Disney Detail

I really value people with talent. More impressive, however, are people who accomplish. The Disney Company is full of talented people who take no short-cuts in their work, and consequently, accomplish extraordinary things!

Example #1:

The Animal Kingdom has authentic thatched roofs on their huts in "Africa." Thirteen men traveled from South Africa with bundles of native berg grass (harvested by their wives, sisters, and mothers) and using twine, constructed roofs for all the buildings in Harambe.

Example #2:

The Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT. Right at the entrance, Toy Story 3 characters welcomed guests to the park. Lotso the bear not only looked soft, but he smelled of strawberries!

Example #3

Belle's dress is hand stitched. It represents $15,000 worth of fabric, beading, and craftsmanship. Could they have cut corners? Of course! Only now, Belle really feels like royalty, and once again, the cast members are shown that their company values excellence. Knowing these details increases respect among employees, and Disney World continues to be a magical place for everyone.

Creepy Things

I have never been into bugs. Personally, I avoid things that creep. Part of my job, however, is to teach families about the important roles invertebrates play in nature, and to promote the existence (against my better judgment) of spiders, tarantulas, cockroaches, millipedes, grasshoppers, and scorpions.

For five months I have been feigning enthusiasm for these animals. "Hey kids, come take a look at my fuzzy friend! Do you know why tarantulas have all that hair on them? They use it feel around for food. What do you think they like to eat? Bugs!! They have just enough venom to turn flies and mosquitos into bug milkshakes! But don't worry, their bite is no worse than a bee sting!"

-or-

"Take a look at these cool bugs! Have you ever seen grasshoppers this big? These are called lubbers, and they live right here in Florida. What kind of colors do you see? Yellow and red are warning colors in nature. They tell other animals, 'hey, I'm poisonous!' If a bird eats a lubber, he's going to get really sick. Can you think of other animals that use color as a warning?"

Are you all convinced yet? I have had hundreds of kids promise me that they will not squish bugs anymore, but it wasn't until Thursday of this week that I too became a believer in the 'coolness' of spiders and insects.

What made Thursday special? I had a backstage tour in the invertebrate holding area. Instead of looking at these animals through a glass box (with a lock) I held them in the palm of my hand. There is something very powerful about touch, and it wasn't until I cradled a very fragile grasshopper that I appreciated how hard life is for an insect.

Just like the kids, I also promise to be considerate of the creepy critters. They really are cool!

Lost & Found

Yesterday I had a signal 70. This is a radio code for a lost child. Let me share what happened.

Just after lunch, as I was heading toward my afternoon position at the crocodile in Dinoland, a woman put her hand on my shoulder to catch my attention. With a terrified-yet-trying-to-stay-calm expression, she said, "I can't find my grandson." Her panic was my catalyst to becoming a hero, and I was actually excited for this chance to prove myself as a trustworthy, magic making Disney employee. Calmly, I gathered information: where did you last see him? how old is he? what is he wearing? what is his name? Most situations, I am told, resolve themselves in 10 minutes. If the child has not been reunited with his or her parents after 10 minutes, security is then contacted.

After searching our corner of Dinoland, and after the 10 minute rule, I called security. This seemed to reassure grandma. It turned out that a custodian had brought the missing boy to one of my fellow co-workers, and that the two were waiting for his family by Triceratops Spin. By this time, the parents had appeared and before hysteria had completely taken the family, I invited them to all walk with me around the corner, where their missing family member was getting to know my friend Dan.

The reunion was dramatic. Little boy is trying to listen to cast member, little boy is obviously scared, parents see their little boy, and after getting a scolding from mom, dad, and grandma, gets hugs from all of the above.

It feels good to help out. So good, in fact, that I looked for more lost children throughout the remainder of the day.