Chat with the Chief Magic Official

[Shmily1]

Congratulations, Justin!!! I know you will enjoy your new "job". It is truly a "dream" job. Just be sure to enjoy every minute of because it will make for great tales to tell your great-grandchildren one day!!! You'll be the coolest grandpa of them all!!!

 

[sherabby]

THANKS! And you're a Penguins fan to boot - - -that's awesome! Hopefully Game 2 will go a little better than Game 1!

Nice to meet you as well, Azure! Please keeping checking in for more info!

Penguins fan here too Justin! Nice to meet you! I'm about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh.
I'm taking my son back to Disney for his second trip in mid July. He is so excited again! He has multiple food allergies and last year was our first vacation and Disney treated him like a king. We really cannot wait to get back again!

 

[Baloo]

Congratulations Justin!!!

I was popping into the thread a few months ago...voted a few times...then life got crazy.

I was on Deb Willis' site last night and saw your picture in one of the blogs that you were working the sneak peek at Toy Story Mania...I didn't realize the contest was over already!


Anyway congratulations and have a great time! Thanks for sharing your exprience with us!

 

[dounelisg]

Congrats on the awesome job Justin! I will be following your journey, and will hope to see you in Disney! I don't think it could have happened to a nicer person. You seem like such a sweet person, it only goes to show you that good things do happen to good people. May your life continue to touch others and keep spreading that magical pixie dust. Your enthusiasm seems to be very contagious!!

 

[I believe]

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!

This is such a great picture- so cute! Congratulations Justin! You're a great CMO! I hope you have the best year ever!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Hello, Justin! Congratulations!! How wonderful to have such a fun opportunity! And how fun for us to have you posting here on the DIS! I followed the contest (somewhat) on MousePlanet, so it is really cool to have you posting and sharing your experiences with us!
I'm looking forward to reading your posts during your time as CMO. We'll be at WDW for 16 nights in August so we need lots of interesting posts to help us pass the time until the trip!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Congratulations, Justin!!! I know you will enjoy your new "job". It is truly a "dream" job. Just be sure to enjoy every minute of because it will make for great tales to tell your great-grandchildren one day!!! You'll be the coolest grandpa of them all!!!

HA! So true!! (He'll be the hippest Grandpa on the block!! )

******​

Hey, dounelisg:

'Love the photo in your siggy of Minnie interacting with your little guy (page 11, post #164). (I rate it up there with the super-cute photo of Justin gazing at Mickey when he was five years old...) So sweet!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

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!

Hey, Justin: I'm totally digging the "vintage" photos of you and your family!

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

I was thinking the exact same thing! (Well, based on the photos we've seen, I'm thinking it's pretty safe to assume that Justin has been a joyful, happy-go-lucky person his whole life... What a character!)

 

[Marshay]

Hey, Justin! You asked for questions and here they are. How about talking about the preparations for your trips.

Maybe you can share with us how Disney contacts you...who (not by name of course but by department) are you interacting with?

How far in advance do they schedule your trips (i.e., what's after June)

Do you have a choice in dates at all?

Can you "suggest" accommodations?

Are you allowed to bring family or friends along on the trips or do they prefer you do not?

Can you stay longer (on your own dime?) if you want?

Do they give you a dress code?

Are you "always on" or do they give you free time to explore the parks on your own?

How is everything planned (i.e., where do you eat? what attractions will you go on, if any? Which parks get the dreams?, etc)

Ok, I have tons more but will let you answer these first! I'm just so about this for you.

Many CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Hey, Justin! You asked for questions and here they are. How about talking about the preparations for your trips.

Maybe you can share with us how Disney contacts you...who (not by name of course but by department) are you interacting with?

How far in advance do they schedule your trips (i.e., what's after June)

Do you have a choice in dates at all?

Can you "suggest" accommodations?

Are you allowed to bring family or friends along on the trips or do they prefer you do not?

Can you stay longer (on your own dime?) if you want?

Do they give you a dress code?

Are you "always on" or do they give you free time to explore the parks on your own?

Howe is everything planned (i.e., where do you eat? what attractions will you go on, if any? Which parks get the dreams?, etc)

Ok, I have tons more but will let you answer these first! I'm just so about this for you.

Many CONGRATULATIONS!!!

'Love the questions, Marshay! (Can't wait to read Justin's responses! )

 

[cherbear]

Hey, Justin! You asked for questions and here they are. How about talking about the preparations for your trips.

Maybe you can share with us how Disney contacts you...who (not by name of course but by department) are you interacting with?

How far in advance do they schedule your trips (i.e., what's after June)

Do you have a choice in dates at all?

Can you "suggest" accommodations?

Are you allowed to bring family or friends along on the trips or do they prefer you do not?

Can you stay longer (on your own dime?) if you want?

Do they give you a dress code?

Are you "always on" or do they give you free time to explore the parks on your own?

How is everything planned (i.e., where do you eat? what attractions will you go on, if any? Which parks get the dreams?, etc)

Ok, I have tons more but will let you answer these first! I'm just so about this for you.

Many CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Marshay, you are GOOD. I LOVE those questions, and I am really really looking forward to reading Justin's response!

Going along with those questions, I have one small one I'd like to add:

• For each trip there, how many days will they need you for? (does it vary per trip?)

thanks!!!

 

[Corryn]

Congratulations, Justin
I've just come across this thread - it's amazing how many pages can fill up in just a few short days
Like our fellow DIS'ers, I share in your happiness, we are living through you and cannot await to hear all your stories
Keep us updated!!!!

 

[Justin M]

Hey guys! Sorry for the silence this weekend. I've had a lot going on at work and I'll be here the vast majority of today as well. I promise to get back on ASAP to answer those great questions and post some more information!

Thanks for hanging in there with me! Talk to you soon.

 

[hygienejean]

Looking forward to reading the answers to these questions.... How fun!

 

[disneytraveler]

Hi Justin,
Those childhood photos of you meeting Mickey are priceless
Yesterday i was spreading some magical moments for a 3 year old girl at her birthday party. The children had a great time.
I hope i get a chance to meet you someday.
Steve

 

[Justin M]

Hi Justin,
Those childhood photos of you meeting Mickey are priceless
Yesterday i was spreading some magical moments for a 3 year old girl at her birthday party. The children had a great time.
I hope i get a chance to meet you someday.
Steve

Thanks for spreading the magic! I'm sure the kids had a marvelous time and I too hope we have the chance to meet someday!

 

[Justin M]

Looking forward to reading the answers to these questions.... How fun!

I'm looking forward to reading them as well . . . . just kidding. I'll get started on them right away!

 

[Justin M]

Congratulations, Justin
I've just come across this thread - it's amazing how many pages can fill up in just a few short days
Like our fellow DIS'ers, I share in your happiness, we are living through you and cannot await to hear all your stories
Keep us updated!!!!

Thanks for checking in, Corryn! I'll keep the updates, stories, and photos coming as often as I can!

Thanks for joining us on this thread and for taking an interest in my adventures!

 

[Justin M]

Hey, Justin! You asked for questions and here they are. How about talking about the preparations for your trips.

Maybe you can share with us how Disney contacts you...who (not by name of course but by department) are you interacting with?

How far in advance do they schedule your trips (i.e., what's after June)

Do you have a choice in dates at all?

Can you "suggest" accommodations?

Are you allowed to bring family or friends along on the trips or do they prefer you do not?

Can you stay longer (on your own dime?) if you want?

Do they give you a dress code?

Are you "always on" or do they give you free time to explore the parks on your own?

How is everything planned (i.e., where do you eat? what attractions will you go on, if any? Which parks get the dreams?, etc)

Ok, I have tons more but will let you answer these first! I'm just so about this for you.

Many CONGRATULATIONS!!!

THANK YOU! I really do appreciate the questions. I will answer them one at a time and in no particular order! Hopefully the answers will spur even more questions or at least some good hearted conversation!

Please keep in mind as I answer these, that I've only taken one official visit. Circumstances may change with each trip, but I'll give you as much information as I can based on what I've experienced at this point.

 

[Justin M]

Do you have a choice in dates at all?

Sort of. The fulfillment of the "prize" stated that there would be four required trips with the total number of trips possibly reaching as many as 8. The four "required" trips included the first trip in May to Walt Disney World for the Toy Story Mania event, this June trip to Disneyland Resort (coming up in just about 2 weeks!), a January trip to Chicago for a CareerBuilder.com function, and an April trip to Walt Disney World for my final visit.

After that, the Disney team that I work with had several other possible trips and events planned and I was able to choose up to four more that I was interested in. Specifically, though, each trip is still somewhat up in the air. (current possibilities include a trip to Walt Disney World in August, September, and February, and another trip to Disneyland in December. Subject to change, though!)

They are all tied to some sort of unique event or promotion, so details on my involvement can't be determined until a bunch of other things fall into place. Because the trips all revolve around other significant events, the dates aren't really up to me. No worries, though! Everything they have planned is incredible and I'm certainly not in a position to be picky!