It’s a fact that Disney Cast Members are the people who make the magic happen. From creating the rides we enjoy to gifting guests with a magical experience in the parks, Cast Members are the heart and soul behind the Disney Parks.

Disney Cast Members: The Latest News

Disney World Cast Members Honored With the Walt Disney Legacy Award

Standout Cast Members across Walt Disney World Resort have received a magical surprise: the honor of the Walt Disney Legacy Award. As the highest honor a Cast Member can achieve, this prestigious recognition is meant to celebrate those who reflect the qualities that define Walt’s legacy to dream, create, and inspire.

Fewer than 1 percent of Cast, Crew, and Imagineers worldwide earn the Walt Disney Legacy Award. It’s based on peer nominations, and over the past few months, leaders, teammates, and even special guests have honored Cast Members and presented them with the iconic blue nametag that comes with the Walt Disney Legacy Award. Here’s a look at a few of those who received the award in 2026:

• Amanda and Mike Ferrara – Merchandise Leader, World of Disney at Disney Springs & Entertainment Leader, Resorts
• Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko – Veterinarian, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
• Lionel Jeanne – Cultural Representative, France Pavilion, EPCOT
• Anne – Guest Experience Manager, Merchandise, Disney Water Parks
• Esteban Carrillo, co-founder and director of Mariachi Cobre

What is Disney VoluntEARS?

Disney VoluntEARS is a program that first began in 1983, when a group of Disneyland Cast Members sought a way to give back to their community in Anaheim, California. From there, the Disneyland Community Action Team was born, with the group working closely with local nonprofits to help with community projects and other ways to help local residence.

Since then, the group has grown substantially, eventually changing the company’s name to Disney VoluntEARS in 1992. Disney VoluntEARS are Disney Cast Members from round the world, whose primary focus is to help the communities where Disney businesses operate. Since there inception in 1983, Disney VoluntEARS have volunteered over 13 million hours, with approximately 484,000 hours logged in 2023 alone.

Work They Do

As far as what kind of work Disney VoluntEARS do, they work with local community projects to global initiatives to help with the local lives around them. This can be through back to school support, or food deliveries to local food banks. It can be conservation efforts, such as working with the Great Reef Census. They’ve worked alongside Make-A-Wish, or with local children’s hospitals such as Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) for the CHOC Walk.

The Latest Updates from Disney VoluntEARS

Wondering what the Disney VoluntEARS have been up to lately? These are some of the latest stories from the Disney VoluntEARS and the work that they do in their local communities.

Disneyland Resort: Community Impact Highlights in 2024

In 2024, Disneyland Resort made a significant impact on the local community. Here’s an overview of some of the ways the Cast Members and resort gave back:

• Granted over 570 wishes for children with critical illnesses through Make-A-Wish
• Hosted the first-ever multi-day Star Wars themed wish event, Blaze Your Path: A Star Wars Adventure
• Cast Member volunteers contributed more than 33,000 hours to local community programs through Disney VoluntEARS
• Raised over $2.3 million for Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) with the annual CHOC Walk in the Park
• Packed over 2,000 USO care kits for U.S. service members
• Hosted over 80 workforce development sessions for Anaheim nonprofits and school districts
• Donated more than 8,000 news school supplies to local elementary schools
• Collected over 17,00 toys as part of the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive in support of the Marine Toys for Tots program

Disneyland Resort Gives $1 Million in Grants to Local Nonprofits

Since 2017, the Disneyland Resort community workforce development initiative has impacted more than 10,000 lives with $7.5 million in support for organizations. In their eighth straight year of community workforce development initiative, they have announced over $1 million in grants going to local nonprofits and school districts.

This program was designed to develop and prepare the workforce in Anaheim and beyond. In addition to financial support, Disney VoluntEARS has also developed relationships with the organizations, lending their time and talents to mentoring, training workshops, and more.

Disney Welcomes Florida Teachers Back to School with Special Surprise

Disney Cast Members helped bring local Floridians back to school in public schools across Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk, and Lake Counties. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto were on hand to start the school year off, with the fan-favorite characters on hand to celebrate with Central Florida teachers.

Photo Courtesy of Disney

“Disney has supported our school district for years, and this latest investment means more kids will have access to career mentors and scholarship funds. It means expanded opportunities for students in Seminole County,” said Serita Beamon, Superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools.

“I used to work at Disney, and I always try to bring Disney magic into my classroom. Their support of teachers means everything to me,” said Elizabeth Castillo, a teacher at Discovery Intermediate in Osceola County. Along with the visits, Disney World provided free theme park tickets and a donation to our five local school districts