So What? – Page 11 – Disney Brand Loyalty Keynote Speaker

Walt Disney World College Program Alumni answers

Disney Customer Service Keynote Speaker — 2012, Photo courtesy of University of Iowa

My email response in it’s entirety to the Walt Disney World Alumni Association questionnaire/profile request yesterday. It was fun to write and reminisce.

• • • • • •

Answers to the questions contained in your previous email. Thanks again…

Name? jeff noel

School? West Chester University

College program dates and role? Spring 1982, Jungle Cruise skipper

Where do you live and what do you do now? Have lived behind Magic Kingdom for 25 years and travel for work

Career success? Recently retired (early at 55) after 30 incredible years at WDW: 15 in Park/Resort Ops and 15 as a speaker at Disney Institute. Honored to receive both Partners In Excellence and the Walt Disney Legacy Award. Have my own speaking and business advising company now.

Fun fact? Have spoken to over one-million people globally through Disney Institute.

Gained during program? The realization that there was no place else in the world that i’d rather work and be a part of. The dedication to excellence and the Guest experience was the most amazing thing i’d ever experienced.

Tip for future Walt Disney World College Program Cast Members? You’ll get out of it what you put into it. Focus on building strong relationships.

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Hoping their meeting went well

First game of 500 Rummy — His very first game of 500 Rummy.

500 Rummy score sheet — It looked early on that i would crush him. He eventually won.

Hoping their meeting with the Board went well.

If it did, this is great news.

If it didn’t, well, this is also great news.

Why would both be great?

Because either way, we know where the Board stands.

Without knowing, next steps cannot be focused.

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Meg Crofton, President, Walt Disney Attractions, retires

Icon Walt Disney World symbol — Meg, and every Cast Member, knows exactly what this is, instantaneously.

Meg Crofton retired yesterday, June 1, 2015.

Looking forward to sitting down with her and catching up.

Can you imagine the pressure and time commitment required to be the President of Walt Disney Attractions?

Can’t wait to see what she has planned in retirement.

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Imagine the highs and lows of personal leadership

Windermere 2015 5k photos — Local artists create the t-shirt design – also used for big awards.

Left to right, first place, Mayor Gary, second, and third.

First and second were one second apart.

The third place finisher, Andrew, got beat last year by this year’s 50-59 winner.

After 1,100 seconds, imagine losing the coveted, overall winner spot by only one.

And then imagine an extraordinary, nearly three minute improvement from your time the previous year – that’s what Andrew accomplished.

Or take the 55-year old, running a time faster than he had set as a goal, and faster than when he was 10 years younger.

Leadership covets results.

It’s not the Magic that makes it work, it’s the work that makes it Magic.

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We worked at Disney’s Contemporary Resort back in the 1980’s

Disney's first Hotels under construction. — Had never seen a photo of this until the Facebook Group.

The Disney heritage stories are as common as the prolific sable palm trees (the Florida State Tree). The vintage Disney photos are often rare. Never saw the photo above until yesterday on the Facebook group, “We worked at the Contemporary back in the ’80’s“.

The Hotel rooms were constructed offsite, but still on Disney Property, by US Steel, in a modular fashion and literally slid into the large A-Frame structure.

The room construction was rumored to be so complete that the carpet was installed and even the light bulbs were screwed into the lamps.

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