Hideo Amemiya

“Life is a journey, not a destination,�? said Hideo Amemiya, a thirty-year Cast Member and one of Disneyland’s most distinguished senior leaders.

Amemiya graduated from Rikkyo University in Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in social science, and the University of Massachusetts, with a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management.

He joined The Walt Disney Company in 1971 at the Polynesian Hotel at Walt Disney World. “When Walt Disney World opened, the Magic Kingdom and its operational standards were modeled after the original Disneyland in California,�? Amemiya recalled. “However, Disney had never operated a hotel, so it took some time for true Disney philosophy to become integrated into a hotel operation.�?

Amemiya was director of resort operations at Walt Disney World in Florida when he joined the first Tokyo Disneyland team. “I assisted both Disney and the Oriental Land Company (owner and operator of Tokyo Disneyland) during the negotiations to ensure that there was a clear understanding on both sides. I also assisted WDI in discussions with our artists and designers for a clearer understanding of the Japanese culture so that the portrayals of the culture could be properly produced.�?

He went on to executive positions at Disney resorts in his native Japan and then in Anaheim. Prior to his promotion in 2000 to senior vice president of Disneyland Resort Hotels, he was vice president and general manager of the Disneyland Hotel. In his final role, he was in charge of operations and of the 7,000 employees at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.

He was known as a man of wit, energy and vision whose enthusiasm for Disney projects never flagged. His zeal was so contagious; he never had trouble getting people on board his projects. An active community member, Amemiya was involved with many business and civic organizations, serving on the board of directors of the Anaheim Visitor and Convention Bureau and the Anaheim Hotel-Motel Association.

Amemiya died in February 2001, of complications from an aneurysm.

Tony Bruno’s voice broke as he spoke of Amemiya’s untimely death. As his widow took the stage, there was warm applause. She spoke softly of the support her husband had received over the years from friends and colleagues. She mentioned that coming from Japan, with English as a second language, had made communication difficult at times. “This really belongs to his friends,�? she said, concluding, “God bless you all and thanks for coming today.�?

Before Dick Cook brought out Ron Dominguez for the next introduction, he said, “If you want to know the definition of Disney, just talk to Mary Anne Mang.�? The studio chief assured the crowd she just “oozed�? Disney magic.

Mary Anne Mang

In 1960, Mary Anne Mang wrote a letter to Walt Disney asking for a job. Walt received many such letters, but just as with Mary Anne herself, there was something special about that letter, and she was offered a position.

Mary Anne began her long and distinguished career in the newly established sales promotion department at the Disneyland Hotel. A year later she moved to Disneyland, and worked in the Convention & Tour Sales department, and in 1972, became the first woman to be promoted to the position of manager.

For eight years, Mary Anne served as Public Relations manager, hosting royalty, celebrities, and other special Guests as they visited the Magic Kingdom. She also became a strong advocate for Disneyland Park as a community supporter. “Walt Disney was clear in his wishes that his Park and its Cast Members should always strive to give something back to the surrounding community,�? she says. This made community relations an integral part of her role in Public Relations.

One of her notable and personally fulfilling accomplishments has been the Disneyland Creativity Challenge Program, which she helped found. This program recognizes junior and senior high school students who are interested in the creative and fine arts disciplines.

Mary Anne was a fundamental in the consolidation of all of the employee public service efforts into the Company-wide VoluntEars program, and its mission to develop opportunities for Disney employees to contribute their time, expertise, and effort to make a positive impact on the community, while furthering the traditions and ideals of The Walt Disney Company.

In addition to her responsibilities at Disneyland, Mary Anne has been dedicated to serving her community in other capacities. She has served on the board of directors of several Orange County civic organizations, including the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim, and the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County. She has also been a member of a number of local councils and committees, including the Anaheim Arts Council, Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Women's Division, Anaheim Memorial Hospital Medical Center Governing Board, and Susan Komen Foundation.

Mary Anne retired from the company in 1994. On that occasion, California Congressman Hon. Robert K. Dornan said, “Throughout her entire career, Mary Anne Mang has exhibited extraordinary leadership, skill, and professionalism. She has been a wonderful role model for her coworkers and an exemplary inspiration and role model to us all. I sincerely hope that her influence will linger at Disney and in her community and that her future holds as many joyful and fulfilling days as her past.�?

In her acceptance, Mang said, “This is really an honor for me.�? She went on to say, “You know, I really lived my dreams.�? She reserved special thanks for Walt Disney, saying that if he were alive today, she would thank him for all the years of memories, firmly asserting, “It was an E ride all the way.�?

The next recipient, “Indian�? Aramaki, had passed away just two weeks before the ceremony.

Hideo “Indian�? Aramaki

In 1964, Hideo “Indian�? Aramaki was offered the job as chef of the Disneyland Tahitian Terrace. “I took a cut in pay,�? Aramaki says, “but when I saw the cleanliness of the kitchen, the equipment and the way things were run, I was happy.�? Two years later he was promoted to executive chef over all the food establishments in Disneyland, a post he held until his retirement in 1985.

Aramaki played semi-pro baseball in 1935 with the Cleveland Indians. They dubbed him “Indian�?—the same nickname he had been given by boyhood pals in his town of Puunene, Hawaii. Many years later, Walt Disney asked Aramaki if he was actually Indian, and he replied that he was Japanese. But Disney liked the nickname and ordered a new nametag for Aramaki. To this day, he is one of the only Disneyland employee who has been allowed to wear a tag with a nickname.

Considering the awards and honors that Indian gathered over the years, it’s hard to believe this culinary expert had had no formal training. In fact, the long road to his career as a chef began humbly enough soon after his graduation from high school, in the sugar cane fields of Maui, where he went to work to help support his family.

Though Indian was considered twice for the major leagues, he never made it because of racial barriers at that time. When World War II broke out, Indian and his wife, Keiko, were interned in Poston, Arizona. Finally, because Indian’s brother was in the Army infantry, they were released from the camp.

After a brief stay in New York, Indian moved to Chicago, where he began his career in the kitchen. “Imagine a Japanese named Indian starting a Jewish-Chinese restaurant on Chicago’s south side,�? he chuckles. “I didn’t know much about cooking, but my wife did.�? But Indian proved to be a quick study. The family soon moved back to California when Indian was appointed executive chef of the Kono Hawaii Restaurant in Santa Ana.

Then he came to Disneyland, where he cooked for numerous celebrities and visiting dignitaries such as Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako of Japan.

Though Indian had no formal training of his own, he helped to train many other chefs, including several at Tokyo Disneyland and Epcot. Even though the food is produced in quantity, he emphasized the need to maintain uniformity and high standards. “Simple, good food cooked and served right,�? he says. That’s the main thing.�?

“Never stop learning,�? he was quick to add. “Always try to do better.�?

Indian passed away on September 7, 2005.

Aramaki’s son David accepted on behalf of his father. In his colorful aloha shirt, he smiled and recalled the first time his dad cooked for Walt Disney. Was it a special creation, he eagerly asked? “No,�? his dad replied. “All he wanted was a bowl of chili.�?

In his introduction to Bill Sullivan, Ron Dominguez noted that they were fellow Anaheim High School classmates.