Inside the Walt Disney Legacy Award and Its Iconic Blue Name Tag
Since 2011, the Walt Disney Legacy Award has recognized cast members, crew and Imagineers who embody Walt Disney's ideals of Dream, Create and Inspire. Recipients receive a distinctive blue name tag, and recent honorees include longtime PhotoPass photographer Willie Jackson, Casey's Corner pianist Grayson Smith, and 62-year Disneyland firefighter Hank Ameen.
While enjoying a Disney park, guests may spot a cast member wearing a special blue name tag. That subtle detail marks the highest honor bestowed on Disney Experiences employees: the Walt Disney Legacy Award.
Since its launch in 2011, the program has recognized cast members, crew, Walt Disney Imagineering team members and employees who truly embody the spirit of company founder Walt Disney, dreaming big, creating magic and inspiring excellence.
Dream, Create, Inspire: Qualities of a Recipient
The Walt Disney Legacy Award is a global recognition program celebrating individuals who exemplify three core qualities:
Key Details
- Dream: Optimistic thinkers who envision endless possibilities and foster teamwork
- Create: Problem-solvers driven by curiosity who champion inclusivity and innovation
- Inspire: Role models with exceptional character, integrity and gratitude
- Launched in 2011 as a global recognition program
- Nominations accepted in eight languages across Disney Experiences worldwide
Recipients are selected from teams at theme parks, resorts, cruise ships and other Disney locations around the world. A recent standout is Willie Jackson, a PhotoPass photographer at Hollywood Studios who has received more Mobile Cast Compliments than any cast member at Walt Disney World Resort.
Nominations, Honorees and the Iconic Blue Name Tag
Cast members nominate their colleagues by sharing how a nominee dreams, creates and inspires. Nominations are anonymous and accepted in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Haitian Creole and Vietnamese, making the program accessible to Disney's global workforce.
Eligibility spans newcomers and veterans alike. Recent recipients include Grayson Smith, a pianist at Casey's Corner at Walt Disney World, and Hank Ameen, a Disneyland Resort firefighter and the longest-tenured active Walt Disney Company employee with 62 years of service.
Walt Disney Legacy Award recipients receive a distinctive blue name tag, a framed award and an invitation to a special celebration. Several hundred cast members have received the honor since its inception.
What This Means for Disney Fans
Next time you see a cast member sporting a blue name tag, you are meeting one of Disney's most recognized team members. The Legacy Award is a once-in-a-lifetime honor that keeps Walt Disney's legacy alive at destinations worldwide, one magical interaction at a time.