Meet the Polynesian Resort Cast Members Who Helped Open the Island Tower

Bell Services veterans Iosefa "Sefa" Leapai and Ervin "E.B." Bracy have served at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort since the 1970s and were among the first to welcome guests when the Island Tower opened on December 17, 2024. Both Walt Disney Legacy Award recipients, Sefa and E.B. have spent decades embodying the Aloha Spirit — from Sefa's ukulele performances at new-hire orientations to E.B.'s philosophy of creating lifetimes of vacations. Their stories offer a portrait of the resort's enduring cast culture ahead of its newest chapter.

Two veteran Bell Services cast members at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort — Iosefa "Sefa" Leapai and Ervin "E.B." Bracy — have been welcoming guests since the 1970s and were among the first to greet visitors when the new Island Tower addition opened on December 17, 2024. Both recipients of the Walt Disney Legacy Award, Sefa and E.B. embody the Aloha Spirit that has defined the resort for over five decades. Their stories offer a rare look at what decades of dedicated Disney service looks like.

Sefa: From Hawaiian Performer to Bell Services Mainstay

In 1978, Sefa Leapai traveled from Hawaii to the mainland to visit his brother, who worked in entertainment at the Polynesian. While there, Disney held auditions for dancers. Despite having no dance background, Sefa auditioned — and was hired. His talents quickly emerged: he began performing fire dances, singing, and playing the bass. Over time, he transitioned into Bell Services, where he has remained ever since.

Sefa still brings music into his daily work. He plays Hawaiian songs to celebrate guest milestones — birthdays, honeymoons — and performs on ukulele for every new resort hire during orientation. "It comes from the heart," he explained. "It's about being kind, going above and beyond, making people feel special. That's one of the biggest ways we try to represent the culture here: Aloha spirit."

Asked about the Island Tower opening, Sefa reflected enthusiastically: "We're all quite excited about the new opening. Everybody keeps asking about it and it's fun to talk with guests and get excited with them." Even during that conversation, he spent considerable time praising his colleague E.B.: "I tell you, it makes me almost cry when I talk about E.B. He's a good man. We go out of our way and expect nothing in return. I love that man — he's my brother."

E.B.: Five Decades of Creating Lifetimes of Vacations

Ervin "E.B." Bracy has been creating magical experiences at the Polynesian since 1973 — a tenure that predates the resort's iconic Dole Whip. He has always worked in Bell Services, though he stepped in wherever needed throughout his career. E.B. describes his first impression of the resort as love at first sight: "The lobby was just mesmerizing. I hadn't seen anything like that other than on television. It made you feel like you really were in Hawaii. It has changed over the years, but it still has that same effect."

That feeling carries through to the new tower. From the exterior adorned with art inspired by Polynesian tattoos, to the lush terrace gardens, to monorail access for Extended Evening Hours and Movie Under the Stars nights, the tower's design invites guests to begin their own stories. "I use the phrase a lot," E.B. said. "The Island Tower addition is giving people not only a vacation of a lifetime, but the opportunity for a lifetime of vacations. That's what this resort means to me. I do my job so that you'll want to come back and see us again."

Legacy Award Honorees and the Spirit Moving Forward

Both Sefa and E.B. are recipients of the Walt Disney Legacy Award, the company's highest cast recognition for those who demonstrate Dream, Create, and Inspire in their daily work. Their combined service spans more than a century of Walt Disney World history, and both stood at the front doors for the Island Tower's opening day, welcoming a new generation of guests to a resort they have helped define.

What This Means for Guests

Stories like Sefa's and E.B.'s reflect the culture that makes long-tenured Disney resort properties distinctive. As the Island Tower opens a new chapter at the Polynesian, guests can expect both cutting-edge new amenities and the same warmth that has greeted visitors on these shores for more than 50 years. Learn more about the Island Tower and book stays at DisneyVacationClub.com.