Disneyland Resort Celebrates Longest Serving Cast Member

Disneyland Resort Celebrates Longest Serving Cast Member 2024-dlr-cast-member-hank-ameen (1)

At 92, Henry “Hank” Ameen still strolls the sidewalks of Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Park with the same enthusiasm he had when he first became a Jungle Cruise skipper back in 1958. Hank’s love for Disney dates back to 1955, when he and his wife visited Disneyland on their honeymoon—just a month after the park originally opened.



Hank was hired as a Jungle Cruise skipper and landed the role because of his previous experience as a bartender. The hiring manager figured he could tell a joke, and he was right. Hank quickly mastered the art of making guests laugh. ‘I picked it up, and then lo and behold, people were clapping, and they liked my spiel,’ says Hank while chuckling. ‘I felt pretty good about that.’

Disneyland Resort Celebrates Longest Serving Cast Member 2024-dlr-cast-member-hank-ameen

Hank’s next role was as a Disneyland Resort firefighter, monitoring pyrotechnic safety for the evening fireworks spectaculars, which he was quite passionate about. He said, “I have a passion for what I do because I feel like we are protecting the magic.”



Decades later, Hank still safeguards that magic for both cast members and guests. On October 8, 2024, he celebrated his 62nd service anniversary, holding the legendary distinction of being the longest-serving employee of The Walt Disney Company.

Disneyland Resort Celebrates Longest Serving Cast Member Hank_Execs_Oct.8_20242-scaled

You can imagine the lifetime of memories Hank has made throughout his years at Disneyland. One of which was having lunch with Walt Disney himself! “He started walking towards my table, but I never thought that he would sit with me,” shares Hank. “He pulled up a chair and he asked me questions like, ‘How do you like working here? How do you like the food? What can I do?’ It was maybe a 10-minute conversation. That was a wonderful memory.”



It gives me the chills to hear Hank describe what it’s been like to work at Disneyland for so long and even getting to chat with Walt Disney. Wow! Head over to the Disney Parks Blog to read more of Hank’s story.

Senior Editor for the DIS and DCL Fan | Disney Vacation Club Member | Thrilled to have been a '13/'14 Disney Parks Moms Panelist (now planDisney) | Lover of all things Disney; the Magic of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line | ºoº














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