Performers wear hats during a rehearsal for the Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack's Stunt Spectacular show. [Photo/Agencies]

Disney has steadily cultivated its brand with Chinese millennials, many of whom first encountered Mickey Mouse only in 1986, when the China Central Television network started to broadcast Disney animations.

In 2008, the company launched its Disney English-language training schools in China, starting in Shanghai. Disney now has 28 learning centers in seven cities across China that teach kids ranging from ages 2 to 12, with class materials featuring Disney characters such as Buzz Lightyear and Nemo.

Yu Liang, 24, said she became entranced with Disney after learning English by studying The Little Mermaid.

When she entered the drama and dance program at Shanghai Normal University in 2011, it coincided with the first year of Disney's outreach program to arts schools. For the rest of her undergraduate program, she attended Disney's talks during on-campus recruitment visits and participated in performance clinics. Last year, Yu landed the female lead role in a Shanghai Disneyland production based on the Pirates of the Caribbean character Jack Sparrow. "I almost cannot believe it has happened," she said. "I wanted to work for Disney for 10 years or 20 years."