Since 1963, cast members have taken to the Rivers of America in Disneyland park and flexed their rowing muscles in a race to the finish line for the title of champion in the annual Cast Canoe Races. This friendly (albeit highly competitive!) race is a beloved cast member tradition. The event brings together teams of all backgrounds and skill levels including teams who are brand-new to canoeing, returning teams of well-seasoned rowers and everything in-between.
Cast member participants in the Cast Canoe Races, a Disneyland park tradition dating back to 1963, celebrate a victory lap during the 1977 event.
A tradition that began as a friendly competition between cast members in Adventureland and Frontierland has grown to include more than 80 unique teams, from work locations to practice strategies, and reasons for joining the Cast Canoe Races. From early morning practices to designing their own team shirts, around 1,300 cast member participate. They spend countless hours together during the nine-week long season competing alongside each other on the water and building personal bonds – all with a goal of winning one of four divisions.
“This is one of the things that I always say: if you are a cast member, you need to do this at least once in your Disney career,” said Rick Henson, cast activities engagement manager and canoe commissioner for over 17 years. “This is one of those things that is so unique. You can only do it here at Disneyland in the summertime.”
One of the teams competing in this year’s Canoe Races, The Guardians of the North, made up of cast members from the Disneyland Resort security team.
Meet the team: The Guardians of the North
One of the canoe teams that competed in this year’s event, The Guardians of the North, is comprised almost entirely of Disneyland Resort security cast members. Hailing from various roles within the department, the team is a combination of two former teams, coming together as one to test their skills on the Rivers of America. Driven by the excitement of competition and a desire to win first place this year, the Guardians of the North took their commitment to the next level. When preparing for the event, they coordinated extra practices every Sunday morning at a local aquatics center in addition to their regular practices. While they didn’t earn the trophy for their division this year, the team is already planning their strategy for next year’s competition.
Another team in the Disneyland Cast Canoe Races, The Wayfinder Warriors, poses for a team photo before taking to the Rivers of America for this year’s event.
Meet the team: The Wayfinder Warriors
Another Disneyland Resort canoe team participating in this year’s event was the Wayfinder Warriors, who competed in the fourth division which is named EEK (Slugma Slugma Kappa) after a Monsters University sorority – tied to the theme of this year’s event. Inspired by their diverse roles from the Walt Disney Travel Company to Disney Imagination Campus and beyond, the team takes pride in its name as a connection to the role these cast members play in guiding guests to a memorable vacation. They may not have achieved their goal of winning, but the Wayfinder Warriors are proud of their commitment to diversity, determination and fun.
A tradition around the world
This infectious spirit of teamwork has extended around the world throughout the years since it first began – with versions of the event also taking place at Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.
The Cast Canoe Races is just one of many Disney perks that cast members look forward to every year, including previews of the resort’s newest attractions, celebrating a milestone anniversary at Service Celebrations, and enjoying yoga inside a theme park – to name a few uniquely Disney activities that build a sense of community.