“Resiliency, Courage, and Authenticity” – Walt Disney World Ambassador Shannon Smith-Conrad Shares Her Journey and Vision

It was an honor to sit down and have a conversation with Shannon, and we want to thank the Disney Experiences team for setting up time during Shannon’s busy schedule. She was in the middle of hosting Disney Dreamers Academy 2025, sharing her passion and leadership skills, and owning every stage she stepped on all weekend. Shannon was gracious with her time with us, sharing her authentic self and the connection she has with the Cast Members of Walt Disney World. Full Video Below

From day one, she remembered our name, and she has always been great with these amazing hugs she gives out. We have had many conversations over the past 2 years, and she has this way about her that makes you feel that you are the most important person in the room when speaking to you. We see Shannon and Serena, the Walt Disney World Ambassadors, regularly. We first met the duo on December 5th, 2023, at the opening of Luminous (Disney’s Newest nighttime spectacular) in Disney’s Epcot. Shannon has shown up at parades across the country, ride openings at Disney World, and more importantly, walking with the Cast Members she represents on an almost daily basis.

Since I am the author, I have to add this… Her positive attitude is undeniable, and her impact is clear. This young woman is going places. I would not be surprised to see her with a leading role in the Disney Parks, be it Disney World or Disneyland, or wherever she decides to continue her career path. But she isn’t going anywhere just yet. She has to finish her last year as Walt Disney World Ambassador and mentor the next Cast Members who believe they have what it takes to be the face of Walt Disney World.

Greg: Shannon Smith-Conrad, Walt Disney World Ambassador, 2024, 2025. Thank you so much for your time.

Shannon: Thank you for having me.

Greg: Let’s start with Disney Dreamers Academy. This is your first time hosting Disney Dreamers, and you are hosting with Princeton Parker. What is it about this next generation that is inspiring to you?

Shannon: I mean, this next generation of dreamers, they’re coming in full force with their career aspirations and goals. And I just love how at Walt Disney Dreamers Academy, every year, we keep pouring more and more into those 100 students. So whether it’s with humanities, arts, science, or technology, there’s something for everyone to do and explore. To be a co-host this year and have the opportunity to engage more with the Dreamers and their chaperones and get to know them. I know that our future is bright because they are. I’m not going to say future leaders of tomorrow. They’re leaders of today for everything that they’re already doing in their communities. So I can just imagine what they’re going to take from this Academy with Disney Dreamers and then take it over to their communities and start pouring into them. And that’s what we do here at Disney. We continue on that legacy of innovation and creativity and leadership.

Greg: What is your favorite Disney snack?

Shannon: I love popcorn. Popcorn is my favorite. And you can tell my voice changes. I love popcorn.

Greg: I am a popcorn bucket site between the two of us.

Shannon: Let’s go. We can go after this. Magic Kingdom. Let’s go.

Greg: Shannon, you represent over 75,000 Walt Disney World cast members. Is there a cast member story that sticks with you?

Shannon: There is. I mean, there are so many cast member stories that have stuck with me. Honestly, there are so many that I can recall. But the commonality that I appreciate is that our cast members are being appreciated for my authenticity and then feeling very, very safe with me. So, for instance, during the holidays, one of our cast members, you know, is doing a walk, which is when we go out. We’ll check on the cast members, make sure they’re good. She shared that she was dealing with loss in her family. And the fact that she dared to come to me and had that safe space with me. We just walked the utilities, and I gave her that time, that moment. And it’s something that she always recalls back when she thinks of me and reaches out to me. She sees me, and that’s what we do as ambassadors. We’re here for the cast. We don’t just represent those 75,000 cast members, but we also take care of them as well. So we are here to acknowledge but also care for our cast company and community.

Greg: What is the definition of a Walt Disney World ambassador to you?

Shannon: The definition of a Walt Disney Ambassador to me is selfless leadership because though we’re able to go to all of those incredible spaces and travel the world and talk to those executives and dine with those fabulous individuals, I’m always bringing those cast members into that space with me.

So when we were at D23 earlier this year and I was talking to the voice actor of Goofy and Donald, I know there’s a cast member out there that’s backstage who’s inspired to be a voice actor and I took a video with those two individuals and sent it over to our cast member and it’s keeping in mind that like, I wish I could bring all 75,000 plus of them, of our cast members with me so I know that I am representing them and Serena is representing them too, my partner in Magic, so that’s what I thought the definition of a Disney Ambassador is, is just being selfless leadership for two incredible years.

She continues to say: Like that’s just it, I’m sorry. Yeah, but that’s how I feel. Everyone’s like, Shannon, you’re on the go, go, go. And it is selfless, and I talked to my tribe before I went out for Ambassador, and I let them know that for two years, I’m giving. But I’m not pouring from an empty cup because as I’m giving, I’m still being replenished. So my cup is always overflowing to continue to pour out into our cast company and community.

Greg: So then that leads to the next question that I was going to ask, something completely different but it leads to why did you want to be the Ambassador? Why did you want to apply and represent this amazing place we call Walt Disney World?

Shannon: And I’m going with… Cast Members. I mean, that’s the fastest I’ve ever answered that, but it’s so true. And shout out to Raevon Redding, one of our former ambassadors, because when I was thinking about going out for Ambassador this last time around, mind you, this is my third time going out for it. I believe everything happens for a reason with timing. But Rayvon asked me, he’s like, what’s your why? And I remember I couldn’t emphasize and put into words what my why was.

And one morning, I want to say it was a week or so before I got called to interview for Ambassador, I woke up at 2 a.m. from a dead sleep and I had it on my phone. I jot down my why on my notes app, and it’s our cast members. I mean, they are the strongest people that I know. No matter what’s happening in current events or personal lives, they are the ones out there creating the magic and the happiness for our guests, whether they are on stage or backstage, and it takes a strong person to do so. So it’s our cast members for me.

Greg: Throwing in a wild card. What is your favorite ride at Walt Disney World?

Shannon: Y’all are always trying to catch me off. Go with that one. I want to keep it to who I am. Country Bear Jamboree. I love the new version. I love the former version. You can’t go wrong with it.

Greg: Can we give a shout-out to Trixie?

Shannon: Oh my gosh. Trixie girl, I love her. I love, I love Try Everything. Her whole pink outfit now. She’s alive.

Greg: What was your selection process like? Because what I’m leading to here is we are about to go through the process again for new ambassadorship coming in 2026, 2027. What was your process like, and what is the advice you’re going to give when you, somebody’s going to come to you like you went to Raevon. What do you say when all of a sudden now you’re the mentor?

Shannon: What an honor to be the mentor and then be shoes at this time. The process is always different. Again, this is my third time going out for it and the last process is different from the last two times and though it is a, I don’t want to say tedious, it is an intense process but if I can give one piece of advice to those who are aspiring to become a Disney ambassador at whatever proxy resource they would love to represent, it is to bring your true authenticity to the table. And I think that’s what was so different about this last time.

The first time, I was very robotic. I gave them what I thought an ambassador was, but this last time, I brought myself into every single round of interviews and even went into the space with executive Jeff Vahle and our teams. I brought Shannon to the space, and I was comfortable. So, though it was a rigorous process, it came with ease to me because I wasn’t portraying anyone but me. So, if you are aspiring to become a Disney ambassador, be yourself and just have courage, and have fun. They’re looking to see how you connect, and that’s what’s so important.

Greg: So I saw you at Moana 2 D23 preview and the Island Tower preview at House of Blues I want to say the next day you were in my hometown of Philadelphia.

Shannon: Oh my gosh. Yeah.

Greg: You did the Dunkin’ Donuts 6 ABC Parade, and I was so proud to see you on TV. But more importantly, you’re from Bakersfield, California and you have that hometown pride like I have. Tell me about Bakersfield, California, because it’s the home of Buck Owens and Oil fields, and Shannon Smith-Conrad.

Shannon: That’s me. Oh my gosh, that is I’m getting emotional. I mean Bakersfield is my hometown and it’s a small town and I feel like in a small town a lot of people are afraid to dream big because dreaming big is scary and it’s uncomfortable but I was so fortunate enough to have incredible mentors and shout out to my mom, my auntie’s, my grandma and my older brother because they gave me the courage to pursue any dream that I had and if it wasn’t for Disney I probably wouldn’t have left Bakersfield, California

So though I’m so grateful to have been born and raised there Bakersfield High School, I’m a driller, Palisades Bakersfield, I’m a road runner but it was Disney who brought me out of my shell and gave me that confidence and that courage to explore the careers throughout Walt Disney World so I’m forever grateful to be rooted in who I am as a Bakersfieldian always and forever but I’m also so fortunate to be here at Walt Disney World making the magic of learning every single day as a Disney ambassador.

Greg: I have two more questions for you. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Disney Ambassadorship Program. What are you planning on doing this year? Are you excited about this? Are you allowed to say anything? I can’t say much. Can you just say how important this is?

Shannon: It is. It’s so important because 60 years, I mean if we run it back if you will, Walt Disney himself established this program during the 10th anniversary over at the Disneyland Resort to be an extension of who he is and what he wanted for his cast, company and community. So the fact that we’re celebrating 60 years this year and my partner in magic and all the ambassadors around the world are my…

Greg: By the way, shout out to Serena.

Shannon: To Serena, I love you, Serena. Hey girl! That’s my partner in magic. Love you. But it’s just so beautiful to be in this space because we know that some are already tapping on us and asking about our story and going out for ambassador and what it’s like so it’s cool to be part of this legacy once our time is ended though it’s ended it carries on to the next team so very fortunate to what’s up and coming when it comes to our 60th anniversary and you all are going to have to stay tuned to find out some more.

Greg: And then finally, this one’s a little bit more in-depth, and I have to throw this at you because I got to meet Debbie Dane Brown in 2021.

Shannon: Yeah, she’s iconic.

Greg: She has been with the company now for 54 years as of this year. Have you thought about your legacy and what this means in 50 years when you’re still going to be an ambassador to Walt Disney World?

Shannon: Oh my gosh, you made me emotional. I love Debbie Dane Brown. I mean, we want to be about Debbie Dane. She’s the first Walt Disney World ambassador. Hands down, she’s queen. The legacy that I just want to leave once I leave my heels there amongst the other heels and shoes from our former’s is authenticity and courage. And just be proud of who you are. I know I represent a minority. I’m a plus-size woman, a black woman, and to be in the space not just to present that community but anyone who ever felt that they were not enough and were told no in life. Like don’t let that discourage you if you have a dream. You have to build that resiliency, and I hope I have those three words. Resiliency, courage, and authenticity are my legacy that I hope that I’m leading here in the Disney Ambassador program here at Walt Disney World.