Join Nader Shokair, Rebecca Lumianski, Jeff B. Davis, Maria Blasucci, Sona Movsesian, Mark Felt, and Drew McWeeny as they discuss rule-breaking in theme parks. Topics include audition experiences, borrowing costumes, encounters with marijuana, challenging appearance rules, and the fear-based culture at Disney.
Breaking the rules can spark a movement and empower individuals to assert their individuality within the theme park industry.
The fear-based culture within Disney prioritizes adherence to rules over creativity, stifling innovation and boundary-pushing among employees.
Deep dives
Breaking the rules at the theme park
Former theme park employees discuss the thrill of breaking the rules and rebelling against the strict code of conduct in Disney and Universal Studios. The podcast highlights stories of rule-breakers, such as an Aladdin character stealing fruit off a cart, stealing costume pieces, bringing marijuana edibles into the park, and even an employee's infamous last day as Tigger, bouncing through the park and into a show. These stories shed light on the tension between creativity and adherence to rules within the theme park industry.
Wearing a wig to bypass dress code
A former Disney employee reveals how they creatively skirted the grooming regulations by wearing a wig. Understanding that the rules stated that employees wearing wigs couldn't be questioned, they used a wig to cover their long, non-compliant hair. This decision led to a confrontation with management, but it also sparked a movement among other cast members to assert their individuality.
Legendary theme park rule breakers
The podcast shares legendary stories of rule-breaking at theme parks, including a celebrity urinating on tourists during a production, a former Universal Studios tour guide disclosing a horrific tale involving Jan Michael Vincent, and the famous last day of an employee known as Nader, who defiantly bounced through the park as Tigger, causing a managerial frenzy. These stories highlight the unique characters and memorable instances that have become part of theme park lore.
The fear-based culture of Disney
There is a discussion about the fear-based culture within Disney, where adherence to rules is prioritized over creativity. Managers often reward those who conform and are risk-averse, leading to promotions that stifle creativity within the entertainment department. The podcast insinuates that this fear-based currency creates challenges for employees who want to push boundaries or think outside the box.
What about those rare theme park employees and guests that don't dutifully follow the rules? On this episode of Keys to the Kingdom, we're talking with the bad boys, the rebels, the wayward fuzzies and the defiant fans that stand up to the system despite the consequences. Guests include Nader Shokair, Rebecca Lumianski, Jeff B. Davis, Maria Blasucci, Sona Movsesian, Mark Felt, and Drew McWeeny.