Shanghai and Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members Receive NEW Castle Service Awards
It’s a time-honored tradition at The Walt Disney Company to celebrate the magic makers – the cast members who bring the Disney magic to life. This year, cast members at Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort are receiving a particularly special honor: all-new service awards modeled after the iconic castles at their respective parks.
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Transforming towering structures over 150 feet tall into 8.5-inch bronze statues representing 15 years of service is no small feat. This endeavor harkens back to the very first service celebration held by Walt and Roy O. Disney on January 3rd, 1965, honoring Disneyland Park cast members. Walt’s famous words, “You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world…but it requires people to make the dream a reality,” underscore the importance of these awards in recognizing those who bring his vision to life.
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These service awards are highly anticipated milestones in cast members’ careers. Rick Henson, a Cast Activities Engagement Manager, explains, “The service awards are a unique cast member award…The statues represent our cast members’ stories and the magic they spread to others. My hope is that these tokens of appreciation…will be a way for them to remember fondly what they accomplished.”
The awards feature beloved Disney characters, from Steamboat Willie to Snow White. For the 15-year milestone, Disney Experiences cast members traditionally receive a castle statue representing a park icon. However, with Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort reaching this milestone, new statues were designed to reflect their unique castles.
Tommy Mendoza, a Project Manager on the Disney Service Awards Team, explains the impetus for the change: “Over the past few years we have really taken a look at the program and found ways that we can improve it…With Hong Kong Disneyland re-designing its castle in 2020, each park now had its own distinct castle, and we wanted to celebrate that by creating these new castles for each park.”
The 18-month process involved close collaboration between the Disney Service Awards team and Walt Disney Imagineering. Starting with 3D computer renderings, the castles were meticulously recreated, down to the smallest detail. 3D printed models were created, followed by a final molded and hand-painted statue, capturing the signature look of each castle.
The anticipation surrounding these new awards was palpable. Recently, cast members at both Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort finally received their statues to great excitement.
Celine Li from the Procurement team at Shanghai Disney Resort, one of the first recipients of the Enchanted Storybook Castle statue, shared, “I am honored and lucky to be one of the first cast members to receive the new…statue to celebrate my 15 years of service at Disney…I’m looking forward to my 20th and 30th service anniversaries here.”
William So, a Guest Service Manager, and Sun Chiu, a Demi Chef, were among the first recipients at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Chiu expressed, “I never thought I would be staying with one company for such a long period…This time, receiving the 15th service anniversary award, which is made exclusively for Hong Kong Disneyland Resort cast members, is extra special and meaningful! It’s so unique and beautiful.”
For So, the award held a special connection to his experience witnessing the launch of the Castle of Magical Dreams during his time in Park Operations. He added, “I truly value the friendships and partnerships I’ve built with various teams throughout my Disney journey. And I’m proud to be part of many important moments, including the opening of Disney Explorers Lodge and the launch of the ‘Momentous’ Nighttime Spectacular.”
The impact of this project will resonate for years to come, both for the cast members receiving the awards and the team who dedicated countless hours to their creation. Kristen Riker, a Senior Work Life Analyst from the Disney Service Awards Team, noted, “It’s incredibly special to be a part of a team that is helping to create memories and recognize the invaluable contributions of our cast members. These awards are pieces of Disney history that highlight the commitment and passion of each person and unite our global workforce.” This initiative serves as a beautiful and commemorative way to celebrate the dedication and magic created by Disney cast members.
