The Guest Experience

Before you read the following stories of cast member life on the front lines, I just wanted to thank all of our readers who are current or former CMs. From the first cast members who came out on stage on July 17, 1955, to those going through training to open up the new Hong Kong Disneyland, the Disney CMs are a very special group of men and women. It isn’t easy to be happy all the time. And to those readers who wish to become CMs—whether it is next week or next decade—may your dreams come true.

Enjoy these “before and after” stories of life in the Walt Disney World College Program.

New CM Mike’s Story

After a year and a half of research, reading, and waiting, I finally got accepted to the Walt Disney World College Program (WDWCP). This has been a long and hard road but I am now ready to tell my story on my way to the WDWCP.

It all started last spring when I was visiting WDW for my high school graduation, I was only there for 12 days but was able to go on a Backstage Magic tour. On that tour I got to see all of the sights and sounds of the operation of the magic kingdom. The tour guide told us about the college program and I demanded to know more!

When I got home, I jumped onto to official WDW College Program Web site to learn all I could about what I as determined to do. I knew that I had to have at least one quarter of school. So I just kept doing all I could when I started college to learn all that was on the Internet as far as WDWCP alumni journals and reading everything I got get my hands on. I knew that I was going to apply for the Fall Advantage program my freshman year so I would have as many chances throughout my college career to get accepted.

In mid-January 2005 I finally found the first update to the WDWCP site! Of course, I signed up ASAP to be able to be “in the know” on everything about this recruiting season. On February 1, I saw that the presentation dates were posted and my closest on at the University of Minnesota will be on February 14, Valentine’s Day! What was even more amazing was that I would be in WDW for a last-minute trip February 11-14 with my grandfather, who was in his last days at the time.

Fortunately, I would my landing back in Minnesota four hours prior to the presentation. Also, I was staring to see advertising around the campus so I knew it was getting close!

In my never-ending hunt for information I started chatting with campus reps from my campus and beyond. Along with current WDWCPers and WDWCP alumni to learn all I could to prepare for the presentation.

I got a e-mail from the WDWCP three days before it went live to the public that read, “Since you told us about your interest you have been granted early access before the application goes public February 4.”

Well I filled out my application. It took about 20 minutes and was not too hard. The only mistake I made was under my hobbies I made a new line for each one and it took those spaces as characters so my last four things were cut. Oh well ? it cut off clean, so I hoped no one would notice. I also picked up my portfolio binders for my resume for the presentation. I e-mailed all of the my campus reps and asked for any last-minute tips they might have. I also received a copy of “The Disney Way” book to be able to continue reading all I can about Disney and they way the run business.

I went to my school’s career services to get assistance in resume writing and to be able get a practice interview in before the real one on the 14. They were a huge help for me to help polish my resume, and to get some more practice interviewing is always a good thing. They said I was ready and they had no more tips that I could gain from them.

I started to read “The Disney Way” and that book was a great help to calm my fears — along with chatting with other WDWCP alumni. But what better way to prep for my interview Monday than to go to WDW the weekend before? The night before I left for WDW, I saw “Dream On, Silly Dreamer” and it was a great film that you need to go see if you ever have the chance. I also met Jim Hill, Chuck Oberleitner and Mark Goldhaber at the showing; those guys are very talented writers and just cool people. They gave me such hope to be able to get ready to go all the way for the WDWCP. I went off to spend three days in WDW. I got everything all ready and I was very excited!

While I was at WDW , I stopped to talk to every College Program cast member that I could find to get advice and the inside scoop. They were all very nice and very helpful, and again this really got me pumped to interview for the WDWCP. I saw “Wishes!” at the Magic Kingdom twice and both times when Jiminy Cricket told everyone to make a wish, I wished I would get accepted for the College Program.

While at my hotel, I did a few things to get ready for my interview: I picked up a business Mickey tie, two WDW thank-you cards and two postcards signed by Mickey and Friends. Sadly it was time to leave WDW, but off to my presentation!

I landed back in Minneapolis and was very excited and nervous about what was only a few hours away. I arrived and met all of the University of Minnesota campus reps that I e-mailed over the month before. It was great to hear stories and to be in a group of people who loved Disney as much as I do. Juliana was my recruiter, and she gave a great presentation that totally pumped me up for the program. I came in full “Disney look” and took out my heavy gage earring so that I would fit the look 100 percent. The PowerPoint/video presentation was of pure Disney quality and is a great tradition.

After the presentation, I was glad to have done the online application in advance and to have a resume’ and cover letter, as well. I had my interview a hour or so after the end of the presentation so I spent the hour hearing Disney stories and seeing the photo albums of my campus reps.

My interview was a group interview with a girl who wanted to be a character in the parks. It was great to have a resume, because the interviewer went off of that for my questions. It was a very relaxing interview and, dare I say, very fun! In my resume and application packet I told Juliana that her “friends” missed her, and enclosed a card for her. It was the postcard that I had Mickey and his friends sign, she loved it.

After a very fun interview, she gave the girl I interviewed with a invitation to audition in Chicago. On the way out, she said “see you soon” so I thought that couldn’t be a bad thing. I thanked all of the campus reps and walked back to my apartment.

When I got back to my apartment I e-mail Juliana a thank-you letter and mailed her a WDW thank-you card. She e-mailed me back saying it was great to meet me and I should get something in the mail in two to three weeks.

Well three weeks went by and nothing in the mail. This got harder because I saw that on the online boards, people got their letters and they interviewed a week after me! I e-mailed Juliana and the main WDWCP office asking where my letter was. The main office apologized and said I should get something within five to 10 business days. Juliana e-mailed me back saying she was sorry but I have nothing to worry about and she can’t wait to see me soon!

On a Saturday — almost a full month from the time I interviewed — I got my acceptance packet offering me a role in Hospitality for the Fall Advantage program! I went online and accepted it. I arrive May 18, 2005 and am done Jan, 5, 2006.

I went and talked to my academic director to get my credit for the program all figured out, but I am accepted and on my way! I just want to thank everyone who helped me over the past year and I am very excited to be able to work for the mouse!

CM Alison’s Story

I didn’t really have a great experience at the Walt Disney World College Program (WDWCP). My life is full of wonderful Disney experiences! My family loves it there… by the time I was 18, I had been there 16 times and we are from Minnesota! Now, don’t get me wrong, we aren’t the kind of people who eat, sleep and breathe Mickey. We do know that Disney always has something for all ages.

There was a lot of things about working at Disney that I really enjoyed! Being a part of the Disney atmosphere was awesome! I love watching people love their vacation and spend time with their families. It’s great to be able to direct people to their destination and tell them my favorites so that they don’t miss the best parts of the parks!

It wasn’t the job that was bad, or the training or benefits — it was the housing. I thought housing made my experience a waste of time. I was at Vista Way and was supposed to be in a room of students who didn’t drink or smoke. By the second week, there were several bottles of hard alcohol in our apartment. I really enjoyed my roommates, but the only things that they did was party and go to Pleasure Island on the nights it was free. I was exposed to more drugs than I had ever read about in my health textbooks and my friends tried many of them. Marijuana was a hot commodity.

I was a lifeguard at Typhoon Lagoon and really enjoyed the staff there and the training. I had been a Red Cross Lifeguard for five years when I went down. That brings me to the topic of pay: The pay was pathetic! It was $5 an hour and they had us paying $70 a week in rent! How can anyone afford to do that for six to nine months? Now, I was young, it was the summer of 2001 and I was only 20, and I admit that I had a hard time not spending money. But, in a company like Disney there has to be enough money to pay people enough to live, own their own car and pay for groceries.

When I got back to my school, the newspaper interviewed me and I said my experience. The other CPs completely disagreed. They had great times. It may have been just our house, but the turnover seemed psychotic. There was originally six of us living in the room, one left and another came — that makes seven who lived in our place. Then, another girl left and another came: eight. I left and another came, nine. Only one of the original six stayed full-term in the program. I need to tell you that each of us that left self-terminated! We all left because the promises made — great connections and good training for life goals — were not true.

I don’t mean to be a complainer. Actually, working there was a dream come true for me, even if I self-terminated. After leaving, in the first year, I went back three times. Since then, I continue to go back and will be taking my husband for his first Disney experience this New Year’s 2006! Thank you for your time.

Disney’s four legged CMs are just as vital as its two-legged ones.

Security CM’s story

The summer of 1979 found me walking the fences on swing shift. This particular shift, I drew Macho, an 80-pound German Shepard, as my companion. We were walking from the Mill area back to the tunnel behind the Jungle Cruise. Macho took his job seriously. He looked under every tram parked in the back area, he never sat and looked in the same direction as the officer he was with. He had your back.

He had lost the large canine tooth on the right side by hitting it on the water faucet behind Bear Country. So we were told to walk on his right side because when he got excited, he would nip the officer he was with.

A prime spot for people to climb over the fence was inside the picnic area behind Jungle Cruise. Macho and I spent considerable time in this area. We were sitting down by the tunnel when Macho’s ears perked up and he focused in on the fence of the picnic area. Sure enough a man and a woman came over the fence top and stated down on the inside. Macho started off at a dead run with me along side — on the wrong side, his left side. Macho nipped on my right leg. He didn’t break the skin but left his tooth mark and a nice bruise. The two fence jumpers froze.

When I approached them and asked them why they hadn’t run since they had a 75-yard headstart.

They replied, “I saw that dog bite you and you didn’t flinch. I figured you were tough.”

They were escorted to the security office. I limped into Bear Country first aid and got an ice pack for my bruise. I had to report the incident to my foreman. He passed it on to supervision. Macho was quarantined for two weeks. That’s how long my bruise lasted. But the legacy of being the only fence officer to be bitten by his dog lasted many years.

Unfortunately, Macho and many other dogs that Disneyland purchased were kept in shabby conditions that many of them, including Macho, contracted debilitating diseases or conditions that required that they be put to sleep.

Here are some words of wisdom about the right way—and wrong way—to treat the costumed characters at the park.

CM Kathleen’s Story

I’m an Outdoor Vendor in Disneyland, and although I was not present for this incident, I heard from it straight from the mouth of Patti, one of my leads who was present. Buzz Lightyear had just finished his show at Club Buzz and was doing his meet and greet in Tomorrowland.

While walking among the guests, he placed his hand on a guest’s shoulder, to let the kid know that there was somebody behind him. The guest, a boy around 15 or 16, spun around without checking to see who it was behind him and punched Buzz as hard as he could. Now, most of Buzz’s costume is hard plastic armor, but there is a section of torso that is unprotected except by some spandex-type material. Of course, that’s the exact spot the kid hit with all his might; Buzz was being played by a girl that day.

While Buzz stumbled back, she motioned to Patti who was walking nearby to use her radio. She called security, and the kid made a run for it. She chased him through Tomorrowland, through stores and crowds and finally cornered him in Fantasyland. Security was closing in, so she put her hand out to touch his shoulder, saying “Hold on and stop!”

He spun around (thankfully without his fist) and yelled at her “Don’t violate me!” When security showed up, he said that Buzz Lightyear had “violated” him, and that was why he punched a cast member. Security wouldn’t have any of it, and escorted him backstage and (I presume) out of the park.

I wish I could say that this is an isolated incident, and something that rarely ever happens, but it’s not. I’ve seen Pinocchio and Gepetto walking through Fantasyland, waving at kids, only to have a group of guys “pat” (more like pummel) Pinocchio on the head as they walk by, quite nearly taking his head off in the process. (No, I am not exaggerating. Pinocchio nearly fell over backward, and the Character Host chewed the guys out for a good two minutes “on stage” [in public].) The White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts were mauled by another group of grown kids just the other day.

Please guys, when you visit, remember that cast members are human beings, too. And characters may be characters to your kids, but everyone older than 12 should know better and should have more respect for people who are already dying under hot and heavy suits to make little kids (and big kids) happy. Think before you act. Thanks!

You might want to grab a hanky before reading this story of Disney magic.

CM Rhonda’s Story

Hello! I saw on the board that you are looking for Cast Member stories. I figured I would share with you. I worked at WDW from August ’99 to Dec ’01. I loved it and would still be there if I had not had to move back to Missouri to take care of family here. I had many wonderful experiences while I was there, but the most memorable one was when I was working in Downtown Disney at DisneyQuest.

A boy, Johnathan, came through with his family one night when I was working at Cyberspace Mountain. I was joking around with them and helping them to design their roller coasters when he reached up and grabbed onto my hand and smiled. I told him how brave he must be to design such a wicked roller coaster. His mother asked if I would come up the stairs and be the one to put them into the simulator, and I obliged. We talked as the father rode with Johnathan and I told her of my own three daughters (I now have four). We swapped funny stories about kids, they had a great time, and I allowed them to trade so each parent could ride with the boy. He seemed so happy.

After they were done, they thanked me and left. I thought nothing of it until half an hour later when the family appeared at the exit and asked for me by name. They had gone down to the gift shop and bought a Quest shirt for the boy. It was then that the mother told me her son had a brain tumor and was going to die, and that he had been to all the parks and wanted nothing to do with the characters or their autographs, but instead wanted me to sign his T-shirt because I had told him how brave he was. Fighting back tears, I smiled at the boy and signed his shirt.

After Johnathan passed away, his mother sent me the shirt through Disney along with a note that said, “Thank you for inspiring and instilling confidence in my son. Now please give this shirt to your little girls and inspire them as well. He never forgot you.”

I was in such awe. I still have the shirt and my daughters love to look at it.

Thanks for the opportunity to share.

And last but not least, here’s a shout out from a former CM to his former co-workers.

CM Jon’s Story

I am a former cast member. I started working in 1987 at Cafe Orleans and I am very interested in getting in touch again with the people I once worked with.

[Editor’s note: Please contact Cast Place to reach Jon. We receive many requests to link up former CMs, and while many are MousePlanet readers, we don’t have them all. The Disneyland Alumni Association does collect that information, though. To join the Alumni Club contact the head of membership via e-mail at yume@pacbell.net. If anyone has info on WDW alumni groups, please e-mail castplace@mouseplanet.com.