When the gates of Disney’s Animal Kingdom closed to the public on Tuesday night, a different kind of wild adventure began. More than 1,200 Walt Disney World cast members gathered under the stars for the 2026 edition of Goofy’s Mystery Tour. This year, the long-standing tradition took on a tropical theme titled “Goofy’s Mystiki Tour,” drawing inspiration from the classic Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
The event is a private, after-hours competition that tests the wits of those who usually spend their days creating magic for guests. Teams of four navigated the park to tackle complex Disney trivia, solve mental puzzles, and complete scavenger hunts.
A Family Affair in the Parks
While the event is exclusive to employees, each participant can invite one friend or family member to join their squad. For Claire Embil of the Walt Disney World communications team, that spot always goes to her mother, Janet.
Janet travels from Chicago every year to participate. She noted that while she has attended previews for major attractions like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the Mystery Tour remains her favorite because of the teamwork involved.
“It is really challenging but really exciting,” Janet said. She is often credited as the team’s secret weapon for her ability to solve the “Clue Crew” puzzles that stump other players.
Behind the Scenes Preparation
Success in the Mystery Tour does not happen by accident. Many teams, including Embil’s, spend weeks preparing. Their training includes:
- Virtual Study Sessions: Quizzing each other on Marvel, Star Wars, and international park history.
- Topic Specialization: Assigning specific categories like movies or TV shows to individual team members.
- Puzzle Practice: Revisiting logic games from previous years to sharpen their speed.
This year, Embil’s team successfully solved all 12 clue puzzles for the third year in a row. While they might not be the highest-scoring team in the overall standings, the goal for most participants is the shared experience rather than the trophy.
A Culture of Longevity
Goofy’s Mystery Tour has been a staple of the Disney cast member experience for over 30 years. It serves as a bridge between different generations of employees and different departments, from attractions and communications to the Disney Cruise Line.
Events like these contribute to a unique workplace culture at Walt Disney World. The resort currently maintains a retention rate of over 80%. With more than 80,000 employees, it remains the largest single-site employer in the United States. The average tenure for a cast member is 12 years, which is significantly higher than the national average.
As the sun rose on Wednesday morning, the tropical decor was cleared, and the park returned to its normal operations. For the 1,200 people who spent their night hunting for clues in Asia and DinoLand U.S.A., the countdown to next year’s mystery has already started.
Disney Cast Members Take Over Animal Kingdom for 2026 Goofy’s Mystery Tour
