Finding out that I'd spend an extended period in the park as part of my training (in a costume, as a street cleaner, a ride operator, security, retail, etc.) was odd, but understandable, because this was pre-Eisner Disney and there really was a Disney culture that you had to learn (or so I was told).
However, as a child growing up in LA, I'd probably been to Disneyland 15 times and was still bright-eyed and innocent about the Disneyland and Disney World parks themselves. The tours under the park and the tour behind the Main Street buildings was a shock. Man, that place generates trash, and the number of stuffed characters being shuttled underground from retail outlet to retail outlet is amazing.
At the parade staging area, Goofy had his head off and held under one arm, with part of his upper costume pulled down over his shoulders (he was wearing a "wife-beater" t-shirt) and was sharing a cigarette with Snow White. Apparently, either smoking in costume (even with your head off and hidden in the staging area) or wearing the t-shirt, was a MAJOR no-no. The executive riding with me in the double-seater golf cart made the driver stop. He lectured Goofy and Snow White (out of earshot).
The tour ruined Disney's mystique for me. I've taken my kids to Disney World six to eight times since then and every time I see Goofy or Snow White in the parade, I picture wife-beater Goofy passing the butt to Snow White so she can take a long, deep drag.
marker Bump
Since that tour, I have absolutely no desire to even visit the Orlando area. Once you've seen the 'World" from backstage, it quickly loses all the charm and I see it little better than the wallet vacuums called 'casinos'.
Last week there one of the cast members told me that he park was sold out - - 75,000 people there.
They must have one hell of a sewage disposal system.
ROFL, what a story!!! Love the image!