Mariah Beachboard

For my sister and me, Walt Disney World was the penultimate of all theme parks. As children, we oozed envy anytime one of our friends went to Disney World. We hated the nonchalant manner in which frequent visitors to Disney spoke of their experiences there. How could they be so matter-of-fact about their visit to Paradise itself? When our parents surprised us with Disney World tickets, we were well into young adulthood. This, however, did not keep us from literally crying with joy when we drove through the gates. Our parents successfully heightened the experience by making us wait longer than any of our friends to go to Disney.

The fascinating thing about the trip for me came from the fact that the park's employees seemed genuinely joyful and very interested in our happiness. Their attitude was a far cry from that of the employees at our local amusement park: King's Dominion, where the depressing employees displayed a surly attitude. Subsequently, when we discussed going to King's Dominion, we felt bored. When we discussed Walt Disney World, we felt awed, and not just because they had better rides.

I am happy to report that, since a change of management, King's Dominion has improved dramatically. My husband and I recently visited the place on a date, and we could not believe the extent of the improvement. The most remarkable change was from the employees. As we waited in line to ride the most popular roller coaster, the supervisor led us in rounds of "If you're happy and you know it..." over the PA system. Then, she sang a creepy song right before the roller coaster blasted off, and helped make an incredible memory for us. Now I do not mind waiting another fifteen years for my own children to be old enough to visit Walt Disney World.

Do the employees at theme parks affect your experience?

Graphic Credit:
Animationfactory.com