At Disney theme parks, strangers can become dear friends over the matter of a few days. In fact, you may even unknowingly bond with a Russian spy over your shared love of Minnie Mouse. The communal nature of the parks promotes a familial atmosphere, the famed Disney Bubble. And certain cast members became a part of people’s lives. Here are some Disney cast members with whom you may feel a personal connection.
Auntie Kai’i
When we talk about badasses, Auntie Kai’I merits mention. Sure, she seems sweet and innocent, a kindly old woman handing out leis at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Anyone familiar with her personal history, however, knows that she literally played on the rooftops as the Japanese bombed her island during Pearl Harbor.
As war raged in the Pacific Theater, the woman named Kauihealani stubbornly maintained her love of dancing. She trained as a hula dancer and became so skilled at her craft that Disney officials took notice. They intended to open Walt Disney World in 1971, and they knew that the Polynesian would become central to the perceived hospitality of the entire campus. Disney needed ambassadors to build its latest brand.
In Auntie Kai’i, Disney selected the perfect person for the job. Since she packed her belongings and moved to Orlando in 1971, she has functioned as the welcoming committee at the Polynesian. Auntie Kai’i sells her flowers in the lobby and places leis on the necks of arriving guests. To many of us, she embodies the welcoming environment of the Polynesian, and she will always be its rock star.
Richard Gerth
In June of 2018, Disney lost a legend. Greeter Richard Gerth peacefully passed away at the tender age of 92. It’s a loss that some theme park tourists will feel for the rest of our lives, and the stunning part is that we barely knew the man.
You see, Richard Gerth retired from his first career when he was in his mid-60s. At a time when most retirees contemplate a life of relaxation and new hobbies, this man discovered his true calling. He started working at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Gerth became the front door greeter at the luxurious resort. To many of us, he simultaneously became the face of the Grand Floridian.
No visit to the hotel ever felt complete until Gerth wished you a good day. As part of his duties, he also interacted with and assisted brides. By some estimates, more than 3,500 women had Gerth wish them good luck on their wedding days. He performed this duty for so long that he even got to aid the second generation of brides later in his career. These women’s parents had met Gerth early in his career, and they felt their wedding days would be incomplete without his presence as a sort of good luck charm.
Gerth was 65 years old when he started his retirement job at the Grand Floridian in 1991. He worked there for 27 years until his death…and was still trying to assist my wife and me with our luggage when he was in his 90s. The man fittingly received the ultimate cast member honor of Walt Disney Legacy Award in 2013, and he meant the world to everyone whose lives he touched simply by saying hello and holding a door for us.
Jim Omohundro
Did you learn a musical instrument as a child? How long have you been playing it? Did you eventually get bored and retire your instrument to the closet/attic? Odds are good that you’re not a professional musician or even a hobbyist who occasionally plays to this date. If you are, that’s incredible! But you’ll still be wowed by the story of Jim Omohundro.
In 1983, a 29-year-old piano player received an invite from The Walt Disney Company. They wanted him to play for them at one of their theme parks, Magic Kingdom. His start date was November 27th, and his end date is yet to be determined. Yes, fans of Casey’s Corner know the man well.
Image: DisneyHis name is Jim Omoundro, and he has serenaded guests with delightful, peppy renditions of many thematically appropriate songs such as (obviously) Take Me Out to the Ballgame. In 2013, the Disney Parks Blog celebrated 30 years of piano performances from the musician, and he’s still with the company today. Yes, that’s more than 35 years of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, which sounds like a Twilight Zone punishment to some people.
Somehow, Omoundro soldiers on. Here’s a recent 2019 performance. Yes, he’s been a part of your Magic Kingdom visits going all the way back to the pre-hair rock era. And you never even knew his name, just his barbershop quartet-styled outfit!
Yehaa Bob Jackson
Omoundro isn’t the only beloved musician at Walt Disney World. Yehaa Bob Jackson has been a staple at Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside for many years now. The River Roost Lounge here is home to the most novel of shows at Walt Disney World.
Performer Yehaa Bob Jackson demonstrates his unique brand of showmanship. Jackson’s show occurs twice an evening on Wednesdays through Saturdays, and it’s tough to describe. It’s a comedy routine, a music concert, and a group singalong. Oddly, even though it takes place at a lounge, it’s family-friendly, too. And its popularity speaks for itself.
Image: DisneyTheme park tourists love Yehaa Bob so much that his shows regularly sell out an hour in advance. Part of the explanation is that Jackson takes a particular interest in his crowds. He’ll learn their names and details about them, which he’ll recite later in the show…or sometimes years down the line. He personalizes the Disney experience in a rare and profound way. Some theme park tourists always stay at one of the Port Orleans resorts specifically to be close to the River Roost Lounge.
Joe Rohde
Image: DisneyTo the casual Disney fan, only one current Imagineer has true name recognition. As tragic as it sounds, the era of Marty Sklar, X Atencio, and Tony Baxter is gone. The overwhelming majority of Imagineers rarely get their names out there.
The exception is Joe Rohde. You know him as the guy with the giant earrings. Even if you don’t, you could easily pick him out of the crowd. Decades of wearing giant earrings have caused one of his earlobes to sag in a kind of grotesque way. Don’t let the visual distract you, though. You’re in the presence of one of the greatest Disney employees ever.
Rohde likes to say that he owes his career to a willingness to talk at group meetings. He wanted his opinions out there, and theme park tourists are in his debt for the behavior. Rohde’s had a hand in the construction of the Mexico Pavilion, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, and Pandora – The World of Avatar.
