YenSid1222
I spent my life hoping someday my dreams would set
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2001
- Messages
- 811
Guess what today is everyone????
Well, yes, it is Contemporary Friday...but what else??
Today, April 12, 2002.
Do you know what you were doing ten years ago today? I was at the TV set, watching the opening ceremony of what was then known as EuroDisneyland. I had been excited about this project from the moment I heard of it. It is the reason that I decided to take French in High School! I videotaped that night, and I still have the video. Little did I know then what an impact that place would eventually have on my life.
I got to visit that amazing place in June 1992 (will be 10 years ago for me personally in a few months!). I had the most amazing time, and I would get to see it again for the 5th anniversary in 1997. That was the trip when I decided, after meeting some amazing Cast Members, that I was going to try to be on the exchange program for WDW Cast to go work there. I wrote a letter within a week of returning to Florida. That letter was the catalyst into some of the craziest moments of my life. The letter was to the Casting Rep in France who hired us Americans to go work and live in France. At the time I was working on the Test and Adjust crew for Test Track. I basically spent all of my shift (11pm to 730am) sending around empty ride vehicles, or cycling the crash doors, or whatever else WDI had us do.) So, one early morning, after a night of that fun...one of the managers asked if I could extend until noon. I said OK...around 8 or 9 am, I got a call on the radio saying that I had a call. They ended up taking a message, a message that said I needed to contact The Casting Rep in Paris as soon as possible. So, on a phone that is right under that point in the track where you make that left turn from the loading area, to the uphill climb (you know the one, where there are tire sqeals every time a car goes into the ride) I called her back, and had a phone interview.
Evidently the fact that I had been up all night and was under a thrill ride didn't hurt me too much, because she asked what the fax number was so that I could recieve an application immediatly. She needed all kinds of stuff from me quickly. I filled it all out...and a week or so later, I recieved an email saying that I had been accepted on the program!! I couldn't believe it.
Let me go back a bit to say that whe I was at Disneyland Paris for the fifth anniversary, I had my first ride on Space Mountain De La Terre A La Lune. I immediatly fell in love with it. I am a coaster freak, and it went to my favorite right away...it still is there today. So, I knew that I had to find a way to work at my favorite attraction. Enter chance meeting in front of the Haunted Mansion. I was there, and passed an old manager of mine. We talked for a moment, and I told him I was about to go to France. He said that I needed to talk to the lady he was with...the new area manager for that area of the Magic Kingdom....who just came from Paris. I told her how much I wanted to work at Space Mountain, and she said "Then you need to contact Arnauld Palu, he is the area manager for Space." I had a name, and that day, I sent out an email to him.
A few days later, I came into work, and was checking my email...and there was a message from who else, but Mr. Palu. I was scared to open it. My friend Erick, who was there asked if he should open if for me. I said I could do it, and moved the mouse over to that "read" button, and.......slowly.......clicked.
I closed my eyes for a second.
Then I started to read.
Basically he said that he would be delighted to have me on his team at Space Mountain, and that he had already contacted the Casting Rep to have me put there.
I couldn't believe it. I was screaming and bouncing off the walls.
It was only the beginning of an amazing journey, that ended up with me having the greatest year and a half of my life. Disneyland Paris affected me in ways I could never explain to anyone. I have stories that would go on forever.
For those that know me...you might understand a bit more why I am a freak for DLP, and especially Space Mountain. (Thanks again Ed)
SO.....what does this have to do with collecting?
Well, for those of you coming to the pin meet tonight, I am having my own personal 10th anniversary party for the park! I will be wearing my shirt that I wore while working at Space Mountain. I have created a special lanyard of DLP pins (no trading with them though...just for show tonight) I am also bringing some of my photos of the park, if you ever wondered what it looked like. I have my collection of DLP name tags ready to go. I might even bring along my prized Space Mountain wheel. Yes, wheel.
If you are there tonight, come by and say "beau soir". Lets share Paris stories if you have any.
I hope to see you tonight at the Contemporary!
Joyeux Dixieme Anniversaire Disneyland Paris!!!
Well, yes, it is Contemporary Friday...but what else??
Today, April 12, 2002.
Do you know what you were doing ten years ago today? I was at the TV set, watching the opening ceremony of what was then known as EuroDisneyland. I had been excited about this project from the moment I heard of it. It is the reason that I decided to take French in High School! I videotaped that night, and I still have the video. Little did I know then what an impact that place would eventually have on my life.
I got to visit that amazing place in June 1992 (will be 10 years ago for me personally in a few months!). I had the most amazing time, and I would get to see it again for the 5th anniversary in 1997. That was the trip when I decided, after meeting some amazing Cast Members, that I was going to try to be on the exchange program for WDW Cast to go work there. I wrote a letter within a week of returning to Florida. That letter was the catalyst into some of the craziest moments of my life. The letter was to the Casting Rep in France who hired us Americans to go work and live in France. At the time I was working on the Test and Adjust crew for Test Track. I basically spent all of my shift (11pm to 730am) sending around empty ride vehicles, or cycling the crash doors, or whatever else WDI had us do.) So, one early morning, after a night of that fun...one of the managers asked if I could extend until noon. I said OK...around 8 or 9 am, I got a call on the radio saying that I had a call. They ended up taking a message, a message that said I needed to contact The Casting Rep in Paris as soon as possible. So, on a phone that is right under that point in the track where you make that left turn from the loading area, to the uphill climb (you know the one, where there are tire sqeals every time a car goes into the ride) I called her back, and had a phone interview.
Evidently the fact that I had been up all night and was under a thrill ride didn't hurt me too much, because she asked what the fax number was so that I could recieve an application immediatly. She needed all kinds of stuff from me quickly. I filled it all out...and a week or so later, I recieved an email saying that I had been accepted on the program!! I couldn't believe it.
Let me go back a bit to say that whe I was at Disneyland Paris for the fifth anniversary, I had my first ride on Space Mountain De La Terre A La Lune. I immediatly fell in love with it. I am a coaster freak, and it went to my favorite right away...it still is there today. So, I knew that I had to find a way to work at my favorite attraction. Enter chance meeting in front of the Haunted Mansion. I was there, and passed an old manager of mine. We talked for a moment, and I told him I was about to go to France. He said that I needed to talk to the lady he was with...the new area manager for that area of the Magic Kingdom....who just came from Paris. I told her how much I wanted to work at Space Mountain, and she said "Then you need to contact Arnauld Palu, he is the area manager for Space." I had a name, and that day, I sent out an email to him.
A few days later, I came into work, and was checking my email...and there was a message from who else, but Mr. Palu. I was scared to open it. My friend Erick, who was there asked if he should open if for me. I said I could do it, and moved the mouse over to that "read" button, and.......slowly.......clicked.
I closed my eyes for a second.
Then I started to read.
Basically he said that he would be delighted to have me on his team at Space Mountain, and that he had already contacted the Casting Rep to have me put there.
I couldn't believe it. I was screaming and bouncing off the walls.It was only the beginning of an amazing journey, that ended up with me having the greatest year and a half of my life. Disneyland Paris affected me in ways I could never explain to anyone. I have stories that would go on forever.
For those that know me...you might understand a bit more why I am a freak for DLP, and especially Space Mountain. (Thanks again Ed)
SO.....what does this have to do with collecting?
Well, for those of you coming to the pin meet tonight, I am having my own personal 10th anniversary party for the park! I will be wearing my shirt that I wore while working at Space Mountain. I have created a special lanyard of DLP pins (no trading with them though...just for show tonight) I am also bringing some of my photos of the park, if you ever wondered what it looked like. I have my collection of DLP name tags ready to go. I might even bring along my prized Space Mountain wheel. Yes, wheel.
If you are there tonight, come by and say "beau soir". Lets share Paris stories if you have any.
I hope to see you tonight at the Contemporary!
Joyeux Dixieme Anniversaire Disneyland Paris!!!
