On Being Plaid

October 20, 2011 in All Posts, disneyland, fun facts, guided tours, personal by Babes in Disneyland

Life is great when you have someone to share it with–a friend, a significant other, a colleague. The shared experience can be a powerful one. I’ve had so many amazing Disney shared experiences with my children, my husband and dear friends–both old and new.

My most powerful shared experience is that of being plaid: a Disneyland Tour Guide. I joined the Guest Relations department back in June of 1993. I knew during my “audition” at the Disneyland casting center months prior to that when I was initially offered a job in the parking lot that I wanted to hold out for a job as a tour guide and that’s just what I did.

With Cicely at the reunion. We all still worry about what
we will say and what we wear when she’s around.

The Disneyland Guest Relations department is steeped in a grand and rich history. The original Disneyland Tour Guides were modeled after Walt’s vision for what he wanted in his representatives to the park guests. Guides were poised, pretty and knowledgeable of everything Disneyland. Disney Legend, Cicely Rigdon, joined Guest Relations in 1959 and grew the department in Walt’s vision producing only the finest, most polished guides.

1990s guide present at the reunion.

The 1990s are said by many to mark the end of the glamour guide era. Back when I was a tour guide, becoming plaid required two, and sometimes three interviews. Many tour guides were fitted for their costume before they got the job to ensure they “fit the part.” If you weren’t between a size 0 and size 8 or 10, there was no costume to fit you. Back when I was a guide, our make-up was checked and we knelt down at our lead’s desk to ensure our skirt wasn’t too short. Back then, “gaining too much weight” could actually show up on your performance review and we were given “makeover” classes to ensure we were up-to-date with our cosmetics. Although Cicely was no longer with Guest Relations when we hired in, we knew who she was and carried the weight of tradition on our shoulders.

My friend Mike and I
always recount our
Barry Bonds tour. It was great
seeing him!

Several weeks ago I attended the Disneyland Tour Guide reunion. Held every three years near the Disneyland Resort, the reunion brings together all interested plaid alumni for the chance to reminisce and share our stories of old. We share our tour nightmares and cherished memories. We recount rainy days in City Hall and pranks played in the old phone room. We talk about old supervisors and parties and look at pictures when our waists were just slightly smaller than they are now.

The reunion brings together tour guide alumni from the 1950s through today. And whether the guide was a tour guide back when Walt still frequented Disneyland or when Disney California Adventure Park opened, many of the experiences are just the same. We all take pride in our heritage and that we have shared a very special, unique experience that not many others can claim.

Tour Guide memorabilia from the collection of
Dean Baladad.

I’ve gushed in the past about my pride in being a tour guide and how much I adore all of the women and men I worked with, but it bares repeating again. My five years at Disneyland were among some of the happiest, most amazing times in my life. I learned more about life and relationships and how to conduct myself professionally than any of my college classes ever taught. I learned how to create magic for guests and how to get along with coworkers. I learned how to earn a dollar and what it meant to shift change, ADO, and walk around Disneyland in heels for eight hours. I experienced a vest too tight, a skirt too itchy, and how to spot knee socks worn by Goofy while still at the costuming window. And the best part of it all is that I know all of the other plaid did too. Our shared experience is nothing short of amazing.

With my former lead, Erin.
She simply won’t age and
I don’t know her secret!

Guides hired by Cicely.

…just for old time’s sake…

With my friend Dean and his collection. Dean’s still a guide!

My friend, Annaliese, won a copy of my book in the raffle!

I am in love with this picture of Annaliese with Cicely.
It just shows how much we all still respect her and what she has to say.

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2 Comments

Comments

Lady Hill says

October 20, 2011 at 6:29 pm

What a great experience! It is my dream to one day share in the experience of being a Disney Cast Member. Thank you for helping to make someone’s day magical and for sharing your story!

~Lady Hill
http://ladyinwonderland.blogspot.com

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Mike Beeson says

February 19, 2016 at 9:21 pm

Great article. Met my future wife (Mylie Needle) while we were both Tour Guides in 1990. Sorry we missed the reunion. We both remember Mike.

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