Retired Disneyland Custodial Manager Ray Sidejas Part 3
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Show Notes for Episode 228
In this episode we welcome back retired Disneyland Custodial Manager. This is Part 3 of
our interview. Ray started at Disneyland in 1963, and worked his way up the ranks to
finally become in charge of all of Disneyland Custodial. Ray was the second Custodial
manager ever at Disneyland. Chuck Boyajian was hired by Walt Disney to start the
Custodial department in 1955, and Ray followed Chuck. So this is a very unique
perspective of Disneyland history you will not hear anywhere else. Plus get the latest in
Disneyland Resort Current Events.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Walt Disney World executive to lead Disneyland Resort
"Disney officials announced today that Josh D’Amaro, an executive at Walt Disney World in Florida, will take over as president of the Disneyland Resort, overseeing nearly 30,000 employees, two theme parks, three hotels and Downtown Disney retail and entertainment district.
D’Amaro, 46, takes over as the resort is poised for a major expansion, including construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land in Disneyland, a new, as-yet-unnamed, 700-room hotel to replace the ESPN Zone and Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney, a 6,500-space second parking structure on the site of the existing Pinocchio lot and the Pixar Pier district of Disney California Adventure, which replaces the existing Paradise Pier."
Orange County Register
Space Mountain fan gets the roller coaster’s 87-year-old designer to ride it one last time at Disneyland
"Bill Watkins, the guy who designed the ride at Space Mountain at Disneyland and was the first to take that ride, is 87. His routine these days consists of going to the grocery store, riding his bike around his Long Beach neighborhood and keeping detailed notes of his thoughts and activities. “Not much,” he said with characteristic brevity.
But Watkins recently made a new friend, Kyle King, 29, who showed up at Watkins’ condo as Watkins was carrying groceries. King once read an article about Watkins in the Long Beach Press-Telegram and had been a fan of Watkins’ work for many years. When he was a teenager, still living with his parents in Bixby Knolls, King built a miniature Space Mountain in the living room."
Orange County Register
Bill Watkins, Ride Engineer Behind Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Visits Disneyland Park
"Bill enjoyed a personal tour of Space Mountain and observed the operation, rode the attraction twice and met cast members. Now in his 80s, Bill contributed to a number of attractions at Disney Parks around the world and completed the first all-computer design of a Disney attraction with Space Mountain. He worked at Walt Disney Imagineering from 1966 to 1985, and oversaw mechanical design for the openings of Epcot and Tokyo Disneyland."
Disney Parks Blog
Why are there barricades along Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A?
"If you’re wondering why Disneyland’s Main Street is covered with wooden barricades, there’s a simple reason: The park is replacing the track that carries the iconic horse-drawn streetcars up and down the street."
Orange County Register
Disneyland Resort Horses Kick Up Their Hooves While Main Street, U.S.A., Enhancements Underway
"In the absence of regular shifts on Main Street, U.S.A., our four-legged cast members are following their usual routines in order to keep fit—both physically and mentally. Each horse has a schedule for grooming, bathing, driving, riding and ground work. However, they do have more time for play, which is an important part of being a horse. Horses, after all, are herd animals and it’s important for their well-being that they have time to be together. One way in which this is accomplished is through “turn-outs,” which is the horsey term for “playdates.” The horses are turned out in an enclosed arena, in groups of three or four, and they run together, kick up their heels and just move as a herd. Inevitably, each horse will find that perfect spot of ground on which to roll over and stretch their back and legs. Total relaxation, equine style."
Disney Parks Blog
Heads fell off Disney animatronic characters and people took videos of the carnage
Orange County Register
Disneyland Resort Update – Off With Their Heads!
Splitsville
"ToonTown at 25"
Sadly, ToonTown is long past its prime with perhaps the least satisfying mix of attractions in the entire park. On opening day there was a ball pit, a bounce house and a trolly which gave the land kinetic energy. All of those attractions are now gone or replaced by unsatisfactory bandaids. Chip ‘n Dale Treehouse is a pathetic experience these days. It is quite simply a boring spiral staircase up to a platform, with another staircase leading back down. Donald’s Boat is a poorly maintained walk-through with very little to see. Gadget’s Go Coaster is a super short slow-loading kiddie coaster which takes much longer to load into than the actual ride takes. Goofy’s Playhouse was a bounce house and is now just a space you can walk-through. Mickey’s House, along with Roger Rabbit are the real highlight of the land. But a Mickey Meet and Greet could be built elsewhere in the park and be just as successful. Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is a fantastic dark ride based upon a movie that most kids today have probably never seen. Not quite irrelevant to today’s youth, but getting close to that.
To make matters worse, the land is very difficult for Disney to maintain. The bright colors fade. The mountain murals which hide the backstage buildings are constantly in need of being repainting, the interactive elements are under constant assault of little hands. Is ToonTown overdue for the dip? Would you be sad to see it go or excited to have a Fantasyland or Star Wars expansion inside?"
MiceChat
Disney theme parks deliver as ‘Avatar’ outshines ‘Star Wars’
"Teeming crowds at Disney theme parks helped the world’s largest entertainment company deliver fiscal first-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates Tuesday. Profit at the company’s once-mighty TV business remains in retreat, and the film studio’s big comeback awaits a bigger slate of films, including “Black Panther” this month."
Orange County Register
Andrew Sutton sizzles at Disneyland’s 21 Royal
"Chef Andrew Sutton loves his job. For seventeen years, he helped revolutionize the dining scene in Anaheim."
Orange County Register
Disneyland Photo Update – Wally World
MiceChat
Disneyland Resort Update – Balls, Walls, and Pancakes
You can listen to show 228 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.
Updated: 2/10/2018