Disney Goers

October 24, 2015 I landed my dream job. Since I was a child I had wanted a job here. My grandma, who worked there for 14 years, would take me all the time when I was kid. I remember walking around, in complete admiration of this place when I was younger: walking down the main street, smelling the popcorn, having one of those famed clam chowder bowls for lunch, spending time with my family, and nearly piddling myself after riding California Screamin’ for the first time. I was so thankful, each time I got to go. Moreover, I loved to hear my grandma talk about how much she loved working for a mouse. And now that I work here, I get to create the same magic my grandma created for me. It’ been a year that I have worked here and I have gotten pretty familiar with the people who come into my magical home. We call them the “Disney-Goers.” We have the Passholders, the Park-Hoppers and the Travelers. These groups of people are the ones we get to make the magic for and more often than not, we find they are the ones that make the magic for us Cast Members. They each are so different, in so many different ways, but they all come to the Mouse’s House seeking one thing: magic. 

The Passholders are quite interesting folk. They literally come from all over the place. I once met some guests on the parade route who lived in New York, but had Annual Passes to Disneyland, just for the fun of it. As you know, any wealthy New Yorker would have. If you aren't familiar with our Annual Passes, they are passes one can purchase that are good for a year of happiness. These passes aren't cheap, and a lot of times our guests like to remind us of that. I can tell you numerous times of guests exclaiming to me, “Excuse me ma'am, I’m an Annual Passholder and I deserve all your fastpasses and an explanation as to why it is so crowded, all your magic and if you could make the line shorter because it is so crowded today, if I could gain access through your exit because I don’t want to wait in this long line because it’s never this crowded when I come, if you have any fastpasses on you by chance because I want those to get away from the crowd, for you to tell me where an exclusive popcorn bucket can be found that was sold 3 years ago, what everyone is doing here and why it is so crowded on a Saturday because I come here 3 times a week and it is never this crowded, if you can get me VIP seating to watch the fireworks show because you know I am an Annual Passholder and I just spent $5,000 to get my family in here and why is it so crowded today?” The thing about Passholders is that although they are privileged enough to come to Disneyland whenever they please, they have no Hakuna-Matata. They think they deserve all the bare-necessities Disney has to offer, to which they do, but they tend to approach us in really rude ways occasionally because they know they have these expensive passes and gain this “zero to hero” complex. Having a pass is like a power trip for some. On the other hand though, there are some pass holders whom I have met that have changed my life. Some have changed the way I work. Some that will be in my heart now and forever more. It's the moments with passholders that make them come back to see you. There is one guest who comes and visits me at two of my attractions. He first saw me splitting traffic and proudly told me that I was, “Working that walk way!” After that, he started coming around more, and when he brings his friends he will introduce me as “the girl with all the Star Wars puns.” I often see him around and I have to tell you, he is just one of my favorite people ever! He even helped me get through a breakup I was going through. He simply told me, “You are a girl worth fighting for.” How he knew I loved Mulan, I will never know, but he is one of the most positive and sweetest passholders I have ever met. I love seeing him roll around in his wheelchair, Mickey Ears on, and ready to bring a smile to my face whenever I see him. Like him, most of our passholders truly do believe that the dreams you wish do come true. And they prove this to me time and time again. 

The Park-Hoppers are our guests that purchase day tickets and come enjoy the en-en-en-nemities of the park(s). Here lies one of my favorite types of guests: the T-Shirt Families! T-Shirt Families are my favorite. You get this huge party ranging from 4-40 family members who come to the park. Usually this is their first time to the park or they haven’t come in years! So when they come, they will exclaim, “What?! There is a Carsland?” Go to Autopia, our drivable cars, and then get told that it’s in the park across the way. That’s when, full of excitement, they will all mutually cheer and just start running. I don't know if they know where they are running to, but they just start running away, faster than Lightning McQueen himself. They all are matching with the same logo and same color shirt. All celebrating either Nana’s 89th birthday or sporting the “Last Name” Family Vacation 2016 shirts. They are some of the most excited Park-Hoppers and some of my favorite. Within this group, we also find just our regular day guests like the First time in Foreverers (first time to Disneyland guests), the What Time is it? Summertime kids (the grad night kids), the Scooter-Gangs (squads of scooters coming in pack to run you over relentlessly), the PDA couples (publicly displaying a whole lot of affection throughout our parks for all the guests to see) and the Nemos (those who are completely lost). First-Timers are awesome. They are excited about literally everything: the parade, the First-Visit pin, the Mickey Ears, the only 60 minute wait, the fastpasses you get for free, the fireworks, the characters, the shows and the corn dogs. I love to welcome them into my home and they are always the most likely ones to use manners! “Please” and “Thank You” are terms that are seldom used, but greatly appreciated to a cast member. Having a guest acknowledge me by using my name or saying “please and thank you” truly makes my day. It makes me feel appreciated and that they have actually listened to the whole safety spiel I just gave them. As for the other day guests, they each make a cast member’s life more interesting with all their little innuendos. They want to be a part of your world and it’s our job to immerse them into it. They want to be where the people are: creating swarms of thousands waiting in Main Street for the fireworks. They want thinga-ma-bobs. Like all 20 pins on my trading lanyard. But who cares? It is usually no big deal. They just want more. Walking around on those what do you call them? Oh, LED light up shoes. Flipping me off doesn't get too far. Hands are required for tugging on that yellow strap. Strolling down along the...what’s that word again? Left-hand-side-of-the-street-when-I-asked-you-to-stay-to-the-right-hand-of-the-street. Up where they sit on our chains. Up where they run when they aren’t supposed to. Up where they stay all day in the sun and our 120 minute lines. Wandering free. Wish they could be. At Knott’s Berry Farm. 

Lastly, we have the Travelers. Travelers: as swift as the coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, and as mysterious as the dark side of the moon they make their way around the parks. Seemingly, they know what’s going on despite language barriers and the ultimate amount of culture shock. It is truly a whole new world for them, but they aren't afraid to go the distance to ask you questions like: “When is the 7:30 parade?” “The map says you close at midnight. What time is that at?” “How do I get to the airplane (monorail)?” “You said this was where you meet Kylo Ren. Is that a ride?” “Where do I find Bugs Bunny?” There are so many more, but these have always been some of my favorite Travelerisms. You must be thinking, “Those poor unfortunate souls,” but I have to tell you though, travelers are also some of the greatest folks. My friend and I once came into the park as guests one time and had an hour long conversation with a woman, from Australia, about how odd it is that we have orange cheese. I’ve struck up conversations with many other travelers who tell me about the countries they are from and how excited they are to have this opportunity to be here. They don’t get all tangled up in the American culture, they simply bring theirs to us. They are a beautiful reflection of where they’re from and I love to help them in whatever way I can. 

Working at Disneyland is a tale as old as time for me. I have wanted to work here since I was a child. True as it can be, guests don’t always have the best attitudes. But Disneyland has by far been my favorite job. I know I sound sarcastic in this essay, but I do love our guests. I love to tell them jokes, I love to tell them Star Wars puns and I love to make their day a little more magical. Everyday I tell myself before I go into work that, “Today I have the opportunity to make some magic, grant a wish, give a laugh, receive a smile and make a day.” Our guests are special to me, and when they come to my home, I want them to know they have a friend in me. And a friend in all of us. For they all deserve the same magic my grandma once gave to me. The Passholders, The Park-Hoppers and The Travelers are all unique in their own special  ways. They all paint the colors of the wind quite differently, but they are all invited to be our guests, to be our “Disney-Goers,” and to have all their dreams come true.