Chropistopy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2002
I can't wait for the next installment. I love looking at all the pictures and remembering.
...At dinner I was sitting with Wayne, Stacy, Jeff and Christy and we had a blast chatting. At one point Wayne asked if any of us had any Disney stories where we’d “gotten away with something”. We all mostly demurred (though Jeff and Stacy finally came up with one), but Wayne told a doozy of a story – it’s really his to tell, but if he doesn’t mind chiming in to share it, I think we would all love to hear it again (plus, I’m not sure everyone else got to hear it the first time!).
Wow! I am *so* sorry you experienced that! What a shame. It's too bad there wasn't a cast member nearby to throw them out of the line.
I'm glad it didn't ruin things for you. There are idiots everywhere!
Sayhello
That is terrible! It's no excuse for their behavior, but I'm dying to know: how old were these people?
At least you can comfort yourselves with this knowledge. I bet none of them visited Imagineering, or the Studios, or Walt's apartment!
Ok, there is a request for me to re-tell the story that I told at Steakhouse 55 the first night we stayed at the Disneyland resort. The dinner topic was name something you shouldnt have done at Disney or something youve gotten away with. So with Kristens kind permission, I will drop this in the middle of her trip report.
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I used to work in the theme park industry, mostly in shows as a technician. Ive worked for Six Flags Over Texas, Great America (Santa Clara) and for Knotts Berry Farm. In fact, I designed, performed and programmed all the water fountain shows for Knotts (which is what lead to my extreme interest in the World of Color), but that is a story for another time.
Now when you work for theme parks you learn very quickly how they operate and the kinds of procedures that they have. Every place is somewhat different, but they all mostly have the same basic operations. I had been working at Knotts getting the Christmas water show up and running. It was a couple weeks after Thanksgiving and I had a Friday off. The Christmas decorations and events were going on at Disneyland and so I thought I would spend the day and check out how Disney did Christmas that year.
This was about 10 years ago (so the early 90s). Since it was early December it was off season. Many smaller restaurants and facilities were closed. That was normal back then. I particularly remembered that food was limited and not very interesting. Big Thunder Ranch BBQ was closed and there werent many street vendors either. Several smaller attractions were closed. Christmas season had just started and things were still slow.
That Friday the park was scheduled to close early. It was not uncommon for Disneyland to close at 7pm or 8pm during the off season and that seemed normal at the time. So when the park closed that evening I headed down Main Street to the front turnstiles along with the hundreds of other guests.
As I got to the front gates I noticed that there sure were a lot of people lined up outside the turnstiles. I slowed a bit and looked a little closer. They werent just milling around, they were lined up. I had been going to Disneyland since the late 70s (ouch, dont mean to date myself) and Ive heard all about private parties and after hours events. This had all the signs of a special event that was going to start as soon as the regular folks left.
I made a quick about face and headed back to Main Street. Ok, I thought, there is some kind of event that is about to happen. How can I get in? Answer: Just stay in the park. Ok, how do I stay? Answer: Hide!
My mind is racing. How can I hide at Disneyland? I mean they have great security and those folks have been running this park a lot longer than all the other parks Ive worked at. Can I make it to the service road and pretend to be an employee? No, I would need a badge (and I dont think my Knotts badge will cut it). Hmm. How about hiding in the bushes? Oh please, lets not be juvenile. Lets see? What can I do?
Im walking around Town Square and the crowds are beginning to thin out. Ive only got a short time before the park guards are going to do the sweep and then theyll push me out. Im near Mr. Lincoln and I remember the small restroom on that side of the street. I quickly go inside to think a bit more.
Now that restroom is really small and the stalls are around the corner from the restroom door. I bury myself in the nearest stall. As Im sitting there I think, Hmm, this isnt too bad. No one ever comes in here. What if I just keep the stall door closed and not make a sound. Yea, thats the ticket! I actually pulled my feet up so that I couldnt be seen from under the walls. I thought that if someone did come in and said something, I could just pretend to be sick in case I needed an excuse. (Oh I was sick all right!)
A few guests came in to use the facilities. They came in and then left. Eventually folks stopped coming in. Silence. 5 minutes. 10 minutes. I wanted to peak out, but I though dont be an idiot, stay put. I waited, nervous and sweating.
Soon I heard the door open and I heard the sound of a wash bucket and mop. Ah, facilities is here. They did a very quick cleanup and left (they didnt even check the stalls).
Again I waited. No one came in; no sounds at all even from outside. The park must be closed. I just knew that Security would come in any second and I would be banned for life. No sounds. I waited.
After about 15 minutes someone came in to use the restroom. Oh! This was a guest! Then another. Then another. I heard sounds outside. The park must have reopened!
I waited another 5 minutes or so and decided to leave. I opened the door and left the restroom. Main Street was again hoping with activity and people. I headed up Main Street to the Castle. Everyone was dressed up in Christmas attire and there was a definite party atmosphere in the air. Ok, this could be fun.
I noticed that everyone was carrying some kind of colored brochure. It was probably the event schedule. I had to get one to see what was going on. Where could I get one? Folks were probably being given them as they walked in. Ah, they probably got one when they gave their event ticket at the turnstile. Maybe they will have extra programs at the turnstiles.
I turned around and headed back to the turnstiles. The whole time Im walking Im thinking, You idiot, you should not be going to the entrance, you need to bury yourself in the park and fit in. But I had to get a program.
As I approached the gates I again slowed to look around. Oh! There was someone handing out the flyers just after the folks entered. I slipped in line and got a flyer as if I just entered. Easy. Now lets get out of here and get back up Main Street.
I hadnt even looked at the flyer. I just kept speed walking toward the castle. I noticed lots of cart vendors. Hot chocolate, cotton candy, balloons and stuff all up Main Street. Special Christmas music was playing. This was a real party. But for who?
I got under a street light to read the flyer. I opened up the program.... and gasped out loud.
Welcome to the Disney Family Company Christmas Party!
I just about fainted. I had just crashed the Walt Disney Company Christmas party!
The park which was in cutback mode just an hour ago was now fully open. Every facility was open and had special party items. There were special shows and food everywhere. All attractions were operating and the lines were extremely short. Then I started noticing that quite a few folks had these black jackets on that said Walt Disney Imagineering on the back. Wow.
It was am amazing evening. I rode all the attractions all over again. I saw the Christmas Choir and the Carolers. I didnt have dinner before because most things were closed, but Big Thunder was now open serving an amazing Christmas dinner.
Disneyland stayed open until about 2am that night. I had such a great time. It was great that the park was open later. It was great that I could stay. It was great that it was the Disney folks themselves. But the best part was that for one short evening I got to pretend that I was a part of that company. Now THAT was Disney magic.
To this day, every time I pass that restroom in Town Square I give a little smile. I understand that a few years later Security began checking all the restrooms and queue lines after park close and especially before a special event. I doubt that it was because of me (because I never told anyone about this story). I think I just got away with it for one lucky evening.
Ever since that evening Ive wanted to be able to attend that party again, but the next time it would be as a Disney employee.
I'd say the thugs ranged from mid-teens to mid-20's. Plenty old enough to know better and old enough to act better than that. We did keep reminding ourselves that we had already been in and would soon be in more exciting places than they would ever see!
You got to meet Maynard! That's soo cool. I remember there being a interview with him in the old disney magazine. I think at that point he was working at HM.
So cool!
What a great story!!
You got to go to Club 33 and the Dream Suite???!! Woww...how special..
Be sure and buy the Photopass CD of the trip, On our ABD the guides took alot of great pictures in those restricted areas so we could have those memory refreshers...
You are right - they were old enough to know better. They knew exactly what they were doing! No excuse for that behavior at all. I hope that doesn't happen on next year's trip!
You got to meet Maynard! That's soo cool. I remember there being a interview with him in the old disney magazine. I think at that point he was working at HM.
So cool!
Yes, it was incredibly special!
Our guides told us on the first night we would all be getting a CD of the photos they took - mine hasn't arrived yet (anyone else get theirs?) but I can't wait! At the farewell dinner they gave us each a few they had printed out which I love!