I lived in Orlando for about five years, and within that time I worked as a PhotoPass photographer at Walt Disney World, an attractions attendant at Universal Orlando Resort, and as an education camp Intern at SeaWorld Orlando. During my time at the theme parks, not only did I learn a lot about the companies and their procedures, but I also learned a lot about myself and life in general. You really can learn a lot when you work closely with people from around the world while they are on their dream vacation.
1. Don’t Let the Rain Get You Down
Image: Amy Kellogg, Flickr (license)
When picturing your perfect Orlando vacation, what do you imagine the weather being like? Probably clear, sunny, and warm, but not too hot. And while there are a few days like that, there is also a good chance that at least one of your vacation days is going to be gray and rainy, especially in the summer. In fact, despite being part of the Sunshine State, Orlando generally averages about 113 days where there was some kind of detectable amount of precipitation.
It’s a little ironic that I say a rainy day isn’t bad, because as a PhotoPass photographer I often wasn’t able to work at all since I couldn’t go outside with my camera (electronics and water don’t mix after all). However, rain doesn’t mean the day is wasted. It just means that the day will be a little different than what you expected. And sometimes different isn’t necessarily bad.
For example, many of the Disney character meet and greets need to change locations if it rains. Not only will the character’s costume get wet, but many guests don’t enjoy standing in a line while getting soaked. One day I was working with Pocahontas in Disney’s Animal Kingdom on a rainy day. She used to meet guests in an open area but because of the weather she had to be moved to a covered location. Because of this, guests either couldn’t find her or decided just not meet her. This meant that the few guests who did meet her got to spend a lot more time with her than they initially expected. At one point there was no line at all, so one little girl stayed for about ten minutes, asking Pocahontas any question she could think of. She also showed Pocahontas her completed Wilderness Explorer activity book, and they spent a lot of time discussing their favorite animals and where they dreamed of traveling to. The girl’s mother even mentioned that it was their favorite character interaction of the day, since they got to spend so much time together.
When I worked at SeaWorld I was a counselor in their summer camp program, meaning I spent every day walking around the park with the campers teaching them about animals. Rain often meant that our days had to be readjusted, but it doesn’t mean we sat around staring at the wall. These days often gave us the chance to explore some of the lesser visited areas of the park, such as the Jewels of the Sea aquarium, located in the Journey to Atlantis gift shop. On a normal day we usually didn’t have much time to spend at Journey to Atlantis, but because we spent an extra few moments waiting for the rain to clear the campers got to see animals that aren’t located in other areas around the park, like jellyfish and moray eels.
So is it sad when it rains and your favorite rollercoaster is closed? Yes, it is. But that doesn’t mean that the day is ruined because there are always ways to use your time, sometimes in ways that make the day even better. This is true even when you aren’t in the theme parks, because a scheduled day outside might be readjusted for a fun family board game day. Even if the day doesn’t go as planned because of the weather, it can still be just as fun and productive.
2. It’s So Easy to Make Someone’s Day a Little Brighter
Image: Disney
Disney World is known for its “magic,” aka the little things they do to make everyone happy. They will replace a fallen ice cream cone and will call each child a “prince” or “princess.” It’s a part of every cast member’s training to look out for magical moments and help facilitate them.
However, in the real world people seem to get a little too focused on themselves, or think that going out of their way to do something nice for someone else requires a great amount of time and energy. Well, in my experience making someone’s day better can be a lot easier and simpler than you think, but it can make such a difference.
One day when working at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I noticed a mother and son sitting on a bench on Sunset Boulevard. I saw that the little boy was crying and asked if everything was okay. They explained that the boy was a little too short to ride on the Tower of Terror and was upset that his older siblings went on without him. I had a bunch of Mickey Mouse stickers in my pocket and I gave him a few, telling him that since he didn’t get to go on the ride he could at least have some stickers. I got into a conversation with his mother and suggested that they visit the Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage show, as it was just beginning and was just behind them. They were unaware of it and were excited that they were able to do something fun while waiting. It didn’t take much time to talk to the family or to give them some stickers, but I know it made their day a little better especially since it had a rough start.
Disney parks aren’t the only ones who try to go above and beyond, as both Universal and SeaWorld encouraged their employees to go above and beyond. An example of this was when I worked at Universal Studios, as an attractions attendant at Shrek 4-D. At Universal, it was common to see people dressed up like their favorite characters, especially Harry Potter, the Marvel superheroes, and the Despicable Me minions. However, not many people walk around in Shrek attire. That’s why I was so excited when a family came through the line, all of them wearing a homemade Shrek t-shirt! I let my manager know how cool they looked, and he suggested we do something special for them. So when they exited the attraction, we found them and commented on their great shirts. We asked where they planned on heading next, and when they responded that they wanted to go on Disaster!, so I escorted them over and asked the team members to let them into the attraction first, which they did.
In both situations, I didn’t have to do much to make someone’s day better, and I learned that throughout life that it is still true. There are so many small things that you can do on an average day to help someone, like complementing a stranger on their appearance or holding the door open for people as they enter a building. Even this holiday season, if you have a few extra dollars you could buy a toy for a child who may not receive a gift this Christmas and place it in a collection box. Sometimes just giving someone a nice smile can positively affect them when they really need it. These all may seem like small things, but you would be surprised how much it means to them.
3. Stop and Smell the Roses
Image: Disney
This phrase is often associated with people who need to pause and enjoy the small things around them. This could also be taught to many theme park guests. Often, when making plans, guests only think about and plan their days around their favorite rides, shows, and restaurants. And while Orlando is known for its attractions and dining, there are so many other things for people to enjoy.
I notice that in the parks and online that there is a strong group of Disney over-planners. They like to plan every attraction and meal right down to the moment. And while this is certainly an efficient way of planning, it does leave very little room for people to really enjoy the small things that are also magical.
On a personal note, one of the best days I ever spent at Disney World was exploring the resorts with my dad as a teenager. We took a bus from the resort we were staying at (All-Star Music) over to the Ticket and Transportation Center. We then took a monorail to Disney’s Polynesian Resort (now Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort) and walked to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. We then took the monorail to Magic Kingdom, walked to Disney’s Contemporary Resort and took a boat to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. We had no real plan or agenda, we just had fun walking and enjoying the little things the resorts had to offer.
I have seen kids have a blast dancing around at a dance party or interacting with the street performers in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Off the beaten path in SeaWorld you may find a team member holding a small that you would miss if you weren’t paying attention. Walking around Epcot’s World Showcase you may notice the entertainers and street performers, plus the lovely cast members who are always willing to answer questions about their home county. The character interactions at Universal Studios can be a little hard to plan, and sometimes the best way to find them is to just walk through the park while keeping a sharp eye out.
If you are traveling with small children, you might be surprised by what they find exciting. I’ve seen kids have a blast standing in the splash zones by the Journey to Atlantis ride at SeaWorld and the Jurassic Park River Adventure in Islands of Adventure. I’ve also seen kids love playing with cast members who have bubbles and hula hoops. Most parks have some type of jungle gyms and play areas, and although they may be similar to a slide in a local park or playground, kids will refuse to leave.
Either way, while serious planning will help your theme park trip run smoothly, it’s also worth leaving some time open to experience the little, unplanned things. And this is true for your daily life. Sometimes it’s worth leaving time unplanned to stop and smell the roses. Maybe take the long, scenic drive instead of the fast highway, or sit down and people watch in the mall. You might be surprised by what you see.
4. Patience is Important
Image: Disney
The Orlando theme parks are an international tourist attraction, which means that guests come from all around the world, often speaking different languages and having different cultural mannerisms. This can often take a lot of patience to deal with. One of my jobs at Disney World was to work at the view stations in the parks where guests can view their PhotoPass pictures. While it seems easy, there is a lot of communication that needs to take place, especially when guests want to add a feature to their photos or ask about prices of photo packets. Unfortunately, I don’t speak Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Japanese, or any other language besides English. Still, my job was to assist the guests in any way possible. It may take twice the time, and there may have been a few frustrated people here and there (me included) but by taking things slowly, being patient, and listening we were always able to complete the task.
Sometimes, patience can be absolutely vital. Telling guests that a ride is down or a character isn’t making a scheduled appearance can be hard. You have to deal with frustrated parents, angry kids, and managers and coworkers who are running around trying their best to fix the situation. Although I would want to crawl into a ball in the corner and hide, the only thing that you can do is smile, speak calmly, and explain the situation. I learned quickly while working at the parks that sometimes people just have bad days, and although they may yell and make a scene, they are generally nice, understanding people. When talking to guests, just being patient and spending a few minutes to explain the situation and taking the time to listen to their problem makes them feel better.
From what I experienced, more people could use patience in their life. I’ve seen people yell at waiters or waitresses because their order came out wrong or get angry and frustrated at a cash register because a bar code wouldn’t scan or a coupon isn’t working. In almost every situation, just staying calm and being patient will help everyone out. Unless there is a life-or-death emergency, they is no need to hurry someone along, and yelling doesn’t help anyone. Take a breath, put yourself into someone else’s shoes, and deal with it. Usually if you are patient, the situation will resolve itself.
5. There is No Such Thing as Perfection
Image: Michael Gray, Flickr (license)
This is something I know I didn’t learn until I was an adult. And if you ever went on an Orlando vacation, you learned it very quickly also. Everyone has a perfect plan about how their vacation will go – there will be no airport delays or traffic problems, your hotel room will be perfect, all the Disney buses will run on time, and there will be little to no wait for each attraction.
However, this never happens. There is an issue at the airport or the Florida Turnpike is backed up for miles. Your hotel room is too close to the pool and you hear kids playing all night. You have to wait forty-five minutes for your bus to the Magic Kingdom, the monorail is down because of the weather, and although the My Disney Experience app said that Space Mountain only has a ten minute wait, by the time you get there it moved up to half an hour. Or worse, it’s down for maintenance. You may be late or miss your dinner or FastPass reservation and you may not get a great view of the parade because the only spot you could find was under a large tree and behind a garbage can. Someone in your group needs to visit the first aid center. And if you are traveling with kids, you can expect at least one meltdown.
Does that mean your trip is ruined? No, it just means that you are on a realistic vacation. There is no such thing as a perfect vacation, just like there is no such thing as a perfect essay or a perfect party. Everything and everyone has flaws, including your vacation. And that’s fine. It’s natural for something to go wrong here and there. In many cases, there is nothing you can do to fix the situation so just move on and enjoy the parts that are fantastic.
6. Don’t Judge People
Image: David Woo, Flickr (license)
I recently got into a conversation with someone about the use of Electric Conveyance Vehicles, also known as ECVs or electric scooters. The person was stating how they saw a lot of people riding them around the parks in them. They made the assumption that many of these people didn’t really need to use an ECV and were simply using it because they were lazy or didn’t feel like walking.
From my experience, this is the furthest thing from the truth. Personally, I had a family friend who had to use an ECV after getting into a bad car accident that seriously damaged one of his legs. Although you couldn’t tell from just looking at him, he had endured years of surgeries and although he could walk short distances, a long walk around Magic Kingdom and Epcot was out of the question. At any of the theme parks, I was told to never ask a guest why they needed to use a wheelchair or ECV, just to assist them in any way they needed. Just because someone doesn’t look “disabled” or “handicapped” doesn’t mean they don’t need assistance walking.
I have also heard people who question others using a Disney Disability Access Service card and their Universal and SeaWorld equivalent. Once again, not everyone looks like they have an obvious disability. I once went to the parks with a friend with a chronic illness that made waiting on long lines extremely uncomfortable, if not impossible. On the outside, she looked like a perfectly healthy twenty-something-year-old woman. But in reality, she had a serious medical issue and had a good reason for “skipping” the line.
People are quick to judge others based on everything from how they look to how they speak. Unfortunately, the judgments they make are often very wrong. When visiting the theme parks, you will certainly see people who look or dress differently. And there is nothing wrong with that. But it is hard for people to constantly deal with other people giving them questioning looks. If you see someone who looks different or who needs the assistance of a wheelchair or EVC, don’t judge them. You wouldn’t want people doing it to you. So whether you are on line at the Magic Kingdom or in the cashier line at your local grocery store, keep your thoughts (and your eyes) to yourself. When in doubt, remember to treat others the way you want to be treated.
7. Keep the Magic Alive
Image: Disney
I was once working with Winnie the Pooh when a group of adults asked if Pooh was “hot in there.” I responded that Pooh just wears a small red t-shirt and that he was fine. They rolled their eyes and asked again if Pooh gets hot wearing just a large costume. I always hated these moments, because not only was I not allowed to comment on the character’s costumes but because there were children standing in front and behind this group in line. Luckily, it didn’t seem that they heard our conversation, but I was upset that these adults could have potentially ruined the children’s experience.
For some children, these characters are 100% real. They don’t understand what it takes for these characters to come alive. To them, Disney World isn’t just a theme park full of rides; it’s the place where Mickey Mouse and Cinderella live. One day they will learn the truth, but until then let them believe in the magic of large talking mice and princesses in magical castles. They may also still believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. If you know a child who still believes in all of this, help them believe as long as possible. Once they stop believing, they may never believe again.
8. Value Your Vacation
Image: Disney
This is something that people tend to think about the least, although it may be the most important entry on this list. It is easy to go on vacation and stress about long lines, restaurant reservations, and the uncomfortable weather. But for many guests, an Orlando vacation is so special they don’t mind few lines and thunderstorms.
One thing every theme park employee sees on a daily basis is people who often express how happy they are to simply be in the parks. Some people save for years to just afford it and may only have enough money for one family trip in their lifetime. For some people, it’s a gift for a major life event, like a graduation or wedding.
One free souvenir that Disney hands out are buttons that say a variety of things like “1st Visit!” or “Happy Birthday.” There are also green buttons that simply say “I’m Celebrating!” During the time I worked at Disney I would often ask guests what they were celebrating. Some people say that they asked for a button because of a fairly ordinary but exciting event, like getting a new job or being happy that their favorite sport team one a big game. Others get one simply because they are celebrating being on vacation.
However, some of the best “celebrating” stories are the ones you can tell took a lot of hard times before the celebrating began. Once, my co-worker asked a little boy why he had a button. He looked at his parents, smiled and said, “I’m celebrating no more surgeries!” Another time, a large family was getting a picture together with Tigger when the mother looked at her three teenage children and said, “We are celebrating a triple adoption!”
Another great sight to see is when children with the Make-A-Wish Foundation visit. About 40 percent of a Make-A-Wish wishes are related to the Walt Disney Company, with a majority of those involving a trip to Walt Disney World. These children and their families stay at Give Kids the World Village and get tickets to visit Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld, and can also request additional tickets to Legoland, Gatorland, and Kennedy Space Center. All the children who are part of this organization are facing some sort of life-threatening illness, which means before their dream vacation they may have had to endure months, if not years of surgeries, medications, and hospital stays.
For some people, visiting Orlando is as simple as buying tickets and hopping on a plane. For others, it takes much, much more. If you get to visit Orlando regularly, be thankful. When you have a bad day in the park where everyone and everything is getting on your nerves, remember that some people aren’t as lucky to be on vacation. Value the time you are spending together with your friends and family and value that you can all spend time together, whether you are in the parks for a day or for a month. And even if you can’t make it on a vacation right now, value what you do have, including your friends and family. Remember that there are always people who have much less and are just as thankful.
