“What’s In a Name?” The Secret Behind Disney Cast Members With Blue Nametags

A few months ago, Disney Parks Blog shared some relatively unknown information regarding special nametags at Disney Parks. Typically, Cast Members are seen donning a white badge that displays their first name, home city/town, country/state, and of course, the Resort’s name.

But, rarely, Guests have spotted Cast Members wearing mysterious blue name tags. It turns out the badges are called Blue Legacy Nametags and are only given to Cast Members who receive the Walt Disney Legacy Award.

In a new post, Disney Parks Blog updated Disney fans on the prestigious award, which is considered “the highest honor any Cast Member, Disney Imagineer, crew member or employee can receive.”

Currently, employees have been made aware that they were chosen to receive the honor, with Disney continuing to notify recipients in the next few weeks. The Walt Disney Company surprises its hard-working Members with the prize, creating a vast array of memorable moments.

But, how does an unsuspecting Disney employee achieve such an honor? Here are five details about the program to help you understand the Walt Disney Legacy Award process.

First, a Disney employee must be nominated by a fellow Cast member or peer. Disney allows their team to submit testimonials about co-workers that excel in their positions.

Second, a Blue Legacy Nametag recipient must represent qualities essential to The Walt Disney Company’s model. Summed up in three words: dream, create, and inspire, nominated Cast Members “must consistently strive to make dreams come true by enhancing the Disney experience, create new innovative ways to deliver Disney magic, and inspire others.”

Third, the Walt Disney Legacy Award is global, meaning that recipients can be based in different parts of the world, and in various areas of service, from Parks to Consumer Products and so on.

Fourth, the program is selective, with less than 1% of Cast Members receiving the special honor, which means seeing someone with a blue nametag is a rare treat for Guests at Disney Parks.

Lastly, the program is based on Cast Member referrals, but Disney encourages Guests to recognize impactful Cast Members through their Cast Compliment program. In a recent post about Cast Compliments, we shared how to make a Cast Member’s day.

So, there you have it! If you see someone with a blue nametag in the Parks, now you’ll know the secret behind the badge!