Cast Member Confidential: A Disneyfied Memoir Paperback – January 1, 2010

If you've been to the parks, and are even remotely knowledgeable about them, then this is a nice quick read for you. Gives a good peek behind the veil of the most magical place.

This is a very entertaining, and surprisingly touching read. Nothing ground-breaking, but some interesting backstage stories. The author states that names are changed, and some compositing is done to protect the employees, but it gives an interesting glimpse into the motivations and reality of someone who works at WDW. It's deeper than that, though I will not spoil any further here. A good read, but do understand, this is very adult material. Not for the easily offended or those who want to preserve all of the magic.

I cautiously approached this book expecting a damaging tell-all that would form cracks in the righteous pillars of the Disney foundation, but it never happened. With CAST MEMBER CONFIDENTIAL, Chris Mitchell reveals a personal Disney odyssey that hints of a dark/alternative "underworld" that belies the overly-wholesome image Disney has projected for decades. While the book is readable and entertaining, the veracity of its content is surely up for debate.I can describe my Disney World experiences as a dichotomy between indifference (my first two visits as a teenager and young adult) and utter joy (my two most recent visits as the father of two young Disney Princess-obsessed daughters). From a parent's point-of-view, I found those recent trips to Walt Disney World to be some of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my life. Other than the occasional child meltdown, Disney World actually proved itself as a magically happy oasis impervious to real-world misery (politics/economy) and even Mother Nature (110 degree weather in mid-July or rain). Adult common-sense, however, dictates the understanding that the process of producing a perfected final product isn't always pretty ... or public (how many popular products include the "proudly made by child sweatshop employees" disclaimer?). While Chris Mitchell seems half-heartedly determined to prove Disney World's magical image is nothing more than an expensive façade, nothing he reveals in his book (if even true) is really that detrimental , shocking ... or totally believable.CAST MEMBER CONFIDENTIAL simply chronicles a late-twenty-something's attempt to escape real-world problems (a cancer-stricken mother and no viable career path) by working at Disney World, a place reminiscent of the happy times he experienced as a child in California (Disneyland). Starting as a lower-level photography department employee in Animal Kingdom, he realizes there is a class-system among Disney employees (all known as cast members): the gopher types, management and the royalty of cast members, those who don the costumes of Disney characters. Initially shunned by co-workers as an outsider, the author finally realizes the only way to earn peer approval/acceptance is to partake in deviant behavior. Once welcomed into this "inner circle", Mitchell realizes the opportunities before him: advance his Disney career and earn the ultimate role of being a "face" character, party invitations and intimacy with a few female characters in the parks while off-duty. Reading more like a teen-angst novel, readers are taken on a rollercoaster of emotion, action and scandal as Mitchell discovers the seedy, dysfunctional nature of most all of his peers ... who happen to be the same cheery characters your kids fawn over. Paralleling the author's Disney experience is the story of his sick mother in California and Mitchell's disappointingly cavalier attitude toward her struggle (the Disney lifestyletook priority). Once the author reaches his short term pinnacle (the "Little Mermaid" as his girlfriend and an opportunity to be a face character), the bubble predictably bursts, everything falls apart and Mitchell learns a few life-lessons.I enjoyed the storytelling aspect of CAST MEMBER CONFIDENTIAL and the author has a knack of being descriptive, but not verbose ... the book is a fast read and pretty entertaining. But, I found much of the book's storylines a little bit of a stretch. I don't doubt, as normal adults, that some of the cast members have hidden personal issues/struggles, but virtually ALL of Mitchell's peers are shown to be deviants. A simple Google search couldn't confirm some of the more notable stories: a dramatic water rescue and an employee death. While the cumulative effect of events portrayed may have readers believing the book is a complete work of fiction; I think it is actually a mixed bag as I'm sure crazy things do happen in the Disney family of employees ... they just aren't broadcasted. I liked the descriptive insider tour of the parks I got as I read as well some insight to Disney's rigid approach to employment. I found the Disney-vernacular and acronyms peppered throughout the book somewhat amusing: "protein spill" (vomit), SOP (sex on property) and DAK (Disney Animal Kingdom ... although, ironically, that acronym more commonly refers to Deutsch Afrika Korps).In my opinion, CAST MEMBER CONFIDENTIAL is less a tell-all than a brief, colorful interlude in one person's life. Sure, some stories come across as embellished (or even made-up), but I enjoyed it none-the-less. Many Disney Fans will likely hate this book and the somewhat deplorable depiction of cast members, but Mitchell never comes across as having a grudge or a chip on his shoulder and that gives the book a hint of legitimacy. While the expose aspects of CAST MEMBER CONFIDENTIAL may use the Disney as a selling point, its revelations do not come close to tarnishing the Mouse Ears.

On Page 38 the author quotes "Nick:" "Even candy apples can be rotten, but you have to take a bite to know for sure."I sought first-hand accounts of the Disney Cast Member experience. Several second-hand accounts exist such as "Mouse Tales" and "Realityland" by David Koenig, but "Cast Member Confidential: A Disneyfied Memoir" by Chris Mitchell was the experience of a contract photographer who worked at Disney's Animal Kingdom for a year. I attempted to reach Chris Mitchell's website on the World Wide Web but the website was unavailable. Oh, well! Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland: Golden Anniversary Special Edition (Hardcover Book with Audio CD) More Mouse Tales: A Closer Peek Backstage at Disneyland Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World This book is not for everybody. If you have a fragile `willing suspension of disbelief' and you want to believe in the Disney Magic, give this book a pass. Should you be mortally offended by earthy language and explicit description of `adult situations,' read books by other authors. The Disney Company is missing out a market niche by failure to provide an official Cast Member experience to the public--but they decided on secrecy in order to protect their magic. An official Cast Member history would cut the market for "kiss and tell" Disney Cast Member books like this by 80% and more, and would get a favorable Disney message out. Just a thought.Chris Mitchell became a Walt Disney World Cast Member for the same reason that many join the French Foreign Legion: escape from unresolvable personal problems. The pay and working conditions at WDW are much better at Walt Disney World than in the French Foreign Legion and Disney Cast Members are not required to speak French to work at WDW (except at Epcot's France Pavilion) nor are they required to kill people on command. "Cast Member Confidential" is what being a Cast Member was like for Chris during his year at Walt Disney World's Disney's Animal Kingdom. He exposes the good and the bad--body odor, foul language and navel lint included! The Disney Company aggressively protects its public image, so Chris changed the names and some characteristics that could be used to track down individual cast members that Chris knew. I presume that the Disney Company executives wish that "Cast Member Confidential" had never been written.For me, Mitchell's book proves that Disney CAN and DOES make silk purses from sows' ears. Flawed humans create Disney Magic--and unless the Disney Company is the only source of pixie dust on Planet Earth, other corporations can be magical, too! "Corporations" include city governments--Walt Disney's Florida Project was intended to be a living lab that would find cures for urban illnesses. That lab is a work in progress...The contrasts between Chris Mitchell's first day on the job in Disney's Animal Kingdom and his first Cast Member after-hours activities are like stepping through the Looking Glass into a Mad Tea Party--complete with suspicious puddles on the floor. Tarzan was reprimanded for fishing a drowning boy out of the Rivers of America at WDW's Magic Kingdom (pages 1-3, 145-146). Another Cast Member was terminated for attempting CPR on a fellow Cast Member who had a fatal heart attack (pages 239-242). They were punished for `getting out of character.' The Cast Member pecking order is described. Walt Disney World has high employee turn-over, which negatively impacts both efficiency and employee morale--Chris vividly describes how WDW Cast Members cope when one of their own goes down.What's it like to live in an artificial city? A colony? "Cast Member Confidential" gives an account through photographer Chris Mitchell's camera lens--but without actual photographs. Publication of unauthorized photographs would attract legal action. "Cast Member Confidential" is an artifact, but not for everybody. It is also Chris Mitchell's story of searching for redemption--and finding it.

I love Disney and I love the parks. I bought this on a recent Florida holiday and it was great fun to read some background stories and occasionally some of the darker side of the world of the mouse. The book is well written and the stories compelling and enjoyable. Some of the stories are poignant, some funny, some are even a little troubling. Overall this is a great look at the Mouse's Kingdom, behind the scenes, and up Cinderella's skirt.

I love all things Disney and have done the utilidors tour in the past, but fortunately never witnessed anything like the goings on in this book. This is a good read but not one to visit unless you're willing to have your disney illusions shattered. Very interesting though.

Ok as an ex Walt Disney world cast member myself from around the same time this author was I can say hand on heart he’s telling a pack of lies, not one did I ever see fellow cast member sell or take drugs which on shift, I read two chapters and out this rubbish right wear it belongs in the bin. If anyone was caught doing any of the things he says we’d be fired on the spot and banned for life.As for the disclosure contract everyone signs one regardless of third party contracts or a wdw contract

The book was absolutely amazing. It is really great getting to know about all the things that happen out of the public eye at Disney.This is definitely an adult book but great for the Disney fan at heart.

Really good book for any fans of the Disney Parks, however if you know the parks and cast member rules well enough, it is clear many of the stories and experiences the author states are true, cannot possibly be so. Take them with a pinch of salt!