Awesome 50th Occasions at Disneyland and the Oscars

“. . . all occasions invite his mercies, and all times are his seasons.”

-- John Donne
LXXX Sermons 3, preached on Christmas Day, 1625

Like most people, I have always loved my parents very deeply and appreciate all of the things that they had done for me. I wanted to return the favor. In a small way, entertaining them was such an opportunity. Many times I had exceptional chances to entertain them in a grand style at little extra cost. Let me recount two of those experiences.

My Mom was turning 50 that day. I had arranged a business trip’s timing so I could be in Los Angeles that night and asked her to join me for dinner along with my sister and some of my other relatives. My Dad had to work and couldn’t join us that night. So he told me that I was in charge. On arriving at the Beverly Hilton, I discovered it was also Oscar night there and the hotel was overflowing. The front desk clerk apologized for not having the room I had requested available. It turns out that many stars book rooms in the hotel rather than returning home after the ceremonies, so the hotel was packed. He asked if I would mind taking a suite instead next to the pool. I graciously agreed. The restaurants were also overbooked and couldn’t handle a group our size. I talked to the maitre d’ at the main restaurant before the dinner rush began and explained that it was my Mom’s birthday. He kindly agreed to have waiters bring down dishes from the regular menu for us in the suite. Someone came and took our orders, and the serving staff shuttled back and forth thereafter. As we dined overlooking the pool, the Oscar nominees and other guests arrived in droves and we had an ideal seat to watch them. To this day, my mother thinks that that night set me back thousands. Actually, it was just the cost of a normal dinner in Beverly Hills. But to her it was worth millions.

Having set a high standard for family events, I felt a certain pressure when the date of my parent’s 50^th wedding anniversary approached. My parents didn’t make it any easier when they said that they wanted to do something that everyone in the family could enjoy . . . including our then six-year-old daughter. I asked them if they would like to go to Disneyland, and they agreed. They were pleased to go there because it would not cost anything to go. Everyone in the family had an annual passport allowing unlimited visits.

But it turned out to be quite different from any other trip to Disneyland they had experienced before. I called Disneyland’s information number and asked to be connected to the people who handle special events. After being switched around a few times, I described my parents’ plans to someone who was knowledgeable and asked what could be arranged for them at Disneyland. I was told firmly and politely that Disneyland had a policy that no special activities are provided in such cases. But I could arrange for special entertainment at the Disneyland Hotel. The catering department at the hotel quickly helped me arrange for a dinner in a private room, complete with a wedding cake . . . and with Minnie Mouse, our daughter’s favorite Disney character, present in the familiar mouse suit.

I still wanted to do something special at Disneyland. Then I thought of something. About two years before I had worked with executives from one of our client companies, Kraft Foods, to hold a site visit at Walt Disney World to explore the famous Disney human resources methods. While there, I met executives from Disney University, the portion of the company that helps prepare all new employees to become the service stars that we have all enjoyed meeting at the various Disney operations.

I called one of the executive’s office at Disney University and explained what I wanted to do to that person’s assistant. The assistant said that something might be arranged, and suggested I call one of the operating people in charge of security at Disneyland and use her name. She gave me the right name to contact and number. I called and explained my purpose. The woman I spoke with immediately offered arrangements to make this a special day.

Upon arriving in the park, we went to security and picked up our own guide who took us to the train station on Main Street. When the next train pulled in, we noticed that it had a private car at the end called the Lily Belle. This car had been put on special for us. It had been used to ferry Walt Disney himself around the park when he was alive.

After being escorted on board the Lily Belle, my parents were amazed to find an autographed photograph of the whole family in a lovely golden frame. Our contact in security had arranged for us to put this together in advance and to place the photograph on board before we arrived. Since my dad had retired from the Santa Fe Railway, the original sponsor of this ride at Disneyland, this experience had special meaning for him.

After a circuit around the park, our guide asked us where we wanted to go next. I had been prompted to say “Frontierland” in our advance planning with the security staff. Once there, we were escorted to the Pepsi Playhouse for the live stage show, one of my Dad’s favorite parts of Disneyland. But Dad didn’t know that the actors had been tipped off. Pretty soon, the heroine of the show was sitting in his lap and leaving large lipstick stains all over his face. My mother could barely stop laughing as the actress pretended to try to steal Dad from Mom. Everyone then serenaded Mom and Dad in honor of their anniversary.

My parents also loved the parades that Disney puts on twice a day. Little did they know that they would be guests of honor at one of the parades that day. So later, after much indirection, we arrived at our own private viewing area for that afternoon’s parade. My mother and father beamed more than all the neon lights in Las Vegas could have matched.

And what did Disneyland charge for this amazing experience? Not one penny.

The people were just delighted to have helped a couple have a wonderful 50^th wedding anniversary. Wouldn’t you do the same if you had the chance?

You may think that you have to be well connected to accomplish these things. No one at the Beverly Hilton knew me from Adam. Both events were mostly serendipity . . . plus people being sympathetic to wanting to help someone celebrate their 50^th birthday or 50^th wedding anniversary. Chances are that while you might not get Disneyland’s attention in the way that I was immensely fortunate to do, you will probably succeed in getting someone else’s attention who will help you create something special. I suggest that you call the places where you would like to hold your event, and ask if there are any special services available for those who are having birthdays or anniversaries that can be provided for free or at low cost. Tell your story . . . and keep telling it . . . and chances are someone will bend over backwards to help you. Naturally, if you have any friends, neighbors, relatives or acquaintances who work at or are otherwise connected to any place you'd like to go, ask them for their advice about how to proceed.

Donald W. Mitchell, Your Dream Concierge

Copyright 2005 Donald W. Mitchell

This blog's entries begin on May 14, 2005. By reading backward through the prior posts, you will eventually see an index to all the posts. You can achieve the same result by clicking on the button for the May 2005 archive of my posts which can be found in the right hand column.