Alpha & Busyness
Ten days ago, I dislocated my shoulder while working Magic Kingdom. I experienced the whole Alpha process, including (but not limited to) the Magical Express from Main Street, USA to Horizon West ER. Since that day, I’ve been on medical leave.
I’m now feeling much better and my muscles are on the road to recovery, but the purpose of this blog isn’t to give a health update— it’s to think for a minute about busyness. See, I’m the kind of person who wants to work my shifts, spend time with people, and keep busy throughout my day… but my medical leave (and lack of use of my right arm) has forced me to slow down.
Busyness is a problem for all of us— and it’s becoming increasingly problematic in our digital age. In fact, research tells us that most people are suffering from fatigue, lack of motivation, and reduced productivity due to the continual and steady “doing” that we’re all involved in. If we’re not working, we’re on our phones. If we’re not on our phones, we’re listening to a podcast or cooking or shopping or studying or… the list goes on and on.
Comedian Louis C.K. once pointed out on Conan that “underneath everything, that’s that thing— that ‘forever empty.’ This is why pretty much everybody is texting and driving. People are willing to risk taking a life and ruining their own because they don’t want to be alone for a second.”
In other words, there are thoughts and ideas and— sometimes— a deep sadness that comes to many of us when we simply put down all the devices and turn off the music and experience silence or solitude.
I’ve been forced into some of that lately with my medical leave. And while it’s not fun or exciting in any way, it’s something that I think as humans we deeply need— to face some of those suppressed thoughts, ideas, and even that “forever empty,” in order to wrestle with what it means to be truly human.
The goal, even though it’s undeniably hard (try to turn your phone off for 12 hours if you don’t believe me), is to come out on the other end a stronger person. My challenge to you is to practice silence, as much as possible, and see what you begin to experience.
If you need someone to talk to through the experience, feel free to call or text anytime.
234-759-9042
hope is the anthem,
Josh
The Image of Greatness
Tonight I witnessed a group of about 20 guests loudly and obnoxiously booing and drowning out a few CMs during Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom when the guests were asked to move from the back pathway connecting Main Street to Tomorrowland. Thank you so much for what you often have to endure from guests.
Stories say that on this very night almost 2,000 years ago, an ancient Rabbi named Jesus sat down to dinner with a group of his friends who had begun arguing about “who was the greatest” among them.
His response was a backwards, upside-down way of thinking about power and importance— he claimed that those who serve others actually claim the title of “greatest.” In becoming the lowest, you rise to the top.
As you serve our guests, may you realize that (in the words of The Rocket Summer) “greatness isn’t what you think, it’s not being up on that screen. It’s not convincing people you don’t fall apart, it’s just loving, and serving, and being who you are— who you are is perfect. You are made in the image of Greatness.”
May you come to see that the response to your service doesn’t define you. May you come to see that you matter, regardless of your reception.
And may you come to believe that you were made in an image of greatness.
hope is the anthem,
Josh
Each Wave
Slowly but surely, all of the CPs I first met when I arrived at Disney in June are disappearing— just about every single one of them now home (or heading home soon).
Almost immediately, new Cast Members appear to fill the slots. They’re excited to begin their adventure at Disney, and they’re undoubtedly just as great as the ones who came before them. It’s going to be fun getting to know new people, and I’m excited to make new friends… but it’s still important to accept the loss that’s happening in the here and now.
I resonate deeply with this line from author Lemony Snicket:
An ocean will always be there, but each wave will never happen again.
The parks will open tomorrow morning, like they always have. The ocean will always be there, but these specific people working together in this specific place will never, ever, happen again. This wave will never happen again.
And there’s something to be mourned about that.
I’m encouraged by what I’ve learned from these countless people. As I return to work, I’m challenged to carry with me the enthusiasm of Bradley, the joy of David, the kindness of Karisa, and the character of so many others.
Their kingdom influence lives on in me, and I’m forever inspired— to continue riding the waves in this ocean with peace, grace, hope, and love… to infinity and beyond.
Hope is the anthem,
Josh
Hometown Christmas
“Grandma’s singing those Christmas songs that no one has ever heard…
us cousins, we’d be playing until dinner was served…
the feeling that comes back to me is hard to put into words…
Now there’s miles between us; years between friends
but we’ll all be together again—
One thing on my wishlist; it’s a hometown Christmas”
Every single year since I can remember, I’ve spent Christmas with my Uncle Matt and my cousins. Somehow, Uncle Matt always seems to have a new outlandish story to tell us all about his recent adventures, and, unbelievably, they’re always true. We eat lots of food, play “The Present Game” (I know, very original name), and spend time into the late hours chatting and catching up.
Now I’m here, living at Walt Disney World. 2022 will mark the first Christmas Day I've spent away from my family in my entire life. I know that, for many of you (especially my CP friends), you’re facing the exact same thing. Thanksgiving was undoubtedly hard— but I’m guessing Christmas away from family will be even harder.
I have various levels of this missing “hometown Christmas” syndrome. On one level, there’s my Uncle Matt, my parents, and the others who will be celebrating without me this year. On a much deeper one, there’s my brother Nick who died when he was 15 of leukemia. Christmas has never quite been the same since, because there’s now a missing element to any gathering that (in this life) can never be recovered.
Sometimes I think back to my childhood, wishing I could return for a day to a Christmas long ago where everyone I love is present. And then I come back to the present— where I’m further away than ever before.
It’s true, most of us are going to be missing quite a bit this Christmas. But in the midst of all of those thoughts, I’m so thankful for what I’ve gained… a family of Cast Members. All of you— the amazing people who also call Walt Disney World home. From the CP who I can always count on to dance during Festival of Fantasy at MK to my friend at ESPN who makes every shift there worth working; from the Coordinator who is a little rough around the edges (and yet still lovable) to the joy that leaks from my ODV friend…
If I know you and work with you, I mean it when I say that I love you and I’m honored to spend this Christmas season with you. And even in the midst of what’s missing this year, what I’ve gained in all of you is an amazing place to find myself.
Hope is the anthem,
Josh
Magical Exhaustion
Note: This blog was written by an anonymous Cast Member who works at Magic Kingdom.
It’s 4 AM.
My alarm goes off. I’ve just had two days off in a row, and I wake up feeling excited and energized to tackle the new workday. I get up, shower, eat breakfast, put on my costume, and head to property.
As I drive under the Walt Disney World gate, I still get a feeling of excitement. It has always been a dream to be a Cast Member, and my job today is to make someone’s day at the Magic Kingdom just a little more special. It’s a job that is easy to do for some, and harder for others. To be honest, some seem to never be happy no matter what you try to do for them.
After hundreds of guests, my bump out comes, and I can go home to see my family.
4 AM again.
Today feels a little different— my feet are a bit sore; I’m not as energized… but I’m still ready to go “make magic.” Today is much like yesterday: some guests are happy, some are mad, and there’s nothing like seeing an unexpecting kid receive a Mickey bar.
I swear I just set my alarm, but it’s 4 AM.
Once again magic awaits, but I’m in the beginning stages of exhaustion. I tell myself that when I get home, I’m going to take some time for myself— stay awake a little bit before bed, watch some TV, read, and have some fun. But once I get home and sit down, guess what? I’m down for the count.
Look who it is! It’s my best friend, 4 AM.
Today I’m hitting that snooze button every possible time, and when I finally manage to make myself get up, I’m fighting myself all the way. When I finally arrive at work, I find the energy deep down to make the magic for guests even though I’m dragging inside. I continually remind myself why I’m there, that I can make a difference for each of the guests in their day and their vacation. When I finally get my bumpout, I drive home and stumble into bed.
4 AM comes again, and since it’s my Friday all I can think about is getting through my 13 hours so I can be off for the next two.
Those days off fly by, and before I know it, I’m back at it the next day. I do this day in and day out because I love what I do… being a part of something that’s bigger than me is incredible. When I encounter some of the guests that are having a hard day, I try to remind myself that while I’m paid to be there 5-6 times a week, they may only have a one week visit in their entire life.
In the middle of the magical exhaustion, remember your dream to work at Walt Disney World… and remember how lucky you really are.
When Will My Life Begin?
Do you find yourself in a consistent stream of restlessness?
I’m writing this one from my new office at the white table outside the Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square. To be clear, no one assigned this table to me— I’ve just officially decided that this is my office from here on out.
An hour ago, Rapunzel passed by my office on the Festival of Fantasy parade, singing her famous line: “When will my life begin?”
How many of you have been asking that same question for awhile now? Maybe life is going great for you, and you echo her words:
I have so many things I should be thankful for… yes, I have everything except I guess, a door... perhaps it’s better if I stay in… but I keep wondering and wondering and wondering… when will my life begin?
Do you find yourself in a consistent stream of restlessness? Maybe you dreamed your entire life of working for Disney… and now you’re here, and you still feel it. It’s that feeling when there’s nothing really wrong with your world, and yet you feel the draw to something more; something bigger.
I call this a divine restlessness, because I don’t believe it’s there by accident. Personally, I believe there’s someone greater than ourselves who wants to pull us into greater adventures— that there is a God who knows us completely and still loves us unconditionally.. and draws us toward the unknown adventure via that inward desire. The divine restlessness challenges us to “keep moving forward,” as Walt Disney famously said.
It’s when we leave the tower and begin following that restlessness into our dreams that our life starts to feel like it has truly begun.
Where do you find meaning and purpose? Do you find yourself feeling the restlessness to even greater adventures? Let me know!
Hope is the anthem,
Josh
Before Our Time
Four to seven months… with the option to extend for a year.
That’s how long my Disney College Program friends have during their time at Walt Disney World if they plan to head back to their lives afterwards. During the program, some tasks (like any job) can be monotonous, one day bleeds into another, and ERs (early releases) are gifts that are high commodities on certain days. Sometimes, those seven months can feel like forever.
But isn’t it funny how, at the end of it all, those seven months feel somewhat like a moment— and instead of an ER, we’re kind of wishing for maybe just one more hour with all of the amazing people we’ve gotten to know?
[time is a mockingbird; the embers of what we were
but the years are still burning in my veins, and my time is now
let us sing before our time runs out]
-Jon Foreman
Hope is the anthem,
Josh
Hello Hurricane
There will always be a certainty that Walt Disney World will be open and ready to welcome all who enter through the front gates. Except, that’s not true.
Sometimes, during a rare quiet moment while working outdoor vending at Magic Kingdom, I think about the machine that is Walt Disney World. I’m not talking about the mechanics of the attractions— I’m talking about the immense amount of labor and executed plans that must be completed each day in order for the parks to operate.
Today, someone spent hours cooking cinnamon pecans and almonds in the ODV garage. Several Cast Members put the handles onto popcorn buckets that will soon be sold next to the Castle. Another checked the inventory and made an order for more Coca-Cola so the park doesn’t run out.
The list goes on and on, with so many Cast Members needed to pull off the show that is Magic Kingdom. And regardless of if you term your DCP early or move far away from Florida: every single day of the week, 365 days a year, someone needs to make those pecans and someone needs to prepare popcorn buckets… because the endless stream of guests visiting Walt Disney World will never be complete. There will always be a certainty that Walt Disney World will be open and ready to welcome all who enter through the front gates.
Except, that’s not true.
As I write this, speculation is swirling about Hurricane Ian’s potential impact on the parks. Could they shut down due to the storm? It’s happened eight times before, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility. There was also a shutdown during the tragedy of September 11, 2001, when Cast Members joined hands across lands to guide guests safely towards Main Street and out of the Magic Kingdom. And most recently, some of you were present in the Magic Kingdom on March 26th 2020, the night before the parks shut down for the Covid pandemic (for almost 4 months straight).
Before those events took place, no one would have thought the “machine” was shutting down. We all assumed we’d still need popcorn buckets to be prepared for the next day, because we’ve always needed popcorn buckets. And yet, we’ve now had months at a time where not a single guest walked through the Magic Kingdom gates in a day.
The unthinkable happened.
Most of us are no strangers to the crashing waves of the unknown. Many of us have experienced planning our future, only to have it completely thrown out the window. The metaphorical hurricane came along, and it took a part of you with it. The uncertainty of events out of your control changed everything— and even though the world recovered, things have never been the same since.
A girlfriend or boyfriend cheated on you, but you were betting on marriage.
A family member passed away, and you thought you’d still have years with them.
The job you had seen yourself excelling in turned out to be a dead end.
Hurricanes are experienced far more often than late summer in central Florida, aren’t they?
They rip and tear to the depths of our very souls. But, strangely, that’s where hope comes in. Hope consistently tells us that while yes, there is a very real hurricane with a violent force, there's also a future on the horizon with all sorts of possibility and beauty shining brightly.
May you be honest about the hurricanes.
May you begin to heal from them, arriving at a place in your life where all things are being made new.
And may they never silence your love.
Hope is the anthem,
Josh
Hope is the Anthem
I suspect you’re a lot like me.
Yes, we are living out a dream of working at Disney. But we’re also real people— with fears, hurts, stresses, and a fair amount of exhaustion in the midst of often very difficult workdays.
It’s no secret that we’re called Cast Members, we wear costumes, and we come back from our breaks to on stage areas of the parks, resorts, water parks, and beyond. Everything from the detail of the buildings on Main Street USA to the sounds pumped into each land is carefully orchestrated and planned— it’s all a part of the show… including the world-renown smiles of our Cast.
I suspect you’re a lot like me.
Yes, we are living out a dream of working at Disney. But we’re also real people— with fears, hurts, stresses, and a fair amount of exhaustion in the midst of often very difficult workdays. The big difference between us and the people working at Walmart is that they’re not often expected to hide those seemingly negative traits. They’re not working cast inside a bigger show— but we are, just like those taking on a persona on a Broadway stage. Walt Disney World is the stage and we are, in effect, the actors.
This leads me to my point, because we’re already all aware of all of that:
No matter who you are,
no matter the pain you’ve been dealing with,
no matter what you’ve been told about yourself,
no matter the depression or anxiety you deal with,
you are loved,
there is hope,
and tomorrow truly can be great, big, and beautiful.
Everyone claims to know that, but many of you need to hear it today.
Maybe you’ve just lost a loved one, and you’re about to head out for a shift you couldn’t give away. Maybe you’re just exhausted and feel like the hamster wheel will never stop spinning. Maybe you’re financially drained and can't seem to get ahead. Or maybe you’re getting older, and you’re wondering if that fairy-tale “happily ever after” love story will ever happen to you.
There is hope.
You are loved, right in the middle of what you’re dealing with.
And tomorrow is just a day away.
Hope is the anthem,
Josh