Thanks to the Cast Members who create the magic!Since today is Labor Day, I thought this would be a good opportunity to thank all of the hard working Cast Members who make our Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line experiences so special. Disney is all about making memories, and some of my best Disney memories are not because of the rides or the shows, they are because of the people who create the magic.
Some of my dearest friends are Cast Members. These people are not in it for the money, they do what they do because of a love of the brand and a love of helping to make memories. This past weekend, my daughter and I spent some time at one of the parks with a former College Program Cast Member. We grew close to him when he worked here, and seven years later we still get together with him whenever possible.
Everyone has had bad experiences with Cast Members from time to time. It happens. But I have had many more good experiences. One of my favorite things to do is to make small talk with a Cast Member for a few seconds. Some of these conversations I remember weeks later, others I forget fairly soon. They still can put a smile on my face.
Of course you do not need to be at Walt Disney World in order to have that type of magic. It costs us nothing to be nice to other people. Sincerely thank your barista, ask your grocery store cashier how her day is going, or offer a smile and “have a great day” to your waiter when you leave a restaurant. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to be nice to other people, and you might unknowingly make someone’s day.
So if you’re reading this and you’re a Cast Member, I sincerely thank you for all that you do. I realize that you work hard in sometimes crazy conditions, and that you often have to take flack for things that are not your fault. To everyone else, thank you as well. We all bring something to the table. Life isn’t easy, but it can be wonderful, and it’s the people in our lives who make that happen.