Disney Institute Trip Report April 18 - 21, 2010 - Part I

emnbensdad · Post by **emnbensdad** » Apr Mon 19, 2010 6:11 am

I thought I would write a little bit about each day instead of trying to remember everything and write one big article at the end.

For those of you who don't know, the Disney Institute is a division of the Disney company that teaches you how to incorporate the Disney philosophy into your business plan in many areas. This program is on Disney's Approach to Quality Service. We are meeting/staying at the Boardwalk Inn. This is my first time inside the Inn. I've walked around the Boardwalk countless times so I'm familiar with the area.

I arrived in about 7 hours from Atlanta. I drove this time to save some money and have the flexibility of having a car should I need it. The weather was great on the way down. However, shortly after getting on the Fla. Turnpike, the rain came. It rained most of the rest of the day.

Our session began around 5:00. Our facilitators are Tom and a guy who works for Disney named . . . . Walt! How cool is that? We watched an intro video showing all the different companies that are under the Disney umbrella. It almost had a commercialized feel to it like they were trying to sell us something. But it was mainly used to introduce us to the different parts of the Disney family we may not have been aware of.

We discussed how our companies and Disney were alike, Tom and Walt laid the groundwork for the course, introduced ourselves to our classmates and then embarked on a trip to Epcot for dinner and a private viewing area where we could watch Illuminations. They took us by bus through the Cast Member entrance backstage. HUGE parking area just behind Test Track for a portion of the CM's. Our facilitator said the number of people represented by the cars is only about half of the cast needed to run Epcot on a normal day.

Dinner was in a private room over the Norway pavilion. Orange crusted chicken, mushroom risotto, ceasar salad, ratatouille, vegetable lasagna, assorted rolls and desserts. YUM!

Still raining, we headed to our viewing area and watched Illuminations. It makes me smile every time I watch. Most of my classmates were Illuminations newbies. It was neet seeing their reactions too.

Breakfast is at 7:30 this morning so I have to get going. I am meeting some family tonight at Boma for dinner following our session today. Part II tomorrow!

withspirit · Post by **withspirit** » Apr Mon 19, 2010 6:28 am

Wow! I wish the company I work for would do ANYTHING to make it more like Disney. (I'm having a rough week

)

I am looking forward to your nest installment!

Amy · Post by **Amy** » Apr Mon 19, 2010 7:18 am

This is interesting to read about! I too am looking forward to the next day's report ~ especially the food...that sounded like a yummy dinner!

Post by **Len90** » Apr Mon 19, 2010 9:44 am

Dave, I have no idea how you get so lucky and end up with these expense paid conferences and seminars in WDW. I definitely need to get a job in the company you are working at!

Really sounds like you have a full and enjoyable day. I really can't wait to read about part II. I know it will be amazing

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Apr Mon 19, 2010 7:45 pm

I'm in the wrong business!

Looking forward to more.

emnbensdad · Post by **emnbensdad** » Apr Wed 21, 2010 5:32 am

And of course all good plans go awry at some point. I planned on updating at the end of each day but here we are on Wednesday and I've not updated on Monday's or Tuesday's activities. Heading home after our session today (7 hour drive). I should get it updated tomorrow.

On a side note, I'm paying for this training myself. I'm doing it for my own personal development and in the hopes that one day I will be working for Disney.

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Apr Wed 21, 2010 12:46 pm

Can't wait for you catch up.

Let us know if you think it was money well spent on the seminar.

Post by **Len90** » Apr Wed 21, 2010 12:50 pm

emnbensdad wrote:And of course all good plans go awry at some point. I planned on updating at the end of each day but here we are on Wednesday and I've not updated on Monday's or Tuesday's activities. Heading home after our session today (7 hour drive). I should get it updated tomorrow.

On a side note, I'm paying for this training myself. I'm doing it for my own personal development and in the hopes that one day I will be working for Disney.

Wow I thought your company was sending you again. I am anxiously awaiting the full story!

Amy · Post by **Amy** » Apr Wed 21, 2010 1:05 pm

kcarts wrote:Can't wait for you catch up.

Let us know if you think it was money well spent on the seminar.

I would like to hear if you thought the seminar was worth the price too ~

emnbensdad · Post by **emnbensdad** » Apr Fri 23, 2010 7:01 pm

Amy wrote:
kcarts wrote:Can't wait for you catch up.

Let us know if you think it was money well spent on the seminar.
I would like to hear if you thought the seminar was worth the price too ~

For what you get to hear, what you get to see, what you get to sense while you are there, YES, it is totally worth the price. You are totally immersed in the experience. The food is fantastic, the facilitators are on top of their game, the perfect fit for the topic.

There is one more that I want to attend. The first course was Leadership Excellence. This was on Quality Service. The next is on People Management. Gotta start saving my pennies for that one. (If anyone would like to contribute to my cause, I'll be happy to share my address. Cash donations only.

hehehe)

emnbensdad · Post by **emnbensdad** » Apr Fri 23, 2010 8:42 pm

Rather than start a new topic on the other days, I'll just continue here.

Monday, Day 2

We start with breakfast, veggie frittata, sausage, bagels, juice, COFFEE. It was great. We talked about the activities and goals of the day and then we headed off on our first field experience of the day, the Magic Kingdom! The bus took us backstage behind Splash Mountain. We entered the park near the play area under the WDWRR station by Splash. We stopped to chat a bit there talking about the setting and the theming.

We made our way through Frontierland and into Liberty Square noticing the changes in architecture, colors, sounds, noting all the elements that support the Quality Service theme.

We made our way to the hub and down Main Street where we took a side exit. We were backstage making our way around the service vehicles, trash bins and before I knew it, we were entering a building. This was not just any ordinary building. It housed the access to the Utilidoors. Down 3 flights of stairs and we were "underground" . . . exposed pipes, electrical conduits, lockers, maintenance vehicles, offices, etc. No park music but evidence you were still connected to Disney. Posters, signage, displays still told us we were connected but this is an area where Cast Members do not have to be performing. You may not get the eye contact or the cheery "hello" that you normally expect when on stage. We also saw a certain character without his head on. Therapy started immediately.

We made our way back upstairs, back to the bus and then lunch at Whispering Canyon. That was a pleasant surprise. We then had a chat session with the head chef at Artist's Point, Gary Jones.

Back to class and then we had the evening on our own. I met some of my wife's family at Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner at Boma. LOVE the peanut rice and fufu. Great evening!

Post by **Len90** » Apr Fri 23, 2010 8:56 pm

emnbensdad wrote: We also saw a certain character without his head on. Therapy started immediately.

As you already knew I am very jealous that you got to see the utilidors. I have heard about how fascinating it is to see in real life.

I have been wondering how your therapy has been going after suffering such a traumatic event. Whatever you do, DON'T TELL YOUR KIDS!!!

emnbensdad · Post by **emnbensdad** » Apr Fri 23, 2010 9:00 pm

Told them. My daughter who is now 6, saw a zipper on the back of June's costume (Little Einsteins) and figured it out two years ago.

Therapy is fine. Since we couldn't take pictures the memory is fading.

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Apr Sat 24, 2010 12:08 pm

emnbensdad wrote:Told them. My daughter who is now 6, saw a zipper on the back of June's costume (Little Einsteins) and figured it out two years ago.

Therapy is fine. Since we couldn't take pictures the memory is fading.

I'd be more concerned about the reaction to Daddy being at WDW without them!

emnbensdad · Post by **emnbensdad** » Apr Sat 24, 2010 2:12 pm

kcarts wrote:
emnbensdad wrote:Told them. My daughter who is now 6, saw a zipper on the back of June's costume (Little Einsteins) and figured it out two years ago.

Therapy is fine. Since we couldn't take pictures the memory is fading.
I'd be more concerned about the reaction to Daddy being at WDW without them!

On the way home, I kept getting the question "Did you buy me anything?" I think as long as I came in the door with gifts they were okay with me being there without them.