A fan-favorite server at Walt Disney World’s 50’s Prime Time Cafe celebrated 50 years with the company in 2025.
Walt Disney World’s “Aunt Elaine” Shares Her Story
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine, cast member Elaine West Grimes divulged some details about her incredible 50-year tenure at Walt Disney World Resort across many locations and roles – most notably at Hollywood Studios’ 50’s Prime Time Cafe.
Grimes first joined Walt Disney World in 1975 as a buffeteria cashier at the Contemporary Resort. As the resort expanded and technology developed into the 70’s and 80’s, Grimes went on to work at other locations on the property, including Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge Resort and Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
About 25 years ago, Grimes found her perfect match serving at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a full-service restaurant themed to 1950’s Americana where cast members play family roles and interact playfully with guests.
At the 50’s Prime Time Cafe, Grimes assumed the role of “Aunt Elaine,” embracing the nostalgic familial persona the restaurant’s theme celebrates. Part of her charm comes from encouraging good table manners — urging guests to “do your chores,” “set your table,” and “eat all your vegetables” — and her genuine engagement has made her a standout cast member that guests remember and return to see.
Her popularity has inspired a fan community on Facebook called Aunt Elaine’s 50’s Prime Time Family Album, where diners share photos and stories of visits with her. According to Elaine, some guests have enjoyed her service so much that they’ve revisited the Cafe hoping to see her again:
“I had a couple come in that I waited on 20 years ago, and they didn’t think I’d still be working,” she told the outlet. “They sat at my table and they pulled out a picture from 2006 with me and them and then we took a new picture … It’s like you’ve been friends for a long time.”
Grimes reached her 50th anniversary with Disney World in 2025, a milestone marked by a commemorative Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs statue reflecting her long service and impact.
Walt Disney World Resort traditions like the annual Service Celebration, where longtime cast members enjoy park access and recognition alongside colleagues, reinforce the sense of family that Grimes says she treasures the most.
“Service Celebration reminds me why I started and why I’ve stayed,” she told PEOPLE. “These cast members and our guests are like family, and together we keep the magic going.”
This year’s Service Celebration took place this past Tuesday, January 27.
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