I was told a story once that I was walking by myself on Main Street in Magic Kingdom when I was 2 years old. My parents both got jobs at Disney in 1979, so I had the "keys to the kingdom". I remember going to Magic Kingdom late at night for special movies, holiday parties and different events. My parents got into the parks for free and so I have yet to pay for a single day ticket, though I have paid to see the not so scary Halloween event and mickey's very merry Christmas party with my, son, daughter and wife. The legal age to work at Disney was sixteen in 1994 and we had just moved back to Central Florida when I was sixteen. So, I signed up for a job as a custodian at magic kingdom and my Dad was already back working there. Then in 1995 I joined project future which was a joint education program with Osceola County and Disney. I worked four hours a day and went to school for four hours to build up my credits to graduate in a year round program. I first worked in Epcot custodial until May 2005 and joined the Friendship Boats as a "Captain". I was still sixteen and was in charge of a 66' boat weighing 35 tons, carrying one hundred passengers. I to this day loved that job and all my friends I made through it. Including the man in the picture Jose that passed away in late 2012.
We have a Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/epcotfriendshipboatcaptains/ open to those current and former Captains as we met at least twelve college programs in the five years I was there and countless other great friends. I have been blessed to work there for twenty years and continue the magic my Father started.
