Friday, July 14, 2000
by Kevin Yee
This week Disneyland turns 45 years old. On July 17, 1955, Disneyland threw open its doors to the world. Walt's dream had become a reality, and the park became an almost instant sensation.
Naturally, things were a bit rocky at first, but not just with the heat wave of 1955 or the ride failures. The Cast Members themselves weren't quite right. Walt observed security guards acting more like protectors of property than genial facilitators, and he knew he'd have to train his ideal workers himself.
He turned to C.V. Wood to solve the problem, and Wood enlisted his own help. Two folks who would soon become trusted lieutenants, Van Arsdale France and Dick Nunis, established programs that evolved into the Disney University: a place to train Cast Members in the Disney way. To teach them Disney traditions. To show them that they actually create happiness out in the park. Forty-five years later, the University is still churning out diplomas (and teaching classes actually named "Disney Way," "Traditions" and "You Create Happiness"). The dream succeeded, and continues to succeed, because of the people.
Walt said it best: "You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world but it requires people to make the dream a reality." Those people are the Cast Members, and as you've seen these past several weeks, this column is about the Cast Members.
Disneyland Anniversaries are always subject to enormous celebration. On the big dates (10th, 25th, and presumably the 50th), Disneyland holds year-long promotions. This year has been no exception: there is a forty-fifth anniversary parade and signs throughout the park proclaim it to be Disneyland's Birthday.
On July 17th itself, Cast Members have traditionally received a special ribbon or button to wear onstage, something to proclaim to the Guests that today is the exact day of the anniversary. These, naturally, quickly become collector's items.
A sampling of the CM-ribbons and buttons given out on
Disneyland's Anniversary. Artwork © Disney.
Because the CMs get a free button on the day of the anniversary, they know what's going on. Besides, news of the birthday had been in the CM newsletter, the Disneyland Line, for the past few weeks anyway. Disneyland really likes to make a big deal out of the anniversary! The CMs pass along the enthusiasm to the visiting Guests that day and it makes everyone slightly more happy, I think.
More to the point, sometimes they have free cake scattered all around Disneyland for just anyone to eat. About five or seven of these locations distribute free cake with no real control mechanisms, so it's basically all you can eat. Now that must get expensive for Disneyland. But I'll bet it guarantees that everyone is in a festive mood.
It's a real nice touch, and a great gesture. The only thing is, I'm not sure it's done every year. Maybe only on the five-year anniversaries? I know I've seen — and eaten it — at least once, but maybe that was in 1995, the last big anniversary.
I can recall at least one year when the "Voice of Disneyland" boomed out the news that today was Disneyland's Anniversary. If I'm not mistaken, this same announcement invited everyone to cake.
On the big anniversary years, a pre-parade float sometimes made an appearance, just to keep the news foremost in Guests' minds.
The hoopla reminds me a bit of what is done on Mickey Mouse's birthday each year in November. A special announcement is made parkwide, and Mickey appears atop the Matterhorn and everyone sings "Happy Birthday" to him.
When Mickey turned 60 in 1988, an entire summer promotion sprung up to commemorate the event.
Some of Mickey's 60th Anniversary buttons. Artwork © Disney.
Sadly, there was no such promotion in 1998 for his 70th Birthday, possibly because parkwide promotions (remember State Fair? Circus Fantasy? Blast to the Past?) might be memorable for the visitors, but are costly to Disneyland. Maybe we'll get something for Mickey's 75th Anniversary.
Speaking of the promotion, that reminds me of an odd story. One day in 1988, as I was simply minding my own business (I think maybe I was waiting for a parade crossing at the 60th Anniversary Parade — or "Mickey and the Rats" as I called it, this was a bizarre parade) and a Guest got my attention with a question. Was it Mickey's Birthday every day, he asked. Seems he was using a multi-day passport, and yesterday was Mickey's Birthday too. I chuckled at that — it was Mickey's Birthday all summer long!
I wonder if that question pops up now for the Disneyland Anniversary parade?
One thing I do like about the 45th Anniversary is the special pin you can purchase this July, if you're an Annual Passholder. It's a lapel pin of the 1950s era Sam McKim park map, one of my favorite Disneyland designs or pictures.
Now if only I could get my hand on one of this year's Cast-Member-only buttons. I wonder if it says "We're 45 today!" on it?
Anybody want to donate one to me?
Happy Birthday Disneyland. Middle age suits you well.
Next up: Working Lead Appreciation Events
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Are you a CM or a former CM? I would love to hear and share your stories! E-mail me! Stories and comments you submit become property of and may be published on this site; we normally don't publish last names of current CMs, but if you wish to remain anonymous altogether or do not want me to share your stories, please let me know when you e-mail me. — Shoshana NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in reader-contributed stories do not reflect those of Cast Place or MousePlanet. CM – Cast member; company lingo for “employee.” Empowerment Evolution – The 1995 attempt by newer park management to introduce modern accountability and market forces into the stodgy Disneyland methodology and power hierarchies. The name was meant to “empower” rank and file employees by removing layers of their management, though now there are more managers than ever. TPO – Theme Park Operations; the division of the Disneyland hierarchy that actually works in the theme park itself. TDA – Team Disney Anaheim; the name of the on-site administration building. Area manager – used to be responsible for an entire land, with all business divisions in the area reporting to him. Area supervisor – the immediate boss for location supervisors who divide up a department of intelligently grouped locations. The area supervisors in turn reported to the area manager. Nowadays all supervisors and area supervisors have been replaced by managers and assistant managers — the same idea, but smaller “business units" than a department; usually just one location in fact. RFT – “A” status; a full-time hourly employee. RPT – “B” status; an hourly employee five days a week but just not quite 40 hours usually. CR – “C” status; an hourly employee who works weekends year-round and five days a week during all school holiday periods (including summer and Christmas break). CT – a part-time hourly employee who works five days a week during all school holiday periods (including summer and Christmas break). No seniority, so shifts worked are usually quite short. Locate the employment center to fill out an application, and they will call you for an interview (dress nicely, just shy of an actual suit). Once there, follow these rules, in this order of importance: 1. Smile and be very friendly. They want outgoing people.
2. Do not let the group interview throw you off balance. They want outgoing people who can “perform” a little bit.
3. Do not worry about job (in)experience. They don't care. They want friendly people, not experienced and/or hardened people.
4. Do your best to convince them you already have a Disney attitude: you want to work with people, you're a team player, and you would consider this a dream job (however, don't overdo it on the crazy-Disney-fan side either). Strike a nice balance.
5. Did I mention the importance of a smile? 
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