There are some incredible cast member stories to be found in the Disney parks around the globe. As Father’s Day nears, Disney has shared just a few of these from Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and the Disney Cruise Line. It shows how the legacies of several fathers continue on in The Walt Disney Company in the generations they have raised and are now following them. This comes after Disney shared similar stories about mothers and how their legacies have contributed to the following generations in the Disney parks. In both cases, it shows how creating magical memories can be a family tradition that is carried down from generation to generation. For Father’s Day, Disney has shared stories of how the work of fathers has inspired those who have followed to also take the Disney route.
Disneyland Resort
At the Disneyland Resort, there is a father-daughter bond that can be found in two cast members. Lily and Jim are their names. Lily was a Make-A-Wish kid and, in 2011, was granted the trip of a lifetime. She was sent on the Disney Dream, where she experienced Disney magic at sea and even got to swim with dolphins! This wasn’t the end of the story, however. It was just the beginning.
Her father, who had spent 11 months deployed overseas in Iraq, was able to join Lily and their family aboard the ship. This was all thanks to Make-A-Wish. Jim, a U.S. Army Veteran with 23 years of service, is also a member of Disney SALUTE. This is Disney’s veteran employee resource group that honors and empowers cast members with a military background.
While on board the Disney Dream, the Moser Family experienced the incredible care that Disney Cruise Line members provide. “The way the crew treated us, we felt like the only people in their orbit,” Jim raved. “The trip was magical in every way, and it’s a memory our entire family will always cherish.”
After her wish, Lily was eager to inspire other people as well. She joined the Make-A-Wish Oregon chapter volunteer team as a Wish Ambassador. In this role, she would share her story and inspire others. Her father, Jim, also served the chapters as a wish-granter and helped make dozens of wishes come true.
After moving from Portland, Oregon, to Southern California in 2021, Jim joined the Disneyland Resort Security Special Services Team. This inspired Lily to begin her own Disney career journey the following year. This was done with Disney Imagination Campus.
Recently, when Disney hosted its Wishes Assemble event at Disney California Adventure, both Lily and Jim were invited to attend. This event was hosted by Disney, Make-A-Wish, and MrBeast and celebrated nearly 40 wish children and their families on World Wish Day at The Happiest Place on Earth!
For Lily and Jim, their time at Disney has become a full-circle moment. What was once an annual family vacation spot is now where they reminisce and feel proud to represent the magic daily in their role as cast members. At the core of this is that Disney will always hold a special place in their hearts.
“My life would not have been the same without the hope, strength, and joy Make-A-Wish and Disney brought me and my family,” said Lily.
Today, Lily is proudly seven years seizure-free, and her critical illness diagnosis is now considered resolved. Her father Jim couldn’t be happier.
Lily and Jim’s full inspiring story can be found here on the Disney Parks Blog.
Walt Disney World Resort
Over at Walt Disney World Resort, the story of Brian begins with a honeymoon trip that ended with him and his wife leaving Chicago to move to Central Florida looking for a better future. Brian started as a Walt Disney World Resort bus driver and then steadily built his career over time as he supported his family.
Brian would be a part of the Walt Disney World Electrical Apprenticeship Program. There, he developed new skills and then grew into leadership roles. Today, he helps lead the overnight Engineering Services operations that are tasked with keeping Magic Kingdom powered and ready for guests each day!
Meanwhile, at home, his children have been watching the journey their dad has been on. They have also seen the persistence and pride he brought to his work. This has led his son Giovanni and Daughter Gianna to follow in his footsteps.
Giovanni today supports events at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Gianna creates magical guest experiences at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. She is also continuing her education through the Disney Aspire program.
“Seeing my dad’s Disney story play out in front of us really inspired my sister and I to dream big and take pride in the magic we help create,” Giovanni shared.
Gianna shared how watching her father’s growth at Disney showed her what was possible for herself.
“Seeing how much pride he took in creating magical experiences made me want to be part of that too,” she said. “Now, getting to welcome families at the start of their vacations feels really special because I remember feeling that same excitement growing up.”
Brian has shared how seeing his kids build careers at Walt Disney World has become one of the most meaningful parts of his 25-year Disney journey.
“You always hope your kids are proud of the example you set,” Brian said. “Watching them build lives and careers of their own here means more to me than I can explain.”
Faron Kelley continues to help shape guest experiences across Disney. For nearly four decades, he has had leadership roles that spanned entertainment, marketing, and operations. His current role is as senior vice president of Disney Sales Strategy and Solutions.
Callie, his daughter, grew up watching the care, leadership, and passion he brought to his teams each day. Years later, she followed him to Disney via the Disney College Program. Today, she works in Magic Kingdom merchandise and recently stepped into a coordinator role in Liberty Square.
“When she came home from Traditions with her name tag and costume on, that’s when it really hit me,” Faron shared. “Seeing her begin her own journey here after growing up around this company was incredibly emotional.”
Aulani
Kamalia Hopkins began her Disney journey as a Youth Activities Counselor at the Aulani Resort in 2024. At the time, she was hesitant to share her dad, Kama Hopkins, was Aulania’s Hawaiian Culture Advisor.
“I wanted to prove myself and show that I was a good worker,” Kamalia said. “I didn’t want anyone thinking I got the job because I have connections.” But keeping the secret proved to be difficult considering they have the same name.
Kama Hopkins is well known at Aulani as being talkative, friendly, and positive. With either dad or daughter, “People say we’re both Mr. and Miss Aloha,” Kamalia laughs. “My dad is always the first one to make friends with new cast members, and I try to be the same way.”
The older Kama shared that one of his favorite sayings was passed on by one of his mentors. “Always with aloha,” he says. “I teach my kids to approach everything from a place of aloha.”
Aloha is shared every day by Kama and Kamalia at Aulani Resort. In her role at Aunty’s Beach House, Kamalia helps Aulani’s youngest guests experience Disney magic through programs and activities. Many of these involve stories of Hawai‘i.
Kama, as the Hawaiian Culture Advisor, guides how the culture is presented. He ensures that Aulani’s use of language and stories is both accurate and appropriate. Beyond their titles, father and daughter are also two of 31 cast members at Aulani Resort who are fluent in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian language.
Kamalia shares her father’s love and appreciation for ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. She speaks it with keiki as much as possible. “Sometimes we get kids in Aunty’s Beach House who speak Hawaiian, and I’m thankful that I get to be a resource for them. I can play games with them in Hawaiian and help them exercise their main language outside of home and school.”
They are family by blood, but the ‘ohana that has been built at Aulania also attracted them to Disney. It also continues to keep them both here. “As a parent, I see the family environment that exists naturally at Aulani,” says Kama. “The opportunity for growth in Disney is unlike any company I’ve ever worked for. With her skills and background, I knew this was the right place for my daughter.”
Kamalia agrees, “It’s the people. My leaders are always praising us for the good work we do, and they’re so encouraging and uplifting. Even if I was at Aulani for staycation, I’d stop in to see my coworkers.”
She has also now shares that Kama is her dad, “I’m so glad that my dad is someone who people like to have around and enjoy working with,” says Kamalia. “He is one of the most positive, loving and friendly people I know. That’s how I try to live.”
Disney Cruise Line
Alex lives a fatherhood journey unlike any other aboard the Disney Dream. Alex has been a dedicated part of the Disney Cruise Line team for the past 13 years. He also gets the ultimate Father’s Day gift is getting to work side-by-side with his two sons, Alex Christopher, and Oriel.
Alex’s story began with a leap of faith. He left the Dominican Republic to pursue a contract at sea. Originally, the only goal was to support his family financially. This temporary career choice eventually led to something much deeper. This journey created a deep-seated pride in leadership, mentorship, and the Disney culture.
“When I first started 13 years ago… I thought it would be a short contract,” Alex recalled. “But then you see the impact you make, and Disney becomes a part of who you are. Now, looking at my boys next to me, I realize I wasn’t just building a career; I was building a path for them.”
Fast forward a few years and Alex Christopher, and Oriel decide to head to see, inspired by their father’s career. They stepped onto a cruise ship as first-time crewmembers and experienced all of the homesickness that came with this new venture.
The first few months of Alex Christopher’s journey in his father’s footsteps were tough. They were stationed on different ships, and the distance felt vast. Disney Cruise Line stepped in to support this family and facilitated a transfer to bring father and son together.
“The first few months on a different ship were really hard,” he said. “But when I requested a transfer to be with my dad and brother, and Disney approved it, that changed everything. I remember telling my brother, ‘Wow, Disney really do magic’—not just for the guests on the upper decks, but for us down here.”
“Having them here changed ship life from an endurance test into a comfort,” Oriel added. “You come off a long shift, and you aren’t alone in a room. You are with your blood.” On duty, their dynamic is rooted in deep professional respect. Off duty, their shared cabin fills with the joyful energy of home.
“When we are in the cabin, it’s loud, we are playing music from back home, watching movies, joking around, and just being a family,” Oriel said. “But the moment we put on that nametag and step through the door, it’s strict professionalism. On deck, he isn’t ‘Dad’: He is a leader, and we respect that.”
The dedication to excellence is something that continues on, whether at sea or at home. Disney shared that Alex’s wife laughs that during his vacation time back home, he brings his rigorous Disney standards into their household.
“She says, ‘Alex, you bring too much of that Disney perfectionism home with you. Relax, you aren’t on the ship!’ I can’t help it, it’s the standard we live by now,” Alex said with a smile.
Alex has discovered that being a father at sea has redefined what it means to anchor a family.
Alex gets the ultimate Father’s Day gift every day. He doesn’t just watch his children grow up from far away. Instead, he gets to actively guide his children through adulthood and career success from aboard the same ship.
“People ask me if it’s hard working with my kids, and I tell them it is the greatest gift,” he said. “Most fathers have to say goodbye and wonder how their sons are growing up. I get to stand right next to them and watch them become men, professionals, and leaders every single day. That is the real magic.”
A Father’s Day Disney Gift
Disney has provided an environment where families can grow together. This culture has allowed the stories that have been shared by Disney above to happen. It provides a culture where Fathers can see their legacies continued through the lives of the generations that follow. This is a legacy that shows that Disney magic isn’t just about moments, but about moments that are built into careers and lives. These lives change other lives and don’t just make Disney a better place, but the world.
On Father’s Day, we are reminded of the gifts that are given to us by those who have come before. We are also thankful for the Fathers who have helped make Disney such a magical place and a place where family legacies can grow and thrive. Thank you to all of the fathers who have helped make Disney magic and who have inspired their families to do the same. Happy Father’s Day!
