Disneyland celebrates employees’ years of service with special event
Disneyland Resort recently hosted its annual Service Celebrations event, a private gathering dedicated to honoring cast members and Disney employees who have reached milestone anniversaries of 10 years or more.
Over 2,300 honorees were recognized this year at an exclusive evening event at Disney California Adventure Park.
All honorees received a commemorative lanyard, a personalized credential, and a special edition of the Disney California Adventure Daily newspaper listing their names. Additionally, those celebrating 40 or more years of service were treated to an exclusive dinner and reception at Carthay Circle Restaurant.
Among those honorees was Bonnie Garabedian, who was recognized for her 45 years at Disneyland during the event.
Garabedian started her career with Disney in the 1970s as a parade performer and now serves as a group reservation sales specialist with the Walt Disney Travel Company.
“Whenever it rained, we had the option to either go home or work indoors if they could find us a job,” Garabedian recalled. “One day, I was asked to help stuff brochures, and I discovered the Walt Disney Travel Company. I realized I could be a Disney cast member and work in travel.”
That moment in the 1980s led to a career coordinating and escorting cast member group trips around the world, including visits to Disney Parks, Europe, and behind-the-scenes tours of Walt Disney Studios and Imagineering.
During the pandemic, when the parks temporarily closed, Garabedian pivoted to working for shopDisney, handling customer service calls as the company shifted to online sales. She also worked in contract management for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings and Disney convention groups.
Her journey working at Disney was also shaped by personal milestones, including pausing college after the sudden passing of their mother. However, through Disney Aspire, the company’s tuition assistance program, Garabedian was able to complete a degree in behavioral science after a 40-year educational journey.
“Disney Aspire is the best-kept secret at this company,” they said. “I was able to finish my degree without really spending a penny. The Disney brand and culture matched my personality; it was a perfect fit.”
Garabedian has seen many iterations of the “Happiest Place on Earth” throughout her long-standing career. She shared that the theme park used to be closed on Mondays – Wednesdays during its early years before transitioning to year-round operation in 1980s.
“We had movies, of course, but we only had the one theme park. We didn’t have all that we have now, with the additional theme parks, the merging of other companies,” Garabedian said.
Disneyland Resort’s Service Celebrations event highlights the contributions of longtime employees who have witnessed the park’s transformation over the years. As the resort grows, the event recognizes those who have shared the Disney magic with guests worldwide.