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Project Information

WALT DISNEY WORLD c/o The Walt Disney Company

Attraction Operations Cast Member
Part-time
Jul 2021 – present
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
• Walt Disney World [returned to assist the resort during pandemic recovery and 50th anniversary celebration]
– Attractions Host; Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Sunset Boulevard (Aug 2022 – present)
Fully trained operational proficiencies (Sunset Boulevard land trained) for attractions The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith including theatre shows Fantasmic! at Hollywood Hills Amphitheater (grand re-opening team Nov 2022), Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy at Sunset Showcase (permanently closed Oct 2024), Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage at Theater of the Stars and Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After at Sunset Showcase (opening team May 2025)
– Events Host (special seasonal shifts); Disney Springs crowd control for Disney Dreams That Soar Presented by AT&T Nighttime Drone Show (2024) and Magic Kingdom treat distribution for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
– Attractions Host; Magic Kingdom, Fantasyland (Jul 2021 – Aug 2022)
Fully trained operational proficiencies for attractions including Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Barnstormer featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini (both within Storybook Circus) and Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid 

Merchandise Host / Production Crew
Casual Temporary (Seasonal)
Jan 1991 – Dec 1996
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
• Walt Disney World Casual Temporary [worked at least one week annually] 
– Merchandise Host, Retail; EPCOT Center and other park/resort locations
– Production Assistant; The All New Mickey Mouse Club (TV Series – worked summer 1991) – Documentation (PDF)

Merchandise Host
College Program (Paid Internship)
Sep 1990 – Jan 1991
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
• Walt Disney World College Program [auditioned and selected with another student out of 200+ applicants from Widener University] 
– Merchandise Host, Retail; EPCOT Center, World Showcase Plaza – Documentation (PDF)
– Disney University; Studio Production Curriculum

Documentation

Letter of Performance – Walt Disney World College Program 1990

PDF

Legacy

My response to Disney's questions recognizing the embodiment of DREAM – CREATE – INSPIRE

PDF
My Disney Christmas Card of 2023 depicted my many costumed roles.

During my tenure at Fantasyland attractions, I received unofficial coordinator shadowing to learn internal processes of Cast Deployment System and Ops Sheet logistics. I always enjoy knowing how things work.  During the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration, my story was featured on the cast member site.

FUN FACT

The most enjoyable job I've had so far at any theme park has been Tower of Terror. I first rode the attraction on April 18, 1997.

Cast Life - My Walt Disney World College Program allowed me to meet so many diverse people from around the country and across the globe.
I received the highest honor certificate on completion of my Walt Disney World College Program. Ralph Clemente was the instructor with learning sessions in classroom and on location.
Vista Way apartments for WDW College Program students was the hub of social interaction. I had taken this particular nighttime picture on 35mm film.
I would visit the complex years later to relive those happy memories.
I was given a special tour backstage of the Adventure's Club on December 20, 1990.

I was given many opportunities to tour backstage attractions and operations.  In 1990/91, I was given personal tours of the Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom) and The Maelstrom (EPCOT’s Norway boat ride).  By request, I was shown around a special room within the utilidors below the Magic Kingdom nicknamed DACS.  This Digital Animation Control System was the heartbeat for park operations.  With a little persistence, I was given a private tour for the technical operations of lasers and pyrotechnics for EPCOT’s IllumiNations from atop the Mexican Pavilion.  Years later in 2023, I was also granted a tour of the complete technical operation of Fantasmic! including the control room, each island tier, boats and additional areas for entertainment, costuming and maintenance.

As a curious person, I enjoy behind the scenes information. I got to spin Steamboat Willie's ship wheel while on a special backstage tour of Fantasmic!

Theme park workers often are given the opportunity to experience a ride or show before the general public. I rode Splash Mountain (1992) and again when it was rethemed years later to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (2024), both times before the attraction was available to regular park guests.  I have also experienced previews prior to grand openings for other attractions including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run.

Tremendous Disney memories throughout the years are still maintained in my archives.
Standing in front of Walt Disney's home located at 355 Carolwood Drive in Los Angeles. I also visited The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank and Disneyland in Anaheim. The T-shirt was a gift from my Norwegian friends of The Maelstrom attraction at EPCOT.
While in San Fransico, I visited The Walt Disney Family Museum within The Presidio October 2014.
As a photographer, I've taken many creative pictures of the parks. This is Fantasyland, the heart of the magic, taken on 35mm film in 1991.
I took this photograph prior to park open in 1991. Over the years, I have witnessed castle transformations from a giant birthday cake to EARidescent magic.
I have done many photoshoots across Walt Disney World property. Fireworks are fun to shoot.

Disney was always a popular vacation destination for my family while growing up. I distinctly remember seeing Spaceship Earth still under construction through the trees from a roadway.  As a boy, I visited Walt Disney World and Disneyland many times. Once after a show performance at Walt Disney World’s Tomorrowland Terrace, I met musician Michael Iceberg during an August 1981 visit. This is where I was first exposed to electronic music through keyboards and synthesizers. Although I was only a young boy at the time, Iceberg gave me his undivided attention and business card. That magical moment and level of respect meant a lot.

Clint Dantinne Photography – While at Fantasyland, I additionally assisted at various checkpoints for park opening, crowd control, guest relations and special events including Fireworks & Nighttime Entertainment (Disney Enchantment, Fourth of July Celebration and New Year’s Eve), Disney After Hours Boo Bash, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Clint Dantinne Photography – From Fantasyland attractions, I transferred in August 2022 to Disney’s Hollywood Studios Sunset Boulevard beginning with the attraction The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. I also was selected to work on the theatre attraction re-opening team for Fantasmic! Later, I would be trained for Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy then Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After at Sunset Showcase, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage at Theater of the Stars.

Clint Dantinne Photography – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has been my favorite attraction to work for its sophisticated and creative ride design. Many guests have asked to get their pictures taken with me in the bellhop costume, making me feel somewhat like a minor character celebrity. Incidentally, my bellhop trench coat came from the former ride at Disneyland – Disney California Adventure.

It was fun to be on the Fantasmic! opening team. The shows closed during the global pandemic to reopen a couple years later with a reimagined show.

I treat every guest like a VIP. I have met countless thousands of guests and cast members with many memorable encounters. From acknowledging a guest’s birthday or first visit to honoring the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company, celebrating is the center of the magic.  I had work opportunities to celebrate New Year’s Eve at EPCOT, Magic Kingdom and the Studios… The Most Magical Place on Earth.

I met Josh D’Amaro, future Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, at the IAAPA Expo in 2021 and gave him a personalized thank you card of encouragement.

While working during the early 1990s, I met thousands of guests including comedian Gallagher and Philadelphia radio personality John Lander. Disney executives Michael Eisner (CEO) and Frank Wells (COO) walked right past me one day.  Both guest and cast member interactions are the best part of the job!

While on the WDW College Program, I primarily worked at the gift shop pictured here on the waterfront. I took the photo and added an inspirational question to myself.

My primary work location on the college program was at EPCOT Center at the Towers – Port of Entry WEST and Disney Traders EAST). I had one of the best work locations on Disney property. The Towers were a bit inside and outside. Every day I saw the cavalcade (Character Carnival) and each night a fireworks and laser show (IllumiNations). Sometimes I would work the merchandise carts and ‘Glow’ prior to the fireworks show.

I worked additional merchandise locations including Magic Kingdom (Emporium on Main Street USA), Disney-MGM Studios (Golden Age, Star Tours, Indy Cart) and Pleasure Island (Avigator’s).

"It has been a pleasure and privilege to be a part of Walt's dream."
Clint Dantinne
Cast Member

FUN FACT

My first Walt Disney World guest visit was as a young boy in December 1975 (My first time to Disneyland was summer that same year). Additionally, I was born on the EXACT day construction began to create Walt's Florida Project.

Date:

2021-07-09

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