So Many Disney Memories - Here's Just One

For those of you who have read one, or two or all three of the Disney books I co-wrote with my husband, R.J., I want to assure you that this particular memory does not appear in any of them. Having worked at Walt Disney World for almost 14 years, my brain holds lots of WDW stories, and that is what I will publish here, on occasion.

R.J and I receive requests often, to share moments in those early Magic Kingdom years. For those who have not read our books, and especially ones who are much younger than we are, I have to make you aware that the early years of WDW were truly like working with a family who all shared the pride of being part of Walt Disney's last dream.

My husband was the first to get hired; I got my first job as a monorail pilot when he was promoted to a management job - his dream come true: he was a Disney artist! He and three others were responsible for all the figures in the attractions, from Peter Pan to the Country Bears to the Hall of Presidents. They also oversaw other types of repair to murals, scenic pieces, etc.

I started as a monorail pilot because that was what R.J. did when he was first hired, and thanks to one of his supervisors in that area, I was hired to fill his former position.  I would have to be patient for almost 18 months until I auditioned for Entertainment.

But, I digress. (You can read lots more detail about "our beginnings" in our first book, "Together In The Dream".)  

A memory that stays in my mind always is the first time our children, Dawn -then 7 years old, and Sean, almost 4. - cane to the Magic Kingdom with R.J., to see me perform as Sleepy the Dwarf.  As I entered Town Square through a backstage door, I could see them, and waved. Now, they had been told, by me, that they should only call me Sleepy when they saw me, never call me Mommy or Mother; it would ruin the experience for other guests in the Park, especially really young children.

 They promised to remember but the minute Sean reached out to take my Dwarf hand, he said, "Hi Mommy!" in a really loud voice. I hugged him and whispered in his ear, "Remember what you're supposed to call me." I'll never forget the look on his face as he realized his mistake and said, "Sorry" in a quiet tone. But I looked at him through happy tears in my eyes. I just loved that he was so excited to share in what I was doing, and I never corrected him again, when he forgot to call me by my character name.,

Those of you who have similar stories about moments with your own kids definitely understand. I just loved the fact that my moment happened when I was creating magic in the Magic Kingdom, a job I loved then and love my memory moment of that day.