Two cast members were recently interviewed by Disney about their journey to working at Disneyland Resort and what it means to wear a Disneyland name tag.

Meet Riley and Nate, Disneyland Cast Members

Each cast member who works for Disneyland Resort has a unique story and way of creating magic for guests. For Riley and Nate, their impact is through interacting with guests at various Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure attractions.

Riley is an attractions cast member for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland Park. From a young age, Riley was always interested in the ride systems. “I was always very interested in how those worked, especially as someone who didn’t come a lot as a kid,” she said.

For Rise of the Resistance and Runaway Railway, Riley was fascinated by the trackless ride systems used on both attractions. Pursuing a cast member role in attractions at Disneyland Resort allowed Riley to get a closer look at how the immersive environments come together.

Today, over three years after she was first hired, Riley still enjoys her behind-the-scenes perspective while helping to create memorable moments for guests, especially for those whom this trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “When I see the awe on the guests’ faces when they experience the attraction, it gets me really excited that I was part of making their day here a magical one and that they’ve experienced an attraction that I love, and then they get to love it as well.”

For Nate, an attractions cast member at Disney California Adventure, visiting Disneyland Resort was a part of growing up in nearby Temecula. Nate came to the parks early and often with his family, and those trips to his “home away from home” sparked his interest in one day becoming a cast member himself.

After four years of working at Disneyland Resort, Nate currently works as a lead at Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! and Radiator Springs Racers, as well as spending some time at WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure.

No two days at Disneyland look alike, and that challenge is part of what Nate continues to enjoy. He sees each day as “an opportunity to create a new story every single time you talk to a new guest.”

Aside from helping guests with tips and tricks, he hopes that he can make a difference for friends and families visiting the parks, especially for the youngest guests. “Experiencing those moments with family meant a lot for me, and now being able to be the cast member to help make those magical moments for other families… hopefully, those kids are looking at me like, ‘Hey, maybe I want to work here one day.’

“I think what makes Disneyland feel special for people is everyone can be a kid here,” said Nate. “Everyone can come have fun and have the time of their lives.”

For many cast members, their Disneyland name tag represents more than just a name and a hometown.

“When I put my name tag on, I feel like I’m part of the magic. It meant a lot. It was a dream come true that I finally got to work here at the Disneyland Resort, and I was super excited to start my journey here with the company,” said Nate.

For Riley, seeing her name tag for the first time brought a similar sense of belonging. “I remember holding and looking at my name tag for the first time and seeing my name with my favorite character [Pluto]. I remember finally having a weight lifted off my shoulders that I was where I wanted to be,” she said.

Riley also sees her name tag as a representation of the trust guests place in cast members. “For me, the name tag means trust from the guests, a trust that I take very seriously,” said Riley. “I know a lot of families that come here will tell their children, ‘If you get lost or if you’re scared or you don’t know where we are, find a cast member, find the name tag.’ When I put on the name tag, I really think it’s an honor to be able to do so.”

How have cast members impacted your trips to the Disney Parks? Let us know on social media.

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