First half of Leadership Speakers' Series!

Part of my program here at Disneyland involves taking at least one class through Disney University. A handful of courses were offered to us, varying from actual collegiate courses with homework to a speakers' series. I chose to take the latter, the Leadership Speakers' Series. Each week, a leader from a different area of the resort comes into class to talk about what they do, how they got there, and take questions from the class.

It's been a fascinating experience altogether.We've heard from everyone from the manager of Resort Enhancement to Jon Storbeck, VP of Disneyland Park.We've heard some information I can't truly repeat in this blog as well,since it has to do with financial information about the resort.

But, some of the interesting things I've heard that I can say are:

• The most expensive attraction in Disneyland Resort to upkeep is "California Screamin'", a roller coaster in California Adventure
• Disneyland cost $17 million to build in 1955, or, in today's dollars, $84 million
• In comparison, "Tower of Terror" cost $100 million to build
• Resort Enhancement is a really fun department. They are not only in charge of decorations around the park, but props inside attractions (such as the apple in the Old Hag's hand on the "Snow White's Scary Adventures" ride, which guest frequently steal)
• The resort Horticulture Department does all their work from midnight to park opening. Much of the transformations of planters and such have to happen over night. The manager we spoke to was a really great lady - she got her start just because she was an avid gardener and applied for a job for the heck of it. She thought she was really under qualified, and still got the position. She said everything from the Mickey floral planter out front to the smallest of bushes on the Rivers of America are cared for and have specific requirements
• Industrial Engineering is a actually a really fun sounding profession. The two women who came in to talk to us even had us work through problems with them so we could understand exactly what they do - which is make sure attractions and their lines are moving efficiently, and that there are the proper amount of restaurants, bathrooms and other amenities.
• How much money it takes to do even the seemingly tiniest things, like a display in a window on Main Street, is astronomical.

I've got a few more classes left, including this week's speakers from the Special Events department. I'm particularly excited about this one, and will hopefully be able to get contact information from them and speak to them more outside of class. This is the department I really want to get into with Disney, so wish me luck! :)