[Question] Legendary Guests and employees

[Theflyingtire]

I just read a thread about a couple named The Anderson's who strongly desire to ride peter pan last every night.
While an entire ethics debate sprung up around it, I simply found their tradition interesting.
Does anyone know of any other stories of "legendary guests" or guests who have traditions like these, or employees that have a special routine?
Thanks!

[Bongo]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Every Railroad Conductor, Engineer, and Fireman know Big Joe. Heck, I know him through the tender rides! He's a relief engineer who works the night shift, and he's a pretty cool guy. Really fun to talk to. If you're ever in the park, go up to a conductor and ask them how Big Joe is doing.

[ccinsf]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Maynard is a cast member who is very well known.

Ernie was a legend and I had the pleasure of seeing him perform on the Blue Bayou balcony in 2010.

As for guests, in the other thread somebody mentioned an older thread about strange and interesting APer's but I could not find it.

[dougeebear]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

There's Chef Oscar.
Happiest Worker on Earth | martinez, disney, disneyland - News - The Orange County Register

And Maynard, of course.
MAYNARDLAND

I've never worked at the park, so I'm going off of what I've read here:
* The Bubble Ladies would gift cast members with bubble juice.
* There was a large female guest who frequently demanded to be last on Peter Pan, and apparently there was at least one run-in with the Andersons. (I could be wrong. She may have been at WDW and had her own run ins with guests)
* The older couple who danced swing every weekend. I heard one of them passed away.
[CORRECTION: They both passed away in 2008. Rose and Dubby, Disneyland Swing Dance couple, join Walt | The Disney Blog
* Tom? Tim? A favorite Passholder, slightly developmentally disabled, who would often just hang out.

[Werner]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Rod Miller, pianist at "Coke Corner" for many years....what a wonderful personality -- and a terrific talent to boot! Always put me in an even MORE good mood at Disneyland!

Disneyland - Rod Miller - 12th Street Rag - YouTube

[LittleImagineer]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Oh! I just thought of two! Unfortunately, I don't know names..

Anyways, my parents and I met this elderly lady on Veteran's Day while watching the annual ceremony. She was in a wheelchair and her leg was all wrapped up and she was very elderly. Well, we all got to talking. Turns out her son-in-law oand husband, or something like that was participating in the ceremony and they used to work there. She showed us pictures of her horribly infected leg and told us all about her love for Disneyland. She's been coming for years! She said she never misses the Veteran's Day ceremony or the first day of the Christmas stuff. Anyways, it was really neat and inspiring to talk to her.

A couple months ago my mom, my little sister, and I were at Disneyland. It was just sort of a slow day, not a pressured we-have-to-ride-everything day. As we were walking to Adventureland we noticed baby ducks in the castle moat and stopped to count them. A man started talking to us. He was older, but not too old. Maybe 60s. He had told us how many babies were in there, when they were born, etc. We continued talking for a while and he told us that he goes to Disneyland almost everyday just to hang out! When we finished talking he walked briskly off to Frontierland. Pretty neat!

[Diznygrl]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

I remember reading about some guy people call "Blue Tarp Guy" who lays out this big blue tarp along Rivers of America hours in advance to wait for Fantasmic!, and apparently picks and chooses certain people around him and invites them to sit on his tarp. I've never seen him in person though.

[Dillamond]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

[Broadway Guru]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Arthur!

[ohmyjustin]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

I still don't understand why Maynard is so famous. The only thing I can gather is that he has a unique name and is very friendly.

[Bob Weaver]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Richard Carpenter, along with his sister the late Karen Carpenter, formed a hugely successful 1970s pop music duo. Before that, Richard worked as a pianist at the Coke Corner for a while, I believe in 1967 or so. The song "Mr. Guder" on the Carpenters' album "Close to You" is a potshot at Vic Guder, Richard's boss at Disneyland. So direct that he didn't even bother to change the name for the song. I believe that Vic Guder has passed away, and held no animosity towards Richard Carpenter for the song, though others have come to Guder's defense and Richard himself now seems to have softened his views according to his remarks at his web site.

Also, the video for the Carpenters' cover of "Please Mr. Postman" was filmed at Disneyland around 1975.

And of course, Steve Martin worked several jobs at Disneyland including working in the Magic Shop on Main Street.

[Malina]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

I still don't understand why Maynard is so famous. The only thing I can gather is that he has a unique name and is very friendly.

This. Can someone explain the Maynard story?

[Theflyingtire]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Thanks for all the stories!
I just realized I should have written cm's as opposed to employees.
Oh, and I have totally sat and listened to the piano player on main street, and of course billy hill!

---------- Post added 07-11-2012 at 11:21 PM ----------

In regards to Maynard, I found this interview.
Maynard Smith

[Sosai X]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Arthur.

end of thread.

[Werner]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Thanks for the Arthur story! I remember reading that article back in the day. Nice to re-read it now. Very heart-warming!

[Mom kissed Walt]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

I love Arthur. That is incredible.

[swampymarsh]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

I can't think of this lady's name.

She is about 60 and has a lot of pins on. I've met her working the Storybook Canal a few times and I recall she has worked there for about 20years. She is a super Disney(land) fan and loves to meet Super Disney(land) fans.

[penguinsoda]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Mod Note:

Please remember that the policy of MiceChat, in order to protect cast members, is to remove their names if posted. Even if what you are posting is a happy thing, site policy is to remove reference to specific members. Disney does watch the boards.

Yes, there are exceptions to this rule. If a CM has become a sort of celebrity in their own right (Maynard, Oscar etc) those names will be allowed. Names of regular cast members however will be removed.

As for guests, in the other thread somebody mentioned an older thread about strange and interesting APer's but I could not find it.

Yes and there is a reason you can't find it. Sometimes when talking about other people who are "different" and "unique" things get said that can be hurtful and disrespectful to those people. We don't condone making fun of others even if its toward an unknown person.

Thanks everyone in advance!

[sbk1234]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

In answer to the earlier question, Maynard is a performer. He takes on a persona for each attraction and really adds to the fun.

[bamato]

Re: Legendary Guests and employees

Ask Maynard to do the Tiki Room intro Best ever...