Five Cast Members Who Dream, Create and Inspire: Walt Disney Legacy Award at Disneyland Paris

Five extraordinary Cast Members at Disneyland Paris have received the highest honor a Disney employee can achieve: the Walt Disney Legacy Award. Nominated by their own colleagues for their unique ability to dream, create and inspire, these five embody and live Walt Disney’s legacy every single day – making the resort even more magical in the process.

Recognition is not an afterthought but lies at the very heart of Disneyland Paris’ commitment to its Cast Members. The Walt Disney Legacy Award is the most prestigious distinction across all Disney Parks.

Marine, Team Leader at the Bay Boutique of the Newport Bay Club, has been with the resort for more than ten years. Her award came as a complete surprise: Invited to what she thought was a management meeting with the leaders of the New York and Newport Bay Club hotels, her name was suddenly called. “Our director started by congratulating my colleague and me on our promotions to team leader. Then he spoke about The Walt Disney Legacy Award and said there was a new recipient in the room. I never imagined it would be me. When he called my name, I couldn’t believe it. What an incredible surprise! The management meeting turned out to be a ceremony in my honor. I’ll never forget it,” she recalls with emotion. She is especially touched by the peer nomination: “It’s a powerful gesture. It’s not just saying a name. Someone took the time to write a nomination that highlights another person and aims to give them the highest recognition. It’s a beautiful act of generosity and affection.”

Christophe, Project Leader in Cast Experience, started in 2005 at Galerie Mickey, the former shop at the Disneyland Hotel. During his own 2015 award announcement, pride was the strongest feeling: “What struck me most was the pride of knowing my actions had made a difference in someone’s daily life.” For him, nominating colleagues is deeply rewarding: “Even if a nomination doesn’t succeed the first time, you should persevere. Seeing someone receive the highest distinction is very satisfying.”

Binta from the Guest Relations Centre sees every nomination as a powerful sign of trust. Her own ceremony remains unforgettable: “I walked down a guard of honor formed by previous recipients. I felt truly special!”

Sophie, Concept Artist at Walt Disney Imagineering, joined in 2001 as an interior design assistant. The announcement was a clever setup: “I was in safety shoes with a notebook and tape measure because my manager had taken me to prepare for a project. It was a setup to tell me the big news!” Sophie emphasizes: “We must honor this special culture of recognition that is unique to our company and celebrate what makes Disney different.” She has also nominated colleagues herself.

Pierrick, Senior Manager of Horticulture, began as a gardener in March 1992. His most vivid memory: The entire horticulture team gathered to tell him he had been chosen – and later seeing his face projected on a show during the ceremony. “We have many people on our teams who preserve Walt Disney’s legacy every day by caring for our green spaces at Disneyland Paris. The Walt Disney Legacy Award is an opportunity to thank them and shine a light on their work.”

The Walt Disney Legacy Award embodies exactly what Walt Disney stood for: commitment, creativity and teamwork. It is a deep source of pride and proves that every gesture, every thoughtful act and every initiative helps create unforgettable memories for guests and colleagues alike. A legacy is not merely told; it is lived and passed on.