This is the second of what I expect will be several consecutive Disney-themed posts as my family and I fit in a brief winter trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Today I learned:
1. It’s all about me: At ages 4 and 2 it is debatable if our kids will remember their first trip to disneyland.
The two year-old? No way.
The 4 year-old? Maybe.
Regardless of the kids memories, I will never forget the look in their eyes as we embarked on our first ride, The Finding Nemo Submarine. The unbridled laughter as they raced along the Autopia. The absolute terror as our 4 year old exited the Space Mountain Roller Coaster. The enthusiasm as they sang along on It’s a Small World.
Will they remember it? Who cares.
The build up and anticipation. The look in their eyes. The laughter. The fun. Today I learned that it doesn’t matter what they remember of this when they grow up, because it’s all about me of course.
2. Get the right people on the Tea Cups: Even before you get through the gates at Disneyland one thing becomes abundantly clear. They know culture, and they protect it voraciously by ensuring that they have the right people in every role, and that those people are empowered to do whatever they need to do to build lasting memories for the visitor.
It reminds me of a quote from Jim Collins in Good to Great, where he reflects on examples of truly great companies and their understanding of the importance of fit, and ensuring everyone is pulling in the same direction:
“We found…they first got the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats. And then they figured out where to drive it.”
Disney definitely has the right people on the bus, or in this case on the Tea Cups, Mark Twain’s Riverboat and Splash Mountain.
To a certain extent I expected that though. What surprised me is this appears to extend to other the businesses operating within the park and surrounding areas. The people in the hotel are beyond pleasant. Restaurant staff ooze enthusiasm. The shops in Downtown Disney are staffed with young kids that are the dream of any retailer.
As an example, think about the interaction you had with staff during your last visit to a fast food outlet.
Now picture this: A young teenager at Jamba Juice made me laugh twice, asked open ended questions about our day, and at the same time managed to up sell me in my selection. She made the occasion of buying a smoothy into an occasion. This is so unlike any other fast food experience I have ever had it is unreal.
It is clear Disney knows a lot about hiring and they are passing along what they know to those in and around the park. They have figured out that it is not enough to control the customer experience solely at your own touch points, but you need to manage the same thing at every point that the customer comes in contact with your brand.
Unbelievably, rather than coming across as an act, the people all seem genuinely happy to work here. I get the sense Disney, like other corporate culture leaders such as Zappos, is as much a lifestyle as a job for these people. It’s infectious. It’s impressive.
two things i learned today 