Walt Disney World Nametags
By: Jennifer Romano
We talk about all sorts of pins on Disney Pins Blog, but one pin that I wear every day is my Walt Disney World nametag. Cast members take a great deal of pride in wearing their nametags, and this particular pin is very special to me!
Cast members first receive their nametags at the end of Traditions, which is the orientation that every Disney cast member must attend in order to begin their careers with the Disney Company. This program reflects on what is important to being a successful cast member as well as the rich history of Walt Disney and his family. Traditions was such a fun day for me, and it really made me feel welcome to the Disney Company. At the end of the day, a special visitor brings in the nametags for all of the new cast members. That’s right, I received my nametag from the mouse himself, Mickey! I was ready to cry when Mickey handed out the nametags. Only Disney could welcome people in such a wonderful way! Each new cast member is called by name and personally presented with his or her nametag. Again, the Walt Disney World nametag is not just a way to identify people; it is an important symbol of what it means to be a cast member.
Since I have been a cast member for over a year now, I have definitely experienced how important this symbol is to our guests. I have heard parents tell their children that if they are lost, all they have to do is find someone with the white nametag. Parents trust us to take care of their children if they are lost. Our nametags are a symbol of safety and courtesy to our guests. I am so proud to wear such a symbol every day!
Anniversaries are a big deal for our guests at Walt Disney World, and it is no different for our cast members. Now since I have been at Disney for a year, I have gotten a very fancy pin for my nametag. For different service celebrations, cast members are given a service pin to wear on their nametags. I just celebrated my one-year anniversary, so I received my Steamboat Willie pin. I can’t tell you how excited I was to receive this pin. It means so much to me to be a cast member, and I just still can’t believe that I get to do what I love every day of the week! In addition to my one-year pin, I will be getting a trainer pin soon too! I am going to be a trainer in my area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and as a trainer, you are given a very special Jiminy Cricket pin that can be worn on your costume. Again, I am so honored to be a part of this tradition! After a cast member is with the company for multiple years, he or she will receive other service pins that denote the number of years of service. I have included a photo of these pins from Tomart’s Disneyana Guide to Pin Trading.
One of my life goals is one day to earn a blue nametag. You might see some cast members with these nametags throughout the parks. These blue nametags identify cast members as recipients of the Walt Disney legacy award, which is the highest honor a cast member can receive. These cast members are the cream of the crop; they work to dream, inspire, and create. Every year, cast members are nominated for this award, and some very special folks are chosen. Some of the cast members with whom I work very closely were chosen this year. I couldn’t be more proud of them. I hope that I can work hard and one day be among their number! So, if you see a cast member with a blue nametag, offer them congratulations because they have achieved a great success!
Walt Disney wanted everyone to know each other by their first names so that there would be a good relationship among the cast, a close and personal relationship. Our nametags at WDW continue that tradition of the Disney Company being a first name company that strives to bring guests the highest level of guest service that we can!
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