Featured Image Credit: X/@michael_hewell / Instagram/michaelsvips
Topics: News, Disneyland, Disney, US News, Entertainment
Kit Roberts
Topics: News, Disneyland, Disney, US News, Entertainment
A man has opened up about every Disney fan's dream job.
And we're not talking about having to don a very hot and sweaty costume, though it does involve Disneyland.
Marines veteran Michael Hewell got a job at the iconic theme park some 30 years ago, and an incident one day at work led to a wholly different opportunity.
Advert
The 56-year-old told Business Insider how he had been working as an attendant on the Haunted Mansion ride.
One day a famous singer came to the ride to do research for a music video.
They had to go on the ride multiple times, in secret.
This meant that the singer had to access the ride via it's loading area so people didn't see them going in, and relied on Michael to help him.
The singer was left so impressed by Michael's friendly manner that they asked for him to be their assistant for the week.
Michael said: "At the end of the week, they told the office, 'Michael is the best host I've ever had.'"
In 1996 Michael was then tipped to join Disney's VIP relations department, who are tasked with looking after any VIP visitors to the park.
After doing that job for three years Michael decided to do the same job as a freelancer.
He said: "I was a walking encyclopedia, and Walt was my hero — I modelled my life off all his encounters."
Michael now has a team of some 17 people who operate round the park with rates starting at $2,500 a day.
As for Michael himself, his personal tours are reserved only for long-term clients or very high profile VIP visitors to the park.
His role at the venue saw him empowered to do whatever it took to ensure that the stay of the visiting VIPs was as comfortable as possible.
He said: "It was for celebrities, royal families, and friends of the corporation, and they backdoored everybody in part as it was the only way for them to experience the attractions without getting mobbed. That would also ruin the experience for the other guests."
Michael decided to strike out on his own when the VIP service became more widely publicised. This meant it became less of a discreet service offered to high profile guests, into more of a pricey VIP experience.
And the veteran explained that he simply doesn't need to advertise, saying: "We don't advertise anywhere, and it's mostly word of mouth — when you break into certain social circles, a certain private school, then you become the VIP service."
That's one way to know you've made it!