Walt Disney World honored cast members with employment anniversaries during their annual Disney Service Celebration this week. They later shared photos and stories from the celebration.
Disney Cast Member Service Celebration
Disney rolled out the red carpet for cast members and their loved ones at Magic Kingdom on Tuesday evening, January 27. They enjoyed after-hours park access, rare character greetings, private attractions, live entertainment, and more.
Elaine West Grimes, a 50‑year cast member at 50’s Prime Time Café, said, “Disney has felt like home for 50 years. Each day has given me the chance to make magic for our guests. Celebrating tonight reminds me why I started and why I’ve stayed. These cast members and our guests are like family, and together we keep the magic going.”
Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle, who started with Disney as an entry-level engineer in 1990, said, “Our cast members shape the magic our guests feel every day and this celebration is a way of saying, ‘thank you,’ for decades of extraordinary guest service, and the legacy they continue to build. Tonight, I am celebrating 35 years with Disney, and it feels great to reflect on all we have done together. It truly is a magical evening.”
Melissa Valiquette, Vice President, Park Operations, Development & Industrial Engineering, is celebrating 30 years with Disney. “The dedication and care our cast members show to one another and to our guests are what bring our stories to life every day,” said Valiquette. “We are proud to honor not only their years of service, but also the countless moments of magic they have created and sustained across generations.”
30-year cast member Kimmie Sue Hall, who recently retired, celebrated with her son, a fellow cast member.
“Disney is part of our family’s heritage,” Hall said. “Sharing these traditions with my son and passing that legacy forward is incredibly meaningful. Disney isn’t just where we worked. It’s where values, stories, and a love for creating happiness are passed from one generation to the next.”
Diego Parras, Senior Producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, said, “Thinking back to starting at Star Tours at just 17, it just amazes me how much this 35‑year journey has shaped my life. This company has given me opportunities beyond anything I imagined, and celebrating with the cast members who shaped my journey is an honor.”
Congratulations to all the cast members celebrating milestone anniversaries this year!
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