From The Inside

I am a former Cast member of 7 years who worked at the Disney Store division of the Walt Disney Company. I began my career with Disney in 1991 through 1998. I am saddened by the recent events taking place, but I am not at all surprised. I too have noticed deterioration within the...
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“Disneyland is closed today” the lonely sign still flashed in the night as my new wife, Corinne and I drove down Disney Way. It was 3:05 in the morning; it was also September 12th, 2001, the wee morning hours after the unspeakable attack in New York and Washington. It was to be the start...
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One of my favorite haunts is cleaning windows at the Haunted Mansion. It has become common knowledge by mansion fans that it is a job in itself to keep the place dirty, so what would I be doing cleaning windows at the mansion at five a.m.? It isn’t the outside windows, but rather a...
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From my previous ‘Mouse Memory’ excerpt, I discussed the sometimes humorous predicaments created by disputed and seeming unresolvable policy confusion between regular custodial host/hostesses, their leads, and the all-knowing, enigmatic and possibly magically created “supes” (Fantasia’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice comes to mind!!) of MK Custodial Dept. Another little policy “funny” happened to me on my...
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#1. Get ready for work. Shower and shave, then jump into a pair of cut-offs, tee-shirt, and flip-flops. #2. Drive to work. I’d rather face other cast members behind the wheel than deal with out of state tourists any day! I take the back entrance to Magic Kingdom cast parking. #3. Take a Disney...
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I have another one to tell you, you’ll hardly believe it, but I’ll tell you just the same. In the early years of the Park, my grandpa was working there, and Mr. Disney would roam about sometimes unescorted, and the guests always sought his autograph. So Mr. Disney in his infinite wisdom, would prepare...
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I’ m certain you already know the likenesses of the Pirates are the artists themselves! I mean, think about it, what a strange casting call that would have been if they didn’t use themselves! It’s many of the same faces, just facial hair, beards, moustaches, eyebrows, and costuming changed throughout. Mr. Disney was always...
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My favorite Celebrity Encounter was in the spring of 92. None other than THE ANNETTE. She was launching her perfume at the (then) Mademoiselle Antoinette’s Perfumeries. Anyway, the shop was all set up to feature her perfume and the color of the box it is packaged in was lavender. The bottle was shaped like...
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Did you know that the Ghost Host’s picture hangs in the hallway of the ‘breathing (or some knocking) doors. He is in a very long oval frame, and a table mounted on the wall nearest the antique table with the lamp shining over an open book? He holds a noose in his hand. A...
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In retrospect I can laugh at this story, but it wasn’t funny when it happened! Of all the special jobs, there is one that stands out above the rest. New hires shudder at the thought of it. College program interns refuse to do it. It is called Honey Bucket. Even though the task I’m...
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My wife has worked for the company for such a short time, yet has soaked up her experience in Custodial like a sponge. She contributes some humorous insights at Egroups and I have recorded them here. Enjoy! When I joined WDW Custodial in 1991(my cousin who has been with the park since its opening...
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If you take the sternwheeler around the Tom Sawyer’s Island attraction, you would realize that there are no bridges off the island. Since the island generates a great deal of trash, the situation becomes very interesting for the custodial staff who are in charge of removing it. During the island’s development, it was decided...
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My name is Tina and i was a Cast Member in the Custodial Department for 3 years. I have been privileged to access many areas in that tenure, one of which I’d like to share: The Haunted Mansion. While on a Graveyard assignment to The Haunted Mansion, I was ‘dusting’ the cobwebs at the...
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A quick tour of the various jobs within the department. #1. Street Sweeper. This is entry level and most basic job. While covering a street location (or land) you also do trash rounds and utility work which is a fancy name for cleaning detail such as scrubbing out cans. Mmmm, fun! #2. Bussing. This...
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What inquiring guests really want to know. I recall what my interviewer had said during my hiring process and it went vaguely like, “in Custodial, you will be very accessible to the guests and must know how to deliver customer service.” It wasn’t in those exact words, but the gist is all the same....
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Depending on your personal situation, you might think keeping your house clean and tidy may be a test of your character. However, maintaining 107 acres of the Magic Kingdom isn’t easy either. So, how does the Custodial department pull off this monumental task every day? I’ll explain. I don’t have the numbers, but for...
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One thing I can tell you is that the street curbs along the Hollywood Backlot are soon to be painted red as a HUGE number of guest’s have fallen over the unpainted curb. I’ve seen several guests’ including small children fall over the curb on Main Street (and no, I don’t have video or...
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It’s amazing what stupid things people do at DL, when they leave their brains at the front gate! Here is one such story! I was on the Matterhorn, sitting in the front seat of the front car. A female guest that I had been talking to (tourist from Canada who seemed normal) was told...
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