While working as a part of the Walt Disney World College Program back in the summer of 1999, I worked the Outdoor Food wagons in the Magic Kingdom and really loved what Disney had me doing. Past editions of “Tales of a Former Cast Member” told of my time as a stocker and also times meeting celebrities, but this story brings both of them together.
Quick side note before getting started, you know about the plaid-vested Cast Members right? They are those that usually work in guest relations or bringing VIP guests around the parks. Keep that in mind.
After arriving for an early shift in the Magic Kingdom, my manager told me to go back downstairs and put on a stock uniform as I’d be running things out to wagons on this day. No problem there as I could of preferred that job.
Upon changing and arriving back upstairs, my manager told me to head out to Frontierland because I’d be doing “Splash Stock” on this day. That meant I’d be supplying all the wagons out in the far back Frontierland area because it is just too far out for a runner to head from the Main Street HQ.
Again, no problem.
Well, upon making sure that all the wagons back in the area were stocked, open, and ready to go for the day; I retreated back to the Splash Mountain break room with my radio and awaited a call. Finally, one came and out I went to supply a wagon that used to sit by the bridge from the center of Frontierland to Splash Mountain.
After heading backstage again, I rounded a corner to go back toward the break room and heard footsteps. They got really loud really fast and all of a sudden, I saw why.
Rounding the corner in an awful hurry was Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, and Chris Kirkpatrick of ‘NSYNC running right at me. I mean, they were literally sprinting down this narrow outdoor hallway and the only place they could go was through me.
Suddenly, they came to a screeching halt and Joey Fatone spoke out to me.
Joey: “You’ve got to help us!”
Lance: “Please, he’s coming!”
Doctor Disney: “Who? Who is coming? Want me to call security?”
Chris: “No, no! It’s plaid-vest. He won’t leave us alone and all we want to do is get out of here.”
DD: “Wait…you mean your VIP guide? And you want to get out of the Magic Kingdom?”
Joey: “YES! That dude. And we just want to get out of this area and away from him before he sees us and starts taking us places we don’t want to go…again.”
Lance: “Haunted Mansion. How do you get to Haunted Mansion?”
DD: “Well, the quickest way from here is to head out this door immediately behind me, cut through Frontierland and Liberty Square, then take a sharp left right before entering Fantasyland. But…you’re going to be spotted by tons of guests.”
Joey: “That’s fine. All we want to do is ride some rides, but this guy keeps taking us behind them and through tunnels and all that.”
DD: “Just head out this door behind me and go.”
Chris: “Thanks, man. We only have a few hours.”
At that point, the three member of ‘NSYNC run out the door behind me and I see them walking very hurriedly past Pecos Bill’s. I turn back around, and there is the VIP Cast Member guide looking incredibly confused.
Cast Member: “No idea where they went. None.”
He walked past me out into the park and all I could do was smile. Yeah, Cast Members stick together, but it the boys from ‘NSYNC just wanted to be regular guests and head to my favorite attraction.
How could I deny them that?
