Disney Commuter Assistance:

Clean air commuting-then and now!

On Nov. 9, 1973 then Chairman and CEO Donn Tatum distributed a memo to all cast members of the Walt Disney Company, stating the immediate implementation of a Commuter Assistance program. It wasn't until 1990 that formal records were kept on cast members enrolled. At that time, 120 participants were involved. Today, more than 2,000 cast members rideshare on an average day, and nearly 5,000 cast members are active program participants. Currently, cast members benefit from carpooling, vanpooling,walking,bicycling, riding the bus or train,driving clean fuel vehicles,or working compressed workweeks. From subsidies for bus and train riders to a daily dollar for most other modes, cast memebers resortwide are rewarded for their commitment to helping to clean the air. Incentives vary depending on mode of clean air commuting.

Do you know that over the years as a cast member,I carpooled, was a driver for a vanpool and took Metro Link(train)from 14th street in Riverside to Angel Stadiem then took a van to Disneyland.I can remember on the way home at 5:30,Metro Link runs near the 91 freeway, we would see all that traffic,we would been in Riverside in approx. 40 minutes, if you drove, about 2 hours.
On 9-11, I took the train to work,the 7:20 a.m. train, remember New York is 3 hours ahead of us, 10:20 a.m.there. Those attacks were done, those twin towers were falling. On a normal day, everyone would be napping,however, on this day,"EVERYONE" was talking,about what they had heard on T.V. or radio that morning. I heard someone say something about the twin towers falling, I not knowing what was going on, relyed,"What movie are you talking about!" Needless to say, I was brought up to date in short order. Arriving to start my shift at Club 33, we were all sent home,and Disneyland was closed for the day. Now, riding the train home was crazy, again on a normal day, this train would be empty,but not this day,so many people,from Los Angeles,Orange County, San Diego,remember all planes grounded, it was standing room only,shoulder to shoulder. Returning home, turned on the T.V.,the rest is history.


DR LEE