studio where dreams are engineered into reality.
Driven by story and grounded in craftsmanship, we exist to build the worlds people escape into the ones that thrill, unsettle, inspire, and stay with them long after the lights come up.
At Daydreamer Scenic Studios, our mission is to transform bold creative visions into tangible, awe-inspiring environments. Specializing in scenic fabrication for theme parks and immersive attractions, we fuse imagination with expert craftsmanship to build fully realized scenic elements that captivate, inspire, and endure.
From concept to completion, we don’t just dream we deliver.
Meet The Leadership Team
Kyle Vandewater
Senior Architectural Designer
Toby Derrig
Founder / Creative Director
Dana Melnyk
Senior Production Manager
Kyle is a technical storyteller. With deep experience in architectural planning, showset integration, and themed entertainment drafting, he transforms creative concepts into buildable reality. His eye for structure, form, and engineering detail ensures that our wildest ideas don’t just look good — they stand strong, function flawlessly, and endure.
Toby’s journey is built on passion, grit, and a relentless drive to bring stories to life. With experience spanning fabrication, project management, and large-scale themed entertainment builds, Toby leads Daydreamer with a balance of creativity and precision. From apprentice to fabricator to project manager in less than a year, his trajectory reflects the core of the studio’s DNA: dream big, build boldly, and never stop learning. Toby’s specialties include story-driven design, scenic fabrication, horror/theatrical aesthetics, and creative problem-solving under pressure — skills that anchor Daydreamer’s unique identity and approach.
Dana's years of experience working on Universal Orlando projects and complex scenic installations, Dana brings unmatched leadership, logistical expertise, and on-site production insight. She bridges creative ambition with practical execution, ensuring every build meets the highest standards of safety, durability, and themed entertainment expectations. Dana is the calm in the storm — guiding teams, optimizing workflows, and elevating every project she touches.
COming soon!
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The side of the studio focused on imagination, worldbuilding, and technically sophisticated scenic experiences. These are the designers, fabricators, and artists who bring bright, whimsical, or cinematic stories to life the everyday worlds that captivate guests with magic and wonder.
When the season turns darker and deadlines get tighter, the same team shifts into Nightmare Mode our specialized process for building horror attractions, haunted experiences, and complex high-pressure builds with fast turnarounds.
Same people.
Same dedication.
A different creative pulse.
These dual identities reflect the heart of the company:
dreamers at work, engineers at heart, storytellers always.
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Daydreamer Scenic Studios is built to evolve from a dream to a studio and, one day, to a premier vendor serving the world’s largest theme parks, immersive experiences, and entertainment clients.
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Our foundation is simple:
Craft with imagination. Build with intention. Create with heart.
The worlds we build are designed to last in structure, in memory, and in story.
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