From 74.99.87.236 on June 29, 2009 at 11:11 AM
us at busch gardens williamsburg are considered seasonal and dont get any pay increase for overtime.

From 67.37.163.106 on June 29, 2009 at 11:26 AM
I have heard of extending your shifts like that from Cast Members on the tours at WDW. I would agree that working in one area the entire day could get a bit crazy!

I wonder if this still is going on with the economy being in the tank and Disney, along with other theme parks, cutting back.

From Anthony Murphy on June 29, 2009 at 11:28 AM
The mystery person is me(not busch person). I forgot to log in :)

From Raymond Sydowski on June 29, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Good lord, this takes me back. I was never a part of this particular rat race (I was a part-timer), but I watched in amazement as people regularly balanced 60-80 hour work weeks when they could get the hours.

I've seen people emerge from their cars at westclock, having slept their the night before. Thank god for the showers in the utilidors.

From Dan Babbitt on June 29, 2009 at 4:31 PM
This has nothing to do about the Fourth but my brother volunteered to work at the MK 24 straight hours! There was a hurricane and the needed cast to stay and prepare for the storm and to assits with any repairs or such. He said he really didnt do anything but he got to take the Speedway cars of the track and have the govenors taken off the cars. He slept on a couch in Tommarrowland.

I havent worked a Fourth yet but I did do Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years! Each day I workd at least 12 hours. I do have to say it was the best days I have worked for WDW!

From tyler bell on June 29, 2009 at 8:16 PM
This isnt about the fourth.My dad used to work at Hollywood Studios Disney World.He said that one day he and his friend were eating lunch, and he saw Michael Jackson walking with four bodygaurds MJ acknowleged him and my dad waved back to him.He wanted to go walk over there to him but he didnt know how the gaurds would react

From TH Creative on June 30, 2009 at 2:10 AM
I don't really have a story. But every time Mr. Niles posts that photo I just have to remark how awesome it must have been to get such a cool photo of Elton John walking around the Magic Kingdom ... with a big spool of rope.

From James Rao on June 30, 2009 at 6:21 AM
I agree with TH, that Elton John photo is awesome! I would love to hear the story behind his visit to the park! ;)

From Elizabeth Gray on June 30, 2009 at 7:12 AM
While I am not a Theme Park Employee I worked in the National Park System for many years. Working overtime on the 4th of July was always good money. I often worked a day off and got double time plus the Holiday dif. I also worked the museum at the National Archives in DC which on a good day in the summer has 5000 people (mostly 8th graders) in a very small space. However on the 4th it was usually double that and we had re-enactors and booths. You have to learn to keep smiling.

However the greatest was working for the Park Service in 2000 and having to work the Capitol Lawn concert in DC. The one they broadcast on PBS. That year the headliner was Ray Charles. The producers need the stage guarded while he performed but wanted "friendly faces". They pulled the Park Service staff doing crowd control to do this. There I was center stage with Ray Charles behind me singing "America the Beautiful" and then the fireworks went off as he sang. It was one of the coolest moments of my life and I was being paid for it. Awesome!

From Robert Niles on June 30, 2009 at 8:26 AM
Great story, Elizabeth.

I posted that pic 'cause I knew it would elicit a touch of snark from TH. Dependable, as always....

From William Clark on June 30, 2009 at 10:09 AM
I have never worked for any theme park but I've been a guest at Magic Kingdom many times. We, my wife and I, always arrive right at opening, 9am. On the days we attend and there is a party like the Halloween Party, we get there at 9 am and don't leave until after midnight. 15 hours in the park often goes by very quickly for us. However it must be tough on folks working those long hours. Even after midnight though the cast members are still perky and smiling and courteous to us. I always try to respond in kind and thank at least one individually and tell them that we had a great day and that we appreciate their efforts. It's then that they smile with their eyes and thank us for coming.

From TH Creative on June 30, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Honestly, that pic needs to be printed on t-shirts and sold in the TPI retail; section.

Two words: "Like Hotcakes!"

From parker reave on July 1, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Yep. Overtime and double pay. I love the big holidays working at theme parks.

From Larry Zimmerman on July 3, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Great story, Robert. Makes me second guess my decision to work for the government instead of Disney...

Oh, and Elton John never had that much hair!