THE CAST MEMBER ’ S WORLD : Jungle Cruise Skippers are the lovable tellers of classic “ dad jokes ” like this one aboard the fan-favorite opening-day attraction .
The way they deliver the same jokes day in and day out with that perfect deadpan tone is always impressive . We fans know these jokes are coming , yet we laugh every time . ( OK , maybe it ’ s more of a groan for some of us who don ’ t have the palate for dad humor .)
Jungle Cruise is the perfect example of how a Disney Cast Member makes all the difference in the world .
If you simply read a printed copy of the Jungle Cruise script , you probably wouldn ’ t be that impressed . You might think you were reading the latest script of a Disney Channel show . You know , something loosely defined as comedy .
However , Jungle Cruise works , with its groan-inducing dad jokes and all . It is funny . And we have the Cast Members to thank for that .
OUR WORLD : In December of 2014 , we took our daughter , Heidi , on her second trip to Walt Disney World . We arrived on the 14th , the day after my birthday , so I got to wear a birthday button . So many free desserts !
But we didn ’ t go in 2014 just for my daughter , and it wasn ’ t even so I could get my birthday button . We went because our friend , Jen , was in the Disney College Program . She was going to be a Cast Member .
Jen was cast as a Fairy Godmother in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique . Naturally , we made Heidi an appointment . We worked out the details so that Jen would be the one to transform her into a Disney Princess ( as if my Heidi needed any help with that !).
When I first saw Jen in the Boutique , gone was the girl I had known , and in her place was a Fairy Godmother . What was this magic that had come upon me ? How was this possible ?
The Cast Member program can have that effect on people . Cast Members who participate in the College Program learn valuable lessons and truly transform during their time at Disney . What a magical feeling to see Jen blossom into not just the Fairy Godmother , but a responsible adult who was in her element .
If you ask me , Cast Members don ’ t find their way to Walt Disney World by accident . They find their way , like a shooting star arching above the castle , because they have a special talent for sprinkling pixie dust on all our lives . Because of them , we can fly .
BY BRIAN MCCUMSEY
The moment we ' ve all been waiting for ... It ' s the BACKSIDE OF WATER ! O2H , O2H , O2H . PHOTO BY CLIFF WANG