Each month, we ask a museum staff member to answer five questions about their position at The Walt Disney Family Museum, their fondest Disney memories, and personal tidbits. This month, we're asking Alison Chenoweth... what do YOU do??
What is your title and what do YOU do here at the Museum?
I am a Visitor Experience Associate. I work in and around the galleries and at the ticket desk. I sell tickets, help visitors find their way around, answer a variety of visitor questions from where was Walt born to where is the nearest water fountain, and I help out as a backup for our ticketing system administrator when she is away or unavailable. I also made the Sing-A-Long we showed for our two-year anniversary.
What is your fondest Disney memory OR what is your favorite gallery at The Walt Disney Family Museum—and why?
My favorite gallery is Gallery 7; it is the place where you can find fantastic artwork for many of my personal Disney favorites (Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Bongo, Once Upon a Wintertime…). I also love seeing the behind the scenes photos of Walt on set, the Mary Blair concept art and the actor/actress models for the animated characters that you can find in the touch screen pods.
How does your job communicate and interpret the legacy of Walt Disney?
Walt always wanted to make sure people who visited Disneyland enjoyed themselves. It is part of my job to help visitors enjoy their time at the museum and hopefully walk away learning something about Walt they didn’t know when they walked in. If someone is lost I can help them find their way, and if someone looks like they want to ask a question or talk about an artifact in the galleries, I am at the ready to give or find the answer, and in some cases, just lend an ear. Disney movies and Disneyland especially, bring out such happy memories for people and sometimes just having someone there to listen to those memories or to reminisce with is a great joy for visitors and is often a highlight of my day.
Describe your workspace OR your favorite item on your desk:
My favorite item at the Visitor Experience Associate’s desk is a French Alice in Wonderland (Alice Au Pays Des Merveilles) poster that hangs on the wall.
WDFM: Tell us a little known fact about you!
I love hockey, especially the San Jose Sharks! My fiancé and I go to as many games a season as we can; we even follow them down to Anaheim for an annual Disneyland trip and Sharks VS Ducks game.
*Image above: Alison and her fiance claim Disneyland for the San Jose Sharks! (Side note: This is SHARKS territory!)