Reader Submitted Story
Memories From Entertainment!

I loved working at Disneyland. I got a little bitter about things awhile back and quit, but now I'm trying to get back in. I took what I did for granted, it was so much fun, crazy, educational and more. I was there for 4 years in a pretty much "backstage" dept. Something to do with Entertainment is all I'd like to say at this point.

But while there I had many great experiences (and am trying to get back in so I can have more!). Anything from getting to climb to the top of the Matterhorn (from the inside) to watching Robin Williams do a great comedy routine to a precious few.

Awhile back when the third Aladdin movie came out I got to work a party celebrating this, which was also a part of a video retailer's convention — my memory is a little foggy on what group it was for, but I think that was it! But we got up there and did miscellaneous activities, mostly Guest Control like the entrance line.

The highlight of the evening was a parade through the Agrabah-themed area leading up to a stage. When the parade ended at the stage there was to be a small show and the Robin Williams was supposed to come out and do a little stand-up.

Our job was to clear a parade route (not an easy task!) and then form a sort of line in front of the crowd to keep them back from Williams. It went well and I got a front and center view of a fabulous comic doing his thing. After the show we were let loose to party a little, listen to the band and get paid for it at the same time!

But the best is a shift I had not to long ago. I served as a driver for a lucky young lady who had won a contest to be drawn into a Saturday morning Disney cartoon. I thought it was going to be a run-of-the-mill pick em up and drop em off gig but I was very wrong!

I picked her and her family up at their hotel and took them up to the Studios. I thought my highlight of the day was going to be driving into the lot and getting to look at the cool buildings. But the tour guide that met up with us asked if I'd like to join them. Gee... um... let me think about that — YES YES YES!

So off we went on a tour of almost everything! We saw all the steps in making the cartoon come to life. We met animators, artists, editors and more. We went through so many offices and buildings, and keeping my eyes open I got to catch glimpses of other projects in the works — feature films, cartoons and more. I saw countless works of Disney art, even a multi-plane camera.

We also spent some time in the Disney Archives area. The tour guide brought out an Academy Award and we each got a turn holding it — yes it is heavy!

The day was so much fun, and I'm looking forward to having more great experiences when I go back!

This was my experience with a semi-authorized trip to the top of the Matterhorn. Myself and another Cast Member were asked to make a delivery to the Matterhorn Climber breakroom halfway up in the Matterhorn.

After checking in with Matterhorn Cast Members and obtaining a small plastic tag for each of us (they had to know when someone was up in the mountain), we hopped over the ride track and went into the tunnel to the left of where the Bobsleds enter the Matterhorn.

A little ways back there is a small elevator that, I believe, takes you up about 5 floors. When you go up you can peek into the mountain and catch glimpses of the Bobsleds racing through. And if you know where the elevator is, you can sometimes see it when on the ride if you look to the side and back a bit.

We took the elevator up to the top and into a fairly large area that seemed part makeshift office and breakroom. It stretched all around to the sides of the mountain.

And yes, there is sort of a half-court up there. Really, it's just a big enough area to kind of play and shoot hoops. That day they had a giant blow-up dinosaur sitting in the hoop.

My fellow Cast Member showed me the sights. There were peepholes in the mountain, out of which poked some cameras. I forget what he said they were for, possibly the parade route which does have cameras along the length. He then showed me where the climbers go out to start their climb.

We kind of poked out a bit, but I'm a little scared of heights. He then suggested going up to the top to take a look. I figured "Why not?" — it should make for a dazzling sight.

To get up to the very top there was a large wooden staircase that kind of circled around next to the mountain wall. It took me a little time to get up there, with my fear of heights and all. Near the top there is a ladder that leads up to a trap door, both made of metal. The ladder was a little tough.

He went up first and opened the door and I followed. What we forgot about was that it was a wonderfully hot day, the trap door was made of metal and so was a good size border around the hole for the trap door.

I did make it halfway out, a struggle since there was hardly anything to hold onto that wouldn't burn the flesh off my hands! But it was well worth it. It was interesting to see where Tink flies from — and the view was great!

Just one of quite a few interesting things we get to do in our dept!

— Anonymous