Chat with the Chief Magic Official

[Justin M]

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!

Thank you so much! The votes and the support are both incredible. We'll have to put our heads together and see if we can rally enough support for a local meet . . you are certainly right about there being quite a large contingent of Disney fans in our area!

(p.s. I'm sure you'll LOVE Toy Story Mania!)

Another PA Dis-er here - way up north in Erie, PA - known for our beach. Every year hundreds of people from Pittsburgh enjoy our beach while less than 100 locals make it out there

Anyhow, congrats! I really hadn't followed the CMO thing, but so happy for you!!

My question - are you going to be able to go to the international Disney parks - Tokyo, Hong Kong and Paris???

Thanks for checking in! As for your questions . . . as of now my CMO responsibilities are all related to either Disneyland or Walt Disney World (with one CareerBuilder.com trip to Chicago mixed in). I will get to the international parks someday, though!

congrats justin--what an honor!! I live just east of pgh but I grew up in butler. I'm so jealous--have an awesome time with all your responsibilities as cmo!!! and how could I forget LETS GO PENS!!!

Thank you so much! Another tough game by the Pens tonight, though.

Great thread!

I'm so happy that you are the CMO Justin!

You are a blessing to all who meet you...online or at the parks!

Thanks Tink Fatale! I really appreciate your kind words. Please keep in touch!

Congrats to you Justin... I can't wait to hear/read about your adventures-That will give me Disney fill until we get back there next June.

I feel that everyone here is a bit of a Magic Official- I'm know as the Disney expert at my school- We even celebrated Walt's birthday in my classroom

Congrats again Justin-keep us up-to-date with all your goings on.

Now this I couldn't possibly agree with more. We are ALL Disney Magic Officials in our own way. Anytime you go above and beyond to brighten someones day you are spreading some of the magic. And THAT is what is going to make our world a better place to live!

Thanks for being part of the team!

 

[Justin M]

I knew you'd catch on to that!!!

Yup, that's what gave me the idea.

That brings me to ask an important question and see if you know...
that commercial said the Idol attraction will open in early 2009, but stuff I had been reading prior to seeing that commercial, all led me to believe it would be opening sometime THIS year. Do you know if they're just shooting WAY far ahead so that they don't have another SE replay (don't have to push the date back) ?
I hope my question made sense!

BTW thanks for the facebook add!

Thanks for joining me on facebook! As for the American Idol attraction . . . I don't know anything about the construction schedule and such. If the most recent information (especially in the form of that commercial!) you've seen says early 2009, I'd go with that!

Hi Justin. Just wanted to say Congrats and nice to meet ya! I loved watching your application video and the competitions. You guys were too funny. I am looking forward to hearing about your adventures.

I'm glad you enjoyed the videos! Thanks for saying hello!

Hello Justin! Congrats on CMO. I can't wait to hear about your adventures!!

Thanks Rora! Congrats on your Disney engagement in 2007! I'm sure you have wonderful memories from that as well!

 

[Justin M]

Hi Justin,
We were one of the families that got to go on Toy Story with you! We loved meeting you, taking the quiz (my kids will always know the names of the seven dwarfs!) and then being blessed with that amazing opportunity. It was our first visit to the parks and we just felt so special. We loved the ride, of course, but we also loved how friendly and welcoming you were. It was great that you even remembered us the next day at AK.

You will have such a sweet impact on so many families this year...we are so thankful that we were part of it!!

Thanks again!

WOW!!! I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that you found me here! I was afraid I wouldn't have a chance to get in touch with you. You and your children were without a doubt the highlight of my first official CMO trip and I can't applaud you enough for what you do. Your boys could not have been more polite, respectful, or sincere, and your daughter's smile is STILL brightening my day! Thank you so much for your kind words and please keep in touch!

 

[Justin M]

I just KNEW that would be your answer - it was so obvious you enjoyed interacting with the folks!

MY favorite was the Loudest Crowd, since I got to participate in that one! I can remember standing in the middle of Main Street, asking people to please stop, stay, and cheer for my friend Justin! It was amazing - I really felt a part of it all!

And of course, the part where I got to yell, scream, and cheer for you was super, too!

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!

 

[Justin M]

Congratulations Justin!!!!! I am so happy for you & your family. What an incredible opportunity for you as well as for us. Thanks for keeping all of us informed. I have already added your site to my favorites list! I will definately keep up with what is going on!

Go Steelers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for keeping up with this adventure! It's a lot more fun to have everyone come along for the ride!

We will be there Sept 4-9th (POP) for a short "adult only" anniversary trip....it is our 18th anniversary (sept 8th) and our best friends will be with us celebrating their 16th anniversary (sept 5th)...our first visit "kid free", as couples and my family's first "free dining" experience...we are all very excited and hoping for some cool magical moments! 2 more days until we get to do the "double-digit-dance"

I'm sure you will have a WONDERFUL time! I think I might just miss you on that trip, but I'm not certain about my September dates yet! We'll see!

Congratulations Justin!

It didn't surprise me when a fellow DISer was named CMO. I bookmarked the link and plan to follow your journey. I commend your wife on supporting you in this endeavor. We will be at WDW in September and December. I'll keep my eye out for you.

Good luck! You are going to have an amazing year.

- Jennifer

Thank you so much for following along! My wife, and my whole family, have really been a huge part of this. My parents made the trip in April to see the contests and just got me a lot of wonderful additions to my Disney collection for my birthday. Please say hello if you see me in the parks!

Congratulations on becoming CMO, Justin! You definitely looked like the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable contestant and you really deserved that win.

My DH and I are WDW vets, and we're meeting my sister and her family for their first ever trip to WDW in early November. We'll be looking for you in your CMO shirt, and we'll be sure to say Howdy if we should happen to spot you in the parks.

Enjoy your year of spreading magic and pixie dust!

Thanks! The contests and videos were a lot of fun and I'm glad that you feel my enthusiasm translated into them! David and Tripp are both wonderful guys and sharing the week in April with them and their families just made it that much more special.

Congrats Justin!

One quick question...as CMO will you be going to all of the Disney parks around the world...including Tokyo also?

Hey Chris! As of now, all of my CMO related trips will be in the U.S. - - - personally I do hope to get to Tokyo someday! I've promised myself I'll make it to all of the parks at some point and this experience has only made me want to do that even more!

 

[Justin M]

Good night guys! Thanks for joining me and checking in on this thread! I'll try to get in here and post a few pictures at some point tomorrrow! (please note, I said 'try'!)

Thanks again!

 

[mommykds]

Congratulations Justin! What a wonderful experience to be CMO!

 

[safetymom]

Congratulations on your new job!!! We were rooting from you as we are formerly from Pgh. As soon as we saw the church in your video we knew where you worked.

I hope you have a blast with the job. Looking forward to your reports.

 

[aengus]

Congratulations Justin, after reading this thread, it's obvious why you won the competition!

I look forward to seeing your pictures.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Hey Justin! Glad to hear that the CMO position is as fun as I thought it would be! I am glad you are having fun and checking in with all the jealous disers
I can't wait to see a trip report from your next CMO adventure. Do you know what is in store for you next?

 

[Justin M]

Congratulations Justin! What a wonderful experience to be CMO!

Thanks! It really is the experience of a lifetime.

Congratulations on your new job!!! We were rooting from you as we are formerly from Pgh. As soon as we saw the church in your video we knew where you worked.

I hope you have a blast with the job. Looking forward to your reports.

Wow! I'm surprised how many people from the area can recognize the outside of the church! Thanks for rooting for me!

Congratulations Justin, after reading this thread, it's obvious why you won the competition!

I look forward to seeing your pictures.

Wow . . .thank you so much!

 

[Justin M]

Hey Justin! Glad to hear that the CMO position is as fun as I thought it would be! I am glad you are having fun and checking in with all the jealous disers
I can't wait to see a trip report from your next CMO adventure. Do you know what is in store for you next?

Thanks for stopping by! Hopefully the trip report (in four parts!) will start getting posted on www.dreamcmo.com soon. I just sent over an introductory post (I hope it's not too long!) this afternoon because I had some computer troubles this weekend.

NEXT, I'm headed to California in June (16th - 19th) to be a part of the Press Event for the opening of Toy Story Mania at Disney's California Adventure. Some of the rest of the details of the trip are still a surprise!

 

[Justin M]

Hmmm . .. . okay, here goes another one of my pleas for technical help! I tried to upload some photos and can't seem to make it work. I've learned that I need them 'hosted' somewhere on the web (as in I can't just post them here straight from my camera). I have a facebook page with most of photos, but that doesn't seem to work as a link. Hmmm . . . what photo site should I be using to make this work for you guys?

Thanks!

 

[catotigger]

ooops - posted by mistake.

 

[Justin M]

Alright, here is the first photo for this thread. This is Me, Tripp, and David (the other two finalists) with Mickey and Donald at the announcement ceremony in April.

 

[astrodrummergirl]

Hmmm . .. . okay, here goes another one of my pleas for technical help! I tried to upload some photos and can't seem to make it work. I've learned that I need them 'hosted' somewhere on the web (as in I can't just post them here straight from my camera). I have a facebook page with most of photos, but that doesn't seem to work as a link. Hmmm . . . what photo site should I be using to make this work for you guys?

Thanks!

Well, a site such as photobucket is a good choice. As well as a free hosting service, it also saves you from having to resize the pics yourself as you can specify which size they should be uploaded as.

Also, congrats Justin. Sadly, I didn't hear about this contest until after it had finished, however if I had known, I definately would have voted for you as I loved your video! I do hope you get to do a September trip to WDW, as I will be there for my 2nd ever trip to WDW (and a DCL cruise for the first time) and would love to say Hi!

 

[Justin M]

Well, a site such as photobucket is a good choice. As well as a free hosting service, it also saves you from having to resize the pics yourself as you can specify which size they should be uploaded as.

Also, congrats Justin. Sadly, I didn't hear about this contest until after it had finished, however if I had known, I definately would have voted for you as I loved your video! I do hope you get to do a September trip to WDW, as I will be there for my 2nd ever trip to WDW (and a DCL cruise for the first time) and would love to say Hi!

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!

 

[Justin M]

This is me marching (or laughing!) my way down Main Street with the Alba-Golden High School Marching Band from Alba, Texas on Thursday, May 15th. I had the chance to meet them as a part of the Magic Music Days program and they are absolutely some of the best students I've ever worked with! They were a real treat to be around. The earpiece that you can see in my left ear is for a radio that allowed me to communicate with "parade central". I got to "call" the parade - - which essentially means I alerted the folks in the control room of our location so that they could play the introduction announcement preceding our entrance into each new area. This was so much fun!

 

[Justin M]

Okay! Sorry to post and run on you! At least I figured out how to get you a couple of pictures. I'll post more as soon as I get a chance.

 

[bettyann29]

Congrats Justin!

How exciting to be elected Chief Magic Official!