Last September for my 50th birthday my wife graciously took me to Walt Disney World for 5 days. During that vacation something happened that could very well prove to be a highlight of my life.
During our day at the Magic Kingdom on Wednesday September 8 while waiting in front of the train station for the park to open we were approached by a Disney Cast member. She asked us a few questions. They included the reason for our visit to Walt Disney World and our ages. Then she asked if we had any hidden talents?
I thought it a rather strange question but figured it was just a survey. I told her that Paula was a terrific singer and I was a ventriloquist. I don't know why (perhaps it was the fact that I was wearing my "birthday" button) but she asked me if we'd be willing to share our talent with other guests?
She went on to explain that they were doing some kind of special event in front of Exhibition Hall in the Magic Kingdom’s Town Square and they were looking for guests who would be willing to display their talents.
Paula begged off saying she would be too nervous to do it and didn’t have anything prepared. Not being the kind of person to ever let the chance for “15 minutes of fame” go by I said I’d be willing to do it. After I agreed to be part of the “event” I realized I didn’t have a puppet to use. But I soon came up with a solution that may work out for me.
After the opening ceremonies for the park we went to the front of Exhibition Hall where we met the same cast member. She had gathered about ½ a dozen other guests besides me and took us “back stage”. This was an area that had a large open garage where some old looking vehicles were being stored.
The cast member gave us some information about what was going to happen during the “show”. As it turned out we were all going to be given 3 minutes to show off our talent for all who were watching.
I was given the number 5 on a piece of paper reminiscent of what you would get if you were waiting in line at the deli counter in the grocery store. It meant I was the fifth person to go out “on stage,”
I started to get very nervous. I realized that with no time to prepare I’d have to use my improvisational skills and previous on stage experience to help get through my 3 minutes.
I watched from the wings the people who went before me. Mostly they did what I call “stupid human tricks”. A little boy made facial expressions, a teenage girl did some handstands and cartwheels, and a teenager balances some small objects and juggled. There was also a woman singer who was pretty good but Paula could have done better.
When it came time for me to go out in front of the small crowd I was shaking. I’d say there were about 100 people or so gathered around the front of the Hall. Most people were just walking past in a hurry to get somewhere else in the Magic Kingdom.
I started off with a couple of jokes about turning 50 and then did a short explanation of what my talent was and that I needed someone’s help. I asked for a volunteer who was at least 8 years old. A little boy named “Ryan” raised his hand. I brought him up in front of me and gave him some quick instructions.
I then did a couple of jokes using him as my puppet and had him sing “When You Wish Upon A Star” I was really nervous and got a bit confused during the act but I did my best. When I was done the cast member had me take a bow. The crowd gave me an enthusiastic round of applause. I looked at Paula and smile. She mouthed the words “You did good” to me.
After 3 more acts the show was over. The people disbursed and the other performers and I waited for the cast member as we had been asked to do. She thanked us for our participation and told us we did a great job. She added that she and her crew needed to get some specific information from us.
A different cast member came up to me and asked for my name, address and some other contact information. We also were asked to sign a “no disclosure” agreement and then we were told what I’m going to tell you in a few minutes.
I spent the rest of the day on cloud 9 because I got to do ventriloquism in the Magic Kingdom. The day only got better as we went through the Kingdom.
A few weeks after we got back from our Florida vacation I got an email from someone in Disney World’s personnel department thanking me for my participation that day at the Magic Kingdom and telling me that I was going to be advanced to the next step of their “experiment”.
A week later I received a phone call on my cell from a cast member named “Brad” he asked me a few questions and whether I’d be interested in being part of a show, like the one I’d participated in back in September, again. I told him “Yes”, I would be interested in it.
I was asked to make a short 3 minute video that was different from what I did in the park that day and upload it to a special website. It took me about 2 weeks to it right ad send it.
All that happened before Christmas last year. I didn’t hear anything more until a few weeks ago around Valentine’s Day.
I got a call from someone named “Valerie” from the Disney World Entertainment department. Here’s the big news.
I’ve been offered the opportunity to take an internship at Disney World for 5 months to perform in a show that’s going to be part of the repurposing of Exhibition Hall as a “meet and greet” area for Mickey Mouse.
The hall is going to be turned into the “Town Square Theater” where a vaudeville style show starring “magician Mickey” will be presented. I will be one of the opening acts, as a ventriloquist.
The show opens the 2nd week of June and will run through the end of October. That’s right, I’ve been offered a 4 months job at Walt Disney World.
I told you this was a game changer. After discussing it with Paula and making some additional arrangements I’ve decided that I’m going to accept the job. Although she doesn’t really want me to be gone for 4 months Paula understands what an opportunity this is for me. She’s all for it.
The “additional arrangements” are things that have come together in such a way that I just can’t ignore them.
I’ll be staying with some friends of ours who live just outside Orlando. They used to be members of my church. He was the music minister. They have an extra room where I can stay for a minimal amount of rent.
Also the church where he is now music minister has an opening for a summer time children’s ministry helper. Thanks to my friend’s recommendation I have been offered that job as well. It will give me enough extra income to help me cover all my expenses. It will not interfere with my Disney job and will help me get experience in children’s ministry.
Of course not everything about this situation is perfect. I will have to take a leave of absence from my job. There’s no guarantee when I come back in November that my position in the call center will still be open. It probably will be but there’s a chance I could end up on unemployment again and looking for a job at the end of the year.
So there you have it. Come Memorial Day weekend I will be packing up my Vue and heading down to Orlando to start what is going to be my Disney Dream job.
Over the next couple of months I’ll be keeping you up to date on how things are going and what’s happening with my transition from Kentucky resident to Disney Cast Member.
Can you believe that I’m going to be a Disney Cast Member? I can’t wait. Is this a Disney Dream come true or what?
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