Thank You, Cast Members!
Walt Disney once said, “You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” Of the myriad Walt quotes out there, this is the most poignant; the most significant to this day.
Every time I see the Casting Agency door on Main Street at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney’s sentiment gives me pause. It reminds me of the devoted individuals who breathe life into the parks, putting the Magic in Walt’s Kingdom.
It’s important to be appreciative of this every day, but on days like today, it’s nice to be extra thankful. While we are at home enjoying a relaxed holiday with family, there are thousands of Cast Members spending the holiday away from their families so others can have an unforgettable Disney Christmas.
Many Disney fans, us included, have dreamed about the fun elements, thinking of being Cast Members someday. It’s often a post-retirement scenario in which we fantasize about being able to captain a Friendship boat, enjoying beautiful Florida scenery while feeding off of the laughter and delight of guests enjoying first visits to Walt Disney World.
The dream is a romanticized fiction, much like so many dreams in which we all indulge. While being a Cast Member can no doubt be satisfying and rewarding, it can also be thankless. For every glamorized on stage role like the monorail pilot, there are countless Cast Members in less prolific positions from custodial to parking to food & beverage who play just as integral of roles.
I’m especially thankfully for these unsung Cast Members, because I know I couldn’t do what they do. I’ve seen irate guests berate Cast Members for attractions being down, parade viewing spots being unavailable, and other inconveniences wholly outside the realm of any individual Cast Member’s control.
Ignorance and entitlement are a dangerous combination, and we’ve witnessed Cast Members bear the brunt of it. Surprisingly and much to their credit, these meltdowns are met with patience, helpfulness, and restraint (…and maybe sometimes a coded “have a magical day”).
Anyway, we just wanted to take a moment away from our Christmas festivities to say thank you to Cast Members away from their families, working today–and everyday–and making the magic. The parks wouldn’t be what they are without your hard work and dedication. Even if we don’t always stop to say thanks or go to Guest Services to leave an official “Cast Compliment,” we always appreciate what you do.
Here’s to you, Cast Members!
The Cast Members at Disney parks worldwide who carry the torch of Disney’s legendary guest service are Walt’s most enduring legacy. We just wanted to reflect upon and pay tribute to all of you who make (or have made) the Disney magic. We appreciate everything you do. So, thank you. ã‚ã‚ŠãŒã¨ã†ã”ã–ã„ã¾ã™ã€‚Merci beaucoup. è¬è¬ã€‚
Nice post. Thank you. And yes thank you disney cast members
I think it was my impression with a couple of cast members (street sweeper and store clerk) that really inspired by love of Disney.
I always make a point of thanking custodial, like “Thank you for keeping the restrooms so clean!”.
I also try to give little keepsakes, when appropriate.
It is also nice than a CM thanks you, like when I get caught picking up trash!
That’s a great attitude to have and very nice gesture. I know someone who has visited the parks on Christmas, and takes little thank you cards to hand out to Cast Members. They seem to love those cards!
I was lucky enough to spend Christmas there 2 years ago and am super appreciative of those that worked so that i could enjoy the magic! Thanks for your post.
The main thing I always appreciate about visiting WDW is how smoothly everything runs despite thousands of guest who often tr y their best to disrupt the processes. It runs so smoothly 100% due to the hard work of the Cast Members and I always try to show my appreciation for them while I am there. Thanks so much for all that you do Cast Members!
As a Cast Member, thank you for this. I only got the job a few weeks ago, but it’s always nice to know some guests appreciate the effort.
Because when everything is going smoothly it’s easy to be nice and talk to everyone, but when you have a family of 10 trying to gate-crash a couple of people, while another guest decides he doesn’t want to wait 5 seconds until you arrive to help him and makes some stupid mistake that makes you have to check everything for a couple of minutes, and the queue gets longer and people angrier, and a woman comes just to yell at you that you’re a bunch of idiots and she’s going to complain about you, and your colleague is a newbie so he needs a little help once in a while, and you are sick because you had the great idea to celebrate a little after work on Christmas Day and you caught a cold, and then a group of moms come barging and step on you with the strollers demanding to be let through first and calling you useless because you can’t use your voice right now, so you must be retarded… it’s a bit more difficult to be super extra nice for 8 hours a day with several people per minute in a few languages. We do try, though! 🙂
At moments like those, just remember the kids who will go to bed the happiest they’ve ever been because of an amazing day in the park–a day to which YOU contributed.
I know that’s much easier said than done in *that* kind of a moment, but knowing you’re making a positive impact can help in challenging times. 🙂
what a wonderful post! My 27 year old autistic son collects cast member autographs! He now has three autograph books with cast member signatures from our last three trips to walt disney world. During our trip October 2016 he received over 120 cast member signatures from every type of cast member you could imagine. A group of cast members at the Emporium sang happy birthday to him when we visited MK for MNSSHP and we were lucky enough to film that experience! He is so devoted to the magic that we even started a cast member appreciation page.
That’s really, really cool. Thank you for sharing–and thank your son for helping bring attention to the great work that Cast Members do for guests! 🙂
To go a step further than even “Cast Members in less prolific positions from custodial to parking to food & beverage”, a big thank you to cast members that never have guest interaction, so never a chance to receive a ‘thank you’ from guests – merchandise stock rooms attendants, costume attendants, line cooks, cosmetologists, engineers, plumbers, the list goes on and on. You actually never see the majority of cast members at the parks. Most people don’t think about it, but the parks are alive 24 hours a day, every day – many cast members working at 3am to make sure we have a magical experience.
Very well said.
Well said! And nice that you took the time to write it.
As a former cast member, is always amazing to ear somebody say thank you, because in the end of the day when you take your costume off, you always think: “I was good today? Did I help creat a magical day? Will somebody remember that we song for them at Casey’s Corner? How many pictures have I appear today?”
Your pictures bring back really good memories! 🙂
As a former CM, seeing all those photos hits me right in the feels as I remember why I was so eager to sign up in the first place. Though forked roads saw me parting ways for new adventures, I often catch myself glancing over my shoulder wondering…”what if?”
I have often thought about the same, except with regard to the College Program. I passed up the opportunity at the time, and regretted it for a number of years. There’s some “what if…?” regret for me, but at the same time, I think it’s hard to imagine that how the scenario plays out in my head would’ve actually been how it would have come to fruition.
The College Program was a.m.a.z.i.n.g! One of the best experiences of my life – exceeded my expectations in so many ways. It saddens me that you passed up the opportunity 🙁
Every cast member we encountered on our Disney trips was wonderful to us. Many we met exceeded our expectations. Your blog reminded us of the thousands of cast members we did not directly encounter who worked hard and did their best to give us a magical experience. Well said, Tom.
Let’s be honest, the exceptional cast members are far and few between in the USA, but more of the rule in Tokyo. That’s where you can see what US parks used to be like.
I have yet to go anywhere in Japan where the customer service was not head and shoulders better than it is in the United States. I have also yet to go anywhere in Japan where customers were rude to service industry employees. There, a service job is an honor. Here, many Americans have an attitude of superiority over those working service jobs. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect the level of service in the US parks to be on par with Tokyo given the pay and treatment.
Hear! Hear! Couldn’t be more on point Tom.
I had two cast members totally make my trip by taking time to go through and find the pictures for me that hadn’t made it onto my photopass. I’d asked another cast member for help and they’d flat out lied to me so when I got home i made sure to email and heap praise on the cast members who helped me. Small gestures from cast members really can make or break a trip.
For me, I’m ashamed to admit that the incredible job 99% of Cast Members do sort of glosses over me most of the time – it’s very “transparent”, the invisible hand of Disney as it were.
However, it’s all brought back when the 1% experiences occur – an unhelpful CM, unsmiling/disinterested etc. (Worth adding that these are not necessarily bad eggs, everyone has off days!). When I reflect on these (rare) occasions, whatever the CM ‘did’ is usually never that bad – indeed, I can’t think of one occasion when I was confronted with bare rudeness – rather, simply not going above and beyond.
What the above convoluted paragraph is driving at is that whenever that happens, it reminds me of how 99% of CMs truly do go above and beyond to make people’s vacations memorable – and, like this post, (briefly and temporarily) heightens my awareness of the incredible job the majority do!
I think this is the case with a lot of people, but they just don’t realize it. A lot of comments have been posted on this blog over the years from people returning from their trips, commenting on how ‘awful’ the Cast Members were. Most of the time, a specific incident as cited as proof of this. Obviously, that ignores the fact that they had innumerable other interactions with Cast Members, most of which were probably fine.
Yay!
Thanks for posting this. My daughter is spending her first Christmas away from home because she is working her dream job as a Magic Kingdom Cast Member in Main Street Custodial. We miss her terribly but she is having the time of her life and we wouldn’t want it any other way 🙂
Well a big thanks to her! This week has been our first trip to Disney World, and we have noticed the custodial crew keeping everything clean unlike any other amusement park I have ever been to. It’s wonderful and they do a great job. Once again, thanks to her and all the other Cast Members on the Custodial Crew.
Thanks for the reminder! Thanks cast members for everything you do from the small to the magical!
Thank you for posting this Tom. Merry Christmas to you, and to my fellow back-of-house Cast Members of the Disneyland Resort.
Great post and wonderful photos. Thanks cast members and thanks Tom!