- 2 hours ago
- #disneypowerofjoy
Join Disney “The Power of Joy” Creators, Tamica Lee, Funmi Ford, and Kristine Thompson, for an inspiring conversation on how Disney has made a lasting mark on their personal journeys. From unforgettable Disney Experiences at to the stories that resonate beyond the parks and cruises, hear firsthand how immersive and inclusive storytelling can spark meaningful memories, celebrate various perspectives, and bring people together across generations. You won’t want to miss this powerful conversation and surprise giveaways on the ESSENCE Stage! Follow along with #DisneyPowerOfJoy
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FunTranscript
00:04This is where we came to play.
00:07Wishes come true, dreams thrive.
00:10I have arrived.
00:17Smiles beaming bright as the sun.
00:19From thrill rides to water slides.
00:25We're soaking up the love.
00:28Yeah.
00:30They know us.
00:34It's time for action.
00:40I've been ready.
00:42For real?
00:43We all have.
00:44Because this is our story.
00:47Yeah.
00:48We came to play.
00:50Vibing like royalty.
00:56Chilling like VIPs.
01:04Shining like stars.
01:08When Disney said, be our guest, our response was, say less.
01:18It's like I told you.
01:21We can't be close.
01:33Hey, best friends.
01:35Please welcome to the stage from Disneyland Resort, Jada Young.
01:44Hello, hello, hello, hello, Essence Festival.
01:47How are we doing out there?
01:49Come on, let me hear you.
01:50How are we doing, Essence Festival?
01:52It is day three.
01:53Y'all look so beautiful and I am so excited to be here with all of you today.
01:59We are talking all things Disney experiences.
02:02I'm going to bring out some amazing panelists for this conversation.
02:06Before I do that, I want to introduce myself properly.
02:09My name is Jada Young, and as you heard, I am from the Disneyland Resort, where I started my Disney
02:15career.
02:16I am so excited that I've gotten to have so many experiences throughout my career.
02:21I started as a Young Attractions cast member in Cars Land, pushing buttons at Luigi's.
02:26I'm not sure if anyone's known about that.
02:28And just recently, I got to serve as one of our Disney ambassadors for Disneyland Resort, bringing the story, the
02:36magic of our cast members to the world.
02:38And I'm very excited to be back here at Essence Festival again today with some lovely, amazing women that I'm
02:45going to bring to the stage.
02:46But before I do that, have y'all ever heard of We Came to Play?
02:50Can I hear what We Came to Play?
02:54So if you haven't gotten a chance to visit our Disney booth, we are talking about Disney experiences.
02:59That is Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and Disney Cruise Line.
03:03And We Came to Play is our invitation for each and every one of you to come and immerse yourselves
03:09into the stories that we are telling,
03:11to create lasting memories, and to take that beyond the resorts.
03:15So to help me tell that story, I'm going to bring three amazing women to this stage.
03:21And I need y'all to help me hype these women up, because they look good.
03:24They got dressed to the nines.
03:26They put their colors on just for y'all.
03:28So please help me welcome Christine Thompson, Tamika Lee, and Foonmi Ford.
03:43All right, ladies, we can take a seat here.
03:46Okay.
03:47Hello, hello.
03:47Hello.
03:48How are y'all doing?
03:49Good.
03:49How are we?
03:50We're having fun.
03:51We were just chatting.
03:51This has been an amazing weekend, and we're so happy to be here in the city of New Orleans.
03:55So I was just telling everyone in the audience, obviously, we are here to talk about our Disney experiences.
04:00And I shared a little bit about what We Came to Play means to us.
04:04And of course, that's our invitation for folks to come and immerse themselves into our stories.
04:09But what some of you may know or have noticed, the three of you are part of our Power of
04:14Joy content creators,
04:15which we love so much, and each of you in your own right have helped us tell that story to
04:21the world,
04:22share joy, and remind people why we do what we do, not just as creators and storytellers, lovers of Disney,
04:29but as people.
04:30So to start our conversation off, my first question for each of you.
04:34You all have had your experiences, whether it be at Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, or Disneyland Resort.
04:40But can each of you share one moment just to kick things off where you felt like you could bring
04:45your true and authentic self?
04:47You got to immerse yourself, let go, feel free at any of those experiences that you've gotten to come.
04:55I'll kick things off.
04:56Hi, everybody.
04:57I'm Christine.
04:59We made it to day three.
05:01Are we still hanging in there?
05:03I think one of my favorite experiences was the inaugural Disney Power of Joy class.
05:11It was a group of Black creators, and it was not just the access that they gave us, the early
05:19morning park access, the character breakfasts, things like that,
05:24but it was also, it was just so much intention behind it.
05:27It was Disney saying, not only do we see you, but we're making room for you.
05:32This is especially for you.
05:34So I think that's the point where I was like, wow, this is a place that I've never really experienced,
05:41and it's really special to be a part of something like that.
05:45I love that.
05:46My, hey, first of all, hey, Nola.
05:48I'm from New Orleans.
05:50I'm a local.
05:51I am your girl.
05:52Okay.
05:52Hey, listen up.
05:54When Disney called and said, come to Disney World and see that Tiana ride.
05:58First of all, I'm green for Tiana.
06:00I'm channeling my inner Tiana.
06:01I love that.
06:02Okay.
06:02So we got to see the opening of the Tiana ride, and, you know, I'm from New Orleans.
06:07This was like going home, but in Disney World.
06:11You know, I grew up with, actually, Dookie Chase, Leah Chase, so that's, those are family friends of mine.
06:17Just a little brag.
06:19Just a little, okay.
06:20I'm glad I'll throw that in there.
06:21To see everybody there, we came to play, the Power of Joy creators.
06:25You know, we've become such good friends, and to see everybody in one place, and I brought my daughter and
06:30my husband,
06:31and it was just the best to see the Tiana ride.
06:34That was like my favorite, favorite moment of all the moments, if I could say.
06:38That's beautiful.
06:38That's beautiful.
06:39I love that.
06:39And hi, I'm Fumi Ford.
06:42We have made it to the last day, and we are with Disney, Power of Joy.
06:47I'm so happy to be here.
06:48One of the most significant experiences, there were so many beautiful ones, but I think it was, we did an
06:57all-white event.
06:58Oh, that was the first show.
06:59That's right, in Walt Disney World.
07:00Yes.
07:01Yeah.
07:01And the way we danced, the way we danced, they had gospel music.
07:07They had a little bit of ratchet music.
07:09Yeah.
07:10Like, we turned up in that space, and to be there with creators that look like you, filled with so
07:17much joy, and my kids were dancing, knocking people over.
07:22I just was like, I feel seen, like Christine said, but I feel so much joy in being seen.
07:29Whenever we get together, we all do that dance.
07:31We all get together.
07:31The swag surf?
07:32Yeah.
07:32The swag surf.
07:33Yeah.
07:34We've seen it.
07:35We all do it.
07:36Every time.
07:36In front of the castle.
07:37I know.
07:37In front of the castle, wherever we are.
07:39In front of the castle at a white party.
07:41It's the best.
07:42Well, thank you each for sharing, and I have to say, too, before we even get deeper into the conversation,
07:46this experience with all of you has been so meaningful to me.
07:49I mentioned to them a bit about my Disney career and how I got to represent cast members, but for
07:54us who work behind the scenes, sometimes in front of the scenes, sometimes on the front lines, to be able
07:58to welcome more guests into our spaces and for you to help us tell that Disney story to others, it
08:04really matters.
08:05And we're grateful that we get to share some more of that, so I just wanted to thank you and
08:08give you your flowers for that.
08:10Okay.
08:11I have some questions about some of those experiences.
08:13You kind of teased a little bit.
08:15My first question is for you, Tamika, because you mentioned how you got to visit Walt Disney World.
08:19I know you also got to go on a Disney Cruise Line.
08:22I did.
08:22And we were chatting a little bit backstage about it, and I'm jealous because I still haven't been on a
08:27Disney Cruise, and I know I'm going to go.
08:28My time is coming.
08:29You got to go.
08:29But I know all about it, and the Disney Cruise Line, they have a lot to see, you guys.
08:34There is so much authenticity and stories that you can see for yourself when you go there, especially on the
08:40Disney Destiny, which recently launched.
08:42You can see members of Wakanda.
08:44You see, like, Black Panther.
08:46They have the Feast of the Lion King.
08:47There are so many different stories there that make us feel seen and heard.
08:51And not only that, I know we talk about how Disney Cruises are, you know, it's a Disney Cruise.
08:55You think it's kids, it's Mickey Mouse, it's Minnie Mouse.
08:58But it's fun for adults, too, right?
09:00And you were kind of sharing with us.
09:01Yes.
09:01So can you share more?
09:02I was going to say, I don't, it's not a bad thing.
09:05It's a great thing.
09:06But I went on the cruise.
09:07I took my cousin Jared.
09:08So we were, like, adult children running around.
09:12And I promise you, I didn't see kids.
09:14Like, I had my adult experience.
09:17Yeah.
09:17And you were saying how you had your kids.
09:19Yeah, I took my kids to the Kids Center.
09:21Did not see them till dinner.
09:23And me and my husband went and did so many different things.
09:26It was, so that was my first cruise.
09:29First cruise.
09:29Never been on a cruise.
09:30I was like, I don't do water.
09:31I'm not going to, I'm not going to swim in this, in this ocean.
09:34It was stunning.
09:36It was beautiful.
09:37The experience, the joy.
09:39I did not see kids.
09:40We had our own little adult section.
09:42Every time we got off the island.
09:43It was still Disney, though.
09:45It felt very immersive and still, I had the experience of a vacation.
09:49Right.
09:50And it still felt like Disney.
09:51It didn't feel like, so it's not a ride.
09:54It's not like I'm waiting in line to rise or walking around in the hot sun.
09:57It was just, like, a mini relaxing adult situation that I was like, I'm never coming off of this.
10:04It's an adult playground.
10:05Right?
10:05Right.
10:05It's an adult playground.
10:06And we had so much fun.
10:07Exactly.
10:08Yeah.
10:08I mean, the Disney cruises, that's exactly what that is.
10:11Of course, they have the kids clubs.
10:13They have the different things, the characters that the kids can meet.
10:15But they have those adult-only experiences.
10:18There's also places you can take your families, like the private islands, like Lookout Key at Lighthouse Point.
10:24There's so much to see.
10:25We had Pirate Night one night.
10:28Yep, yep.
10:28We do theme nights.
10:29And then I love how we got to meet new people for dinner every night.
10:32We had our own group.
10:34So one of my new best friends, seriously, we became best friends.
10:38He did all of the garb for the Theodore, who did all the garb for Mickey and Minnie.
10:44And we are still today best friends.
10:46So we went to dinner every night.
10:47You have your group.
10:48Oh, yeah.
10:49And you become friends.
10:49You meet all these great people.
10:51Yeah.
10:51They're like-minded.
10:52And it was just incredible, the whole trip.
10:54Well, I'm glad.
10:55That's exactly what it's supposed to feel like.
10:57We have a video, I think, where you recapped a bit of your experience.
11:00So I'm going to toss it to the screen so we can see and hear exactly from you and what
11:04you experienced.
11:06Another day on deck, I got to soak up the sun, get that beautiful view in, and just walk around
11:11the ship and see all the amenities that the ship has to offer.
11:14And this moment right here was when I said, what is my life?
11:17Disney, you have made me such a happy adult kid.
11:20Okay, y'all, day three.
11:20Lookout Key at Lighthouse Point was a beautiful private island.
11:23A couple steps to our private cabana.
11:26There we were hanging out in the shade.
11:28We were able to get some sun, and, of course, check out this beautiful view of the island.
11:34So the Bahamas has this island tradition called the Junkanoo, which is very similar to Mardi Gras.
11:38So your girl was very comfortable.
11:40All right, Manny and Mickey?
11:41Everyone was ready to stay on this boat maybe another day, but we had to say bye.
11:44And, of course, Disney, Power of Joy, Sea of Summit was amazing.
11:49Oh, it took me back out.
11:50Right?
11:51First of all, the Junkanoo, that's right.
11:53Yes, yeah.
11:53So we went to the lookout for the Bahamas.
11:56They do this Junkanoo dance, and I'm like, this sounds real familiar.
11:59This looks like a second line.
12:01This feels real New Orleans.
12:03I felt like home.
12:04It was – and y'all saw I turned 10 all over again.
12:08Yeah.
12:09And I was able to do – look, I had happy hours that night.
12:11I slept in.
12:13I ordered room service.
12:14We just had the best time.
12:1724-hour room service, right?
12:1824 hours.
12:1924-hour service.
12:20It was – y'all didn't see any kids in there.
12:23But not that the kids aren't great.
12:24Bring the kids and send them away or not.
12:26But it was just a wonderful experience, for sure.
12:28Well, good.
12:29Thank you for sharing.
12:30Okay.
12:30So my next question, I want to talk a little bit about Walt Disney World.
12:33So on the East Coast, do we have anyone from Florida out there?
12:36Florida?
12:37Okay.
12:37I see you.
12:38So Walt Disney World, there's a lot to see.
12:41As you guys know, Walt Disney World has four parks.
12:43There are so many entertainment offerings.
12:46Right now, especially in the summer, we have a lot of specific offerings, like for the kids.
12:50There's new attraction.
12:52We have the Rock and Roller Coaster starring the Muppets that just opened.
12:56We have Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run, which was launched in partnership with the 250th celebration of our country.
13:03There's also Sworn Across America.
13:05There's so much from each park.
13:07FoodMe, you had your experience there.
13:08I know that you loved going to Walt Disney World.
13:11You have a little video about going on Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
13:13But my question to you is, while you were there at Walt Disney World, was there a particular attraction or
13:20experience, whether it be Tiana's Bayou Adventure or something else, while you were visiting one of those four parks at
13:25Walt Disney World, that really just, again, felt authentic to you, that you felt like you could let go?
13:30What was it there at Walt Disney World?
13:32So, I was born in Nigeria, and I moved to the U.S. when I was eight.
13:37And, of course, I never, I didn't go to Disney until I was an adult.
13:43Right.
13:43And I had my own kids.
13:45And the first time that we came, we came on our own, and we were on It's a Small World.
13:52Yes.
13:53Yeah.
13:53And my son was eight at that time.
13:56And I'm watching him, watching a small world, thinking how different our life, how different our life was and is
14:04from my eight to his eight.
14:07And just hearing the small, though it's a small world after all, you don't want me to sing, everybody will
14:12leave.
14:12Right, right.
14:13It's a small world after all.
14:14Say, say, I just started crying.
14:17And at my big age, I'm like, why am I on this baby ride crying?
14:22And it's just like, it's so beautiful.
14:25It really is a small world, and Disney makes it even smaller because you're there with your family.
14:31You're like in a cocoon of joy.
14:33And just seeing my kids just loving it and thinking, I'm so glad I was able to create this life
14:40for them where they're able to see Disney.
14:42The same Disney I wasn't able to see at eight, 10 out of 10.
14:46I'll always remember that.
14:47That's beautiful.
14:48It's a small world holds a special place in my heart, too.
14:51I mentioned I was, thank you.
14:52Yeah, hands up for that.
14:53That was beautiful.
14:55I mentioned I was a Disney ambassador.
14:56We operate on a global team as well.
14:58And each of our parks, we have It's a Small World.
15:00It kind of brings us together because that attraction opened up during the 1964 World's Fair, and it brought it
15:07over to the resort at Disneyland.
15:08And because of that, that's why Walt Disney decided he wanted someone to represent our cast members.
15:14So that's what kind of created the Disney ambassador program.
15:16And now, not only do we have this global team of ambassadors, but we have people from all around the
15:21world.
15:21We have creators like each of you who get to share that story, who get to bring people in, invite
15:26them, and remind people that, again, we are more alike than we are different.
15:29So thank you for sharing that.
15:31I know you got to visit Tiana's Wayu Adventure.
15:33We have a video.
15:34Some of you might have seen it.
15:35I want to play that video and give you a second.
15:37So let's see the video that you have from your experience.
15:40It's going to be fun.
15:42Hi, Tiana.
15:44Hi.
15:45We're about to drop.
15:47Oh, oh, oh.
15:48Oh, my God.
15:50Oh, my God.
15:51Oh, my God.
15:52Oh, my God.
15:52Oh, my God.
15:53Hands up.
15:56Hands up.
15:58Ah.
16:00Ah.
16:02Ah.
16:03Ah.
16:07That was a small one.
16:09I love that you were like, oh, and immediately you knew you were safe.
16:12You're like, okay, I'm good.
16:13I'm good.
16:13Went down.
16:14Okay, I'm good.
16:14We're fine.
16:16That was so fun.
16:17Okay, well, thank you for sharing that.
16:19Again, you guys, Walt Disney World has so much to see.
16:21Not only do they have Tiana's Bayou Adventure, but they have so many stories that align with some of the
16:26things that we can see ourselves in as well.
16:28So make sure you check them out.
16:29Four Parks.
16:30There's amazing opportunities to go there this summer.
16:32Also, for those of you who are in the audience, you might want to stick around because some of you
16:37might get a chance to go
16:38sooner.
16:39I don't know.
16:39We'll see.
16:40We'll see.
16:41All right, Christine, I didn't forget about you.
16:43Please don't.
16:43I didn't.
16:44Don't worry.
16:44And I'm not going to say I saved the best for last because I didn't because I love all our
16:48experience equally.
16:49You did.
16:50But I am from the West Coast, so I wanted to talk to you about the West Coast.
16:54Disneyland Resort, that's my home.
16:56I told y'all before, so Disneyland Resort was the original park, of course.
17:01It opened up in 1955.
17:02We just celebrated 70 years, which is so exciting.
17:07And now, of course, that's expanded across the globe.
17:09It's not the only experience.
17:11We have the cruises.
17:12We have Walt Disney World.
17:13We have so many around the world.
17:15But at Disneyland, we have also a lot to see.
17:18Recently, we hosted our Disney on the Yard Fest.
17:22Anyone see that on TikTok?
17:23I know you saw it.
17:24Yes.
17:24Yep, yep, yep.
17:25There was a lot to see there.
17:26But, Christine, you were there.
17:28And, of course, you're from the West Coast.
17:29So can you kind of share, specifically at the Disney on the Yard Yard Fest, because you were there, can
17:35you, for those who weren't there, share a little bit about the authenticity that you saw?
17:39Or can you maybe share what you think it was that made people feel so just celebrated and joyful?
17:45And what was it that brought so many people to Disneyland Resort?
17:49Yeah, it was experience.
17:50We had a time.
17:51We had a time last night.
17:53But it felt like Essence Festival met a family reunion with a bunch of cousins that you don't know but
18:01you already love because you just once removed or twice cousin, you know, whatever it is.
18:06So it was just a celebration of HBCUs, of black culture, of black music.
18:12We did every single line dance that there was.
18:16That's not the time to learn the Tamia dance on the dance floor.
18:20We need lessons before we get there.
18:23But, you know, they tried.
18:26And it was just, like, I think what was the best thing about it was Disney wasn't trying to perform
18:33culture.
18:34They just let it breathe.
18:36They let it be.
18:37Like, it was just existing in the parks.
18:39It was exuding all over Juneteenth at Disneyland, you know.
18:45And it's, like, even coming here, I was in an Uber, and I had an Uber with an older black
18:50gentleman.
18:50And he was telling me the history of New Orleans.
18:53And he was saying how black people couldn't even go on Bourbon Street at one point in time.
18:59They could only cross it or if they were working on Bourbon Street.
19:02And so it was just, like, full circle, like, for us to have this festival here where we once weren't
19:09allowed on the most major street in New Orleans to, you know, Disneyland and, you know, celebrating it, our blackness
19:17loud and proud.
19:18It was just such a special moment to be able to experience.
19:21And, you know, we were having a time.
19:24We had a time.
19:25We were line dancing.
19:26Our boots were on the ground, for sure.
19:28Yes.
19:29Well, what's amazing about that, too, is the Yard Fest actually kicked off the Celebrate Soulfully, or Summer, I should
19:35say.
19:36And there's a lot to see at Disneyland Resort.
19:38Good afternoon.
19:38Good afternoon.
19:39Essence Festival of Culture 2026.
19:43There are no drones allowed in the building.
19:48Again, no drones are allowed.
19:51Any drones should cease operation immediately.
19:55Immediately, she said, if not sooner.
19:58Okay.
19:58Well, as I was saying, so it kicked off Celebrate Soulfully's Summer Vibes at Disneyland Resort, which is our way
20:05to, again, celebrate black culture through the summer.
20:08And there are lasting efforts through that celebration that you'll see.
20:11So Tiana's Bayou Adventure is from coast to coast.
20:13So, of course, we have it at Walt Disney World.
20:15We also brought it to Disneyland.
20:16And at Disneyland, we have an entire block for Tiana.
20:19So we have Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which is in Bayou Country.
20:22We have Tiana's Palace, where you can eat some of her food.
20:25And then across the way in our second park, we also have Avengers Camp Beach, which are filled with more
20:30stories that each of us can see ourselves, like Black Panther, the Dormillage, so many things.
20:34But again, Disneyland Resort right now is the place to be at any of our experiences.
20:39And, Christine, we have a video that you have where you kind of recapped one of your experiences of when
20:43you got to go to the resort.
20:44So I'm going to throw it to that right now.
21:12So I'm going to throw it to that right now.
21:19Oh, the fireworks.
21:20Oh, my God.
21:21I know, right?
21:21It's a swat surf.
21:22You saw me talk about it.
21:23Jada, I did tell them they need to redo this because I was back home in Africa.
21:29And I missed it.
21:30And it just looked insane.
21:33Well, Little Birdie told me we might have a chance to.
21:35So I don't know.
21:36If you know anybody, hopefully everyone got to go at that time.
21:39But again, you guys, Disneyland Resort is the place to be this summer, especially.
21:42We have a kid's ticket offer, $50 for kids under nine.
21:46So if you want to come experience some of those things, definitely come now.
21:50Check it out.
21:51But OK, so we've talked about all of our experiences.
21:53Thank you each for sharing your stories.
21:55But I want to dive a little bit deeper, talk more about culture and kind of what you see.
22:00So my next question for you, we kind of have teased this a bit.
22:04Through this experience as Power of Joy creators, you've gotten to meet plenty of people.
22:08But I want to know, do any of you have maybe someone that you've met through Disney Power
22:13of Joy, anyone that you've worked with, or whether it be a fellow creator, someone from
22:17Disney who's been able to kind of influence you in your life as just a human, as a creator
22:22outside of Disney as well?
22:23They all have.
22:25They honestly, when you meet everybody else, it's inspiring.
22:31Because, you know, we live such in a world of, you know, social media and everybody's
22:34competing and everybody, there's space to everybody.
22:37There's a place to everybody and everybody has their lane and everybody has their thing
22:40and their niche, right?
22:41And so I'm just, I get inspired by all of them.
22:44Like I see them, I'm like, God, you're gorgeous.
22:46I love your look.
22:47I love your vibe.
22:48I want your story.
22:49And so I have like new followers, new best friends all around the world.
22:54And it's been amazing.
22:55That's what I love about it is the connection that has happened, that you can get through
22:58the Power of Joy.
23:00Yeah.
23:00I agree.
23:01Christine?
23:02Yeah.
23:02I'll jump in.
23:03And I think that I need to shout out the black women specifically that work for Disney Sonoma.
23:09Say that.
23:09Say that.
23:10You took the words in.
23:12Morgan, Courtney, Anastasia, we see you.
23:13This experience has allowed us to meet some of the executives behind the scenes who are
23:18advocating for us, speaking on our behalf, making sure that we're represented in every
23:23single facet of the parks, to the cruises, to every experience.
23:27And so to be able to see the work that they're doing behind the scenes and probably don't
23:34get nearly as much praise as they should is really special.
23:39So I just want to shout out y'all and just say that we are so appreciative of everything
23:43that you do because it's really making a big impact.
23:47And she took the words from me, but I also just want to add, we've all worked with brains
23:54before.
23:55To have the execs remember you, remember your children, remember events in your life is
24:0310 out of 10.
24:05So just shout out to y'all for just being warm, welcoming, not just to us, but I think
24:11to everybody that comes into your sphere of influence.
24:14So thank you so much.
24:16Stand up.
24:17Let the people applaud you and scream.
24:19Stand up.
24:20Stand up.
24:20They're shy.
24:21They're shy.
24:22Anastasia, Morgan.
24:23Thank you, Morgan.
24:24Yes.
24:25We have Morgan, Anastasia, Courtney, Rumbi.
24:28They hate me right now.
24:29And that's what happens when you are a part of this, you know, not only the parks and the
24:34cruise lines and the stories with them, you're all included.
24:38It's a family.
24:39It's a package deal.
24:40It's true.
24:40It's a family.
24:41And, you know, that's like you said, you took the words out of my mouth.
24:44I think that the reason why we want to invite so many people into our experiences is not
24:48just to have you a part of our family, but it's to make sure that you feel seen, that
24:52you feel heard, that you feel like there's a place where you can exist and thrive and
24:56let go and be happy.
24:57And we're excited that we not only get to do that, but we get to kind of share that Disney
25:01magic elsewhere, too.
25:02We get to bring it outside, whether it's here at Essence Festival, whether it's with Tiana's
25:07Joyful Celebration, which Walt Disney Imagineering has launched and they're bringing on the road.
25:12It's going to L.A. next, actually, come next February.
25:15There's just so much to see.
25:17But speaking of Tiana, Tamika, you mentioned that you have a very close relationship with
25:20the Chase family, and we at Disney, of course, also have a close relationship with the Chase
25:24family.
25:24So all of you can share this, but for you, what do you feel like it means to have that
25:30family get to be represented at a large scale through Tiana's story?
25:34For those who don't know, which I'm sure you do, Princess Tiana was inspired by Miss Leah
25:39Chase, who is the queen or princess of New Orleans.
25:43But what does that feel like?
25:43Creole, the queen of Creole cuisine, Miss Leah Dookie.
25:49Let me tell you something.
25:50So my grandmother and Leah were friends and they grew up together here.
25:54And then Dookie Chase, they grew up down the street.
25:56So it's almost like, it was like family.
25:59So when the movie came out, I'm like, again, this feels like home.
26:02But to bring that to a national platform.
26:06And I feel like Walt Disney, he loved New Orleans.
26:08He loved New Orleans.
26:09And when you do go to the parks, not only do you have that experience,
26:13from the wrought irons, like, you know how New Orleans has the wrought irons
26:16and the smell of the beignets and just the look of the moss trees.
26:20Everything is intentional in, you know, around Tiana's adventure.
26:25And so just growing up with the family itself has been amazing to see her story.
26:31And she needed, that story needed to be told.
26:33And she is a queen.
26:34She's our queen of Creole cuisines.
26:35She's everything.
26:37Beautiful.
26:38Okay.
26:38I kind of mentioned or teased a little bit.
26:40We have a very exciting announcement or experience that we might be giving away
26:44at the end of this.
26:46But before we close things out, I have one final question for each of you.
26:50And it could be the first thing that you think of at the top of your mind.
26:53So we've obviously shared about what you can see at your experiences.
26:56But in one word or one sentence, why should people choose to come to a Disney experience today?
27:03So whether that be Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, or Disney Cruise Line,
27:07or maybe even visit Tiana's Joyful Celebration, which is traveling around the world,
27:12why should people choose to come today, right now, here at Essence Festival?
27:17Pure joy.
27:18That's really what sums it up completely.
27:21There's not very many spaces where you can just exist and experience the excitement
27:28of what Disney magic is.
27:31So it's just the joy of it all.
27:34Beautiful.
27:35Couldn't have said it better.
27:36Well, it's not a vacation.
27:37It's an experience.
27:38So it's moments.
27:40It's timeless.
27:41It's ageless, like I've said.
27:42And so it's all about the experience for me.
27:44And that's, for me, why I think you should go.
27:46That's the end.
27:47It's not a vacation.
27:48It's the whole thing.
27:49I agree.
27:50You know what I mean?
27:50And I know there's the phrase, forget the kids.
27:54I'm going to say, do it for the kids.
27:56Because for me, as a mom, everything I do is through the eyes of my children.
28:01So experiencing Disney through the eyes of your kids, you see it in a whole new way.
28:06So do it for the kids.
28:08Do it for the kids.
28:09I love that.
28:10Okay, y'all.
28:11So we've reached the conclusion of our conversation.
28:14And first, I want to thank these lovely ladies.
28:16Because I want to give a hand for our wonderful panelists.
28:20Okay, now I mentioned that we have something exciting going on.
28:24So, right now, what I need for everyone to do is to look under your seats.
28:29There's going to be a sticker under your seat.
28:32Who got it?
28:32And if you find the sticker, you can look around.
28:34If you're not sitting in it, look around.
28:38Look around.
28:40You want to find the sticker.
28:42It's a Mickey Mouse sticker, I should say.
28:44Look under all the seats.
28:44Probably should have said that.
28:45Go down the rows.
28:46Down the rows.
28:48And if you find the sticker, go ahead and raise your hand.
28:52And I'm going to let you know.
28:54We got it.
28:55We got it?
28:56We got it?
28:56Yes.
28:57We got it?
28:58With the ears.
28:58Where are we?
28:59Okay, beautiful.
29:01Okay, my friend.
29:02All right.
29:03Everyone listen up.
29:04And we're at Essence Festival of Culture.
29:06We just talked about it.
29:07Joy is what we're about.
29:08And while my friend here just won something very special, and she has been blessed with
29:12some joy, I want everyone to understand that we're all going to, by proxy, feel this
29:17joy for her, okay?
29:18Yes, we are.
29:19And may this ripple, and may she touch you, and you receive this as well.
29:23You won't get the actual prize.
29:24But receive the feeling of the joy.
29:26Okay, my friend.
29:28So, thanks to our friends at Walt Disney World, you have won a four-night, five-day stay at
29:37Walt Disney World in Florida.
29:39Listen, listen.
29:40For you and up to three guests, and this trip includes round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations,
29:49a five-day theme park ticket, and a $500 Disney gift card.
29:55You are going home with that today, okay?
29:58I love that.
29:58Congratulations!
29:59Okay?
30:02Everyone clap it up.
30:03Clap it up, because this is a big deal.
30:05Now, my friend, I know you are filled with emotions and joy right now, but I'm going to
30:10have you come meet my friend.
30:12So, everyone say, hey, Felicia.
30:14Hi, Felicia.
30:15Now, ladies and gentlemen, Felicia is our current Walt Disney World.
30:18She is representing the cast members over at Walt Disney World.
30:22So, friend, you're going to come meet Felicia, and she's going to give you your prize, your
30:26certificate.
30:26Once again, everyone, hands up.
30:28She's going to have the vacation of her life at Walt Disney World.
30:35Thank you so much.
30:36Oh, you're going to make me cry.
30:37There she goes.
30:38She's going to Walt Disney World, everybody.
30:41Oh, okay.
30:42And that right there, that is what joy looks like.
30:45That is what we do at The Experiences.
30:47It's not just about us inviting you to come and experience what we have to offer, but we
30:52want to bring it to you.
30:53So, again, thank you all so much for being here with us today.
30:57If you haven't already checked out the Disney booth, we have the Disney Power Joy Summer
31:02Street Jam, which is happening just next door.
31:04We're doing more giveaways.
31:06So, if you're excited about that Walt Disney World trip, go check that out, because there
31:09might be some other things.
31:10Ladies, I cannot thank you enough for being here, for having this conversation.
31:15Don't forget to use hashtag Disney Power Joy if you took any photos, tag them, tag these
31:20wonderful women.
31:21And with that, I think we're at a close.
31:23Are we good?
31:23Yeah.
31:24And give it up, Angela.
31:25You did so good.
31:26You did amazing.
31:27Our moderator.
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