If you've visited the most magical place on earth, you may have spotted some Disney employees with blue name tags. It's actually an honor to have one!
Here’s What Disney’s Blue Name Tag Really Means
Updated on Jul. 07, 2025
Despite whatever costumes, wigs and makeup a Disney Cast Member (that’s Disney-speak for “employee”) is required to wear to work, all employees must don a name tag that states their first name and hometown. From cruise captains to line cooks and ride operators, in Disneyland and Disney World (yes, there’s a difference!), everyone who works for the mouse must have a tag. If you’ve been to a Disney park, you’ve probably seen hundreds of employees wearing name tags in a variety of styles, graphics and colors. But while you may have spotted a Disney blue name tag, you probably didn’t realize just how rare it is.
This little detail may not be as flashy as fireworks over Cinderella’s castle, but it’s one of the Disney secrets you’ll wish you knew sooner. So gear up for the Disney trivia you didn’t know you needed. Ahead, you’ll learn what the Disney blue name tag actually means and how a Disney employee is eligible to get it.
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What are Disney’s blue name tags?
No surprise here: The Disney blue name tags are, well, name tags that are blue and worn by Disney employees. Beyond that, though, they honor select Disney employees and let guests know they’re dealing with an absolute pro.
Cast Members wearing a blue name tag have earned the prestigious Walt Disney Legacy Award, specifically reserved for employees who have done an exceptional job executing Disney’s mission to dream, create and inspire. This is the highest honor a Cast Member can receive, and they’ll hold onto that award for the duration of their employment at Disney.
What, exactly, do these extra-special name tags look like? Generally, Disney’s oval name tags have white backgrounds, and that’s where these differ. The handful of employees who have received the Walt Disney Legacy Award pin on name tags with blue backgrounds.
Why did Disney start the blue name tag program?
Disney introduced its blue name tags in 2011 as a global recognition program aimed at spotlighting employees who embody the values that were important to Walt Disney himself. Before 2011, each Disney location had its own way of honoring Cast Members with various awards, but the company found that recognition for outstanding Cast Members was not consistent everywhere.
That’s when Disney stepped in to unify the awards to create one esteemed and selective employee honor: the blue name tag.
How do employees earn the prestigious Walt Disney Legacy Award?
This special honor is bestowed only if a Cast Member is nominated by a fellow Cast Member. The award is extremely selective, with only a few hundred honorees out of a staff of over 200,000. The panel of judges who review and select winners is comprised of a board of executives, managers and some additional theme park employees.
These Cast Members have proven that they will go above and beyond to make Disney the most magical experience for all guests, while consistently working long hours with large crowds and exhausted (maybe irritable) families in the blazing heat with a notably small paycheck. Sounds tough, right? On top of that, Disney employees are expected to stick to a lot of rules, including what they are or aren’t allowed to say.
So where will you find Cast Members with Disney’s blue name tags? The recognition program spans all Disney theme parks around the world, along with Imagineering and Disney Cruise Lines. When you do cross paths with a blue-tagged employee, be sure to give them the kudos they deserve.
