Chat with the Chief Magic Official

[Justin M]

congratulations Justin! You are the envy of all of us here! It seems like such a wonderful "job"! I bet you are cherishing every moment of this. Thanks for sharing with us. I love seeing your pics and hope to see more of them in the future.

Thank you! It is an incredible opportunity - I hope I can make you all proud!

I'll keep posting pictures as often as I can. Hopefully soon I'll have a chance to share some more details about my most recent trip and I can share a few more photos!

 

[Marshay]

Hey Justin! Hey Guys!!

I will go back and catch up -- just got the link now as I was away for the long weekend in Hershey Park! Can't wait to read this all!

 

[robinc71]

Congrats Justin!!! I was voting everyday!!! And glad to see a Pittsburgher got it.

I live in the South Hills but work in Cranberry for that big cellphone company!! LOL! Hopefully, someday we can meet soon. A dream of mine is to get somekind of Dismeet started in the Burgh area.....there are so many fans here as well as Disney Vacation Club Members......the mouse has a large hold on Western Pennsylania.

Starting to plan the family's next trip for Jan 2009 at Beach Club Villas, can't wait to go back and see how Toy Story Mania turned out.

Anyway, congrats and remember to take one day at a time and take it all in. You are going to have a year of a lifetime!

I love this idea! Congrats Justin. Love Pittsburgh and Go Pens

 

[pl'smama]

Congrats Justin and thank you for sharing this incredible journey with us. I have to say finding the DIS was one of the best things I have ever experienced, but reading about the amazing people who make Disney magic is just wonderful. Your smile is infectious and your enthusiasm shines through the airwaves!

I just loved the photos you have shared so far, but the one of you when you were five made me vaklemp! That innocence from a hug from Mickey is what makes me a Disney fan for life.

I have checked out the dreamcmo site and will keep checking back. Keep the photos coming please. We love the photos! Have a wonderful adventure in the coming year!

Suz

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

And finally . . .just for the fun of it . . . here is proof that I've been a Disney fan (Mickey in particular!) for a very long time! This is me - with my two sisters - at Walt Disney World when I was five years old. Thanks for indulging me!

Yes, I'm the one gazing up adoringly at Mickey!

Priceless! (That photo is the type of candid snapshot that all parents dream they'll capture when they take their kids to Disney! Perfect!)

Thanks for posting all of the great photos, Justin! Please keep 'em coming!!

 

[astrodrummergirl]

Thanks for the advice! I just got a crash course in photo posting from a good friend and I think I can still use my facebook page!

Where in London do you live? I absolutely love that city. My wife and I honeymooned there back in 2005 and we really fell in love with everything about it!

It's good to see you got the photos working!

I live in West London, I'm about 10 minutes away from Heathrow Airport actually to put me near a landmark. I do agree, it is a beautiful city, when I can actually go into central london.

 

[jennytablina]

Hey Justin! Another Brit here to chime in with the congrats and all

Actually nice to see a winner getting in touch with the fandom and stuff. I'm sure everyone appeciates you sharing the pixie dust a little. It looks like the finals were a lot of fun too!

 

[Kimberly815]

Hi Justin! I just found this thread and am loving it! Congratulations on your new job! I am so excited that a Diser won and we get to hear all about your travels and adventures!

 

[TLC371]

Congratulations Justin! I'm loving reading this thread and now seeing the pictures! The right person definitely got the job!

 

[Mickey_Man]

Great to meet you as well! Where do you live? I'm from the Cranberry area - about 15 or 20 miles north of the city - and I work in the North Hills.

I see you are headed on a trip soon - - -when do you leave and what are you planning on doing?

One of my good friends and co-worker is from Cranberry Township! Must be the same place! Anyway, just wanted to chime in with another congrats on winning and know that you have a lot of support here from your fellow DISers! Where is the best place to find you in the parks? Are you all over when you are at WDW or do you focus most of your time in the Magic Kingdom? I'd love to hear what your schedule looks like!

 

[Justin M]

Hey Justin! Hey Guys!!

I will go back and catch up -- just got the link now as I was away for the long weekend in Hershey Park! Can't wait to read this all!

Hey Marshay! Thanks for stopping in! Welcome home!

 

[Justin M]

I love this idea! Congrats Justin. Love Pittsburgh and Go Pens

Thanks! (and here's hoping the Pens do a little better tonight!)

Congrats Justin and thank you for sharing this incredible journey with us. I have to say finding the DIS was one of the best things I have ever experienced, but reading about the amazing people who make Disney magic is just wonderful. Your smile is infectious and your enthusiasm shines through the airwaves!

I just loved the photos you have shared so far, but the one of you when you were five made me vaklemp! That innocence from a hug from Mickey is what makes me a Disney fan for life.

I have checked out the dreamcmo site and will keep checking back. Keep the photos coming please. We love the photos! Have a wonderful adventure in the coming year!

Suz

Suz, thank you SO much for your kind words! I'm glad you can tell that I'm excited by reading this and seeing the photos! You're right about the Mickey picture . . . with childhood memories like that, how could I not be a Disney fan for life??

Thank you so much for checking out the Dream CMO site as well. I promise, your patience will be rewarded! Once I get into a 'routine' I'll make sure I send them enough updates to keep you all interested!

Priceless! (That photo is the type of candid snapshot that all parents dream they'll capture when they take their kids to Disney! Perfect!)

Thanks for posting all of the great photos, Justin! Please keep 'em coming!!

Thanks DISgeeks! I'll post as many as I can! (I actually don't have very many from my trip a couple of weeks ago. I can't carry a camera with me, so I'm at the mercy of some of the people are with me to take photos and send them to me. They do a wonderful job! I just don't stand still long enough to get in too many pictures!)

And you're right, the picture with Mickey is definitely one of my Mom and Dad's favorites!

 

[TimothyTheLurker]

Enjoying the updates and pictures. It great when an investment continues to pay off! Thanks for taking the time to keep us informed. You know we are all jealous. Enjoy every trip, this year will fly by too quickly!

 

[Justin M]

It's good to see you got the photos working!

I live in West London, I'm about 10 minutes away from Heathrow Airport actually to put me near a landmark. I do agree, it is a beautiful city, when I can actually go into central london.

Thanks . . .it took me a while, but if I can learn how to post photos, anyone can do it!

Hey Justin! Another Brit here to chime in with the congrats and all

Actually nice to see a winner getting in touch with the fandom and stuff. I'm sure everyone appeciates you sharing the pixie dust a little. It looks like the finals were a lot of fun too!

I love the support of the British contigent! Thanks for checking in. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed visiting England every chance I've had.

I'll keep checking in here as often as I can. I love the DIS boards and I have developed some great friendships here. Many of the folks on these threads cast A LOT of votes my way during the contest!

 

[Justin M]

Hi Justin! I just found this thread and am loving it! Congratulations on your new job! I am so excited that a Diser won and we get to hear all about your travels and adventures!

Thanks Kimberly! I'm happy that I'm a part of this wonderful online community too!

Congratulations Justin! I'm loving reading this thread and now seeing the pictures! The right person definitely got the job!

Thank you so much!

One of my good friends and co-worker is from Cranberry Township! Must be the same place! Anyway, just wanted to chime in with another congrats on winning and know that you have a lot of support here from your fellow DISers! Where is the best place to find you in the parks? Are you all over when you are at WDW or do you focus most of your time in the Magic Kingdom? I'd love to hear what your schedule looks like!

I love hearing about these 'small world' kind of moments! Yep, Cranberry Township is likely the same place! Thanks for your congratulations!

The position is part-time. I will make a total of 8 trips this year as the CMO and 5 of them will be to Walt Disney World. The schedule is different with each trip, as I'll have a different role to play depending on what special events and functions are going on at the time. This past trip I spent time in Disney's Hollywood Studios for the Toy Story Mania press event and had some time with a wonderful member of their dream squad; I spend several hours in Epcot with members of their Dream Squad (again, outstanding guys!); I was in Disney's Animal Kingdom for about half a day making magical moments there with another lovely and inspirational Dream Squad member (can you tell I really like the people I get to work with?!); AND I was in the Magic Kingdom for some more incredible Dream Squad time as well as an experience with a high school marching band from Texas who was there for the Magic Music Days program. So, yeah, I was all over the place!

Once I get some of the updates done for the Dream CMO website, I promise I'll give you a much more proper trip report!

 

[Justin M]

Enjoying the updates and pictures. It great when an investment continues to pay off! Thanks for taking the time to keep us informed. You know we are all jealous. Enjoy every trip, this year will fly by too quickly!

Thanks Timothy! Things are already going by too quickly, but I'll make sure I take time to soak it all in (and then take time to share it all with everyone here!)


For those of you who are new to our thread, make sure you check out the designation under Timothy's screen name. He truly was a self-professed "super-delegate" during the CMO voting phases! I just love the humor in that!

 

[Mrs.Charming]

Congrats on winning this awesome opportunity!!! We are anther PA family here but we are on the Philly side. We are big DIS and Disney fans and are excited to share the magic with our son for the first time in November!

Actually, on that subject, if you could use some of your power to get the IT guys to post the November hours that would be awesome

 

[tothesea]

And finally . . .just for the fun of it . . . here is proof that I've been a Disney fan (Mickey in particular!) for a very long time! This is me - with my two sisters - at Walt Disney World when I was five years old. Thanks for indulging me!

Yes, I'm the one gazing up adoringly at Mickey!

Aww Justin, how sweet is this!!! Your journey may have begun back then, and held some special times through the years, but it looks like your amazing adventure is truly now just beginning in SO many ways!!!

I am so thrilled for you! It's so great to have this thread too--way to go! So many friendly people! That morning of the announcement, I remember everybody gathering around their computers and phones to watch and wait! What a special and exciting moment of a lifetime to hear your name being announced! Congratulations again, it's so amazing to know you are getting to live a dream, and letting all of us be a part of it!

 

[Justin M]

I have to run, but before I go I'll post a couple more pictures. I know I posted one earlier from my time in the Magic Kingdom with the marching band from Texas. Here are two more shots from the parade that day. I can't express how impressed I was by these students from Alba-Golden High School - - - they were wonderful!

 

[aquaticmom]

Hi Justin,
I was soooo thrilled to find out you had won. I loved your application video. I live just north of you in Grove City. I was just in Cranberry on Monday on my way to Mellon Arena to cheer on our Penguins. GO PENS!! Anyhow, congratulations on your win. We will be in the World three times in the next few months, maybe we will be lucky enough to see you there spreading your magic.