theme parks

What is it about Disneyland that for those who worked there, they form lifelong bonds?

Sleeping Beauty Castle on a clear spring day with the Matterhorn in the distance.

Is it from the pixie dust they throw on you at orientation when you start working as a Cast Member at the “Happiest Place on Earth?” Is it the camaraderie from working side by side with others, all of whom are smiling most of the time? Or is it Walt Disney’s spirit of optimism, still handed down to succeeding generations by Cast Members nearly 60 years after the park first opened in 1955?

Goofy has some fun with some younger guests at Disneyland near City Hall.

Those bonds were recognized by two key Disneyland Cast Members, Van Arsdale France (who founded the Disney University) and Disneyland Executive Dick Nunis. They saw the need to help Cast Members stay connected after they left the park. This led them to form the Disneyland Alumni Club in 1983.

The Club has both a mission and a motto. Its motto is: Always part of the magic! Its mission: To preserve, honor and perpetuate the values, traditions and outlook upon which Disneyland was created.

Keeping Disneyland clean is a member of the Custodial crew, also known as “jannies.”

As the Club gears up for its own celebration of Disneyland’s 60^th birthday next year, the Club’s Board of Directors felt it was time to make some changes, just like Walt Disney said Disneyland would change, the Club saw a need to change how it operates; to become more of a special organization to which all Cast Members can belong to and participate.

One of the things the Club wants to do is explore those special bonds between Cast members, and to take a look back at some of the fun things they remember from working at the park.

Disneyland cast member Jim guides a horse on Disneyland’s Horse Trolley line on Main Street U.S.A.

One example is how many of us found our life mates while working at the park and are still together with them. Yet another is how new succeeding generations of Cast Members are working at the park their parents worked.

A Disneyland cast member working on the Matterhorn Bobsleds, keeps a watchful eye on park guests exiting their bobsleds after a ride down the mountain.

To help collect those special memories, the club is going to create a forum to tell those stories and others like: How did they end up working at Disneyland? What different roles did everyone have in their careers there? Another is how that spirit led many to work together in charities, some formed by Cast Members themselves.

The board knows that many current and former Cast Members are also Disneyland fans, and frequently visit the park. But it should be noted that, unlike some Disneyland fan websites, this is not about bashing the park. It is meant to show the fun side of working there, and how it affected later careers in a positive way.

Alyssa, a cast member working on the Main Street U.S.A. Horse Trolley line, prepares to guide her horse down the street from the hub.

With that in mind, we invite all current and former Disneyland Cast Members to send us their fun, positive stories. Those stories can be sent via email to: info@disneylandalumni.org, or via snail mail to: Disneyland Alumni Club, P.O. Box 17280, Anaheim, CA 92817. You can also email the author, Mark Eades, at: markaeades@aol.com – please put “Disneyland Alumni Club” in the subject line if emailing the author.

There will be also be more information upcoming about the Club’s monthly meetings and events coming up, as well as details on the Club’s own celebration of Disneyland’s 60^th birthday, to be held on August 1, 2015 at the Disneyland Hotel. Look for weekly stories and more as things come in in the weeks and months to come.

Want to read articles about some other Disneyland Alumni? Click on the links below.

John Waite Loves Theme Parks

Caretaker of Walt Disney’s Family Film Legacy

A Real Disneyland Character

Important legal notice if emailing stories or photos:

This release and disclaimer applies to You if You submit stories, or agree to be interviewed for a story, to the Disneyland Alumni Club, Inc. (“Club”) or to Mark Eades for use on the club’s web site or elsewhere, such as Mark Eades’ web site.

In consideration of Your submitting stories, or being interviewed for a story, for use on the Club web site or elsewhere, You agree to release, covenant to indemnify and hold harmless; the Club or any persons authoring or publishing such stories from all liability of any kind whatsoever, and from any and all loss or damage or any claim or demand resulting from any activity of any kind by the Club or any persons authoring such stories for use on the Club web site or elsewhere, whether caused by negligence or otherwise.  You assume all liability in connection with Your submission of any stories, including stories created following an interview with You, upon submitting Your stories or participating in an interview.

The Club will make reasonable efforts to review the stories, including stories that result from an interview, with You prior to publication so that You may comment upon them or suggest changes.

You also agree that you have the right to any photos or articles submitted to the Club, and grant the Club and its representatives, including Mark Eades, an indefinite release to use them.