(Mother reprimanding child for not hugging character)
"Give him a hug, its Jimany Cricket for the love of God!"
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Quote of the Day
(Mother reprimanding child for not hugging character)
"Give him a hug, its Jimany Cricket for the love of God!"
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Quote of the day
Ariel (better know as The Little Mermaid) : "Oh you're a Buzz Lighyear Fan? Did you know that Prince Eric and I hold the high score on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland?"
An extra hidden mickey
Littered through the Walt Disney World Resort there are hidden Mickeys. A sidewalk here, a mural there - mickey's silhouette is the inspiration for these architectural easter eggs around the parks and resorts. A book, 101 Hidden Mickeys is available at most gift stores, but it failed to mention the hidden mickey I found yesterday - a large sweat mark on a father's shirt in the likeness of the worlds most famous mouse.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Work Art Work
A collection of photographs that I made into "postcards" that represent some humorous aspects of Cameron and Krystal's work.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Photos at Work
Here are some photos of myself at work.
Backstage at Animal Kingdom, we ride bikes to get around (so much fun!), and Cameron came to visit me at MGM studios!
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Disney's Night of Joy
On September 7th and 8th, the Magic Kingdom was invaded by Christian Artists - and I was a part of the fun!
We saw David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, BarlowGirl, Newsboys, Mark Schultz and Salvador.
We saw David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, BarlowGirl, Newsboys, Mark Schultz and Salvador.
Expedition Everest
Cameron, Krystal and I went to Animal Kingdom for a WILD time, here are some photos!
Disney's Corporate Culture
When one thinks about the Walt Disney Company, some words come to mind. Some of those words might be entertainment, quality, family, Mickey, guest service and fun. A lot of these words are synonymous with Disney and its desire to be the best provider of family entertainment and guest service in the industry; these words come about because of Disney’s corporate culture and the values that have followed the company since its inception. Corporate culture can also be described as the company’s personality. Many times the personality of a company can be the result of a manager’s style or a CEO’s vision, but Disney’s consistent aura is the result of some basic rules that govern company-wide decision making.
New Cast Members take a class titled ‘Traditions’ where they learn about what it means to carry on the Disney legacy. One portion of the curriculum focuses on the ‘Four Quality Standards,’ one way by which Disney makes decisions based on safety, courtesy, show and efficiency. New ideas, plans and even every day decision making can be put through this test, yielding an answer that is in line with the values of the company. If you were an imagineer designing a new attraction at the Disney-MGM studios, you know that putting in an emergency exit sign in the ride might not coincide exactly with the storyline or atmosphere that you are trying to create, but according to the Disney Quality Standards you know that safety comes before show, and must put the sign in. This can also be applied to regular park operations. If you are working in Adventureland at the flying carpet ride, but then spot a child standing on top of a rickety trash can in Frontierland, it is important for you to abandon the show aspect of your job that is defined by your Adventureland costume, and go over and ensure that the child gets out of the dangerous situation. These priorities help define the type of decisions the company makes.
Roy Disney said that “Its not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are (Disney Practicum).” Disney’s values can be seen in the morals of many of their classic films. There is nothing like a good adventure, courage will win, be honest with your feelings, respect others and surround yourself with diverse friends. It is also very important for a company’s corporate culture and values to emulate your own, as you will often times be spending more time at work during the day then at home. This culture can also dictate promotions, dress code, vacation policies, and basic values (sicareers.com).
Some of the company’s values that reflect my own include creativity, diversity and integrity. Disney is clearly a creative company. Ever since I was a child, my love for drawing came about from sketching Mickey Mouse and the other famous characters. My parents fostered this creativity and it has become an essential part of who I am. I don’t need to work for a company that animates or produces art, I need to find a company that solves problems in a creative way and has a strong visual sense about everything they do. Disney is one such company. My family has very strong values as well, as taught and demonstrated by my parents. Values such as honesty and courtesy are something that we pride ourselves on. I know that Disney promotes these values as well, as seen in their approach to guest service and entertainment.
Although my own values reflect a majority of the Disney corporate values and culture, since working here I have noticed a change in my attitude towards the company and a change in myself. Along with Disney’s culture of creativity, honesty and diversity comes another aspect of its personality: its size. With a working cast base of around 59,000 in the Orlando area alone, its easy feeling lost inside the company. Never before have I felt like just a number. When I ride the bus to the Magic Kingdom to enter the tunnels, images from the classic movie ‘Metropolis’ enter my head: loads of workers marching in blocks, going to work; however, Disney’s ability to empower their cast members makes it better than monotonous labor, but I am striving for something more. These frustrations with the company are also a result of doing an entry-level job, but I want a job that will put my brainpower and creativity to the test. There are jobs within the Disney Company that will most defiantly do that, but it will take some time to get there, time that I would much rather spend at a smaller company where I can have a bigger impact.
Frustrations aside, the company has taught me a lot; a lot about service, how a company should treat its customers, and how a business can be efficient in dealing with a large number of employees. I have also learned how to communicate better: by using inclusive language, giving clear instructions, and communicating over cultural and language barriers.
New Cast Members take a class titled ‘Traditions’ where they learn about what it means to carry on the Disney legacy. One portion of the curriculum focuses on the ‘Four Quality Standards,’ one way by which Disney makes decisions based on safety, courtesy, show and efficiency. New ideas, plans and even every day decision making can be put through this test, yielding an answer that is in line with the values of the company. If you were an imagineer designing a new attraction at the Disney-MGM studios, you know that putting in an emergency exit sign in the ride might not coincide exactly with the storyline or atmosphere that you are trying to create, but according to the Disney Quality Standards you know that safety comes before show, and must put the sign in. This can also be applied to regular park operations. If you are working in Adventureland at the flying carpet ride, but then spot a child standing on top of a rickety trash can in Frontierland, it is important for you to abandon the show aspect of your job that is defined by your Adventureland costume, and go over and ensure that the child gets out of the dangerous situation. These priorities help define the type of decisions the company makes.
Roy Disney said that “Its not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are (Disney Practicum).” Disney’s values can be seen in the morals of many of their classic films. There is nothing like a good adventure, courage will win, be honest with your feelings, respect others and surround yourself with diverse friends. It is also very important for a company’s corporate culture and values to emulate your own, as you will often times be spending more time at work during the day then at home. This culture can also dictate promotions, dress code, vacation policies, and basic values (sicareers.com).
Some of the company’s values that reflect my own include creativity, diversity and integrity. Disney is clearly a creative company. Ever since I was a child, my love for drawing came about from sketching Mickey Mouse and the other famous characters. My parents fostered this creativity and it has become an essential part of who I am. I don’t need to work for a company that animates or produces art, I need to find a company that solves problems in a creative way and has a strong visual sense about everything they do. Disney is one such company. My family has very strong values as well, as taught and demonstrated by my parents. Values such as honesty and courtesy are something that we pride ourselves on. I know that Disney promotes these values as well, as seen in their approach to guest service and entertainment.
Although my own values reflect a majority of the Disney corporate values and culture, since working here I have noticed a change in my attitude towards the company and a change in myself. Along with Disney’s culture of creativity, honesty and diversity comes another aspect of its personality: its size. With a working cast base of around 59,000 in the Orlando area alone, its easy feeling lost inside the company. Never before have I felt like just a number. When I ride the bus to the Magic Kingdom to enter the tunnels, images from the classic movie ‘Metropolis’ enter my head: loads of workers marching in blocks, going to work; however, Disney’s ability to empower their cast members makes it better than monotonous labor, but I am striving for something more. These frustrations with the company are also a result of doing an entry-level job, but I want a job that will put my brainpower and creativity to the test. There are jobs within the Disney Company that will most defiantly do that, but it will take some time to get there, time that I would much rather spend at a smaller company where I can have a bigger impact.
Frustrations aside, the company has taught me a lot; a lot about service, how a company should treat its customers, and how a business can be efficient in dealing with a large number of employees. I have also learned how to communicate better: by using inclusive language, giving clear instructions, and communicating over cultural and language barriers.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
The Little Mermaid: The Musical
On July 27th, I joined my family at the Pre-Broadway engagement of The Little Mermaid: The Musical.
During intermission, Cameron and I tracked down Alan Menken, composer of such great movies as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Beauty & The Beast and Hercules - we also met Thomas Shoemaker, President of Walt Disney Theatrical Productions - both kindly talked to us and signed our program.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Quote of the Day
Kid: "Mommy, why is Daisy Duck dancing around?"
Mom: "Because she's not as tired as your mamma."
Mom: "Because she's not as tired as your mamma."
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
The 4th of July
In the place Where Dreams Come True, more than 1,000 immigrants from dozens of countries will realize their dream of becoming United States citizens during a naturalization ceremony on the fourth of July at Walt Disney World Resort.
For the first time in its 35-year history, Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park will be the backdrop as Disney Parks and Resorts and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) jointly host a "Dreams Come True" swearing-in ceremony on the forecourt of Cinderella Castle. The event will be open to park guests on Independence Day morning.
For the first time in its 35-year history, Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park will be the backdrop as Disney Parks and Resorts and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) jointly host a "Dreams Come True" swearing-in ceremony on the forecourt of Cinderella Castle. The event will be open to park guests on Independence Day morning.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
dream along with Mickey
The time is here, I am officially a Walt Disney World cast member.
Yesterday, I completed Traditions, a class that was started by Walt Disney himself. Although it has changed over the years, this introductory class "imparts the importance of the Disney history, legacy and brand through several promotional videos and group workshop exercises."
Needless to say, the most exciting moment of the morning was when I entered the room, to find my engraved name tag sitting on a table. The instructor pointed out that when we wear this name tag, people don't see our name...they see "Hey, I know everything there is to know about Walt Disney World."
More to come!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Six days and counting...
In 6 days I will be turning in my Colorado boots and sliding into some Florida sandals, ready to soak up the sun and work for the mouse - The Disney College Program; and you thought my studies were over! oh no; these textbooks start with "Once Upon A Time" rather than "Sociology is a fascinating science..."
For those of you who enjoyed keeping up on my wanderings in London in between eating Nutella and munching on fish and chips, this will act in the same way. I look forward to hearing your comments and sharing photos with you.
Cheers, Duncan.
For those of you who enjoyed keeping up on my wanderings in London in between eating Nutella and munching on fish and chips, this will act in the same way. I look forward to hearing your comments and sharing photos with you.
Cheers, Duncan.
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