No pressure, No diamonds

My next challenge. Beef Wellington →

I’ve spent a lot of time trying new recipes and cooking styles from Chef’s im enamored with. I think it’s time to try the beef wellington. Always looks so delicious, and seems fairly straight-forward.

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The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do, well.
Henry W. Longfellow

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The Disney “Cult”, and other ramblings

First things first, this post will not be about uncovering some satanic puppy bashing cult in the depths of the magic kingdom. The word cult is often associated with so many negative things, and as a society we instantly assuming horrible things when we hear the word. The word cult actually is defined as ” a system of religious worship”, “an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, as manifested by a body of admirers”, or “the object of devotion”.

Having said that, I feel the term “cult” can apply to the world of Disney. The company employs thousands of people worldwide. These people from what i’ve experienced are the most passionate workers I have ever encountered. I would even go so far as to say they are “involved” with their positions and their company. The incredible thing is that this culture is created by the company itself. To become a Disney cast member you must sell your soul, so to speak. You can shed a positive or negative light on that comment, to your own liking. Employees of Disney will literally live and breath the essence of the Disney empire. Each and every staff member must do their part to create the self-proclaimed “happiest place on earth”.

So what needs to happen for one to become a Disney Cast Member? The first step is realizing your inner passion. Disney has had arguably the greatest influence of any intangible being on millions of children worldwide, including myself. So for many, it is easy to realize your love for the company. This should be enough to earn you a an interview, the rest is up to you. So what happens once you’ve been hired? It’s then time to fit the Disney mold. In a world that praises individuality and uniqueness, Disney not only prefers the conservative and routine…. but insists on it. Your hair style must fit Disney regulations, your facial hair (if applicable) must meet the regulations, your hair color! must meet the regulations. Now that they have created a uniformed mold of a human being, the personality transformation can begin.

Personality: Will you ever see an angry, sad, stressed, annoyed, or grumpy Disney employee? Maybe. Be assured this is not common, expected, or tolerated. When you put on your uniform for the day, you must turn off 98% of your human emotions, and focus all of your energy on one, Happiness. The goal of a Disney cast member is to contribute to the ultimate goal of creating the most amazing and memorable experience for the guests. This could not possibly be accomplished by a sad un-energetic Mickey Mouse, or a ticked off server on a hot dog cart. The Disney employee must be happy, cheerful, and cool. Anything that may have happened to you of late is now completely irrelevant, you are require to put on a smile, and be the happiest most gracious person you can be. If you don’t believe you could handle the pressure, this position likely is not for you.

The Outcome: Some may ask, Why would I ever go through such an effort to mold my appearance and personality for a JOB? Because it is more than a job, it is a lifestyle. Those who thrive with Disney must buy in to the culture. Once you have done so, it is easy to get lost in the magic that ensues. A new world of happiness any opportunity awaits you. Disneyworld offers the opportunity to be a part of a select group of incredible people. Every person you encounter from this point forward has put in the effort to become the perfect cast member. Welcome to the Disney Cult. Thousands of followers will now work together in harmony too create the perfect world. At every shop there will be smiling worker, more than happy to assist you. On stage their will be talented over-joyed performers who aim solely to entertain you, and behind the scenes there are masterminds who plan to amaze you. The process may seem a little extreme, but the end result is undeniable. Walt has created a perfect world for its visitors, and it all starts with creating the perfect employee.

I will be braving this adventure in a little over two months. To succeed I, myself, will need to buy into the Disney culture to become the above-mentioned. To be honest, i am looking forward to the challenge. Disney has blessed me with a wonderful opportunity to become a part of the magic, and I will make the most of it. I have no idea what type of effect this experience will have on the rest of my life, but im willing to find out. Every great journey must begin somewhere, mine starts here.

Thanks for reading, everyone. Wish me luck (i may need it) and try not to laugh at me if you happen to visit the park as I will likely be happier than you have ever seen and if I havent completely lost my mind, I may even say hello.

Thats all for now,

Keep it real.

KK

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Wheels In Motion: Mission Disney

Welcome friends, Bienvenue mon ami.

Well, it’s official. I am well on my way towards becoming a Disney Cast Member. I can begin to count down the days til my departure now that I have successfully passed the criminal record check.

Now, that may seem routine, but for someone that has a criminal record…. it was a little nerve-wracking to say the least. After all, Disney strives to create a squeaky clean image, free of scum like me. Luckily I was not forced to wait long for my fate to be determined, within two days of submitting my history i was approved. My prior “criminal” history was deemed irrelevant to the position I was hired for. It makes sense to me, and besides, i’ve more than learned my lesson. The days of drunk driving are far behind me now. Interestingly enough I also received a certificate stating that I am not a registered sex offender, PHEW! women and children everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief.

Ok lets get back on track here…. WALT DISNEY! Still a little hard to believe that in two and a half months (give or take a few) I will be working for the business empire that shaped my childhood more than any other. Disney really is a mystery. I’ve done my homework on the company and the park, but there is still so much left to learn, and surely much more that cannot be fully seen or understood until witnessed first hand. Having said that, I have been to Walt Disney World, but all you get to see on vacation is the flawless/seamless product that is presented to the world. So much has to happen to present this image. I will do my best to learn and discover all of the Disney “secrets” while i’m there. I will do my best to report them, so long as I dont uncover something horrible that may get me “termed” (the word used for the firing of contract Disney employees).

So what’s the next step? Waiting… I sit and wait like an impatient cat waiting to be fed in the morning. In approximately a month or so my Q1 Visa should arrive in the mail. I’m past the point of no return, time to get planning. Our road trip down to Orlando should be a beauty, il post the details of the trip at a later date.

Anyone with questions or comments, please do not hesitate to ask. This will be an exciting adventure for me. I will be uploading a video blog with more details and so on about how I will be using this site. This piece will be one of many to come.

Keep it real.

KK