Summer Jobs for Youth at Disneyland

My wife and I were quite touched by Bob Secter’s article regarding the demise of the glory years of Disneyland employment. As both of us financed our college education by working “in the park,” we naturally fell victim to a wave of nostalgia.

We began our hourly careers in the early 1970s, my wife as a purveyor of popcorn and ice cream and I as a sweeper of same. It was a job of which we were both proud. Indeed, Disneyland was quite fussy with whom they hired.

Disneyland was a special place at that time. It really wasn’t work, although we were always tired at the end of the day (or night). Our shift was simply an eight-hour period between the beach and the latest party. Sleep was optional. There was usually no time for it.

We made lots of friends and all of us have wonderful memories of our crazy summer antics. Even though most of us have moved on to the business of children and mortgage payments, we can still be found at social occasions in conversations that begin with, “And do you remember the time that we. . . “ To this day, all of our closest friendships can be traced to a Disney origin. In fact, almost all of the marriages originated with a chance meeting at the park.

It is a shame that the current generation of young people feels that Disneyland is a less than desirable place to work. If our experiences are any indication, they are missing an opportunity to work and play and maybe develop friendships that will last a lifetime.

KEN SWIFT

NANCY SWIFT

Santa Ana