Chat with the Chief Magic Official

[tothesea]

You really WERE a part of it all! I actually have a picture from that competition as the wallpaper on my computer right now (I think it was from LaughingPlace.com). I'm jumping in the air, you can see the kids in the street, and I can see you holding the sign you made on the opposite side of Main Street. SO . . . I smile at you everyday whether you know it or not!

These are from before and during the "Loudest Crowd" competition on Main Street!

Hey Cat, Justin is right!!! And I see you! I see you!!! Right there on Main Street!

And very cool Justin, getting caught up in the air like that! Looks like you really have been "flying" at times!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Don't worry, you're not alone! That is one of the most frequently asked questions. As I post more on the Dream CMO website the details of the position will become a lot clearer.

No, I did not have to take a year off of work. Over the 12-month period I will make 8 trips to either Disneyland or Walt Disney World. I will have the opportunity to work with Dream Squad and help them create some of the incredible magical moments (but they provide most of the 'stuff!'). Throughout the year, however, I may have the chance to be a part of brainstorming and creating some of the dreams. I will also represent the Disney Parks and the Year of a Million Dreams at special events, press functions, and openings of new attractions. I still live near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Hi Justin!

A BIG Congrats to you!!!! I followed the CMO contest and I was rooting for you, although I thought all 3 of the finalists were awesome!

Thanks for posting over here on the DIS, I spend the majority of my online Disney time here, so it's great you are taking the time to fill us in here. I seriously can't imagine anything better than working with the Dream Team! I've only seen them in the parks a couple times, but I always think..."Now that is a dream job!" ... to me, I think a great Dream Team "prize" would be to join them in giving out a dream!

I'm curious about the Year of a Million Dreams...will it continue? I thought it was scheduled to end in October of this year? We'll be at WDW again October 19th-26th and I was hoping the Dream Team would be around, but I wasn't sure.

Lisa in Ohio (but who loves travelling to Pittsburgh for Ikea shopping! )

 

[Jennifer48]

Congrats on your win Justin! Thank you for taking the time to post some of your pictures. Enjoy your job as CMO!

 

[Justin M]

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

Have a wonderful trip with your son in November! What are your plans? I'm not sure my powers exted to website updates and IT departments, though. Sorry!

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!

Thanks tothesea! (or Tooth!) I'm just thrilled that you guys all want to be a part of this! Some of the stories I've heard of people gathering that morning to watch the announcment live still give me goosebumps!

 

[Justin M]

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.

I went to college in Grove City! I love these 'small world' moments. How 'bout them Pens? I knew they weren't done yet!

I do hope to see you in the parks! Please don't be a stranger!

 

[cherbear]

that picture of you as a child is so adorable! You have the same smile as you did before (well, with bigger teeth now, thankfully! )

 

[Justin M]

Hi Justin!

A BIG Congrats to you!!!! I followed the CMO contest and I was rooting for you, although I thought all 3 of the finalists were awesome!

Thanks for posting over here on the DIS, I spend the majority of my online Disney time here, so it's great you are taking the time to fill us in here. I seriously can't imagine anything better than working with the Dream Team! I've only seen them in the parks a couple times, but I always think..."Now that is a dream job!" ... to me, I think a great Dream Team "prize" would be to join them in giving out a dream!

I'm curious about the Year of a Million Dreams...will it continue? I thought it was scheduled to end in October of this year? We'll be at WDW again October 19th-26th and I was hoping the Dream Team would be around, but I wasn't sure.

Lisa in Ohio (but who loves travelling to Pittsburgh for Ikea shopping! )

Thanks for the post, Lisa! I always enjoy a little Ikea shopping as well! The Dream Squad members are truly wonderful people who do have amazing jobs. They work very hard, log a lot of miles on their feet, care deeply about what they are doing, and smile the whole time. Each and everyone one of the members that I had a chance to talk with repeatedly said that they get more than they give, though. And they give a lot! They just really feed off of the energy, smiles, personality, and fun that the guests bring to the park every day. SO, if you want to look at it this way, YOU can all be "dream squads" for the Dream Squad! You're presence in the park on any given day just might make their dreams come true!

Like all great things in life, someday "The Year of a Million Dreams" will end . . . but not before the next great idea and amazing event is planned an implemented! I'm not sure of the dates, but regardless of whether the Dream Squad is in the parks during your trip, I can assure you you will meet some Cast Members who go out of their way to make your vacation magical!

 

[Justin M]

Congrats on your win Justin! Thank you for taking the time to post some of your pictures. Enjoy your job as CMO!

Thanks Jennifer!

that picture of you as a child is so adorable! You have the same smile as you did before (well, with bigger teeth now, thankfully! )

Ha ha! So, you're saying my teeth are big??

Just kidding! I'm glad you enjoyed that one! Since the childhood photo was such a hit, I might have to post a few more from that trip on here!

 

[Justin M]

I have a busy afternoon and evening ahead of me, but I'm hoping I'll have a bit more free time tomorrow! SO, be looking for a few more detailed updates (and pictures!) coming soon!

Before I check out for the day, I'll leave you with one more childhood photo. This is from the same trip as the Mickey picture. I was 5 years old. In case you can't tell, this is me and my sisters on the wall by the flowers just outside of the train station at the Magic Kingdom. To this day, I love the spot!

Chat with you again soon!

 

[MelanieC]

Congrat's on winning - That would be the greatest coolest thing to win (up there with winning the stay in Cinderella's Suite -even better than that).

 

[Disneygal4life]

Congrats! This must truly be a dream job for you. I love that spot in front of the train station too. It's a family tradition to always get a picture out front. Also, it's good luck if the train pulls in as you walk up, which it always seems to do for us.

Are you able to keep working at your other job or do you take the year off to be a CMO?

 

[cherbear]

Thanks Jennifer!

Ha ha! So, you're saying my teeth are big??

Just kidding! I'm glad you enjoyed that one! Since the childhood photo was such a hit, I might have to post a few more from that trip on here!

Yes! (kidding of course) But they are non-existent in your cat-o-tar so maybe they were just too big for her to draw.

(Cat, if you're reading this, I'm not picking on you...I LOVE your Cat-o-tars!)

I have a busy afternoon and evening ahead of me, but I'm hoping I'll have a bit more free time tomorrow! SO, be looking for a few more detailed updates (and pictures!) coming soon!

Before I check out for the day, I'll leave you with one more childhood photo. This is from the same trip as the Mickey picture. I was 5 years old. In case you can't tell, this is me and my sisters on the wall by the flowers just outside of the train station at the Magic Kingdom. To this day, I love the spot!

Chat with you again soon!

another good pic. Your younger sister (to the left) and you are making the the very same face!

 

[catotigger]

Yes! (kidding of course) But they are non-existent in your cat-o-tar so maybe they were just too big for her to draw.

(Cat, if you're reading this, I'm not picking on you...I LOVE your Cat-o-tars!)

If you take a few minutes to really look at all the cat-o-tars...you'll see NOBODY has any teeth!

Actually, you'll notice there are many things I don't draw...like....ummm...lips...necks...bodies...

 

[cherbear]

If you take a few minutes to really look at all the cat-o-tars...you'll see NOBODY has any teeth!

Actually, you'll notice there are many things I don't draw...like....ummm...lips...necks...bodies...

I know...I just like teasing people (just pretend he is the only one without teeth....oh wait...he's probably reading this seeing as how this is his thread )

 

[labdogs42]

Cool! Nice to meet you! I loved your application video!

 

[Justin M]

Congrats! This must truly be a dream job for you. I love that spot in front of the train station too. It's a family tradition to always get a picture out front. Also, it's good luck if the train pulls in as you walk up, which it always seems to do for us.

Are you able to keep working at your other job or do you take the year off to be a CMO?

Thanks for checking in! You know, I can't recall if the train has ever pulled in as I've walked by. I'll have to pay more attention next time!

I do get to keep my current 'real' job. They've been wonderful about things and I'm working to find the right balance in my life at the moment!

another good pic. Your younger sister (to the left) and you are making the the very same face!

Ha ha . . you noticed, huh? Yeah, my older sister in the middle has always been the really well behaved one of the bunch (can you tell?) . . . I tend to be the typical middle child (and only boy) and I sometimes think I may have set an example for my younger sister (notice, I didn't say a 'bad' example, just an example!)

 

[Justin M]

Cool! Nice to meet you! I loved your application video!

Thank you! It's wonderful to meet you as well. Thanks for the compliments! Please keep checking back for more updates!

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

I followed your journey and voted! I love your picture with your sisters. Have fun at the best job in the world!

 

[GoofyKidd]

Congratulations!! I was thrilled to see someone local win-I'm from Canonsburg-about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh. I know that you're aware of how lucky you are to have earned such a magical position-I could only hope to be so lucky!! For now I'm just counting down the days to our upcoming trip to WDW. Good luck with everything and have fun!!

LET'S GO PENS!!!!!!!!! Maybe you can sprinkle some fairy dust over the arena!!

 

[ireland_nicole]

Justin;
Nicole (the former music major from TX) here: To answer your question, I have unfortunately not been in college for a loooonnnggg time. I have two fantastic kids with special needs and I am enjoying being home with them, and I lead worsip at my church in Austin. Looking forward to hearing more from you over the course of the year- and if we're really blessed, maybe we'll see you during our trip in Sept.