Dr. Richard D. Waters is more than he seems. This mild-mannered (maybe...you would have to
ask his students) professor spends part of his holidays moonlighting as an
employee…excuse me, cast member at
the Wonderful World of Disney. To hear
Waters talk, his seasonal position working at Disney’s Tower of Terror is the
highlight of his year. Dr. Waters spent
some time speaking with our Disney Studies class last week, and shared several
of his insights into the Magic Kingdom.
When asked for an example of a Disney
decision that he disagreed with, Dr. Waters didn’t hesitate to throw Disney’s
MagicBand technology under the bus.
While many customers, err, guests enjoy
the convenience of the wearable wallet that is the MagicBand, others find its
tracking of their movements to be intrusive.
But after such a huge expenditure on development and marketing, guests
are certain to be gifted with the silicone babysitters for the foreseeable
future. You can go here to read about
some of the pros
and cons associated with the MagicBands, and see how they may affect your
next visit.
Personalized Disney MagicBands, www.magicmemoriesmayhem.com
Dr. Waters also provided our class a
view of Disney from the cast member perspective. With over 70 thousand cast members on board
in a season, Disney has made use of the internet and social media to keep
things running smoothly. Cast members
can use a private Facebook page to give away or pick up additional shifts in
the park. The Hub serves as Disney’s
intranet, not just for its theme parks, but for many other Disney owned
subsidiaries as well. The park's internal
newsletter, Eyes & Ears, keeps cast members up-to-date on news and events that are
important to the company.
1982 edition of Eyes & Ears, for sale on etsy.com
Another Disney phenomenon Dr. Waters discussed was the massive sub-culture of Disney fans and
fanatics. Where Disney once threatened
individuals who were outspoken about the company or who attempted to recreate
its characters in any manner, the company now embraces these individuals as
part of its participatory culture. Websites
abound, dedicated to Disney as a whole, or often to a particular theme, story,
character or attraction. One example is
the site doombuggies.com, where fans
of the Haunted Mansion ride go to share their excitement, terror and
fanaticism. Other fans have shown their Disney dedication by assembling fashion
ensembles that recreate characters from their favorite Disney stories.
Ariel-themed outfit, pinterest.com
Overall, our discussion with Dr.
Waters hit home the idea that the world of Disney stretches far beyond what
most casual fans would ever have imagined.
And whether you fancy yourself a mouse, mermaid or magician, you can
find a Disney community that will embrace you and all your geekiness with open
arms. What Disney story, character or attraction inspires you?
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