As you enter Disneyland park, you make your way to the tunnel under the iconic station on Main Street, U.S.A., and catch a glimpse of a meticulously placed plaque that reads: “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.”
The famous words by Walt Disney, who made history on this day in 1955, come alive as you make your way through the tunnel and are transported to a magical world beyond your imagination. From a land that was once covered in groves of orange trees, to a place where everyone is welcome and where magic and fantasy spark from every corner.
Walt was a masterful storyteller, from his early years creating characters and bringing them to life on screen, to creating the park we all know today filled with stories from his childhood growing up in Missouri to characters that inspired him. He paved the way for many to share their own unique stories.
Cast members are each storytellers in their unique role, and bring to life the stories behind each realm of the parks. As we celebrate the anniversary of Disneyland Resort today on July 17, here are a few cast members whose roles embody Walt’s legacy and celebrate the rich history and heritage of Disneyland Resort.
Yesterday
Guest Relations Core Lead and Trainer Sandra Aguirre smiles in front of the Disneyland park entrance plaque.
In a role that was created by Walt himself, Guest Relations and Tour Guides carry on Walt’s legacy, history and heritage and tell his stories to the many guests that enter Disneyland Resort every day.
Sandra Aguirre, a dedicated guest relations core lead and trainer at Disneyland Resort, personifies “yesterday” in the timeless quote. Joining the resort in 2015, she seamlessly balanced her role as a licensed vocational nurse at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) returning to the resort full-time in 2021, driven by her deep connection to the park’s rich history. As an expert in guided tours, Sandra said, “The story of Disneyland Resort is a journey through time,” and her passion for sharing its heritage, from the juxtaposition of the Victorian era that Walt loved so much, to modern innovations and the iconic details of Main Street, U.S.A., brings the magic of the resort’s past to life for guests.
Reflecting on Walt’s famous words, Sandra said, “That quote really embodies everything that Disneyland Resort stands for with Guest Relations. Through our storytelling, we keep that history alive and give guests the ability to engage with how it has impacted our future. When guests come to us and take our guided tours, they seek a deeper understanding of what ‘yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy’ means. It’s about nostalgia and connecting through our history, building lasting connections with our guests.”
As Sandra thinks about the anniversary of Disneyland park, she finds joy in contributing to what makes the resort a special place for cast members and guests alike. Looking ahead, Sandra is eager to lead her team of storytellers for many more anniversaries to come, inspiring them to embrace their part in the ongoing narrative of Disneyland Resort, where past and present converge to create unforgettable experiences for guests of all ages.
Tomorrow
Valerie and Frank at the Fall 2023 “That‘s a Wrap!” end of program celebration for Emerging Leaders.
Looking to those who represent the “tomorrow” of Walt Disney’s vision for Disneyland Resort, it’s only fitting to highlight Emerging Leaders, a program that is responsible for the multiple generations of leaders across the resort. One leader who not only participated in the program, but is central to continuing the success of it as well is Frank Shaver-Burgess, a senior operations training manager supporting onboarding, leadership development, and working leads. Speaking to the significance of the program, Frank shared, “the Emerging Leaders program is one piece of the puzzle that provides leaders with the learning and development needed to be successful at the Disneyland Resort. With over 100 hours of training spent in the classroom, not including the training one receives in their new location, this program provides the essentials needed for an operations leader to unleash excellence every day.”
Frank has been with the company since 2010, getting his start in the Disney College Program as an attractions host in Disney California Adventure park. In 2015, Frank joined the Emerging Leaders program, and was part of the class for Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary. Similar to Walt’s vision of the resort never being truly complete so long as there is imagination in the world, Frank shared that “the great thing about learning and development is that it never stops, regardless of your role or how long you’ve been a leader. Learning never ends.”
Frank with a fellow cast member at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in 2013. (Left) Valerie and Frank in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in 2024. (Right)
After having known Frank for over a decade, Valerie Means, an operations leadership development manager in operations training, recently asked him about his mission statement [for leadership]. “He said, ‘A leader is a teacher; a teacher is a leader.’ I admire Frank’s ability to see people’s capacity for greatness and help them achieve it. I have had the benefit of him teaching and leading me, and I know that the things he has taught me and the leader he has been for me have played an indelible role in the leader I am today…” Valerie continued, “I am proud of the work all of us in Operations Training do to actively contribute to the growth and evolution of leadership at the Disneyland Resort.
To Frank and Valerie, tomorrow’s leaders are tasked with upholding Walt Disney’s legacy as they have throughout their careers, with Frank sharing “when I think about my team’s work, I am often reminded of a quote from Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton: ‘Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.’ The best part of our work is that we often get to see some of these gardens start to bloom, which is a beautiful thing.”
Valerie echoed these sentiments, sharing “I have poured over books, documentaries, docuseries, and anything I can use to connect with the legacy of our past, and with all of the magic and wonder of the years behind us – I am confident our best days are still ahead of us. The resort’s capacity for impacting the lives of our guests and our cast only grows… I believe in our future.”
Fantasy
Disneyland Resort cast members represent “fantasy” as they each play a role in bringing magic to life through the stories prominent around the resort, and creating everlasting memories for guests.
Disney Ambassadors of Disneyland Resort Jada Young and Raul Aquino Rojas in Disneyland park.
And as the representatives of cast members and champions of their stories, Disney Ambassadors of Disneyland Resort Jada Young and Raul Aquino Rojas continue the legacy set by Walt when he selected Julie Reihm as the first Disneyland Ambassador in 1965.
“Disney Ambassadors are emissaries of goodwill,” said Raul. “We get to bring the magic of Disneyland Resort into the community by sharing our cast member’s unique stories and inspiring others to live out their wondrous dreams and fantasies.”
Disneyland Resort cast members celebrate Duck Races, an annual Cast Member tradition, with Donald Duck and the Disney Ambassadors.
“As Disney Ambassadors, we get to help our cast members dream about a world that can be,” said Jada. “Through telling our stories, we hope to inspire cast members to do the same!”
The passion of the resort’s cast members continues to bring Walt’s dream and legacy to life, and provide guests with magical moments that are cherished for a lifetime.
As the anniversary of Disneyland park is celebrated on July 17, around the world, our cast members are ready to welcome guests on this joyous day to celebrate.