Savannah Bananas Star Reese Alexiades and His Lifelong Disney Connection

Reese Alexiades, right fielder for the Savannah Bananas, has deep Disney roots — his father spent 32 years at The Walt Disney Company, and Reese has been visiting Disneyland since he was three weeks old. The 2026 Savannah Bananas Day at Disneyland Resort brought that lifelong connection full circle, giving the Manhattan Beach native a homecoming complete with cavalcades, character moments, and familiar faces in the crowd.

Reese Alexiades, right fielder for the Savannah Bananas, has spent his entire life connected to Disney — his father, John Alexiades, is a 32-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company and currently serves as vice president of production finance at Walt Disney Studios. From a three-week-old's first trip to Disneyland to marching in a cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A., Reese's baseball journey and his Disney story have always run parallel. The latest chapter unfolded at Savannah Bananas Day at Disneyland Resort on March 26, 2026.

A Family Legacy at The Walt Disney Company

Reese Alexiades grew up with a built-in connection to Disney that most fans could only dream about. His father, John Alexiades, has spent 32 years with The Walt Disney Company and currently holds the title of vice president of production finance at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. Before Disneyland was part of the routine, visits to the studio lot itself made a lasting impression on a young Reese.

"Before Disneyland, going to the studio in Burbank was always the coolest thing ever," Reese said. "It made me want to work in movies when I was older. So that came from my dad and him working at the studios, and that was always so cool."

Born in July 1997, Reese visited Disneyland when he was just three weeks old, marking the start of a lifelong relationship with the parks. As he grew up, baseball and Disney became twin staples of childhood, woven into everyday life with family and teammates alike.

"Disney has just been such a big part of our lives and especially during my childhood," Reese said. "It's been such a routine for us to go."

Whether it was a planned weekend trip or a spontaneous stop between youth baseball games, Disneyland was always close by for the Manhattan Beach native.

Southern California Roots and the Road Back Home

Growing up in Manhattan Beach, California meant Disneyland Resort was always just a short freeway drive away. The 2026 Savannah Bananas Day at Disneyland Resort served as a homecoming, with friends, former players, and family members attending both the Disneyland celebration and back-to-back games against the Indianapolis Clowns at Angel Stadium.

"I'll get messages like 'I'm coming' and 'I'll see you there,'" Reese said. "Even old players I've coached in the past — those kids will be there as well. It's very cool."

The 2026 event expanded on the debut Savannah Bananas Day at Disneyland in 2025, adding a merchandise pop-up at Downtown Disney District, a new performance at the "World of Color" viewing area in Disney California Adventure, and meet-and-greet opportunities with players from both the Bananas and the Clowns.

Favorites Across Both Parks

With decades of visits behind him, Reese has a well-developed set of park favorites. He cites Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, and Mad Tea Party as top picks when visiting with a large group. When competition enters the picture, Toy Story Midway Mania! earns a special mention.

"Now if we want to get competitive? You've got Toy Story [Midway Mania!]," Reese said. "That's a good one because then you get a little bit of bragging rights. But you know, I've got some experience, so I don't know if they want to face me."

His all-time top-four bracket across both parks: Space Mountain, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Incredicoaster, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Rapid-Fire Disney Questions with Reese

• Disney character who best represents his on-field style: Will Turner from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise
• Favorite Disneyland food: Churro
• Favorite Disney movie: Monsters, Inc.
• Superhero he'd add to the Bananas' roster: Captain America — "his athletic abilities and his heart stand out"

A First-Time Experience at the 2025 Savannah Bananas Day

Despite nearly 100 visits to the park, the inaugural Savannah Bananas Day at Disneyland in 2025 opened entirely new experiences for Reese. Rehearsing a dance number set to "Hey Baby," sampling banana-themed treats, and riding in a cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A. were all firsts.

"Disney Day was probably my favorite day of the year," Reese said. "I've been probably 100 times, but I got to do things for the first time, like being a part of the cavalcade. It was really cool to be able to experience that."

What This Means for Disney Fans

The partnership between the Savannah Bananas and Disneyland Resort continues to deepen, bringing a new audience into the park while giving longtime Disney fans a fresh lens on the resort experience. For Reese Alexiades, who grew up watching his father help build The Walt Disney Company's legacy, the crossover represents a full-circle moment decades in the making. Details on future events are available at Disneyland.com.