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The Ride Delegate: Memoir of a Walt Disney World VIP Tour Guide
The rich and famous experience Disney World differently from the rest of they're escorted by VIP Tour Guides, elite Cast Members who truly do hold the keys to the kingdom. Annie Salisbury was one of these Cast Members, in charge of making the very best magic for those who could afford it. In The Ride Delegate , her memoir of life as a Disney World VIP tour guide, Annie shares some of her most memorable Come get a taste of what Disney World is like for those with deep pockets—and personalities to match—and meet the eccentric, outrageous guests who turned Annie's dream job into a reality show.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2014
28 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 9, 2021
Interesting, but still just okay. The author started the book on a bad foot by describing how she threw a temper tantrum at age 16 because her parents wanted to take her to Europe instead of Disneyworld one summer. Puh-lease. I was also hoping for a little celeb name dropping, but she didn't do that even once. I know it's not some kind of legal issue because I've read about celebs in other Disney memoirs.
January 1, 2015
All I could think throughout this entire book was "When is she going to stop eating?" It seemed as if every other paragraph was about abusing her company id to buy corn dog nuggets, multiple chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, everything EXCEPT turkey legs. I guess if you can afford a VIP tour, it doesn't matter that you are paying your tour guide to do other things while you are at a sit down restaurant for a leisurely lunch. It bothered me because I felt that the author was taking advantage of her clients. She made a woman wait in a very long line to buy tickets, even though she could have taken care of it for the woman and noticeably shortened the wait. Granted, that client and the rest of the group did not treat the guide well, but from my read, the guide was not blameless either. While I can see the benefits of booking a VIP tour, especially for my family now that Disney has done away with the old Guest Assistance Pass which was the only way that my daughter could go to the parks, I wouldn't want a tour with someone like the author who seemed to only care about how many breaks she could take and how many corn dogs she could scarf down.
November 3, 2014
Sometimes you judge a book by its cover. When I saw the cover of The Ride Delegate I thought it would be a sweet little memoir. But I was not sure if it was something I really wanted to read. The fact that it would be discussing VIP tours would something new. But really I thought it would be a typical and predictable self-reflection. Instead I found myself frustrated. I was frustrated that I had to put the book down to work. I was frustrated that Annie's guests were not on time. I was frustrated with guests who thought just because they paid a high fee they could be rude! I guess somewhere along the way, I found myself pulled into The Ride Delegate and I did not want to put it down.
The Ride Delegate: Memoir of a Walt Disney World VIP Tour Guide by Annie Salisbury details Salisbury's years as a Walt Disney World Resort guide. She outlines why she chose employment at Walt Disney World and how she worked to be a VIP Tour Guide. Then she explains what guests can and cannot get in the different types of tour experiences. Needless to say, it pays to be both rich and famous. And most importantly Salisbury takes you on her tours both good and bad but generally all memorable. These tales include the families that treated Salisbury as their oldest child, the sports star who believed he was at Universal, and the possible foreign princess with her enormous entourage. As any good memoir should, Annie outlines her last day of work and how special guests made her feel royal.
The Ride Delegate is clear and easy to read. I found it enjoyable and as noted I found myself unexpectedly pulled into the story. I said that I was at times frustrated, this is a lie. I was downright angry. There were a few guest stories that I wanted to look over at the unnamed guest and simply say, "what makes you think you can act this way? Annie has been nothing but gracious to you and she only wants you to have a memorable vacation. You are rude and have lost the right to have a tour guide." With at least one story at the conclusion I wanted to reach out and give Salisbury a high five and a serving of her favorite corn dog nuggets for how she was able to walk with dignity at the end of the tour. Now I typically do not get this way about people that I have never met. So I am going to say this is a huge success since I found myself becoming highly sympathetic to her tales. Seriously, I felt like a good tour was a victory for me and I was not even there.
It is interesting to read of the benefits of a VIP Tour. For example, to Salisbury's parking dismay at times, you get a ride to the park of your choice. And you are not limited to any one park. Your guide can drive you throughout the resort. So if you want to ride Space Mountain but have dinner at Epcot, no problem. Your guide can drive you there. Additionally, for some rides you do not need to wait because if there is a convenient entrance that does not disturb other guests you probably get to skip part of the line. But if there is no alternative entrance, like it's a small world, you are waiting it out with everyone else unless you are a celebrity. Tours are limited to ten. If you add an eleventh you are going to be paying for an additional guide. Guides can if they chose eat with their guests. But if either party does not want the guide to join them they can eat tour free. And Disney pays for the meals of guides, so many corn dog nuggets! Generally these rules feed into Salisbury's stories. And once you learn the rules you begin to see the problems that can be coming her way. And then there is the whole issue of stickers, and I am not talking Mickey Mouses.
The Ride Delegate by Ann Salisbury is a really enjoyable read. I highly recommend it, if all else fails you should consider the highly affordable Kindle copy. It is a memoir that keep your attention, gives Disney fans a look into a service we probably will never enjoy, and might even make you consider getting (or not getting) a tour guide during your next Walt Disney World vacation.
Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press
The Ride Delegate: Memoir of a Walt Disney World VIP Tour Guide by Annie Salisbury details Salisbury's years as a Walt Disney World Resort guide. She outlines why she chose employment at Walt Disney World and how she worked to be a VIP Tour Guide. Then she explains what guests can and cannot get in the different types of tour experiences. Needless to say, it pays to be both rich and famous. And most importantly Salisbury takes you on her tours both good and bad but generally all memorable. These tales include the families that treated Salisbury as their oldest child, the sports star who believed he was at Universal, and the possible foreign princess with her enormous entourage. As any good memoir should, Annie outlines her last day of work and how special guests made her feel royal.
The Ride Delegate is clear and easy to read. I found it enjoyable and as noted I found myself unexpectedly pulled into the story. I said that I was at times frustrated, this is a lie. I was downright angry. There were a few guest stories that I wanted to look over at the unnamed guest and simply say, "what makes you think you can act this way? Annie has been nothing but gracious to you and she only wants you to have a memorable vacation. You are rude and have lost the right to have a tour guide." With at least one story at the conclusion I wanted to reach out and give Salisbury a high five and a serving of her favorite corn dog nuggets for how she was able to walk with dignity at the end of the tour. Now I typically do not get this way about people that I have never met. So I am going to say this is a huge success since I found myself becoming highly sympathetic to her tales. Seriously, I felt like a good tour was a victory for me and I was not even there.
It is interesting to read of the benefits of a VIP Tour. For example, to Salisbury's parking dismay at times, you get a ride to the park of your choice. And you are not limited to any one park. Your guide can drive you throughout the resort. So if you want to ride Space Mountain but have dinner at Epcot, no problem. Your guide can drive you there. Additionally, for some rides you do not need to wait because if there is a convenient entrance that does not disturb other guests you probably get to skip part of the line. But if there is no alternative entrance, like it's a small world, you are waiting it out with everyone else unless you are a celebrity. Tours are limited to ten. If you add an eleventh you are going to be paying for an additional guide. Guides can if they chose eat with their guests. But if either party does not want the guide to join them they can eat tour free. And Disney pays for the meals of guides, so many corn dog nuggets! Generally these rules feed into Salisbury's stories. And once you learn the rules you begin to see the problems that can be coming her way. And then there is the whole issue of stickers, and I am not talking Mickey Mouses.
The Ride Delegate by Ann Salisbury is a really enjoyable read. I highly recommend it, if all else fails you should consider the highly affordable Kindle copy. It is a memoir that keep your attention, gives Disney fans a look into a service we probably will never enjoy, and might even make you consider getting (or not getting) a tour guide during your next Walt Disney World vacation.
Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press
March 26, 2015
Very interesting insiders view
This book was fascinating. The author needs to go back and correct the little spelling errors and correct some of the noun/pronoun coordination. Also the ending does not make sense-I read it three times through in case I missed something. The chapter started with a statement about not realizing that her last tours were her last tours. Then immediately skipped to her friend changing her wedding and a potential non-Disney job turning her down. And ended with her in tears on the way to the Hall of Presidents. What happened? Fix that and you will have something special.
This book was fascinating. The author needs to go back and correct the little spelling errors and correct some of the noun/pronoun coordination. Also the ending does not make sense-I read it three times through in case I missed something. The chapter started with a statement about not realizing that her last tours were her last tours. Then immediately skipped to her friend changing her wedding and a potential non-Disney job turning her down. And ended with her in tears on the way to the Hall of Presidents. What happened? Fix that and you will have something special.
May 25, 2016
The Ride Delegate is a VIP tour guide tell all regarding Annie’s experience in Disney World. One thing you have to say for Annie is, it never really seemed like a good fit for her to work in this particular environment. Annie is not a character that you can really sympathise with most of the time, as she snarkily surmises her time in Disney World with an attitude that you’d hate to come across if you were in the Parks.
There’s typically a pact between Disney cast members that you’ve got a responsibility to ‘keep the magic alive’ but Annie seems to have missed the memo. With a nonchalance that really astounds the reader, Annie shrugs off most of her empathy as she tourtures guests, ignores their requests, and tends to care not one bit about the magical experience of Disney World as she recalls her worst guests on tour.
She exposes the ‘sticker’ system – and relies on the poor pay conditions to justify why she just doesn’t give a Mickey about the experience her guests are given. There really seems to be be no particular reason why she chose a career in guest relations, since she tells us she hates kids, never remembers their names, and usually hates their parents more.
Annie spends a lot of time yakking about how she milked the system by buying up hot dogs and food on her company charge card, and how she would waste the paying guests time by enforcing an eating policy on them so she could cut down the tour time substantially. Is it any wonder no-one wanted to tip her?
The book was riddled with inconsistencies – it felt like a heavy edit was made of some of the more identifiable details, which left some of the vignettes seeming a little flat. One things for sure, if I ever have an opportunity to experience a VIP tour, I’ll be crossing my fingers that the tour guide is kinder than Annie!
There’s typically a pact between Disney cast members that you’ve got a responsibility to ‘keep the magic alive’ but Annie seems to have missed the memo. With a nonchalance that really astounds the reader, Annie shrugs off most of her empathy as she tourtures guests, ignores their requests, and tends to care not one bit about the magical experience of Disney World as she recalls her worst guests on tour.
She exposes the ‘sticker’ system – and relies on the poor pay conditions to justify why she just doesn’t give a Mickey about the experience her guests are given. There really seems to be be no particular reason why she chose a career in guest relations, since she tells us she hates kids, never remembers their names, and usually hates their parents more.
Annie spends a lot of time yakking about how she milked the system by buying up hot dogs and food on her company charge card, and how she would waste the paying guests time by enforcing an eating policy on them so she could cut down the tour time substantially. Is it any wonder no-one wanted to tip her?
The book was riddled with inconsistencies – it felt like a heavy edit was made of some of the more identifiable details, which left some of the vignettes seeming a little flat. One things for sure, if I ever have an opportunity to experience a VIP tour, I’ll be crossing my fingers that the tour guide is kinder than Annie!
January 17, 2015
I liked it. For the most part. I really like the cover. I liked that it gave a more insider's view of the parks.
However, this girl likes to whine. A lot. I've worked in a theme park. I've also (unfortunately) worked in customer service most of my life. Maybe the author couldn't get some points across because the guests might be too identifiable? I'm not really sure, but only one of her so-called horrible guest experiences would even break through my personal top ten. For example, the parade nightmare was kind of a nightmare at the end of the day, but the author stated that the woman was mean based on her experiences with her earlier in the day. I had the reread the chapter to find out what I'd missed. I didn't miss anything -- the woman and her family seemed a little strange, but not mean. Maybe some parts of the day were left out, but it was strange to me. Additionally, claiming that a man asked inappropriate questions but not including any examples just made me wonder what he could have said.
Also, there were several obvious typos in the kindle edition. If you're interested in theme parks, it's worth the quick read.
However, this girl likes to whine. A lot. I've worked in a theme park. I've also (unfortunately) worked in customer service most of my life. Maybe the author couldn't get some points across because the guests might be too identifiable? I'm not really sure, but only one of her so-called horrible guest experiences would even break through my personal top ten. For example, the parade nightmare was kind of a nightmare at the end of the day, but the author stated that the woman was mean based on her experiences with her earlier in the day. I had the reread the chapter to find out what I'd missed. I didn't miss anything -- the woman and her family seemed a little strange, but not mean. Maybe some parts of the day were left out, but it was strange to me. Additionally, claiming that a man asked inappropriate questions but not including any examples just made me wonder what he could have said.
Also, there were several obvious typos in the kindle edition. If you're interested in theme parks, it's worth the quick read.
March 17, 2015
I am a self-admitted Disney lover and this book was right up my alley! I've always dreamed of doing a VIP tour and reading about the tours from the point-of-view of a guide was fabulous. I enjoyed all of the stories and the only thing that would have made this book better would have been if it were longer, I would be happy reading so many more experiences! I'd highly recommend this to all Disney fans, I bet you'll want to go on a VIP tour, if you don't already. About a year ago, we saw Michael Buble on a VIP tour and he was definitely getting special treatment.
March 27, 2016
Quick, easy read about "backstage" Disney. It was interesting enough, but the tour guide seemed as spoiled as some of her guests. I wasn't interested in all the food she ordered, though. I kept wondering how much weight she gained while she worked there.
December 10, 2014
Quite interesting, although a bit all over the place.
June 5, 2019
Several years ago I took the Keys to the Kingdom tour at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. I thought it would be a great job to be a tour guide, ushering people around a place I love. Boy did this book shed some harsh reality on that dream! This was a great book, full of horror stories, but also wonderful moments. One of my favorite books is Mouse Tales, especially the chapter entitled "Be Our Guest" that talked about all the stupid things guests say and do at Disney parks. This book was a lot like that chapter, but with a personal connection through the experiences of a Cast Member. The author's writing style is immediately friendly and inviting, much like I imagine a tour with her would be, as long as you're not a horrible person! Maybe one day I'll be a member of the 1% and able to take a VIP tour. At least now I know how NOT to act!
July 20, 2017
When Dreams Come True
Annie Salisbury shares with us a brief peak behind the curtain of what it is like to be a Disney Cast member doing a VIP tour. Annie shares with us the good, the bad and the ugly of her Disney adventures. Fighting crowds, cultures, rude guests, weather and ride times to give a once in a life time experience. When I finished this book i realized i to have a New Disney dream... To sit at Casey's Corner with some Corn Nuggets and listen to the hundreds of other stories she didn't chronicle in this book. That and to find out if she kept a picture of her and British Jake. Annie if you read this review thanks for sharing.
Annie Salisbury shares with us a brief peak behind the curtain of what it is like to be a Disney Cast member doing a VIP tour. Annie shares with us the good, the bad and the ugly of her Disney adventures. Fighting crowds, cultures, rude guests, weather and ride times to give a once in a life time experience. When I finished this book i realized i to have a New Disney dream... To sit at Casey's Corner with some Corn Nuggets and listen to the hundreds of other stories she didn't chronicle in this book. That and to find out if she kept a picture of her and British Jake. Annie if you read this review thanks for sharing.
September 23, 2023
I can only agree with what others have written.
From how Annie portrays herself, I am not sure she gives off the best picture.
She seems kind of difficult to work with, is always eating and doesn’t have the greatest work ethic.
I can only imagine how the Disney company sucks all the energy out of you, and how some customers think they own the world, but I don’t think reacting and behaving in the way she did in some cases is appropriate.
I could imagine if she were to re-write the book she would not make herself look like a uninterested, always eating, “don’t care about the people” sort of guide but as someone who actually did their best under the circumstances.
From how Annie portrays herself, I am not sure she gives off the best picture.
She seems kind of difficult to work with, is always eating and doesn’t have the greatest work ethic.
I can only imagine how the Disney company sucks all the energy out of you, and how some customers think they own the world, but I don’t think reacting and behaving in the way she did in some cases is appropriate.
I could imagine if she were to re-write the book she would not make herself look like a uninterested, always eating, “don’t care about the people” sort of guide but as someone who actually did their best under the circumstances.
December 14, 2019
Finally! A behind the scenes book that actually tells you about what its like behind the scenes. I have read a lot of these books lately (what its like to work at Disney, on a cruise ship, on an airplane) and most of them tell you very little about the job. It is more about what they do in their free time, how they hate the food and cabins on a cruise ship, etc, etc. But this book really tells what it is like to be a tour guide at Disney. Annie has to put up with a lot, but isn't exactly a model employee, either. Fun read!
December 9, 2017
On the whole, this book is quick read because it is mostly written as somewhat chronological vignettes. It will particularly appeal to Disneyphiles who are curious about the "backstage" world of Disney.
The weaknesses, IMO, are that it is very poorly edited and there are aspects of Salisbury's storytelling that feel incomplete. For example, she frequently mentions another cast member - and then never really brings him up again. The ending feels kind of abrupt and not fully explained, either.
The weaknesses, IMO, are that it is very poorly edited and there are aspects of Salisbury's storytelling that feel incomplete. For example, she frequently mentions another cast member - and then never really brings him up again. The ending feels kind of abrupt and not fully explained, either.
March 24, 2018
Fun Read
A cute fun read of the memoirs of a former Disney tour guide at WDW. Set up in short anecdotal chapters its a fast read, but a fun one. If you love "insider Disney" stuff, check it out!!
A cute fun read of the memoirs of a former Disney tour guide at WDW. Set up in short anecdotal chapters its a fast read, but a fun one. If you love "insider Disney" stuff, check it out!!
April 24, 2018
One of my favourite books, i have read this over and over again! As a huge fan of Disney World this book entices me in and makes me want to visit. I love hearing cast member's tales about the parks and this one does not disappoint!
March 31, 2018
Great read if you are a Disney fan!
August 29, 2018
It starts out with a lot of complaining and talk about how the work was hard, so you have to stick with it.
May 12, 2020
I wanted to like this book, but the writer didn't even seem to enjoy what she did. I know it's not always rainbows and butterflies, but it was so much negative. Bummer.
June 19, 2021
Fun look behind the scenes of working at Disney.
November 2, 2022
This book was incredibly charming and I found myself laughing and shaking my head in disbelief. The copy I had could have done with more editing, but I thoroughly enjoyed it
July 17, 2016
Salisbury loved Disney as a child, so when she graduated from university she couldn't think of anything better than to work at Disney. Before long, she was a ride delegate...that is, somebody who led tours (for lack of a better word) for those who could afford to drop a rather ridiculous amount of money on having a personal guide.
Note that I say 'on having a personal guide. One word, but a crucial difference, because Salisbury earned a small fraction of the hundreds of dollars an hour these groups spent. If there's any one takeaway from The Ride Delegate, it's this: Disney is running a fabulous scam. The tour groups pay a ton of money for the expertise of a tour guide who really doesn't give a shit what their experience is like (so long as said tour guide doesn't get in trouble and has plenty of opportunities to zip off to the bathroom or a concession stand), the tour guide gets paid something just north of minimum wage in exchange for very long days with demanding customers, and Disney...does a bit of background work in exchange for thousands of dollars.
Hmm.
But then there's this: A majority of my tours were actually awesome tours, says Salisbury, and I was always sad to leave a family at the end of the day (94). I think if I'd seen more of this, I wouldn't have been left with such a negative impression of these tours. Truly, for much of the book, Salisbury doesn't much seem to enjoy her job. There are the customers who yell and the ones who try to trick her giving them privileges that aren't part of the packages and the ones who ask stupid questions. There are the customers who view the tour as free babysitting and the ones who don't want to take a lunch break because they view that as paying the guide to do nothing and the ones who ask stupid questions. There are the customers who tip badly and the ones who try to sneak extra people into the group and the ones who ask stupid questions.
There are, occasionally, high points in this book: the amputee and his family, who have a blast; the cute British kid...there must be some others, but those were the only two that really stuck with me. It sounds like she did love her job, and was sorry to leave when the time came, but perhaps focused more on the negative things because they made for slightly funnier stories. Not the worst plan ever, but it means that the whole book is tinged with rather more negativity than I'd expected, and perhaps more negativity than she intended.
Note that I say 'on having a personal guide. One word, but a crucial difference, because Salisbury earned a small fraction of the hundreds of dollars an hour these groups spent. If there's any one takeaway from The Ride Delegate, it's this: Disney is running a fabulous scam. The tour groups pay a ton of money for the expertise of a tour guide who really doesn't give a shit what their experience is like (so long as said tour guide doesn't get in trouble and has plenty of opportunities to zip off to the bathroom or a concession stand), the tour guide gets paid something just north of minimum wage in exchange for very long days with demanding customers, and Disney...does a bit of background work in exchange for thousands of dollars.
Hmm.
But then there's this: A majority of my tours were actually awesome tours, says Salisbury, and I was always sad to leave a family at the end of the day (94). I think if I'd seen more of this, I wouldn't have been left with such a negative impression of these tours. Truly, for much of the book, Salisbury doesn't much seem to enjoy her job. There are the customers who yell and the ones who try to trick her giving them privileges that aren't part of the packages and the ones who ask stupid questions. There are the customers who view the tour as free babysitting and the ones who don't want to take a lunch break because they view that as paying the guide to do nothing and the ones who ask stupid questions. There are the customers who tip badly and the ones who try to sneak extra people into the group and the ones who ask stupid questions.
There are, occasionally, high points in this book: the amputee and his family, who have a blast; the cute British kid...there must be some others, but those were the only two that really stuck with me. It sounds like she did love her job, and was sorry to leave when the time came, but perhaps focused more on the negative things because they made for slightly funnier stories. Not the worst plan ever, but it means that the whole book is tinged with rather more negativity than I'd expected, and perhaps more negativity than she intended.
December 26, 2014
I love Disney. And more than just the movies, cartoon shorts, characters, or parks. I love the history behind the "mythos" that all of those things have become
I'd heard of the VIP Tour Guides, through the usual propaganda that Disney controls: their own media, various guidebooks, and the multitude of television "behind the scenes" (or "backstage", to use Disney's own terminology) shows.
But I'd never heard the real story as told by an actual VIP Tour Guide, until now!
I'd never thought about some of the stuff Annie writes about: what a guide does while the family rides, eats, or sees a show; how the guide is often times expected to make magic happen all on their own, and more importantly, how a guide is treated by the family he or she is hosting. I guess I just always assumed that most guests would be more like I TRY to be: courteous, friendly, and thankful for the help and Disney knowledge that the guide would bring. But that just shows you my own personal midwest naive upbringing. People can (and ARE) assholes sometimes.
Beyond giving me an awesome look behind the curtain, it's a reminder that folks like Annie are just like you and me...somebody doing their job the best that they can...and they should be treated with respect, just like I want to be in my job!
Great book, Annie! I'm sorry that I missed your time as a guide...I think my family and I would have enjoyed spending a day with you!
I'd heard of the VIP Tour Guides, through the usual propaganda that Disney controls: their own media, various guidebooks, and the multitude of television "behind the scenes" (or "backstage", to use Disney's own terminology) shows.
But I'd never heard the real story as told by an actual VIP Tour Guide, until now!
I'd never thought about some of the stuff Annie writes about: what a guide does while the family rides, eats, or sees a show; how the guide is often times expected to make magic happen all on their own, and more importantly, how a guide is treated by the family he or she is hosting. I guess I just always assumed that most guests would be more like I TRY to be: courteous, friendly, and thankful for the help and Disney knowledge that the guide would bring. But that just shows you my own personal midwest naive upbringing. People can (and ARE) assholes sometimes.
Beyond giving me an awesome look behind the curtain, it's a reminder that folks like Annie are just like you and me...somebody doing their job the best that they can...and they should be treated with respect, just like I want to be in my job!
Great book, Annie! I'm sorry that I missed your time as a guide...I think my family and I would have enjoyed spending a day with you!
December 25, 2014
OK, I'm a huge Disney fan, so I read books like this. So take this review with whatever condiments you prefer.
I picked it up because I've always enjoyed a peek behind the magic curtain -- what's life really like for the cast members that staff Disney's entertainment empire?
Annie is a VIP Tour operator -- one of those cast members that rich Disney Parks visitors hire for $300 per hour (6 hour minimum) to escort them around the park. This book is simply a series of vignettes that cover Annie's experiences during her time in this role -- from wanting the job to getting the job to finally deciding to leave the job. The stories are mostly about the families she escorts, from wonderful "I-wish-we-were-like-them" families to appalling "Even-I-wanted-to-punch-them" families.
What is remarkable here is how well told these tales are. The prose is not flowery or dramatic. It's just honest and well executed.
I picked it up because I've always enjoyed a peek behind the magic curtain -- what's life really like for the cast members that staff Disney's entertainment empire?
Annie is a VIP Tour operator -- one of those cast members that rich Disney Parks visitors hire for $300 per hour (6 hour minimum) to escort them around the park. This book is simply a series of vignettes that cover Annie's experiences during her time in this role -- from wanting the job to getting the job to finally deciding to leave the job. The stories are mostly about the families she escorts, from wonderful "I-wish-we-were-like-them" families to appalling "Even-I-wanted-to-punch-them" families.
What is remarkable here is how well told these tales are. The prose is not flowery or dramatic. It's just honest and well executed.
March 7, 2016
Lovely memories of the good AND bad VIP hosting at WDW
Annie generously shares the day and night adventures of a VIP tour guide at Disney World in Florida. Sometimes VIPs are very interesting, sometimes very impertinent! I've always wondered what the VIP experience was like, and these essays share many informative details from both perspectives. Quite enlightening regarding guest behavior ups and downs as well.
I can relate to her training and "afterlife" beyond Disney - as a former Cast Member myself, I know too well how the culture stays with you for life...
A must-read for anyone with an interest in WDW, tours in the FL parks, and the Cast experience!
Annie generously shares the day and night adventures of a VIP tour guide at Disney World in Florida. Sometimes VIPs are very interesting, sometimes very impertinent! I've always wondered what the VIP experience was like, and these essays share many informative details from both perspectives. Quite enlightening regarding guest behavior ups and downs as well.
I can relate to her training and "afterlife" beyond Disney - as a former Cast Member myself, I know too well how the culture stays with you for life...
A must-read for anyone with an interest in WDW, tours in the FL parks, and the Cast experience!
June 2, 2015
4.5/5 stars. I found this book hard to put down due to it piquing my curiousity. Interestingly, I could really see both sides to the story. I cringed at the entitlement stories told throughout the book, but other times I felt kind of sorry for the people shelling out >300$/hr for the lackluster tour they seemed to get in the end. Definitely an interesting read, though. I enjoyed the book and would love to read more inside stories like it.
July 30, 2017
Hilarious look into your guide life
I was always one of those cast members who looked at VIP guides and wondered what life was like. Now I know, and maybe I don't envy it as much, even as hilarious as Annie tells her stories. Well worth the read. I also identify on a spiritual level with the statement “We need to talk about your corn dog nugget eating habits.” That was always my downfall too ;)
I was always one of those cast members who looked at VIP guides and wondered what life was like. Now I know, and maybe I don't envy it as much, even as hilarious as Annie tells her stories. Well worth the read. I also identify on a spiritual level with the statement “We need to talk about your corn dog nugget eating habits.” That was always my downfall too ;)
January 6, 2015
I loved this book! The majority of the chapters each describe a specific tour or family she had to spend her time with, the good, the bad and the ugly. If you've ever had a job that was based entirely on guest interaction and services, you'll definitely be able to identify with her stories. A fast read. Couldn't get enough of it.
November 26, 2016
Reads pretty much like a series of blog entries arranged into a book. Could've used a better proofreader/editor; some typos and spelling errors. That aside, not a bad read. You get pretty much exactly what they say you're going to get, so you should knowing going in if it'll be your cup of tea or not.
September 22, 2015
Oh to be a VIP
That's what I want too be, and like Annie I would have fun trying to gift those guides with interesting items. This is a fast read, less than a day, and the stories are fun to read not a whole lot of insight into the inner workings of a tour guide, but the taste we get here it's enjoyable. I wonder whatever happened between her and Trevor.
That's what I want too be, and like Annie I would have fun trying to gift those guides with interesting items. This is a fast read, less than a day, and the stories are fun to read not a whole lot of insight into the inner workings of a tour guide, but the taste we get here it's enjoyable. I wonder whatever happened between her and Trevor.
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