Disneyland President Paul Pressler meeting with me outside the lobby area.
It was held at the Disneyland Hotel, grand ballroom. You enter throughsix or eight people handing out roses to women, corsages to men. On bothsides are boards with pics of lots of retired CM’s while working atDisneyland. At the end of the aisle is Paul Pressler, who shakeseveryone’s hand and takes pictures. I asked him if this was hard work,and he said: Oh no, this is the best time of the year! Right after Paulis Mickey and Minnie, there for a photo (or hug) if you want.
Then, on to the lobby area. There are eight or ten bars set up, allhosted (ie, free booze all night). There are two large buffet areas setup with lots of appetizers on chafing dishes: quesadillas, shrimp, crabmeat, veggies. Additionally, there are lots of hosts/esses roaming aboutpeddling free appetizers. Over on one table are examples of the various awards people get: a plaque for ten years, castle statue for 15, rings for 20, jiminiycricket for 25, then other characters such as Tink, Mickey, etc. the45-year one is Walt holding Mickey in his lap.For now, the ballroom is closed, so peoplemill about and meet each other. Everyone knows 10 or 20 people there.Like a reunion - this part is great. Everyone’s dressed up (tie affair)and the host/esses are in tuxedoes. Classy.
Finally, after maybe 45 minutes, they open the ballroom. Everyone has anassigned table, to which we head. The honorees have their plaques (orstatues, depending on how long they’ve been there) sitting on theirtables waiting for them. On the table is also asouvenir guide to tonight, containing everyone’s name who is beinghonored and where they work. Also: a champagne flute with “1998 ServiceAwards” inscribed on it, for a toast to come, and we get to keep theseflutes. Nice. Also on the table for each honored CM was a freedisposable camera, with flash and 24 pics, specially created (labeled?)the 1998 service awards. Nice.
Eventually Paul calls us to order. He recites some inspirational stuffexplaining how we the CM’s make it all happen. Then he gives us thetoast to ourselves (well, not me anymore, but the other CM’s who arestill there). Then Judson Green comes up and reads a hilarious poem hewrote (including some cracks about how the Rocket Rods don’t work).Eventually, everyone gets called to one end of the ballroom for a grouppic with their division (ie, Attractions people celebrating 10 years,Foods people celebrating 15 years, etc). They do it by groups: the tenyear people all go at once. At each group, they show a video show,highlighting things like who was president in 1988 (or 1963, or whateverincrement of 5 years), what news was that year, what was new atDisneyland that year, how much gas cost, and how much DL admission cost(amazing how cheap basic admission was in 1963!)
As all this is going on, they served us dinner. Great salad,palate-cleansing lemon sorbet, great shrimp/chicken/sirloin combo dinnerwith potato. Then scrumptious rasberry cake/tort dessert. mmmm.
Mike Berry was there. Great guy.
Met John Cora, who was being honored for 35 years. Great guy.
Paul seemed to be having fun. He met with everyone who wanted, tookpics. Great guy.
The highlight of the evening came after all the photos. Judson sat downat the piano and out came Jodi Benson! She sang, to his accompanyment,three songs: Part of your World (beautiful, heart-rending to hear her doit live), some song called “Disneyland” that I’ve never heard before,and When you wish upon a Star. At the last, the swing band raised frombehind her on the stage, twinkly stars lit up the backdrop. Beautiful.Everyone started swing dancing - the band continued after Jodi left.Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella and their respective significantothers came out and led the dancing.
[Jodi was six months pregnant but looked maybe two months preggie. Ineed to marry her].
As people started to leave I discovered the other side of the ballroom,which had the Cinderella coach they use for weddings, set up as a picspot. We used it. When else will I be able to sit in there for free?
A joyous evening. It ranks right up there with the now-defunct LeadEvent for fun. Well, almost. The lead event was more about gambling anddrinking and winning prizes, so maybe that was more fun. But this wasmore classy, so it was every bit as worthwhile.
Disneyland President Paul Pressler meeting with me outside the lobby area.
Paul Pressler joins the 10-year veterans of Food Operations for a picture.
John Cora in an awkward moment, just before receiving his award.
President of Walt Disney Attractions Judson Greene plays the piano as Jodi Benson sings "Part of Your World"
Another view of Ariel and the voice of Ariel.
Food Operations Vice President Mike Berry - a swell guy.
"Sparky" Mark Taul got the most vocal reactions from his fans when he received his awards. Currently manager of French Market and Cafe Orleans.
Another view of Sparky Mark!
Food Operations Schedulers Haydn and Katie!
Disneyland Manager in Food Ops Doug and his wife!
Joseph and others revel in the tasty food!
Mary and her man are having real fun!
As I got more drunk, I got more crazy. Here I insisted on dancing with Cinderella. Notice Prince Charming waiting his turn in the background.
Val and I got to ride in the Hotel's Marriage Cinderella Coach (no, we didn't get married). But when am I ever gonna get this chance again?
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Introduction to NOS RestaurantsBlue Bayou
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Meet the Cast!
Some NOS Restaurants Recipes
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