Disney Dreaming

Well, yesterday we met up with an old friend that we worked with at the Disney Store and today we met up with an old friend that I worked with at the Disney Store.

Our last hurrah before our vacations end, we decided to visit the Glendale Galleria to do some shopping. Glendale is home to the world's first Disney Store and the location of the last Store that I worked for before leaving the magical world of Disney as an employee. We got there a little before opening and when the gates were pulled back and we were allowed to enter, I saw before me one of my old assistant managers.

Ed was wearing "civilian" clothes but I knew he must have had a reason to be there since he was on the inside of the gates before they opened. I didn't know that he was the store manager - a title he seemed to take with a good deal of pride - and he was in the middle of inventory prep, which explained the attire. I hadn't seen him for a few years since he left the Ventura store where he had served as manager so it was good to see him again. Since then, he married his long-time girlfriend who I had also worked with at Glendale. So I guess you can say that the two of them were "started by a mouse" as well.

I asked how things were at the Disney Store under Children's Place rather than Disney and he mentioned that while things were probably similar for the guest, operationally things were better now. He thought the product was better and less expensive though he concluded that retail was retail. He seemed happy with where he was, which was nice to hear.

After leaving the mall later that morning, Kathy asked if I had any interest in going back and working at the Disney Store. I really don't -- and said so -- but then Kathy reminded me of my recurring dreams that I have working there.

I have two sets of recurring dreams. The first, I am back in high school needing to complete a course or two in order to graduate, even though I have -- and am aware that I have -- my college degree. The second is that I find myself thrust back into working at the Disney Store though I am usually lacking some piece of my costume, making me feel that I'm not ready to properly serve the guests. Sometimes it is my sweater that I'm missing. Sometimes I'm wearing the wrong shoes or the wrong pants.

I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to work for Disney again but I definitely don't see myself back at the Disney Store. I guess it was always my dream to work for Disney and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to make that dream a reality. Since leaving the Disney Store, I've tried to hire on at a few positions but never have gotten the job after interviewing. A couple of times it wound up being a good thing as those divisions were cut and I would have been without work. And though disappointing, the other ones that didn't pan out were probably better off for me in the long run since I'm now able to be a work-from-home dad taking care of Chelsea at my present position.

And while knowing that it is better for my family to be doing what I'm doing right now, the last time the Disney bug bit me was this past summer when I was able to visit the Disney Studio as part of a Triviateer Reunion. One of the highlights was visiting the new Archives Library, which is a resource available to any Disney employee who wants to come in and read books, watch DVDs and play the latest Disney video game. It is a Disney geek oasis with tons of cool artifacts, props and documents all throughout the office space. I'm envious of anyone who is able to take advantage of such a great resource.

I have no idea why I dream the recurring dreams that I do. I see no need to return to high school since I properly matriculated more than 15 years ago. And I won't be returning to the Disney Store anytime soon either.

But I guess I do hold out hope that one day I might find an ideal position within the Walt Disney Company again where I can contribute my skills in a positive way and that I can once again enjoy the privileges and honor of working for Disney. It was always a dream of mine to work for Disney and one that I realized by working at the Disney Store for more than 8 years. Who knows? Maybe there will be a recurrence of that dream and I'll find myself as a cast member once more?

Matt