Reliving Fond Memories
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The Zoo
By David Mink

 PART I: Putting on the Dog

One of the joys in life is the unexpected twists and turns along the journey. This spin, though unplanned, turned out to be the right direction, a choice still causing me to smile now, 15 years later.

Allow me to explain…

In 1983 I was attending college. One day in the student lounge I picked up the school paper. I had been toying with the idea of becoming an editorial cartoonist, and wanted to see if the paper carried any. Instead I found a large ad. It was advertising for people to work for Disneyland, the happiest place on earth. I had always loved Disneyland, but had never really thought of working there. I lived about an hour away, so the drive to and from was not thrilling me in any way. However the lure of working at my favorite childhood place was too much for me. I called the number, making an appointment to see someone in "casting" the following week.

Wearing my best "interview clothes" I drove out to Anaheim. I filled out the job application and waited, listening to muzak Disney classics. A perky woman brought myself and two other applicants into a small office. She started asking us why we wanted to work at Disneyland. What experience do we bring to the job? Disney is very picky about who they hire (she went on) so she wanted to ask each of us some questions about what we would do in certain situations. We each had our "One Minute Manager" answers. I guess my answers weren't perky or "Disney" enough. The other two were admitted to the Magic Kingdom; I was turned away.

Stunned, I slouched to the exit. This whole experience made no sense to me. The perky woman suggested that Saturday a tryout was being held for the character department. She handed me a flyer, telling me it’s location and where to park. I thanked her for the flyer, then got back on the freeway for the long drive home.

Character department? Hopping around in a Baloo suit? I brooded on this for the whole week. I had never given the characters a serious thought. Hell, I don't think I even dealt with them at all when I went to Disneyland. I would see them around the park, playing with children, taking pictures. I have a memory of captain hook on his pirate ship at Fantasyland, rapping a beat with his hook on the trashcan. Would I want to do that?

Well, I knew the answer because I found myself back in my interview clothing, driving to the tryout. I had no clue was to expect. I just hoped the interview process wasn’t too long this time.

The audition was in one of the parade warehouses on the backlot behind Small World. The place was filled with dancers, in tights and sweats; stretching or chatting animatedly while standing in quasi-ballet poses (I figure this is so anyone still wondering will know they are Professional Dancers). I was so out of place in my saddle shoes. I thought of heading back, but decided to stick around. I still had no idea what was in store.

A couple of bouncy choreographers ran the tryout. Behind them were other people taking notes. First we were taught a choreography routine from the parades. We memorized it to perform with the music. A simple routine, but for my inexperienced feet, it was quite a chore. Also sweating in dress clothes is always a drag. I wish I had some loose shirts and shorts. The dancers barely broke a sweat. When the music stopped they fell back into their groups, laughing between gum pops. I looked at the clock on the wall behind the note takers. This tryout was going to take awhile.

Next we were placed in groups, and the note-takers lectured about being "in character". We were instructed to imitate the mannerisms of a particular character, without speaking, for a few minutes. My group was called to act like Bashful presenting flowers to Snow White. I had grown up watching the Disney movies, and had an active interest in animation as a career. I knew about cartoon movement so I was in stronger water here.

At the end of the day cuts were made. Those who survived were told to come back the next day. I figured this would be the end of me. I hadn't come prepared, and though I thought I performed reasonably I was no actor and definitely no dancer. Imagine the look on my face when I was asked to come back!

The next day we worked in costumes. Learning dance routines again, interacting with other audition. As Tweedle Dee, I had to interact with Tweedle Dum going through a series of emotions/moods ("Now be angry. Now be scared. Chase a butterfly around the room. . .")

We were assured by the Note-takers we all did fine, and would hear from them sometime next week. They would tell us then whether we had the job or not.

I had never gone to an audition before. It was a lot of hard work. I don’t envy actors and dancers if this is what they go through every time they want to land a job. My only consolation was that I walked behind the scenes of Disneyland, though it was only where parades are stored and live shows rehearsed.

Four days later came the phone call. Welcome to the Disney family!! I was the newest member of the Character Department. Orientation was the following week, then I could start working. I got in! Happy dances, the foolish dance of the innocent and naïve…

I had no idea what I was in for….

NEXT: Sunday in the park with fur…

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-- David Mink

-- Posted October 16, 2002