Originally Posted By MouseketeerCole OMG! First post lol, but I had to tell some Disney fans! I'm STILL buzzing! I was at the park today with a Meet-up group I had just met, and as we were coming off Peter Pan's Flight, I saw a group of smart looking Disney people walk past. I saw they had their Disney badges on, but turned backwards, so they couldn't be read. I didn't know who they were, but I said to the group "Omg! They're Disney executives!" One had a Cars coat on. Later, the six of us walked over the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-through. Two went inside, two walked over to the exit to wait for them, and one went to the bathroom. So I kinda milled around the entrance, when a crowd of the executives gathered in a circle at the entrance. I was kind of "Wow. Wow!" thinking cool, Disney managers, but then I turned and saw one of them. He looked familiar. Grey hair. Mustache. OMG IT'S TONY BAXTER. So I look at the group -- these are TOP executives, and right across from me is JOHN LASSETER. They were in a group circle, and, gosh, I don't mean to be rude, but OMG! I kinda pushed myself in a bit towards the two Disney GENIUSES and said; "Excuse me but um bah bahh bah.." I ACTUALLY COULDN'T SPEAK I WAS SO IN SHOCK. John, noticing my vision flicking between the two, holds his hand towards Tony and says; "This is Tony Baxter." I said; "I KNOW!! And you're JOHN LASSETER!" I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I asked them to sign my Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland (THANK GOD I HAD IT IN MY BAG!) which they did. I shook both their hands. Told John that Cars Land looked way cool, and told Tony that I want to be an Imagineer today, and he gave me some AMAZING advice, especially saying that I'm from the UK. I parted with "Someday, I hope I'll work for you guys!" They went inside the walkthrough, and I rushed to my now gathered group, practically screaming and jumping up and down. I explained and they were like WOW! So we waited at the exit of course lol! They wanted to meet them too. Eventually, Tony came running out and down towards the wishing well. I was kind of too bashful to bother him again, so I just said; "Thanks Tony!" and he said no problem with a smile. My group were like; "Why didn't you get a picture!!" but I didn't want to bother him again! They convinced me though, and as he came back, next to the wishing well, I asked if I could have a picture, and he said they were coming back that way, I could get a picture with both of them then. So we waited, I kind of slunked back into the alley because I didn't want to be a bother (my group were right at the door lol!) but when they came out (my group told me this..) the Disney security wanted to move them over the drawbridge, but Tony said "No, wait. I told the UK kid to wait over there, and said we'd have a picture with him." HOW NICE IS THAT. My group heard him and SHOUTED for me to run over. Overjoyed that they'd take a picture with me, I ran as fast as I could, and got the picture beneath the castle. Right were Walt once stood. I'm totally buzzing right now. They were the nicest guys, and I'm so appreciative they put up with the star struck Disney fanboy kid from the UK. I'll upload the photo as soon as I can. I'm SOOOOO HAPPY =D
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "Someday, I hope I'll work for you guys!" Better learn to keep your mouth shut if you want to work at WDI. Understand that for all the achievements at WDI, there is still a lot of politics and dirty dealings at the Walt Disney Company in general. I know you are buzzing over the thought of being an Imagineer, but besides learning a skill to bring to WDI, you have to learn that it's a very corporate environment and not the happy organization they make it out to be.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Wow - We (mollysmom and I) got our picture with Tony Baxter in Dec. They were trying to rush him for a promo spot they were filming in front of the castle... He stopped and said no he could stop for a picture! Wow Spokker - Just rain on their parade!
Originally Posted By MouseketeerCole I've heard about the politics, and everything, but that this guy gave me some really good, genuine advice and that he was willing to move his whole group to me even though I was a fanboy and he could shrug me off, definately says to me that he is a good guy. Just as you should always judge people from your own interactions with them and not from hearsay, John and Tony came across as amazing, helpful, friendly people.
Originally Posted By avromark Now if you could only have gotten John to be your Jungle Cruise Skipper...
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 What a wonderful experience! I'm so happy for you and can't wait to see the photo!
Originally Posted By MouseketeerCole ^_^ I'll upload the photo as soon as someone in my group sends it to me lol! Even I haven't seen it yet! (I bet my hair looks dodgy lol). Avromark - I called in at City Hall and apparently John Lasseter had judged a 'best Jungle Cruise skipper' competition earlier that trip, seen as he used to be a skipper! How nervewracking must it be to do THAT tour! lol
Originally Posted By WestWind That is a real wow - and what a great post, you got me excited and feeling like I was there ... ... I wish I was.
Originally Posted By avromark ^^^ They have videos of contestants of that competition up on Youtube. Now the thing is that these exec's have "good things" said about them in general. Other executives at other companies (and some in Disney) are known to be uh, how can I put it lightly "have everything shoved up their darkside" Even if it's a facade they at least take the time to make token gestures that they "care" about their consumer. Now Captain James T Kirk...
Originally Posted By DyGDisney Spokker, don't be a buzz-kill. That is super exciting and if it's what you want to do, I say go for it. Pixar is not WDI and it is a great company for which to work with an awesome atmosphere, so if you want to work with John Lasseter you can try to get on with Pixar.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney My dd11 wants to be a chef. We ran into a woman who my husband used to work with in the kitchen area of a dept. store. My dd was all excited about the kitchen gadgets, but when the woman found out she wanted to be a chef, she went on and on about what a horrible job it is and how if you want to have a life and a family it's not a good job. How you always have to be working and how you have to move so much, etc. After we left, I told my daughter she could be a chef if she wanted and that she could make of it what SHE would want to make of it. Don't let anything anyone says discourage you from achieving your dream!!!!
Originally Posted By MouseketeerCole The thing is... just about ALL companies are gonna have politics going on within them... I wouldn't expect anything different. But if I can design theme parks while putting up with the politics, then sign me up!! As I said, the guys were really friendly, beyond what they needed to be, and my meeting of them only reinforced my desire to work there. It's a dream I've had since I was twelve. If it hasn't faded over a decade, a forum isn't gonna dint it!
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "Just as you should always judge people from your own interactions with them and not from hearsay, John and Tony came across as amazing, helpful, friendly people." There's no hearsay here. Disney is a tough company to work for. That's pretty common knowledge.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney John Lasseter works at Pixar. They have a dept. which helps design new rides too. Every company has politics, every company has problems. No job is a walk in the park, but if you are doing something you love, that's all that matters. If it was all fun, they wouldn't call it work!!
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains DyG - My son is graduating this year and he wants to be a chef too. He is starting local and when he gets his braces off he will be applying to the wdw internship program.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "No job is a walk in the park, but if you are doing something you love, that's all that matters." Bruce Gordon was doing what he loved, but he was fired inexplicably. What, was he too damn passionate for them?
Originally Posted By DyGDisney What's the wdw internship? Can you believe that woman would go on like that to my dd, who is only 11 and will probably change her mind anyway. But even if she doesn't, why be so negative. I'm all for it if it's what makes her happy.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney No idea who Bruce Gordon is. But to say "Better learn to keep your mouth shut if you want to work at WDI" to this young guy, who came here just to share this with us (I think it's super cool by the way and I wish it was me!!) was just being negative on your part. I know people who work at Pixar and they LOVE it there.
