Tag: Disney

Oct 01 2007

Happy Birthday EPCOT Center

  • Monday, October 01, 2007

EPCOT


Today officially marks not only the 36th Birthday of the Walt Disney World Resort but also the 25th Birthday of something unique that is truely one of a kind, EPCOT Center. Walt Disney described EPCOT as:

But the most exciting and by far the most important part of our Florida Project…in fact, the heart of everything we’ll be doing in Disney World…will be our Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow! We call it EPCOT.

It’s like the city of tomorrow ought to be. A city that caters to the people as a service function. It will be a planned, controlled community, a showcase for American industry and research, schools, cultural and educational opportunities.

EPCOT will be an experimental prototype community of tomorrow that will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT will always be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise.

While the Epcot that is today may not be exactly what Walt had envisioned, it is still very much an international community with a focus on new discoverys and technology and a World’s Fair with International Showcase. Here’s to another 25 years!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/10/happy-birthday-epcot-center/

Sep 29 2007

September in a Nutshell

  • Saturday, September 29, 2007

Wow, it really has been over a month since I last updated my blog. There really has been a lot going on though that can explain my absence. As I posted in August, I have started a new role here at the Walt Disney World Resort in Walt Disney World Ticketing. After a month, I can tell you I have not been happier. I love my new role and the new opportunities that it creates. In just the short month, I have been able to do things and meet people that would never have been possible before when I was working in the Magic Kingdom.

I have also been very busy finalizing and starting the production of the Disney’s Family Holiday Celebration tickets for all Florida Site Cast Members so that has taken a bulk of my days at work plus, speaking of holiday time, I have also started going to Candlelight Cast Choir Rehearsals again. Who knew that Christmas came in September! Things are only going to get busy at work though as we go in to the next month. Notice above I said Florida Site Cast Members? Well, part of my role at Walt Disney World Ticketing is that I am responsible for the production of all Cast Member Ticket Media for the entire Walt Disney Company. We are getting ready for two large distributions that involve complimentary tickets and Main Entrance Passes for all 120,000 of my Cast Members. Can we say overtime? Busyness aside, I love the new role and couldn’t be happier.

On another note, I have also learned this week about the importance of going to the doctor when you are sick. A friend of mine hates going to the doctor and put off going till he finally went after being sick for close to 6 weeks and is now sitting in a hospital bed recovering from a severe case of pneumonia. He’s going to be alright but the recovery will take a while.

That’s my last month in a nutshell. Really not much else going on in my life like it was a few years ago when I started Webby Aquatics as a blog. I hope to start getting back in to blogging more now that I have stable hours and time.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/09/september-in-a-nutshell/

May 06 2007

Cinco de Mayo – Epcot Style

  • Sunday, May 06, 2007

Well, as most people know, yesterday was Cinco de Mayo so what else to do other than head to Epcot and celebrate. Seriously though, that’s what everyone does right? Yesterday my friend Brandon from the college program and I went to go enjoy Epcot and the International Flower and Garden Festival as well as enjoy the Cinco de Mayo festivities in Mexico. First on our visit, a really cool Peter Pan topiary. Wait, is that the Travelocity Roaming Gnome? Wicked!

Travelocity Roaming Gnome visits Epcot
Photo from the Travelocity ➡ Roaming Gnome Blog

After enjoying the cool Peter Pan Topiary (Everyone knows I love Peter Pan right?) I thought it was time to go meet the Roaming Gnome in person. So here you go folks, Tom meets the ➡ Travelocity Roaming Gnome!

Tom meets the Travelocity Roaming Gnome

Finally, after meeting the Gnome, it was off to Mexico to begin the Cinco de Mayo celebration and Brandon’s first time being able to drink around the world. Here is one more picture from our visit in Mexico of me with the Three Caballeros, José Carioca, Donald Duck and Panchito Pistoles.

Tom with Three Cabelleros

After leaving our friends in Mexico, it was just a nice stroll around the World Showcase with random run ins with several of my friends. It really does amaze me with a Cast Member base of 58,000 how many people I really do know. It is actually kind of scary. So that was my fun Cinco de Mayo? How was yours? Till next time. See ya!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/05/cinco-de-mayo-epcot-style/

Mar 24 2007

Life Update

  • Saturday, March 24, 2007

Well, it’s been almost a month since I have moved in to my new place and I couldn’t be happier. Everything is finally all together as far as furniture goes and I am almost done unpacking the remaining boxes. I have been doing a lot more cooking now that I have a nice size kitchen and overall, I am enjoying just relaxing and hanging around my new place. I’ve even hosted a couple of dinner parties with some friends! Since I moved, I am also saving on my gas for my car and can now go almost two full weeks with out a fill up thanks to moving closer. Something to be said about a 12-minute commute to work.

Speaking of work, work is going just fine. I have elected to work some additional hours each week so I can save a few extra dollars for bills so I am averaging 45-50 hour work weeks these days. I still have my two days off of Friday/Saturday to get things done which is a bonus. Things are going to be picking up a lot in the next few weeks with the Easter Holiday arriving and Spring Break in full swing. Possible new roles on the horizon for me but I don’t want to get in to too much details until they are all finalized.

Well, Joe is on his way over and we are just going to relax at the pool or watch a movie so I’ll update everyone later this week on the new roles then.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/03/life-update/

Dec 31 2006

Auld Lang Syne

  • Sunday, December 31, 2006

As 2006 comes to an end, I thought I would shar year end update that went out in an e-mail to friends and family:

This year started off with me completing engineer training for the Walt Disney World Railroad. That’s right, for those that remember little Tommy Webster being in the trains as a child, well guess what, he now drives a real turn of the century steam powered locomotive on a “Grand Circle Tour” of the Magic Kingdom. Like people, each of our four trains on the WDW RR have their own personality and I have learned a lot about adjusting my skills to fit the train. Continuing on with work, I became an area trainer on Main Street, USA where I trained Park Greeters, Conductors and also facilitated Guest Service Training for new hires.

It was in August that I left my home for two years at the Magic Kingdom to move to a role that I had been trying so hard for over a year to get, Guest Relations. I moved to Guest Relations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park where I got the chance to work with an amazing group of people and learned a lot about carrying on the traditions and quality standards set forth by our company’s namesake, Walt Disney. Guest Relations was a great opportunity for me and really gave me the tools I needed to make sure that each and every one of our guests had the most wonderful time of their lives.

Fast forward to November, I have returned back to my home on Main Street, USA now though as an Area Coordinator where I oversee the operation and cast for Turnstiles, Steam Trains, Vehicles, and Parade. On any given day, I am responsible for not only 250 Cast Members but, our many thousand guests who visit our park every day and ensuring that they have a smooth and care-free transition to our world of fantasy. This is my next big step on my path to a full-time leadership role with the Walt Disney Company.

Leaving work aside for now (I know it’s hard considering I work a lot), I did have some great travel experiences this year ranging from quick visits to Naples, FL to see family and even the surprise visit home from Grandpa Don’s Birthday. October also brought along what is beginning to look like an annual trip out the the original theme park, Disneyland and Southern California. There is something about the original that draws me back.

This holiday season will also mark my third year with the Candlelight Processional Cast Choir at Epcot. Candlelight is a tradition started at Disneyland in 1957 that tells the Christmas story with traditional scripture and song with a different celebrity narrator each night. It is truly a moving experience and if you get the chance, come and see the show.

So as we end 2006, Happy New Year and best wishes for 2007!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/12/auld-lang-syne/

Dec 24 2006

Waiting for Santa

  • Sunday, December 24, 2006

Ok, so it just took me an hour to get back home. Something that usually takes 15 minutes. I guess I timed my drive home with the same time that Epcot closed. Oh well. So, I am back in Florida after a full yet enjoyable two days in Minnesota. I got a chance to see my friend Anna and then got the chance to see all my family, first at Grandpa and Grandma’s party on Friday night (Thank you again Grandpa and Grandma) and then over at mom and dad’s house before I hit the plane back to Florida. I also got my first chance in three years to celebrate Christmas with my family, even if it was a day or two early.

I think it was waiting at the airport in Minneapolis yesterday that I realized that this is going to be a busy week at work. For those that have never been to Walt Disney World the week of Christmas/New Years, it is busy. We close at capacity at least once each day. So, it was while waiting for my flight to board that I looked around and saw all these families with small kids and realized that they are all going to the same place, Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom. My sold out flight was all following me home to Orlando. This is going to be a fun week.

Well, it’s time to head to bed and wait for Santa Claus to come. I’ve gotten most of my gifts so far but I still have a few waiting under the tree till tomorrow morning. Off to go dream of a white christmas

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/12/waiting-for-santa/

Sep 30 2006

Long Time Coming

  • Saturday, September 30, 2006

I know that I have not been as diligent on my updates as I once was. I wish there was more time for me to just sit down and write again. Since I have moved from attractions to Guest Relations, I am still in the process of learning a whole new role and a new park at the same time. I have left my comfort zone of the Magic Kingdom and entered in to the entirely new world of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK).

DAK is a completely new experience. The attitude is so different than MK that I don’t know where to start. Things are so much more laid back in a sense but so much more strict in another. Where the Magic Kingdom is all about the world of Fantasy, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is much more about the real world with the animals taking the leading role in our park. This is evident in several policies in place. We do not allow balloons or stickers in the park and no where can you get a drink with a lid or a straw. It’s just strange to me to not see all those lovely Mickey stickers being given out.

My training though is finally complete. Aside from the training I will be getting just by doing my new role more, I just completed my global property tour. 21 people, 1 fun bus, 3 days and 49 square miles of property to travel and see. Yes folks, we went to every hotel, every park, every restaurant, and more in three days. A lot of review for a Disney Veteran like myself but I will be the first to admit that I did learn a thing or two. Plus, I had never been to Horticulture of Holiday Services before.

Speaking of Holiday Services, this place is crazy. In this hidden warehouse, is all the Christmas decorations for the entire property include Disney Cruise Line. They spend all year just maintaining all the decorations that will begin to show up on November 1. If you ever have a chance to go on Backstage Magic or see this operation, I recommend it.

Aside from tour and work, not much else going on. Candlelight Rehearsals have started again and I am diligently going to get my 10 in before the cut off. The nice part about working DAK is that I can get out of work by 6:30pm at the latest. Nice to reconnect with that social group after almost a year with out seeing some of them. I am also in the process of finalizing my plans to head to Disneyland in a few weeks. I’ll be out there with Joe, Jeff, and Brian October 24-30. I can’t wait to go back out and am looking forward to a much needed vacation considering my last REAL vacation was the same time last year.

Well, that is the last month in a nutshell. Look for more regular updates to return soon.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/09/long-time-coming/

Aug 02 2006

Bed Time

  • Wednesday, August 02, 2006

20 hour work days are not worth the overtime and doubletime pay no matter how much the paycheck is.

This message was sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld. This message and any reply may be short and may even include some words that are not spelled properly.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/08/bed-time/

Jun 18 2006

A Year of a Million Dreams – Coming Soon

  • Sunday, June 18, 2006

From an overnight stay inside Cinderella Castle to a Golden FASTPASS, dreams big and small will come true at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts during Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams,” a first-of-its-kind celebration of the individual dreams of Disney Parks Guests.

The year-long celebration, beginning Oct. 1, 2006, at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, will feature the debut of an incredible lineup of new attractions and entertainment at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts, plus new technologies that allow Guests to customize their Disney park experience.

For more information about the “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration and the “Disney Dreams Giveaway” promotion, visit www.mydisneyparks.com.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/06/a-year-of-a-million-dreams-coming-soon/