WDWNT got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at some of the newest Walt Disney World Cast Member costumes that debuted in the past few years. Michael and Bianca from the Costume Design & Development team shared details about the new costumes.
New Walt Disney World Cast Member Costumes
First up is the new custodial costume that debuted last spring. Because guests see custodians in all four theme parks and Disney Springs, it was important to the costume team to create an easily identifiable look that also worked well within every themed environment.
They kept the sweeping Mickey logo to honor the old costume and maintain branding for guest recognition. Michael pointed out that custodians not only keep the parks clean, but act as wayfinders for guests, answering questions about where things are located, so guests need to be able to spot them.
All of the new costumes were designed to be lightweight, especially those worn outdoors. The outdoor costumes like this one use a four-way stretch fabric with UPF. The vented back provides airflow. The shirt can be tucked in or untucked, providing freedom of movement and comfortability for the Cast Member. The pants or shorts have D-rings and extra side pockets within arms reach. They can also be easily adjusted if the Cast Member is working in a wet environment.
The new parking costume has similar functionality. The pants/shorts also include a D-ring and side pockets. The shirts are made with the same four-way stretch fabric with UPF and a vented back. The vibrant green of the short makes them highly visible for safety.
From a story perspective, the design team was conscious of the fact that parking Cast Members are often the first guests encounter. The shirt features Disney vehicles like a Kilimanjaro Safaris truck, a TRON Lightcycle, Herbie the Love Bug, Cruella de Vil’s car, Vanellope Von Schweetz’s car, and Susie the Little Blue Coupe from Disney’s 1952 short film.
Cast Members have the option to wear short or long-sleeved versions of this top. Though toll booth Cast Members wear safety vests, the sleeves remain visible. And the epaulettes on the shoulders help carry radios.
The aesthetic of Jungle Cruise costumes has not changed but they updated the materials based on Cast Member feedback. In fact, one of the Development Managers on this project, Emma, was a former Jungle Cruise skipper so she was able to provide “insider information.”
Just like the other outdoor costumes, this is made of a four-way stretch fabric with UPF. The vented back is constructed vertically instead of horizontally, though, so it would not get caught on the steering wheel. The pants also have a D-ring, side pockets, and an adjustable waist.
Magic Kingdom main entrance Cast Members wear “Cinderella blue” shirts based on the original turret color of Cinderella Castle. Though the costume is relatively simple, the shirts are embossed with a pixie dust design representing the fact that the magic starts with these Cast Members. There are no extra accessories (the neckwear is part of the shirt) so there’s no extra weight or items trapping in heat.
Like the custodial and parking costumes, these can be worn tucked or untucked, but the team designed this to maintain a certain amount of polish. The pants, while not as utilitarian as the other costumes, do have one extra side pocket.
This look is one of a multitude of Cast Member costumes introduced on Main Street, U.S.A. back in 2024. Worn by merchandise Cast Members, primarily in the Emporium, it’s made of breathable lightweight fabric since the doors to the shops are open, bringing in hot air. The shirt cuffs are adjustable to provide more movement.
Regarding the story of the costume, the skirt has a floral print. While some have speculated this is a wallpaper pattern from the stores, it is actually custom for this skirt. It features the state flowers of Florida, California, and Missouri, representing the park’s location, the home of The Walt Disney Company, and Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, which inspired Main Street. The neckwear features a lily for Walt’s wife, Lillian Disney.
These storytelling details provide more for Cast Members to talk about, particularly those who aren’t as comfortable interacting with guests.
And yes, the skirt has pockets.
A brand-new costume is that of GEO-82. Disney wanted the server outfits to match the elevated level of service at this EPCOT bar. The custom neckwear was developed for the location and is inspired by Spaceship Earth. The golden warm tone honors early concept art of EPCOT rather than reflecting the final silvery color of Spaceship Earth. The lightweight fabric provides movability. The bartenders wear similar looks but with a bowtie that stays out of the way when making drinks and a black vest that hides spilling.
Also new at EPCOT is the Test Track Cast Member costume, which was reimagined alongside the ride. The design team looked to athletic wear for inspiration while drawing on the ride’s themes of sport and performance. The citron-colored zipper matches the thread used throughout. The thread contrasts with the blue fabric, giving the impression of dotted lines on roadways. The shirt is made of a breathable sports mesh perfect for working indoors or outdoors. They also have an optional track jacket. The lightweight shorts have side pockets.
Wailulu Bar & Grill opened at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort back in 2024, necessitating another brand-new costume. Inspired by the more contemporary architecture of the Island Tower, the costume design team brought contemporary styling to these looks. The shirt print is an abstraction of rushing waters and driftwood on a linen-like fabric. The pants are sand-colored, enhancing the story of the beach-side restaurant. Because these Cast Members work outdoors, the shirt back is vented.
Moving on to performers, the Voices of Liberty debuted new costumes back in 2025. While the old Voices of Liberty costumes were rooted in 1700s America, the costume team updated the looks based on updates to the group’s songbook. They sing music from both early and modern America, so the costumes are based on styles, design details, and silhouettes from throughout American history. The color palette is inspired by a vintage American flag and though one costume doesn’t necessarily include all those colors, they are realized when the group is performing together. The details are based on music notes and icons you might see in a songbook.
The newest Cast Member costume is a revamp of the pink ballgowns worn by dancers in Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage. The costume design team worked with the show director to create these looks, using the same joyful pink colorway as the old ballgowns. The silhouette of a ballgown is important and they worked to achieve it without using hoops, so the dresses were still safe, comfortable, and light. They took every fabric and embellishment to the stage to look at under show lighting and created samples for rehearsals, so dancers could make sure it worked for them and the choreography before going into full production.
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