At 19 years old, cast member Amy Benson began her Disney journey with The Walt Disney Travel Company, unsure of what career path she ultimately wanted to pursue. Little did she know that this remarkable adventure would lead her to finding her passion as a culinary chef. Over the past 24 years since then, Amy has worked in a variety of locations across Disneyland Resort, progressing in her career through one-of-a-kind experiences and meeting many talented professionals.
From home kitchen to chef status
From an early age, Amy was captivated by the magic of cooking and the lively atmosphere of working in the kitchen. Inspired by the incredible cooks in her extended family, especially her uncles, she developed a curiosity for the delicious dishes they created. Whether it was peeling potatoes or grating cheese – Amy was always happy to jump in to help, as it brought her immense joy to share the kitchen with them.
Her passion for cooking grew after she enrolled in culinary school, shortly after beginning her role with The Walt Disney Travel Company. This eventually led to her transition into her first culinary role at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. She started in the banquet kitchen, where she mastered all the essential skills and eventually advanced to the “hot kitchen,” where she helped prepare hot dishes for receptions and banquets.
After a few years, Amy sought a new challenge and applied to be a culinary chef at Disneyland Resort. After years of persistence, her dreams came true when she was selected for the role, beginning her journey crafting tasty dishes for guests from around the world.
Executive Chef Amy Benson smiles in Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Opening team in a galaxy far, far away
Amy has left her culinary touch on several memorable projects around The Happiest Place on Earth; she worked on demos for the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, assisted with the Alien Pizza Planet menu launch and ideated early concepts for Pym Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus.
One of her fondest memories during her time at the resort was being a part of the opening team for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019. Leading up to the opening, Amy and her fellow chefs spent countless hours dedicated to developing new out-of-this-galaxy menus and coordinating strategies for cast member training.
“We sat on plastic chairs in the ‘spice room’ in Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo and drew out plans on large pieces of paper,” Amy said. “The music [that now plays in the restaurant] was on at the time and even now when I hear that music, it sends me right back to that time.”
The lasting impact of mentorship
Amy has had the honor of encountering many talented chefs during her time as a Disney cast member who have taught her valuable lessons about the culinary field.
From her introduction to Napa-style cooking with Chef Ralph Stuhlmueller, an executive chef at Disneyland Resort, to the valuable business insights shared by Chef Jason Martin, and the mentorship of Senior Financial Analyst Alice Yang, who taught her the basics of finance. The unwavering support from these industry leaders provided Amy with encouragement throughout her journey.
“Chef Jonny Hall and Kris Theiler [vice president of Disneyland park] have also pushed me to be a better me and have trusted my judgement along the way and I thank them for all their trust and care,” Amy said.
One chef has left a profound impact on Amy and many other chefs around the resort – Chef Bill. He was an inspiration to many at Disneyland Resort and he always saw the best in others – specifically fostering their potential for future greatness. He led a small, internal culinary program created to introduce chefs and aspiring chefs to the fundamentals of cooking and help guide them on their culinary career. Chef Bill transformed the culinary experience for Amy by being a mentor to her and others at the resort.
“He helped light a spark in the cast he taught,” Amy said. “He will always be missed and remembered by those that knew him.”
Amy Benson and Chef Bill pose for a picture.
A leader by example
Amy has grown in her craft through learning from many chefs around Disneyland Resort. Having seen what exceptional leadership looks like, she now aims to embody those qualities as a leader herself.
Embracing one of the resort’s 5 keys of core values, Amy is committed to displaying safe practices in her role as an executive chef and has been recognized by other leaders with a ‘safety coin award’ for her diligence. This honor was received by saving a fellow cast member’s life at a restaurant in Disneyland park. Amy saw a cast member in distress while choking on their food and immediately came to the rescue by performing the Heimlich maneuver, which ultimately saved their life. Amy emphasized that we can never predict when a guest or cast member may need help, so it’s crucial to stay vigilant.
A journey 24 years in the making
Her hard work throughout her storied Disney career has paid off and now she has achieved her dream of being an executive chef at Disneyland Resort, serving extraordinary cuisine to guests who visit from all over the world.
“Now that I am a chef, I don’t see myself doing anything else besides what I am doing now,” Amy said. “My team of chefs makes things easier because they are all so good at what they do. They make me love my job ten times more.”
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