This is yet another stunning Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. Each resort is amazing, but The Boardwalk Inn just might top the list!

Back to top | ‘Suite’ Dreams

Each and every trip as CMO has been a whirlwind of energy and activity that gives me so many reasons to celebrate. No trip thus far, however, has started with something has unforgettable as this! As soon as I checked into my absolutely stunning room at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn (more on that later!), I quickly changed into my official CMO attire and zipped out the door for a very important meeting at the Magic Kingdom. The winner of the night’s stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite had been selected and I was set to meet them on Main Street and officially be a part of their tour and introduction to their breathtaking accommodations.

One of the great things about The Year of a Million Dreams was that each and every guest in the parks had the same chance of winning something special whether a free collectible pin or a night in the. With such fair odds and the random selection process, we undoubtedly ‘discovered’ some fantastic human interest stories that we could never have planned even if we tried. My experience with this family will rank as one of the most heart-warming experiences of my time as CMO.

A mother – who was on her first-ever Walt Disney World vacation with her two children—would have the experience-of-a-lifetime this evening as they would be the personal guests of Cinderella herself. Neither Yazmin (her 4-year-old daughter) nor Christopher (her 10-year-old son) had ever visited Walt Disney World before. Mom had been saving for this trip for quite a long time and had only just begun their dream vacation the previous day. In fact, their very first glimpse of the Magic Kingdom was their tour of the Cinderella Castle Suite!

I met up with the incredible family and had the chance to introduce myself, share a laugh and a super-secret handshake with a very happy Christopher and then joined the remarkable concierge team (specifically Michael, Jeff, and Katie) for the official tour!

Upon entering the stunning foyer, we encountered the beautiful gold elevator. If this doesn’t make your heart pound with anticipation, I don’t know what will! After an explanation of the many fantastic details surrounding us already, we boarded the elevator headed for the most exclusive hotel room in the world.

All around us were exquisite elements that helped set the mood and tell the story of Cinderella. Her glass slipper greets you in the lobby from within a special case on the wall. Remarkable mosaic tile floor carries the theme and lets you know you are somewhere special. The most exciting detail here, though, was the gorgeous wooden door, behind which lay the rooms about which most of us can only dream!

We opened the door and the family gasps upon seeing the gorgeous beds, incredible stained-glass windows, creatively designed televisions, and special effects-laden. However, after a warm August day in the parks, the fresh fruit was a big hit!

I talked with the family and learned more about Christopher and Yazmin, heard all about some of their favorite rides so far. They were loving their time at the Walt Disney World® Resort! These were two of the most polite, grateful, and kind young guests I’ve ever met. After this experience, they would think their mother could move mountains! They are truly a wonderful family and I am so fortunate to have had the chance to spend even a small amount of time with them during this incredible adventure of theirs.

(Here we’re sharing a laugh as we check out some of the fascinating details in the Suite.) This sitting room is stocked with Disney DVD’s and a refrigerator full of drinks for the night. But most impressive is the fact that every inch of the entire Suite is designed to fit the theme and support the unforgettable story that this family is now right in the middle of. The furniture, walls, floors, windows, art work, and special decorative touches represent some of the finest examples of creating an immersive, enthralling environment that Walt Disney Imagineering has accomplished.)

Nothing was overlooked when this Dream Suite was designed and I still marvel at the exacting detail and incredible effort undertaken in order to offer this unforgettable exclusive opportunity to our guests. The Disney Parks really are where dreams come true – and what better place to dream than in the most beautiful hotel room in the world located in the heart of the Magic Kingdom!?

At the end of our tour together, we had the chance to pose for one last photograph together. The family had a big night ahead of them (packed full with an opportunity to be in the afternoon parade, special dining arrangements with Cinderella, and a picture-perfect spot to watch the ‘Wishes’ fireworks spectacular at the end of the day) and it was time for me to say goodbye. Like so many of the people I’ve met during my time as a Disney Cast Member, this is a family I will most certainly never forget!

Back to top | Making the Magic Happen

Making the Magic Happen

One of the main focuses on this trip (in addition to all of the Cast Appreciation, Guest interaction and Dream Squad activities that we’ll get to as these updates continue) was to get a behind-the-scenes look at the brainstorming process that fuels many of the creative decisions throughout the Parks and Resorts. Countless members of the Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, Operations, Entertainment, and Food and Beverage teams (And there are many more specialized departments than those!) gather frequently to dream up new ways to create magical and unforgettable experiences for our guests. On this trip, I had the chance to participate in two of these enthusiastic sessions.

After my time with the family in the Castle Suite, I headed off to the Marketing and Sales offices in Celebration to meet up with members of “Creative Inc,” an internal catalyst group designed to bring out the best in the brainstorms. In August, the Disney Parks celebration, “What Will You Celebrate?” was still yet to be announced. Many of the details of the new packages and offerings that would help our guests celebrate their special occasions in unprecedented and dynamically ‘Disney’ ways were still being decided. For an all-too-brief time this afternoon I was able to hear about, discuss, and even offer some input into some of the exciting new opportunities for Guests of Walt Disney World: what an honor and a privilege that was! There were so many amazing ideas flying around I wished they could all come to life one day!

Of course, creative collaboration required a lot of energy. We had to replenish with the fuel of some great food. After the brainstorming session, I headed out for some fine Irish cuisine with part of the team. If you find yourself in Downtown Disney, I can not recommend Raglan Road highly enough! The music and cuisine of Ireland is enhanced with gourmet touches in this amazing restaurant. The next morning offered another opportunity to jump into the creative and inspiring world of brainstorming. Only this time I was the subject! That’s right, an incredible team of people from several departments and teams gathered in the conference center at the Boardwalk Inn for a morning of dreaming up some future possibilities for the CMO. In addition to being a little intimidated and nervous about the process, I was really humbled and awed by their willingness to be a part of this experience with me.

Plus, it was just plain fun! I don’t want to give away any fun details, but trust me, after a few hours together and an entire meeting room with walls covered in giant post-it notes, you do not want to miss what all we have in store for later in my tenure!

Later that evening the fun and friendship was able to continue as I met up with some more members of the team for more great food and lots of laughter. Every Cast Member I meet is the kind of person I’d love to spend a lot of time around! Tonight’s dinner was at the Flying Fish – located right on the Boardwalk. Wow. I could be CMO for a lifetime and probably never make it to every incredible restaurant in Walt Disney World. Again, Flying Fish is highly recommended!

Following dinner we strolled through Disney’s Boardwalk® Resort to the hidden gem: The Boardwalk! The tribute to a past time features restaurants and entertainment certain to delight. We entered Jellyrolls to meet up with some more friends for a great finish to an incredible day. If you ever make it out for a night of great dueling-piano music and audience participation, be sure to say ‘Hello!’ to Michael for me!

Back to top | A Chance to Say “Thank You!”

Experiences like escorting a family on their official tour of the Cinderella Castle Suite or gathering with creative leaders to brainstorm some of the next great ideas are the kinds of things that constantly remind me of how lucky I am to be in this position. One of the other great joys of my time as CMO has been the chance to meet and work closely with many brilliant, passionate, and immensely imaginative Cast Members. They truly are the heart and soul of the Disney Parks and I now know without a doubt that the magic that we all hold so near and dear would never be possible without the combined efforts of these fascinatingly talented dreamers.

At Walt Disney World there are two Cast Members selected each year who embody all of the qualities that make the Cast of the Disney Parks so amazing. These Cast Members – the Walt Disney World Ambassadors – spend a year serving as the faces and voices of the Cast and representing the over 60,000 Cast Members to the world. Started by Walt Disney himself at Disneyland in 1964, the Ambassador Team represents the heritage and legacy of Disney and the friendly, diverse spirit of the Cast. They share the Disney traditions with the Cast Members, local communities, and the world. It is a daunting challenge – one that will take an Ambassador Team to over 1,000 local, national, and international events – but it is one of the greatest achievements a Cast Member can attain.

On this visit I had the chance to meet and spend a lot of time with both of the incredible members of the 2008 Walt Disney World Ambassador Team: T.C. Newman and Kerri MacPherson. These two young women truly represent everything that makes Walt Disney World such an enticing destination for Cast Members and Guests alike and they handle their demanding schedules with grace, charm, and humility and really do bring the magic of Walt Disney World to the world at large. It was an incredible honor to spend so much time with them and to get a tiny glimpse at the life of a Walt Disney World Ambassador.

Most importantly, however, my time with the Ambassadors brought me into contact with an incredible range of Cast Members from all across Walt Disney World and as the Parks and Resorts geared up for Labor Day Weekend I had the chance thank some of the hardest working people I’ve met.

T.C. and I started our afternoon by visiting the Cast Member Appreciation party at Disney’s Polynesian® Resort. Here the leaders of this fantastic resort were giving back to the wonderful Cast by treating them to a day filled with food, games, a DJ, special contests, an appearance from a WDW Ambassador, and even some Wii Bowling! You may not know that The Year of a Million Dreams was also a celebration of Disney Parks cast as well as the Guests, and the leaders went out of their way to surprise some Cast Members with neat magical moments – like this lucky gentleman who won a generous supply of home items.

Without question, one of the surprising highlights of the Polynesian Cast Appreciation Party was the watermelon eating contest. With T.C. and I serving as judges, everyone had a great time cheering on their boss, friend, or co-worker. The Walt Disney World Cast really is one big family, and parties like this help me to see how much fun they have together and how much they really care about seeing everyone on the team succeed. Put that your list of reasons why the Disney Parks are such magical places!

Before we had to leave the Polynesian to make it over to some other parts of WDW to meet some Cast Members and spread the magic, I was handed a microphone and allowed to spend just a few minutes addressing the Cast Members. What do you say to a room full of people who go above and beyond the call of duty each day to create happiness for our Guests and whose very excellence is part of what inspired me to strive for this position? For me, the answer was simple. I said, “Thank you!” I applauded the Cast for their incredible work, I thanked them for all that they do for our Guests and for each other, and I shared my personal journey from Pennsylvania to CMO to remind them that you never know what kind of an impact your kindness toward a Guest may have someday. When I had visited Walt Disney World as a young child and a teenager there were Cast Members who treated me with respect, kindness, generosity of spirit, and showed me a magical place where dreams really can come true. There is no question that I wouldn’t be where I am today without those Cast Members, and the Cast Members of today are most definitely inspiring the dreamers and leaders of tomorrow.

Leaving the Polynesian, T.C. and I headed over to the Transportation and Ticketing Center for another heart-warming opportunity to give a little back. Frank, a bus driver and transportation team member was retiring after many years of incredible service and strong leadership. The people that he had worked with for much of his career were throwing him a party and T.C. was headed there to help send off this truly exceptional Cast Member. Witnessing the way this team came together to support one of their own, hearing their stories, and watching as they tearfully celebrated the service of a man who made a difference in the life of everyone he met gave me an even deeper appreciation for the entire Cast and the remarkable culture that encourages this deep level of admiration and friendship at work.

One of Frank’s parting gifts was an autographed parking cone – a touching yet humorous reminder of the lives he touched during his years of service.

Even though I only met him on his last day, I can say with great confidence that Frank is another example of all that makes the magic happen at the Disney Parks. It was an honor to join T.C. and Frank’s team for this celebration!

Following our time with Frank, T.C. and I headed off to one more destination. The Cast of The Emporium on Main Street U.S.A® were celebrating a new enhancement to their backstage area that would allow them to be even better prepared to positively impact the Guests who visit their lavish store. You will never see the enhancement, but then, that’s the point. The guest experience should always be a perfect experience! T.C. in her role as Disney Ambassador wanted to make an appearance to help these Cast Members understand how important they are to all of us and to encourage steps like this that would continue to make visiting the Magic Kingdom® Park an experience unlike any other in the world. Once again, the Cast Members were enthusiastic, friendly, and exuberant in their passion for the Walt Disney World® Resort and its guests. The next time you visit a Disney Park, take some time to talk to some of the Cast Members – it will be a richly rewarding part of your Disney experience! They all have unque stories to tell.

Whew! At the end of a couple of whirlwind days like that, there is nothing better than returning home to a beautiful Disney resort hotel for a great night’s sleep. Remember Disney’s Boardwalk® Resort that I mentioned a while back? Yeah, it fit the bill perfectly. With a head already full of memories and a heart spilling over with genuine admiration for everyone I’ve met, I returned to my hotel room to sink into that blissful sleep that only comes when you know that things are right with the world and that more magic lays ahead.

Sweet Dreams!



Have a magical day!

Justin Muchoney
Disney Parks Chief Magic Official