When you wish upon a star, you may end up creating an international company that is responsible for filling households with fantasy, imagination and magic.
Walt Disney did exactly that when he transformed his studio into a mass media and entertainment empire made up of production companies, amusement parks, stores and more.
Disney’s work has captured the hearts of people everywhere, and Pepperdine students are no exception. Pepperdine’s student body is often spotted sporting Disney apparel, posting pictures from Disneyland day trips and referencing the cartoon classics. These instances have become such common occurrences at Pepperdine that they now play a part of the school’s culture.
“Seaver College, as the undergraduate school at Pepperdine, and the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim are remarkably similar in culture,” said Matt Ebling, the current executive director of Alumni Affairs for Seaver College and past employee of Disney for 14 years.
“Just as you’ll find it difficult to find a student who doesn’t do something outside the classroom, it’s equally difficult to find a cast member who doesn’t do a thousand different things besides their primary job,” Ebling said, speaking of those who work at the park.
After working in multiple departments at Disney, Ebling continually worked with the cast members throughout his 14 years at Disneyland, whether it was as a part of the special event production team or as the Disneyland Resort Ambassador to the world. He said he experienced similar traditions at Disneyland as at Pepperdine, such as a competition similar to Songfest where cast members create and perform mini-musicals for other cast members, philanthropy groups, intramural sports and choirs.
Pepperdine’s connection with Disney dates as far back as July 17, 1955, the opening day of Disneyland, Ebeling said. Art Linkletter, an alumnus of Pepperdine and Board of Regents member, was a successful radio and television personality and a dear friend of Walt Disney.
Ebling said Linkletter helped out Disney by only charging him a standard broadcast fee to host the opening day broadcast with co-hosts Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan, and in return Linkletter would get 10 percent of all profits made from the park’s sale of cameras or film. This helped out Disney, who was struggling financially at the time, and helped Linkletter become involved in the park.
Pepperdine resides an hour away from the heart and soul of the Disney empire, those being the headquarters in Burbank and Disneyland in Anaheim. The proximity to Disney’s fatherland has enabled many other Pepperdine’s students and alumni to find a place in the global Disney community through internships, jobs and Pepperdine’s new Institute for Entertainment, Media and Culture.
“The Disney magic stems all across the world, but it starts here in Burbank soil, and the proximity to Disneyland and the Walt Disney office gives our students a unique access to such a positive global influence,” said Craig Detweiler, professor of Communication and creative director of the new institute.
Detweiler recently hosted the institute’s kickoff event at Disney Studios in Burbank, thanks to Pepperdine alumnus Dave Hollis, who is now the executive vice president of distribution at The Walt Disney Company. Detweiler said the institute hopes to continue promoting creative thinking with Disney.
Disney jobs are not limited to just alumni, though.
Brooke Muschott is a junior creative writing major who has used both her talent for writing and love of Disney to help create the popular children’s book series “Kingdom Keepers,” which is set at Disneyland. After being hired, Muschott worked as the continuity editor and research assistant for the series and she partially wrote a novella based off the series.
“I went to school in Southern California because of its proximity to Disneyland, because I want to work for Disney Imagineering,” Muschott said. “I went abroad to Shanghai last year because they are building a park there, and I was able to get involved as a contractor.”
Fellow junior Cora Lakey is also on the Disney career path. The public relations major is working at Disneyland as an entertainment cast member. Lakey said she first fell in love with Disney while singing along to songs from “Beauty and the Beast” with her sister, but she is now motivated to work for the company that has given her and continues to give others “so much happiness.”
“They are very strategic … from working there you see how organized they are,” Lakey said. “They have so many thousands of employees and still manage to be accountable for every single one of them. They are also the biggest employer in Orange County, so they are definitely doing their part for the economy.
“If you go to Pepperdine and you want to work there (Disneyland), it’s not as hard as you think,” Lakey continued. “It’s only an hour away, and it’s worth it because you learn a lot about yourself and how to communicate with people.”
Working for Disney is not the only way students and alumni are involved in Pepperdine’s Disney culture.
According to a recent survey of 64 Pepperdine students, 39 students identified themselves as a fan of Disney and 11 students consider themselves the biggest Disney fans.
Pepperdine has offered a student discount since 2008 when it was requested by the students and faculty. In addition to students having this discount, many students have an annual pass, said Carol McNutt, a senior student service adviser, who organized the discount between Pepperdine and Disney.
Because of her annual pass, Kailey Rodden, a senior political science major, was able to go to Disneyland on her 21st birthday last year.
“I was able to enter another stage of adulthood while still being able to entertain the kid in my heart,” Rodden said.
After four years of observing Pepperdine culture, Rodden has seen the ways Disney affects Pepperdine firsthand.
“Anytime there is a Disney-themed event on campus, it’s always really popular,” Rodden said. “A lot of people have passes and tickets are always given out as prizes. Even NSO (New Student Orientation) was Disney-themed last year.”
Connor White, a senior English major, also has an annual pass for the park and has been able to go to Disneyland several times over the past year and make many different memories.
“It’s never not incredible,” White said. “I have often heard people say that Pepperdine is like the college version of Disneyland. It’s this hyper-realistic place where everything is great, people want to help you and there is happiness. People sing a lot here, so there is a very symbiotic relationship there.”
However, not all students feel the same way.
“It’s very childish because I feel like adults shouldn’t be acting like children,” said Katherine Zhu, a sophomore international management major. “I understand 13 or 14 and under, but I don’t understand adults or college students liking Disneyland.”
Other students are still waiting to experience Disneyland for themselves.
“One day I will go because everyone has to go,” said Celia Smith, a sophomore media production major. “I feel like it would be more fun as a kid, but if you get a big group of friends together it would be fun. I have only heard good things about it.”
For the majority of students interviewed, Disneyland has been a paradise spreading its love and magic, relieving stress from one overscheduled Pepperdine student at a time.
“Disneyland is my favorite place in the world,” sophomore advertising major Katie Baker said. “I have grown up with it, and it will always have special place in my heart.”
Students said Disney has continually comforted students with its charm.
“Going to Disneyland, the No. 1 question is: ‘Do you ever get tired of it when you go so often?’” White said. “But I have come to love it in a different way. I’ve come to love it in a comfortable, armchair way. It’s like my house; I’m at ease there.”
Kendall Howell completed this story in Dr. Christina Littlefield’s fall 2015 Jour 241 class.
