Today is International Women’s Day and The Walt Disney Company is celebrating the day in a variety of ways.

The Disney Parks Blog has highlighted five women who are creating “magic at Disney Parks.”

Disney says that their global theme parks “would not be what they are today without the hard work and creativity of thousands of women all around the world.”

At Disneyland Paris, the resort is celebrating with a special Minnie Mouse-themed planter outside the park’s entrance and a special exhibition honoring female MARVEL artists.

Adeline Bardy, Live Entertainment Production Coordinator

Currently, Disneyland Paris is celebrating their 30th anniversary with two exclusive live shows, “Avengers: Power the Night” and “Disney D-Light.” The utilization of drone technology, fireworks, and digital mapping in these two shows has proven to be a hit among guests.

Bardy worked to support the production of these two shows as well as “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands.” She collaborates closely with the creative, artistic, technical, and operational teams to give birth to new shows.

“Our role is to make people forget about the technology that goes into these shows,” Adeline stated. “Instead, it feels like they are witnessing magic. I love watching ‘Disney D-Light’ and seeing how happy it makes the guests. There’s a quick second of silence when the drones appear, which is followed by cheers and applause.”

Fiona Yu, Production Director at Hong Kong Disneyland

Fiona Yu, Production Director at Hong Kong Disneyland, worked closely with the creative and technical teams on bringing “Momentous” to life at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. The show is a nighttime spectacular that premiered in 2022. It uses large-scale projection mapping technology that highlights and transforms the Castle of Magical Dreams as the narrative unfolds.

“The most exciting thing about the show is that it can resonate with anyone,” Fiona said. “The first chapter, ‘TIME BEGINS,’ reminds me of watching my own children grow up. And the third chapter, ‘TIME TO CHANGE,’ reminds me of my strength in facing difficulties.”

Aimee Berkeley, Director of Entertainment and Costuming, Walt Disney Attractions Japan

“Believe! Sea of Dreams,” at Tokyo Disney Resort utilizes projection mapping technology and gliding barges to create an immersive entertainment experience on the Mediterranean Harbor. The show made its debut in November 2022.

Aimee Berkeley, Director of Entertainment and Costuming, was one of many women who lead the show’s successful debut at Tokyo Disney.

“In the live entertainment business, technology and innovation are at the forefront of all that we do,” says Berkeley. “It is the innovative work performed by those in technical roles within entertainment that provide us with awe-inspiring moments in our shows.”

Disney states that “Aimee worked with a number of women who played key roles in bringing the show to life and ushering in new technology.”

Michelle Wang, Entertainment Lighting Designer

Michelle Wang, an entertainment lighting designer was part of the team that brought Shanghai Disney Resort’s nighttime spectacular, “ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration,” to life.

“Michelle learned about elements like which types of light fixtures to use, fixture positions, special effects, light intensity, color palettes, and more,” stated Disney. “She continues to apply this knowledge and skill set to many other live entertainment experiences at the resort, with the goal of perfecting the shows while also ensuring the safety of performers.”

“I got to stand among our guests during the opening night of ‘ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration’,” Michelle shared. “In that moment, when I heard the cheering and applause, and saw the absolute joy in the crowd, I felt extremely proud to be part of the team and I knew all of our hard work was worth it.”

Stephanie Duffy, Lead Digital Product Operations Manager at Walt Disney World Resort

From My Disney Experience app, the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, and the “Hey Disney!” digital voice assistant, Stephanie Duffy, Lead Digital Product Operations Manager supported these and other technology-based projects at Disney.  

“Earlier in my career, there weren’t very many women in roles like mine. Even then, I always made the effort to find women leaders to mentor me. Now, I see more women in the digital technology space at Disney, and it is encouraging to know we have more mentors than ever before as it remains something I’m passionate about.”

“When women support women, the sky is the limit,” Stephanie shared when asked what her advice is for young women looking to grow in their careers. “Disney is an amazing place to work, and there are so many opportunities to learn and grow as a professional if you know where to look.”

Alison Moore, Food & Beverage Operations Manager at Disney California Adventure Park

One of the many reasons why guests love visiting a Disney Park is for the food. Alison Moore, Food & Beverage Operations Manager at Disney California Adventure Park has been responsible for many of the innovations over at the Disneyland Resort

Among Moore’s many responsibilities in the food & beverage department, she was responsible for the new plant-based offerings at Disneyland Resort’s Paradise Garden Grill. The first-ever fully plant-based menu, launched on March 3, 2023.

“Innovation is a huge part of everything that we do on a daily basis within the F&B team,” Allison said. “Our various leaders and chefs have to regularly stay on top of trends within the industry and find unique ways to keep the resort at the forefront of what is happening with our offerings. This focus on plant-based menu items is just one example of the work that we’re doing on a regular basis to innovate our F&B offerings at Disneyland Resort.”

Disneyland Paris

At the Jack Kirby Legacy Gallery in the Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, guests can visit the “Women of MARVEL” exhibition featuring the artwork of six female MARVEL artists.

“Welcome to the Women of Marvel exhibition, celebrating MARVEL’s female artists’ and Super Hero,” read the exhibition plaque.

“This collection of comic book covers includes works by some of our favorite artists from around the world and features some of your favorite Super Hero.

Learn more about the origins and powers of these iconic and groundbreaking heroes who define the MARVEL Universe as you enjoy the artistic talents of the real-life Women of Marvel who illustrated them. Just like every Super Hero has her own journey, every artist has her own process.”

In an Instagram post, Natacha Rafalski, President, Disneyland Paris wrote:

International Women’s Day! In honor of this global celebration, I wanted to highlight two initiatives you all can enjoy at our resort.

At the entrance of Disneyland Park, the traditional flowerbed that welcomes guests has been transformed by our Nature & Environment teams to honor the one and only Minnie Mouse.

Meanwhile, an exclusive exhibition is showcasing six super talented female MARVEL artists and their art at the Jack Kirby Legacy Gallery of Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel. You can enjoy both of these experiences for the weeks to come, so make sure to go check it out!

This is also an excellent occasion to celebrate all of our female Cast Members and their allies, who help make magic each and every day for thousands of guests. Thank you for all you do!

While it’s customary for Disney Parks to adorn their flowerbed entrances with Mickey Mouse, for the next few weeks, Disneyland Park will showcase Minnie Mouse as the primary centerpiece of their classic flowerbed. This has been a recurring practice at the park for a few years and is a favorite among visitors.

Minnie’s figure, along with her ears, nose, and mouth, is crafted out of evergreen foliage, while her iconic bow and facial features are composed of an array of red and white blooms.

The Minnie Mouse flowerbed will be on display until March 30.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th. It is a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and also serves as a call to action for gender equality and women’s rights.

The theme for International Women’s Day varies each year, with the aim to raise awareness and advocate for women’s equality and empowerment. It has been observed since the early 1900s and is recognized by many countries around the world. It is a day to celebrate the progress that has been made towards gender equality, as well as to acknowledge the work that still needs to be done to achieve full gender parity.

How are you celebrating International Women’s Day? Let us know in the comment below.

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