Monthly Archives: December 2015
Cons of Working at Disneyland
For Erika, working at Disneyland was one of the best times of her life, but there were some cons to working at the Happiest Place on Earth. Check out the newest video from Erika to hear her opinions!
Erika Jenko
Disney Now and Then: Do Date Disney
Ever heard of the 3 D’s of Disney? Don’t Date Disney. This was a rule taught in Disney orientation back when I was training to work for Mickey Mouse. Don’t. Date. Disney. It was a rule I consistently broke. Now, even the dating scene has changed since I left the resort. People are actually encouraged to Date Disney through a new dating site called ‘Mouse Mingle” (not an official Disney dating company, but cool right?). At mousemingle.com, you can pair up with fellow Disney fans and hopefully find your ‘happily ever after.’ And the best news? You don’t even have to be a cast member! While I have yet to go undercover and create a profile to explore the site (my current prince would probably not approve), let me reminisce a minute on why Dating Disney is simply the best.
Takes One to Know One
If you work at Disneyland, you are working there because you genuinely love the Disney brand, OR you have a contagious ‘Disney’ personality. If neither were true, you would never get through your interview with HR. So with that said, every single person working at Disneyland has traits similar to your own personality. What does that mean? Compatibility. If two people can not only tolerate binge watching Disney movies, but actually love it, it’s a match made in heaven. And working at Disneyland, one can’t help but feel like they are swimming in a pool of matches. If Mouse Mingle is putting all fans in one small spot on the interweb, then the internet might as well be your fairy godmother.
It’s a Small World Afterall
One of the big reasons for ‘Don’t Date Disney’, is management doesn’t want you to wind up in an uncomfortable situation where say the Mad Hatter and Cinderella broke up and now they have to share a breakroom. Makes sense, right? Here’s the great thing about it. Since every department is like a small family that likes to gossip about each other to the capacity of your great-aunt Trudy at the Thanksgiving table, you have the potential to know the good and bad about your partner before you even go on your first date. Sure, you might hear all about the person’s flaws, but you will at least go into it with all of your facts. Let’s say the relationship ended terribly and you’re stuck seeing each other every single day. You’re a Disney person. So, you’re capable of smiling through it until you look up and realize there are so many new co-workers to replace the old one with! Also, if you’re a Disney person, breakups may be bad, but you see the good in most things (Like that you’re better off not dating this person).
Inside the Disney Cult
Dating someone on the inside helps make your life a little bit easier. Working at Disney is unlike working anyplace else, and you want a person who ‘gets’ you. If they get you, then they’ll also appreciate what you’re going through and you can bond together. For instance, working at Disneyland means working on weekends and having select weekdays off. If you yell out, “It’s my Friday!” on a Tuesday, wouldn’t it be cool if your partner actually knew what the heck you’re talking about? If you want to complain about the fact that you didn’t get your RDO approved (and you’re dating someone who actually knows what that is), don’t you want a partner who can help you figure out a plan B? When I worked at Disneyland, I spent a significant amount of time on resort property. I worked 40 hours a week and I was a college kid, so all of my paychecks went directly to rent on my studio apartment. Whenever I liked a guy at Disney, I knew we could have a cheap, if not free, date night so long as we both worked at the park. How is that possible? We both got into the parks for free and sometimes we would go in just to watch the parade or fireworks. It was super romantic and fun and we didn’t even have to drive in traffic to our date!
So, how can you Date Disney even if you don’t work in the parks? Start with finding a person who appreciates the fact that you like Disney. They honestly don’t have to like Disney to the extent that you do, but if they love that you geek out over it, then you have the right match for you. Trust me. Have any of you tried out Mouse Mingle? If you have, I hope it works out for you. Otherwise, there are so many ways to meet super cool Disney fans like Dapper Day, Disney Meetups, Disney social groups, etc. No matter where you look, enjoy the adventure!
Erika Jenko
Modern Mouse Radio #95: Nostalgia vs. The Future
Direct Download This Episode
The 3rd and final time Josh is going solo in 2015. This week he brings up the idea of those who long for the past and those who look forward to the future and the rift between those two sides. There have always been those against change at the Disney parks but there are those who enjoy the new innovative ideas that come to the parks as well. Who is wrong? Nobody, but the complaints, criticisms come rolling out everyday. Josh offers up his opinion on the matter as well as some in depth thoughts on Walt Disney World and Disneyland’s pasts and futures.
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Erika Jenko
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Fantasmic! Secrets
As we head into the end of the year, we know for a fact that many of Disneyland’s standard attractions and shows are going down to make way for the construction of Star Wars Land. One of those that are going down for at least a year is the beloved show Fantasmic! That’s right Walt Disney World goers, you’ll have the only version of this show. Erika thought, since the show will go down and possibly change, she would share a little insider information!
Erika Jenko
Feature: The Feels Awaken in the New Star Wars Film (No Spoilers)
This article has no spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. You are safe here!
Everything has lead to this, the worldwide release of the new Star Wars film. It’s been an epic journey to get here. I’ll be honest, I’m not a Star Wars superfan, nor would I consider myself knowledgable about the Star Wars Universe. I’m a fan of good storytelling and that’s what Star Wars has always been to me. I know some planet names, some droid names, and the main character names, but I couldn’t tell you who was sitting at the bar at the Mos Eisley Cantina off the top of my head. I do know, like a majority of everyone else, that I saw\ the marketing and hype for this film and got swept up in it.
Over 3 years ago there was an announcement. George Lucas and the Walt Disney Company reached an agreement. Lucas would receive over $4 billion in cash and Disney shares and the company would purchase Lucas Film and Lucas Arts. When that happened, there was serious speculation which was quickly met with a “yes we plan to make a new Star Wars film.” That’s when the marketing started. 3 years ago!
This morning I sat at my local theater and watched as the lights dimmed and a sold out room full of people, on a Friday morning at 8am (I’m sure a majority of them called in sick to work, let’s be honest.) saw that scrolling text. Right then there were multiple generations feeling something. I sat there and thought, “I could sit here and watch this keep going.” The film runs at just around 2 hours and 15 minutes but I could have watched for another 5 hours. I was wrapped up in the saga, the nostalgia, the new characters, and most importantly, the storytelling. I walked out talking with my wife in the car about what we can just seen. I’m sitting here almost 12 hours after I saw the scrolling text say “Episode VII” and I still want to talk about it. I have legitimately sang about it and danced around my home.
I watched a group of fans in a theater laugh, cry, worry, cheer, and overall feel. That’s goo storytelling. There was a great mix of something for everyone. It was respectful of the films that came before and paved the way for something new and exciting. I’ve seen my share of films this year, Disney related or not, and I have to say that The Force Awakens stands as something I will remember. I felt something (maybe the force) and so did everyone else in the room. I’m connected to these characters. I trust them. I feel like I know them. I went into seeing The Force Awakens feeling excited. I left the theater feeling all kinds of things. I don’t know how else to explain it, especially without spoilers attached.
Enjoyable characters and wonderful stories are at the heart of the Disney company. This movie was a great Disney made movie. Thanks for pulling me aboard the hype train Disney, it’s been an enjoyable time and I can’t wait to feel everything again in 2 years for Episode VII.
Josh Taylor
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