"It is my hope that what you see today you will treasure in your heart, forever"

Last night, my friends and I went to see the new movie Earth (based on the Discovery channel series, Planet Earth) and it was really good, and of course, it was amazing to see the beauty of our planet on the big screen.  So today, as I was driving around without any guests on board, thinking about my semester as a safari driver, it really hit me how lucky I have been this semester.  

I get to spend every day showing people how amazing our world is.  For most people, this is the closest thing that they will ever come to seeing these beautiful animals in their natural habitat.  I get to teach 300-500 people A DAY about these amazing creatures, and how important it is to protect and care for them.  And I get to do this in a place that for all intents and purposes is the real thing.  Yes, it is obvious that we aren't actually in Africa, but why does that matter?  If we were in a normal zoo, the story we are telling would not be relevant.  

Because we aren't only telling the story of these animals and how they live their lives, but we are also telling the story of how easily the balance can be tipped, and how these lives can be destroyed.  And that is why I take so much pride in the job that I do, because each and every day I get to give that gift to all of my guests.  I get to teach them that there are things that humans are doing to harm these animals and the wild places that are their homes, but I also get to teach them that there are things they can do to help.

Yes, I am a realist and I understand that every single person who gets off of my truck is not going to suddenly become an environmentalist.  However, I truly hope and believe that someone who goes on safari will have a better appreciation of the world around them, and may start to think about ways that they can help to make the world a better place.

This is why it bothers me so much when a parent destroys the magic for their children.  When they point out the things that make our reserve a zoo, and not the wild.  When they tell their kids, "it's ok, the poachers aren't real." Because, in fact, the poachers are real.  The poachers that we chase down and the baby elephant that we save 10 times a day are representations.  Poaching is a real and dangerous threat to these animals in their natural habitats.  So the poachers are real, and there are things we can do to stop them. 

Conservation is something that has always been important to me.  Even from when I was very young, I have always cared about our world and making it better.  I truly hope that in the time I have spent at safaris, I have inspired at least one person to feel the same way.  The world as we know it and need it to survive exists in a delicate balance.  If that balance is broken, the world will cease to exist.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" --Margaret Mead

"Some imagination, huh?"

Last night, my roomate Alex and I went to the Studios to see Fantasmic! (the exclamation point is part of the name...), their nighttime fireworks/stage show.  Unlike Wishes at the Magic Kingdom, and Illuminations at EPCOT, Fantasmic! is a nighttime stage show with pyro effects, fountains, fire, and lots and lots of Disney characters.

Fantasmic takes place in a dream of Mickey Mouse, where he shows the audience really cool fountains, and scenes from classic Disney animated films projected on huge water screens and acted out on stage.  Suddenly, Disney villains force their way into Mickey's dream, and try to turn it into an "overwhelming nightmare."  The show comes to a climax when Maleficent (fromSleeping Beauty) shows up and turns into a huge fire breathing dragon.  Mickey (of course) vanquishes the dragon, and the show ends with Sorcerer Mickey directing a fireworks show from the top of the mountain-looking stage.

However, last evening, things didn't work out so well.  Maleficent came out and appeared to turn into the dragon, however the dragon had some issues, and it was turned off and sat on the stage for the rest of the show.  It is always interesting to see things like this when they happen, giving guests a glimpse into the world that makes the magic happen.  But on the other hand, it is disappointing as well, because it removes the magic from the experience.  When this happened, the audience was immediately transported from the magical world of Mickey's dream, right back to the real world.

I had my camera with me and took some pretty cool pictures, here are my favorites:

Mickey Directing the fountains


Here comes the dragon...


... Or not. They sent Maleficent back up to try and hide the mistake, they also put some fog machines on around the dragon to try and hide it, but it was too windy and it all blew away.


The show is still magical for this girl. I love this photo because it was a complete accident. I had no idea she was standing there.


















After the show I was able to snap a photo of the dragon fully out on stage before they started to bring her back inside.

Jambo folks, how many?

Sometimes, people will ask me if I get tired of saying the same thing over and over while I am working.  And I will be honest, by the end of the day, the last safari can be a little tedious (I did 13 safaris today).  However, when I am working in a position with guest interaction, I rarely get tired of repeating myself, because I know that I am helping them out.  

For example, the other day I was working at the point of the queue where the fastpass line and the standby line merge together.  And I often said things like:

"Jambo folks, welcome to Kilimanjaro Safaris!"

"Please move forward filling in all of the available space"

"Please have your fastpasses out and ready for collection"

And those things I don't tire of saying, even if I do sound like a broken record to myself.  Because I am always working to make a guests day better, and I get to smile at them and see their faces as they enjoy their vacation.  This is one of the reasons that I like working in our front of house/greeter positions so much.  It is all about being positive, and helping people make their day better.  And when they are happy, I am happy.

Sometimes we have too much fun...

So here are some pictures for those of you who can't see on facebook.
This is my friend Pat and I. Last night we were fooling around at the Magic Kingdom, as we were waiting for the masses of humanity to leave after the fireworks. These statues are all around the partners statue of Walt and Mickey in the Hub in front of the castle.

Sitting in a Starbucks in Celebration...

So it's been a while since I posted, sorry... Life's been kinda busy.

However, today I am on a day off, and I decided to come to Celebration to do some homework out of the house.  But before I start off on my actual homework, I just needed to comment on my surroundings.

I feel like I am sitting in the middle of The Truman Show.  Seriously.  This town center looks just like the town that was created for Truman to live in.  

It all just looks so fake and contrived.  None of the architecture fits together.  I am not sure whether I am supposed to be in Cape Cod, Key West, Savannah, or some other place that is totally different and manufactured.  I just can't see how anyone could live here.  I work in a theme park, I would not want to live in something that is trying to be one.

Wave Goodnight

Today at the end of the day I got to do something pretty darn cool.

I brought my truck off of the ride path about an hour before I was scheduled to clock out, so they sent me over to help out with the wave goodnight at the entrance to the park.  So I spent 45 minutes wearing a mickey mouse glove, and waving goodbye to the guests as they left the park for the night.  It actually was really a lot of fun, because I really got to interact with people and make them smile.  For some people, I could have been their last memory from their vacation, and that really motivated me to work hard and have fun saying goodnight, even though I had a long day out on safari.  Apparently I did such a good job that one of the managers gave me a Guest Service Fanatic card, which will be notated on my record card.  Pretty cool.

See ya real soon!

Disney Service Basics Part 1

Joanna, you asked what makes the magic for adults.  Well, I don't know the full answer to that (hence the research...) but I do know something that helps a lot.

It's called the Disney Service Basics, or just "the basics" and I will probably be writing a number of posts about it.  The basics were created in response to guest surveys and focus groups, about how they want cast members to act.

The Disney Service Basics are:

1. I project a positive image and energy

2. I am courteous and respectful to all guests, including children

3. I stay in character and play the part

4. I go above and beyond

Sadly, today as my friends and I visited the Magic Kingdom, we did not see the basics in use.  Almost all of the cast members we encountered looked bored or unhappy.  None of them talked to us, they just waived us through, pointing us in the direction that we needed to go.  In some instances they gave us confusing directions and seemed annoyed when we asked again.  In other instances they did not go out of their way to help people who needed it.  In other places, this would have been ok.  Just doing the tasks that were assigned to you and watching the clock all day may fly at other places, but great service is what separates Disney from everywhere else.  It is in the job description to go above and beyond.  And we did not see that in action today.

My friend decided to go to guest relations to complain, and the hostess there genuinely listened, and agreed with his comments and we hope she took note of them.  However, I think it is important to recognize people who go above and beyond every day.  Positive reenforcement is much better than negative.  So, from now on, I am not going to go to the parks without a few great service fanatic cards in my pocket.  This way, if I see a cast member going above and beyond, I can do my part to make sure they are recognized.  You can do this too (and it doesn't have to be at Disney), if you ever are somewhere and receive great service, take the 10 minutes that it takes to write a letter to the manager of wherever you are.  It really goes a long way and means a lot to the people who receive them.