Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort Cast Members are receiving brand new castle-inspired service awards for 15 years with Disney.
New Cast Member Service Awards
Disney Experiences Cast Members celebrating 15 years of service with The Walt Disney Company receive a special award modeled after the castle at their respective park. Until now, there have only been awards inspired by Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World, Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, and Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant at Disneyland Paris.
Now the castles of Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland have been introduced to the award options.
It’s worth noting that the image Disney provided reverses which castle is which. The castle on the left is Shanghai Disneyland’s Enchanted Storybook Castle, and the castle on the right is Hong Kong Disneyland’s Castle of Magical Dreams. Hong Kong Disneyland opened 19 years ago and Shanghai Disneyland opened 8 years ago, so more and more Cast Members at the parks are reaching their 15-year milestone. If you are wondering why a park that has been open for 8 years has Cast Members with 15 years of service, there are likely Cast Members in Shanghai started working for the company in other Disney destinations around the world.
Tommy Mendoza, a Project Manager on the Disney Service Awards Team, said, “Over the past few years we have really taken a look at the program and found ways that we can improve it. While we had castles representing Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disneyland Paris, Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort cast members were given castles from other parks. With Hong Kong Disneyland re-designing its castle in 2020, each park now had its own distinct castle, and we wanted to celebrate that by creating these new castles for each park.”
Hong Kong Disneyland’s original Sleeping Beauty Castle was replaced with the Castle of Magical Dreams.
The Disney Service Awards team and Walt Disney Imagineering spent 18 months creating the two brand new awards. The 8.5-inch tall bronze statues were meticulously crafted to include every detail of the real-life castles.
The teams started by creating a 3D computer rendering, which they then turned into 3D printed models. A finished model was then molded and hand-painted.
Kristen Riker, a Senior Work Life Analyst from the Disney Service Awards Team, said, “It’s incredibly special to be a part of a team that is helping to create memories and recognize the invaluable contributions of our cast members. These awards are pieces of Disney history that highlight the commitment and passion of each person and unite our global workforce.”
The Walt Disney Company celebrates Cast Members who have provided years of service with special events and awards at big service milestones: 5th year, 10th year, etc. The tradition began with the first service celebration hosted by Walt and Roy O. Disney on January 3, 1965, 10 years after Disneyland opened.
Rick Henson, a Cast Activities Engagement Manager who works with the awards, shared, “The service awards are a unique cast member award. Being able to create these awards is something that I’ve found to be just as rewarding as receiving them. The statues represent our cast members’ stories and the magic they spread to others. My hope is that these tokens of appreciation for their years of service, will be a way for them to remember fondly what they accomplished.”
Cast Members at both resorts shared their excitement at receiving the new awards.
“I am honored and lucky to be one of the first cast members to receive the new Enchanted Storybook Castle statue to celebrate my 15 years of service at Disney. Shanghai Disney Resort really opened a fairy tale chapter for me, and I’m looking forward to my 20th and 30th service anniversaries here,” said Celine Li from the Procurement team at Shanghai Disney Resort.
Sun Chiu, a Demi Chef at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, said, “I never thought I would be staying with one company for such a long period. What keeps me here, and what I treasure most, is the friendship with my fellow co-workers. I’ve received the 5th and 10th service anniversary awards before, but this time, receiving the 15th service anniversary award, which is made exclusively for Hong Kong Disneyland Resort cast members, is extra special and meaningful! It’s so unique and beautiful.”
Guest Service Manager William So at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort said, “I transferred from Hotel Operations to Park Operations during the castle transformation. Receiving this brand-new service award featuring the Castle of Magical Dreams holds special meaning for me, as it connects to my experience witnessing the launch of this significant milestone.”
“I truly value the friendships and partnerships I’ve built with various teams throughout my Disney journey,” So added. “And I’m proud to be part of many important moments, including the opening of Disney Explorers Lodge and the launch of the ‘Momentous’ Nighttime Spectacular.”
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