By BRODIE H. BROCKIE
BECOMING PART OF A TRADITION
My second day at Disneyland began bright and early and I knew I had a very full schedule. The honorary Jungle Cruise Skippers assembled in the lobby at 7:30 that morning and were led to a shuttle waiting to take us to the backstage costuming facility.
The Dream Job winners were on a staggered schedule that morning, the Haunted Mansion butlers and maid had been the first to meet, at 5:30 a.m., so that they could take a special walking tour of the attraction with all its lights on before the park opened to the public. We skippers were lucky enough to be the last to have to get up.
Costuming was followed by hair and makeup. Normal Jungle Cruise skippers don't actually wear any makeup, but they wanted to at least powder all of us so we wouldn't shine on camera. My makeup artist wanted to put a little gel in my hair too, which couldn't have been more unnecessary since I would be wearing a fedora for the rest of the day.
We got to see the pirates in the process of costuming, and they looked fantastic. They were given a basic set of shirt and pants and then allowed to select the rest of their costume pieces themselves - hats, scarves, jackets, vests, jewelry - from an assortment of costumes that had been used in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End. All were appropriately grimy. In starkest contrast were the princesses in bright pink, blue, and purple dresses with sparkles and silver ornamentation. Each looked neat and clean and wore long wigs and a garland of flowers around their heads.
The saddest moment of the trip came for me as we finished in costuming and makeup. Our costumes had all been waiting for us in a row with our names written above where they were hanging. As we prepared to leave the costuming area, I saw a solitary pink dress still hanging on the rack. One of the princesses, Katy Morrello, had a daughter who had fallen ill and been taken to the emergency room. While Katy and her family would eventually still enjoy their free trip to Disneyland and meet us all later, she would miss training and rehearsal and the actual Dream Job experience. Walt Disney once said of his stories, "for every laugh there should be a tear." In our story, the tears were for Katy, Princess-in-waiting, waiting still.
Next on our itinerary was Traditions, a class that all Disney cast members must take at the start of their employment. Normally Traditions takes up an entire day, but we were given an extremely abbreviated one-hour highlights version.
We even had some V.I.P.s as our Traditions trainers, Lowell one of the four Disney World ambassadors, and Garnett one of the two Disneyland ambassadors. The ambassador position is a one-year term in which a cast member serves as the parkšs official host. Ambassadors go through a lengthy and competitive selection process before being chosen. They explained to us the Disney mission statement: "We create happiness by providing the finest in entertainment to people of all ages, everywhere." and explained the four keys to Disney service (in this order): safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency. Lowell told a touching story of how, back when his job was folding T-shirts in Adventureland, he was able to reunite a lost toddler with his mother as an example of how at Disney, certain things are everyone's job.
Next was lunch. After being handed smocks to protect our costumes, we were given box lunches in the cast member diner, The Eat Ticket (a pun on E-tickets, code for the best attractions). The cafeteria was decorated with several old Disneyland props and signs: a large foam Maleficent dragon that no one could remember precisely what it was from, a statue of Timothy Mouse holding a whip from the Dumbo ride (since replaced by a statue of Timothy holding the magic feather), an ostrich/bicycle from an old parade, and lots more. As I often would be throughout the weekend, I was frustrated at not being allowed to have my camera in backstage areas.
After lunch, we were guided back into the park and all 24 of us were arranged in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle for a photo op. As our pictures were taken, a crowd began to gather to look at us and wonder who we were. After the first round of photos, we had a few minutes to wait until a special guest joined us for a few more.
Several people in the crowd were interested in meeting the princesses in waiting (endearingly, little girls seemed just as in awe of princesses Kimberly, JorDan, Eliza, and Heather as they would be of Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, and Aurora). The pirates got a lot of attention. Even the parade performers, in their High School Musical outfits, got some interest. No one seemed to much notice The Haunted Mansion butlers and maid or we Jungle Cruise skippers. The fun part for me was noticing the kids who were being too timid or polite but clearly wanted to meet someone and helping them meet whoever they wanted to or taking pictures for families. "OK, everbody, say 'arrrrr!'" I had taken to heart the lessons from Traditions.
Finally, a few more pictures with our surprise guest, who no one was surprised to learn was Mickey Mouse. Mickey was visiting us pretty often this weekend.
It was time to split up again, the skippers finally made our way into Adventureland and to the location of our Dream Job, the world famous Jungle Cruise.
PART FIVE: A DRY RUN ON THE RIVER
Inside the costuming building, we were filmed receiving our official Jungle Cruise Skipper costumes. I was excited to get mine on and look like a daring wildlife adventurer. Unfortunately, my daring adventurous pants were falling off when I put them on. Another pair of pants and a new belt later, though, and I was ready for action. I waited a moment to put on the last, best piece the hat - to savor the moment.
In costuming, about to receive my skipper gear.
As we waited to go in to class, we were told that we would have special ushers who would take us to our seats, one for each group. On cue, Goofy popped out of the nearest door in full pirate gear, Daisy Duck came out brandishing pom poms to lead the parade performers, Pluto emerged looking dapper in a tuxedo to join the Haunted Mansion group, Minnie Mouse in her princess outfit from The Brave Little Tailor curtseyed to her group of princesses, and even as a 34 year-old man I feel no shame in admitting I was glad to see we skippers would be led in by my favorite Disney character, Donald Duck, dressed in a safari outfit.
Skippers Donald and Brodie.
Finally, another special guest arrived - Mickey Mouse! We were each called to the stage and Mickey presented each of us with our honorary cast member name badges. Normal Disney cast member badges are a simple oval shape, but ours were in the distinctive shape of Mickey's head and ears. We took a group photo onstage with the ambassadors and character ushers.
My honorary cast member badge.
The Dream Job winners in front of the Baby Castle for Babies.
