Behind The Scenes To On Stage

Walt Disney World is truly like no other place.  The Magic Kingdom currently has three parades a day.  These are not just some average run of the mill parades.  They are over the top, overblown, music blaring, festivals of joy and excitement.  The current theme at Disney is celebration and if you call to make reservations at Disney World or to make Dining reservations at one of our many restaurants, or if you come to one of the ticket booths at the parks you will most likely hear the question "are you celebrating anything today"?  The song that you hear during the parade is about having the time of your life.  The characters and performers embody this theme and bring an amazing level of enthusiasm and excitement that would be hard to match on any level and they do it over, and over, and over again.  It's 80 degrees, they got sweat pouring down their face, they are dancing in sync, and smiling like they just snorted some pixie dust and are actually having the time of their lives.  The energy that buzzes through the crowd makes you smile as well.  As soon as these characters and performers get backstage, the first thing the characters do is rip off their heads to get some much needed air and retire to their air conditioned trailer.  Deep down in the tunnels beneath Magic Kingdom, it is common to see Ariel all beautifully made up from the neck up wearing some jeans and a white t shirt at the Mousecateria getting some lunch, or Snow White smoking a butt outside in the backlot.   Regardless once you go onstage it is the Disney way, their mission, that you turn on and become a performer no matter what role your in, whether its custodial or as a character, we are all expected to be in sync and go above and beyond and preserve the magic.  The goal of course is for each and very guest to have a positively memorable experience and come back again and again, and again.

Quite an Operation

This is one of the biggest man made productions in the world.  A well oiled operation many years in the making.  On a recent outing to Hollywood studios I got to to observe how everything is run from a guest 's perspective.  I got a great understanding before I even arrived to the park.  As I arrived to the park I was led by a litany of yellow striped parking attendants to my waiting parking space.  I then hopped on my waiting shuttle and was entertained by the conductor and dropped of at the front turnstiles.  Later on in the day when I returned to my waiting shuttle I couldn't remember where I parked or even what parking lot I was in.  I told one of the parking staff what time I arrived and they not only told me what lot I was in but also what number lane I was in.  Amazingly accurate and they of course did it with a smile and a sense of humor.  Only here could I have that type of experience, that brand of customer service.  That simple experience will last with me and it also makes me understand why people love to come back and give their money to Disney.

It's not all bad

My initial goal of traveling down to Orlando to complete my internship with Disney World was to gain employment with an industry leader.  In the first week I found out due to the lackluster economy they were currently on a hiring freeze.  I inquired further to find out that they would be offering management internships but when I found out the meager income of managers I was shocked, so my reaction was somewhat negative to say the least.  To make matters worse, I was informed it is in Disney's best interest to hire management interns because they can pay you less as well as not have to provide health insurance.  Disney's profit is off by 60% so they recently asked the top 300 executives to take a buy out.  Money and opportunity are not what they used to be, anywhere apparently, but not all is bad at Disney world regardless of the current fiscal situation.  There is a few things that differ here than any other company I have ever worked for.  Number one is internal customer service.  To most companies that is a word that doesn't even exist and if it does it is only in theory and hardly implemented.  The employees are treated just like the guests.  The managers are involved daily in your development and help is always there whether it is from your co workers or your supervisors.  Management wants to know what your goals are and if you do your job then they will do what they can do to assist you in getting you to where you want to be.  Customer service is at the highest levels.  We get repeat customers from India, France, Italy, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Russia, Canada, the Netherlands and the U.K just to name a few.  The culture here promotes happiness within and through out the park.  Disney is a great place to work for and people generally seem to really care about each other.   Besides it opens doors at other employers because of the well earned prestige of Disney.