At Disneyland Paris, Jose Alfaro Navarro and Dylan Legras serve as Ambassadors for 2024-2025, taking on a key role to represent the thousands of Cast Members. They share inspiring stories from Disney Cast Life and act as official spokespeople at internal and external events. Elected in September 2023, they proudly represent the resort until the end of 2025. Join them for a typical day and discover the variety of their tasks.
The History of the Ambassador Program
The role of Ambassadors at Disneyland Paris embodies Walt Disney's vision of sharing the Disney magic with the world. Since the resort opened in 1992, Sabine Marcon was appointed as the first Ambassador. Since then, officials select two individuals every two years to represent the talent and diversity of the Cast Members at public, internal, media, and charity events.Jose and Dylan reflect on their role, which they carry out with passion. They present the program, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Back then, Walt Disney focused on a series of major projects and was constantly asked to make public appearances or receive VIP visitors, so he decided to appoint a spokesperson to officially represent all Disneyland Cast Members. Walt Disney appointed Julie Reihm as the first Ambassador in 1965 to represent Cast Members while he concentrated on large projects.
In recent weeks, the Ambassadors have promoted the program among Disneyland Paris Cast Members, as the search for their successors for 2026 and 2027 is imminent. This new team will represent the resort during key moments, such as the opening of World of Frozen.
A Morning Behind the Scenes
The Ambassadors' day begins at 8 a.m. in the Horticulture Building of Disneyland Park. Dylan and Jose meet there with the arborists to spend the morning by their side. This activity, called Showtime, allows them to immerse themselves in the teams' daily work and learn more about the jobs of the Cast Members.After a briefing, the Ambassadors receive the necessary equipment and load it into the trucks. Then, they head to Disney Hotel Sequoia Lodge, where they learn the basics of the work. An area at the base of the trees is cordoned off to ensure the safety of Cast Members and guests.
The teams explain the mission in detail and equip Jose and Dylan with harnesses so they can climb the trees safely. After that, the practical work begins. Back on the ground, the Ambassadors chat with the arborists about their passion and expertise, including the location of a hawthorn tree of the species Crataegus monogyna that is over a hundred years old, which existed before Disneyland Paris opened and can be found in Frontierland. Do you think you can find it, with the hint that you need to search in Frontierland?
The arborists start their day as early as 4:30 a.m., maintaining the park areas before they open. From around 8 a.m., the work shifts to the Disney Hotels, as it did that morning with the Ambassadors.
Reflection and Social Media in the Afternoon
At 1 p.m., after a lunch break, Jose and Dylan continue reflecting on their role.At 2 p.m., Dylan and Jose take advantage of the sunny weather to film videos for the @DLPAmbassador account. This official account shares content about Disney Cast Life. The first video invites Cast Members to donate school supplies, in addition to the contributions Disneyland Paris makes at the start of the school year for the beneficiaries of Secours Populaire Français. The donations aim to provide children from the association, who visit the Disney Parks at the end of August, with a back-to-school set including a bag, markers, pencils, and notebooks. And... ACTION!
The Ambassadors regularly participate in philanthropic events alongside Disney VoluntEARS, welcome families in the parks, visit pediatric wards in hospitals, and wrap Christmas gifts. But that's not all, as Jose and Dylan then head to the base of Sleeping Beauty Castle to film a second video in collaboration with colleagues from other Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide.
Encounters and Preparations
The afternoon continues at 3 p.m. in the Agrabah Café, where the Ambassadors meet the teams working there. Throughout the year, Jose and Dylan learn more about the over 500 professions represented in the resort. This is followed by a tour of the various rooms and conversations with chefs and restaurant managers about the restaurant's history and the daily life of the Cast Members.These encounters prepare a new Showtime that highlights the talent and expertise of the teams. For example, the tea served in the restaurant is prepared fresh on site by the chefs every day.
