Nothing beats a childhood trip to Disney. This is especially true for Tiffany Bagwell who was inspired to pursue a career in entertainment at Walt Disney World after watching the parades at the park with her family as a kid.
Here’s how she went from a Disney fan to an entertainment cast member, creating happiness for families around the world.
A Love for Disney and Entertainment
Tiffany has a unique connection with Disney, dating back generations. Her mother, father, and aunt lived in Winter Park, Florida and became cast members at Walt Disney World long before she did. Her mother was a performer — which is the very same role that Tiffany started her Disney journey with in 1996.
“I loved hearing stories about my family working at Disney,” said Tiffany, who is now a Character Programs and Development Coordinator for Disney Live Entertainment. “I always felt so proud that they worked there. It made visiting the parks as a family even more special.”
While the rides were of course a highlight of her childhood trips, Tiffany’s favorite moments were catching all the shows and parades across Walt Disney World. She shared this love of entertainment with her sister Shannon, who is also a cast member and currently performs at Magic Kingdom.
“We were always drawn to entertainment,” Shannon explained. “As kids, we would watch Disney specials on TV and look up to the dancers and performers. We loved dressing up and pretending to put on shows growing up, so it feels right that we’re here now, both working in entertainment at Disney.”
Growing a Career in Entertainment at Disney
Soon after Tiffany began working as a performer at Walt Disney World in 1996, her sister followed in her footsteps, helping carry on her family’s legacy as entertainment cast members. One of the sisters’ proudest moments is that they opened the Festival of Fantasy parade together at Magic Kingdom in 2014.
“Little Tiffany would have been so excited to see the beautiful costumes she was going to wear one day. It makes me want to cry — I just would have never imagined the career I have now and that I would help create magic for kids just like us,” Tiffany said.
In 2018, Tiffany found a new passion with Disney Live Entertainment, helping create costumes worn at Disney Parks around the world.
Why Disney?
Tiffany has built an impressive career in entertainment at Disney that spans almost 30 years. Along the way, she’s found plenty of reasons to love being a cast member — achieving childhood dreams being a big one.
“There are so many wonderful reasons to work for Disney. No matter your interests, there are a million opportunities you can explore,” Tiffany explained. “You can go in any direction your heart desires and fulfill all those dreams you’ve been working toward all within the same company. Your skills are needed and wanted at Walt Disney World.”
Tiffany added that a huge highlight of her career has been the “family” around her — not just her sister, but the many lifelong friends she has made while working.
“The core thing that truly keeps you at Disney is the other cast around you,” Tiffany said. “You share important moments together and they inspire you day after day. The support we have for each other is so meaningful and it has pushed me to do the best work I can.”
Interested in starting a career at Disney like Tiffany? Head to DisneyCareers.com to begin your story.