Former Disney Employees Share Fascinating Behind the Scenes Secrets
The Disney parks are known as the happiest places on Earth, but for the people who have to work in these amusement parks it doesn’t always feel that way.
They have to put up with a lot to put a smile on every visitor’s face and these secrets just might make you rethink how you feel about your upcoming vacation.
No One is Allowed Backstage
I worked a cash register in Tomorrowland. A guy had a heart attack and passed about 10 feet from me. I called it in as soon as I saw, but they already knew about it.
I went on break shortly afterward and saw the family, literally “behind the scenes,” crying their eyes out. That never happens. Guests are never allowed behind the scenes, except when somebody passes, I guess.
Really kind of heartbreaking. On a positive note, they all got lifetime passes.
Story credit: Reddit / coprolite_hobbyist
The Customer Comes First
Not an employee, but I have an interesting story about Disney. When I was 7, I went to Disney World. The third night we were there, I rolled out of my bed and cut my forehead on the nightstand.
My mom came over to comfort me, not knowing I was bleeding quite profusely. She turned the light on when I wouldn’t stop crying and she said it “looked like a murder had taken place.”
Paramedics were called, and the room was swarming with what I can only assume were Disney employees. After I was evaluated and patched up, I was taken to the gift shop around 2 AM with my mom and an employee. I got to choose 3 toys at no cost to my family.
It was pretty incredible to be in the completely abandoned gift shop and being told I could have anything.
When we returned back to the room 25 minutes later, all the blood was cleaned up, guard rails were put on my bed, and a large basket of candy and other sweets were left on a table. Disney doesn’t play around with customer service.
Story credit: Reddit /Firestorm1820
Stage Names
Everyone in the call centers is given a “stage name,” so no two agents have the same name to the guests.
Most, er, unique stage names I can remember: Cotton, Casper, Arizona, Lucinda…
When you’re in training they give you a selection of like 20 names to choose from, so you better hope you’re one of the first ones to pick so you can get a normal name and not get stuck with Cotton.
Story credit: Reddit /ImNotWell
Escape Plan
I think I’ve left a comment similar to this before, but I briefly trained for Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney World. At one point on the ride, you go over a bridge with crocodiles underneath.
As I was riding with no one in the truck other than my trainer, she felt free to tell me that if anyone were to stand up and fall into the crocodile pit, I was to drive away immediately so that others wouldn’t have to see the carnage or try to rescue the person.
The crocodiles are apparently fed from that bridge, and anything that drops from there is food to them, and they are surprisingly fast.
Story credit: Reddit /demipearl