2026-2027 Disney Ambassadors Celebrate Cast, Community, and the Spirit of Disney

Behind every unforgettable Disney experience, whether it’s a thrilling attraction, delicious dish, or heartwarming character encounter, are our talented cast members across land and sea who bring the magic to life every day. And supporting our cast totaling hundreds of thousands across the globe are our Disney Ambassadors – the friendly faces who illustrate Disney’s spirit and mission around the world.

In the coming weeks, the newest members of this international team will be selected and announced as the 2026-2027 Disney Ambassadors. While we eagerly wait for this year’s news and all of the exciting adventures ahead, let’s dive into the enchanting history of the program and the way it continues to uphold Walt’s legacy today!

The one-of-a-kind team supports and represents cast members at Disney parks, resorts, and experiences around the world, serving as the ultimate cheerleaders and storytellers.

Disney Ambassadors lead and celebrate Disney cast, crew, Imagineers, and employees through major milestones of new openings and anniversaries, while also being there to recognize the magic made every day. They act as official spokespersons for their sites and are responsible for championing Disney’s commitment to their local communities around the world.

Disney Ambassadors truly embody the dedication to displaying the Disney difference in everything they do, both inside the parks and beyond.

The first Disney Ambassador was appointed by none other than the man who started it all, Walt Disney himself. The role originated during the 10^th Anniversary celebrations at Disneyland as Walt was looking for someone to represent the resort and attend “Tencennial” events on his behalf – we can guess he had a pretty jam-packed schedule at the time!

Through the inaugural application process, Julie Reihm Casaletto, who was a Disneyland Resort tour guide from Long Beach, California, became the first-ever Disney Ambassador in 1965, setting the stage for a now decades-long legacy.

The 70^th Anniversary of Disneyland park is not the only milestone we are celebrating in 2025 – this year also marks the 60th anniversary of the Disney Ambassador Program. Since 1965, nearly 250 Disney cast members have had the honor of serving as Disney Ambassadors at destinations around the world, but it all began at The Happiest Place on Earth.

Each of our Disney Parks sites around the world have a team of Disney Ambassadors representing Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disney Resort, as well as Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.

It is a worldwide family and global network meant to foster collaboration, celebrate cast members from different locations, and bring joy to fans everywhere in a way only Disney can.

Every other year, a team of Disney Ambassadors are selected from an exceptional pool of candidates to serve a two-year term, which begins in January. At most parks, teams of two Ambassadors work in harmony, while Aulani has a dedicated solo Ambassador.

These “goodwill emissaries” travel to different destinations and connect with others near and far to inspire communities, celebrate the hard work of our cast members, and sprinkle some pixie dust wherever they go.

Twelve years ago, she left the comfort and stability of an office job for a part-time restaurant hostess position at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, buoyed by the dream of working for The Walt Disney Company and a belief in herself.  

Today, Shawny Morey is the 2026-2027 Aulani Ambassador, representing more than 1,700 cast members who make up the ʻohana Aulani to promote and celebrate their stories over the next two years, beginning January 1, 2026. 

Shawny currently serves as Aulani’s Family & Adult Program Guest Service Manager, helping to coordinate activities in the Pau Hana Room. A cast member since 2013, her Disney journey has included a variety of roles such as Makahiki hostess, Character Performer, and sales assistant. 

Armed with that experience, Shawny brings the Aulani values to every role and is eager to highlight cast member stories as the resort’s Ambassador. “Aulani is truly my second home, and cast members are like ʻohana,” Shawny said. “This role provides a meaningful way to give back to them while showcasing their talents and the Aulani values that unite us.” 

Shawny’s appreciation for Disney began at a young age, influenced by her parents who are also Disney fans. Over the course of many trips to Disneyland, Shawny grew to love the immersive storytelling that is the hallmark of Disney entertainment.  

But her appreciation went next level when she became a cast member at Aulani Resort. “I immediately saw how respectful and intentional The Walt Disney Company was in honoring Hawaiian culture — that was particularly exciting,” Shawny said. “While I am not Native Hawaiian, I grew up dancing hula and hold a deep respect for the culture.” 

Shawny looks forward to sharing Aulani’s deep connection to Hawaiian culture with fellow cast members across The Walt Disney Company, and the community -especially on the west side of Oʻahu. 

When not at Aulani, Shawny loves spending time with her family, including her husband Andrew and two sons named – wait for it – Walt and Roy. She also enjoys baking, trying new desserts, and traveling. 

Shawny will shadow current Aulani Ambassador Dylan Rogers until her term begins in 2026 and has many plans for how she’d like to promote the cast. “I want to spotlight as many cast member journeys as possible, because we are what make Aulani so special.” 

Follow along the Aulani Ambassador journey on Instagram at @AulaniAmbassador.

Welcome to the Disney Ambassador team, Ivy Chen and Eji Gugu from Shanghai Disney Resort! They received this thrilling news September 3 in front of family, friends and former Disney Ambassadors at the resort. 

Ivy and Gugu grew their Disney journeys on the Entertainment team at Shanghai Disney Resort. As a Stage Manager, Ivy saw her favorite Disney movie, “Frozen,” take the stage every day in “Frozen: A Sing-A-Long Celebration.” Reflecting on her role, she said, “I feel so lucky to be a stage manager for our Frozen show, so I can watch it every day at work!” 

Gugu is a Vocalist, and he’s performed at Shanghai Disney Resort for the past 2 years, but he’s been singing familiar tunes for much long. “Disney music was a core part of my childhood! Disney songs always give me energy,” he said. “Whenever I’m stressed and need to unwind, I belt out “Try Everything” at the top of my lungs – even when I’m walking my dog!

Ivy and Gugu celebrated the news with Mickey, Minnie, and Shanghai Disney Resort President Andrew Bolstein on stage before parading through the park in a special cavalcade.  

The new team begins their term officially on January 1, 2026. They will proudly represent more than 15,000 cast members here in Shanghai, sharing the magic of Disney with our guests and inspiring hope within our communities. 

Congratulations, Michele Mary and Oralia Neria Felix, our 2026-2027 Disney Ambassadors of Disneyland Resort! 

The 2026-2027 Disney Ambassadors of Disneyland Resort were selected on September 18, 2025, during a ceremony at Disneyland park attended by their family and friends, fellow cast members, invited guests, and Disney Ambassadors who served before them.

Michele and Oralia will represent thousands of cast members across Disneyland Resort, leading and participating in Cast events, sharing #DisneyCastLife stories, and acting as official spokespeople for the resort, to name just a few of the duties of this prestigious role. 

“The most emotional part of the day was seeing my parents’ faces when my name got called,” says Oralia.  “I’m so happy that I can make them proud and know that they’ve touched every part of my journey.” 

“I can’t wait to make everybody at this resort and company proud by showing off the wonderful place we call home,” says Michele.  

Born and raised in Buena Park, Calif., Michele’s Disney career first began in 2000 with the Resort Transportation and Parking team. After spending five years with the company, Michele left to pursue a master’s degree in geology at the University of Utah.

Following working on Main Street, U.S.A., as a merchandise working lead in the Emporium, Michele rejoined Resort Parking and Transportation in 2024 as a salaried leader. As a Disney Ambassador finalist, Michele hopes to carry on the rich tradition and legacy of the Disney Ambassador program.

As a Southern California native, Oralia began her Disney career in 2017 as an Attractions cast member in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure park, where she soon became a lead, trainer and scheduler. Her passion for training and leadership led her to becoming a Step Into the Magic facilitator. Oralia later became a training specialist with Operations Training, supporting the onboarding process. Oralia hopes to carry forward the legacy of the Disney Ambassador program with grace and kindness.

Let’s travel next to The Most Magical Place On Earth as the newest Disney Ambassador team has just been announced! Kylee Withers and Phelicia Blake will represent Walt Disney World and its 80,000 Cast Members as part of the 2026-2027 Disney Ambassador team.

As the largest and most visited theme park destination in the world with so much growth on the horizon, this new team will be part of many milestone moments over the next two years.

They were welcomed into their new roles at a special cast celebration alongside family, friends, and former Walt Disney World Ambassadors.

“Becoming a Walt Disney World Ambassador is a dream come true,” Kylee said. “It feels so surreal that we’re going to represent our cast with all the growth ahead at Walt Disney World, and I’m so excited for the incredible moments that are ahead of us.” 

Prior to being selected as an Ambassador, Kylee worked in Merchandise Finance. 

Phelicia was a Guest Experience Manager at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.  

“What I’m looking forward to most as a Disney Ambassador is celebrating our 80,000 cast members here at Walt Disney World,” Phelicia said. “I love that at Disney, we create happiness for each other and our guests every day, and I can’t wait to continue doing that with Kylee these next two years.” 

The new team will start training over the coming weeks, learning from current Walt Disney World Ambassadors, Serena Arvizu and Shannon-Smith Conrad. Be sure to stay tuned to the @wdw.ambassador Instagram page for all the updates as Kylee and Phelicia earn their ears! 

Tokyo Disney Resort announced that Shingo Kameda and Hikaru Hamanaka were selected as the 2026–2027 Tokyo Disney Resort Ambassadors. 

After several months of interviews, Shingo Kameda and Hikaru Hamanaka were chosen from over 120 cast members who applied this year. 

Shingo Kameda and Hikaru Hamanaka will serve as the goodwill ambassador for Tokyo Disney Resort for two years (January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027), sharing Disney dreams and stories with people across Japan through various outreach activities. 

Shingo comes from the Theme Park Operations team, where he’s made the guest experience full of smiles, something he’s eager to continue as a Disney Ambassador: “I became a cast member to bring smiles to as many people as I can. As a Tokyo Disney Resort Ambassador, I want to work together with my fellow cast members to share happiness with our guests near and far.” 

Hikaru is also a Theme Park Operations cast member, and this news is a dream come true for her. “It was my childhood dream to become a Tokyo Disney Resort Ambassador, so when my name was called, I thought I was dreaming,” said Hikaru. “I was overcome with gratitude for all my colleagues who supported me.” 

Starting in the new year, Shingo and Hikaru will represent all Tokyo Disney Resort cast members and bring the magic of Tokyo Disney Resort to all through television and media appearances, goodwill activities, charitable work and more.

This morning, during an emotional ceremony held at Studio D in Walt Disney Studios Park, Mónica Cosson and Agathe Soul were appointed as the new official representatives of Disneyland Paris for 2026 and 2027. The new appointees join the Disneyland Paris Ambassador family as 32nd and 33rd Ambassadors.

Over the past three weeks, Mónica and Agathe have experienced intense and enriching moments during the selection process. They captured the hearts of the jury members with their unique personalities and enthusiasm and are now ready to begin their training period alongside Jose Alfaro Navarro and Dylan Legras, the 2024-2025 Disneyland Paris Ambassadors, before they complete their term at the end of this year.  

Starting January 1, 2026, Mónica and Agathe will officially take on their roles as Disney Ambassadors to represent Disneyland Paris and its cast members during key moments in the transformation of our destination, such as the transition of Walt Disney Studios Park to Disney Adventure World, starting with the opening of World of Frozen in the Spring. 

Originally from Mexico, Mónica is a trained psychologist with a master’s degree in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. She joined Disneyland Paris in 2022 as a receptionist at the Disney Sequoia Lodge. Two years later, she took part in the reopening of Disneyland Hotel and was chosen to join the Castle Club team, where she now welcomes guests at the heart of one of the resort’s most iconic locations. 

For her, becoming an Ambassador is a natural extension of this path: meeting people, creating connections, and proudly representing the diversity of talent at Disneyland Paris. 

Agathe grew up in Aix-en-Provence, France and visited Disneyland Paris during her childhood. She returned at 18, with one clear idea in mind: to fulfill her childhood dream and become a cast member. 

Since becoming a cast member, Agathe’s worked all over Disneyland Paris’ parks in Gest Flow and Attractions roles. In 2020, she decided to pursue professional training as a makeup artist in Paris, always with the idea of one day returning to Disneyland Paris. A few months later, she rejoined the resort at Pirates of the Caribbean, before moving in 2023 to the Cosmetology division, and today works on Disney Stars on Parade. 

For Agathe, becoming an Ambassador is a way to shine a light on the cast members who have inspired her, to celebrate the diversity of talent, and to proudly represent all those who bring the magic to life. Especially with the upcoming opening of Disney Adventure World. 

Becoming Disneyland Paris Ambassadors is a dream come true for Mónica and Agathe, who are both passionate about showcasing the talent and diversity of the cast members, during two years that will be packed with historical moments for the resort.  

Stay connected on @DLPAmbassador to follow Mónica and Agathe’s first steps in this extraordinary adventure! 

The countdown is on! Stay tuned throughout September and October as the new Disney Ambassador teams are announced right here on the Disney Parks Blog.

You can also follow along with the Ambassador teams on their respective Instagram accounts for the latest news and updates about their journeys: