A funny thing happened on the way

Pre-retirement party. Out on Disney’s Contemporary Resort observation deck. Accessed through Disney’s California Grill.
Disney Institute interns are a lucky group. Disney Institute is equally lucky too. Note: The 4 on the right are interns.
At this table L-R: Jungle Jeff, Fran Santina (sideways head and former Philly Police Officer), Stu Levine, Monica Jordan, and Joseph Gardner.
Two of my favorite Disney Institute colleagues.
Fun, Disney Cast Member style, which isn’t any different than any other employee group. It’s just that outsiders rarely see us act in a “Backstage” manner.
L-R: Jungle Jeff, Monica, Bob Spina, Stu.
L-R: Jungle Jeff, Lori and Joe McColgan.
Joe, Karel Rhodes and Jungle Jeff go all the way back to Disney’s Grand Floridian Concierge. As their leader, it was a privilege and an honor to help them develop into statused (salaried) Disney Leaders.
Nutty, blurry, perfect.
More nuttiness. More perfection.
It went by fast. Not the 30-year Disney Career, the retirement party.
Final Disney retirement party photos. There would have been more variety except for one fact, i would have felt awkward being my own event photographer. Tried to balance being the Guest and being “on the job”.

A funny thing happened on the way to the party.

A late-season (it was November 17) thunderstorm rolled in, fogging up the gigantic windows facing the Magic Kingdom.

Could have been worse.

Weather is always a potential challenge in WDW operations. Always.

We roll with it and never complain about it.

The smaller head count allowed for the food and beverage menus to be upgraded. Yes, these events have a budget – which is decent for a 30-year Cast Member. It was first class all the way.

Our drive home after the party took minutes.

It is never lost on me that the original vision was to live within five minutes of Walt Disney World.

Check.

To this day, it remains a “check”.

•  •  •  •  •

This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.

By jeff noel

Retired Disney Institute Keynote Speaker and Prolific Blogger. Five daily, differently-themed personal blogs (about life's 5 big choices) on five interconnected sites.