Scott Wolf: How did you end up coming to work for Disneyland?

Wendy Freeland Schoeman: It started back when I was a kid, I used to go to Disneyland all the time and I remember seeing (the CircleVision film) "America the Beautiful." That memory, along with the memories of playing in the Park as a kid, helped develop a dream of mine to someday work at Disneyland.

When I was in college and ended up living closer to Disneyland, I knew my junky car could make it a little more easily to work. In fact, I barely made it to my interview with the car I had, but I ended up interviewing and I was hired into Adventureland/Frontierland Merchandise. I loved it from the moment I started, loved it.

From that position I kind of looked around at other opportunities and noticed the Ambassador program eventually.

What year were you Ambassador?

WFS: 1989, and I started at Disneyland in 1985.

What kinds of things happened with the park the year you were Ambassador?

WFS: I was able to help open "Splash Mountain."

We also wanted to take Disneyland to Australia so I was part of the “Disneyland Down Under Tour”, where we promoted "Splash Mountain" as well as all of Disneyland. By doing that, we brought Disneyland to Australia with (Disney Artist and Historian) Stacia Martin. She was part of our shows along with the Fab 5 characters and approximately 20 other Disneyland Resort Cast Members. We traveled to six different Australian cities. When I would go on radio and promotions I would also encourage Australians to come to California and visit us.

What is the necklace you're wearing?

WFS: We used to, as Ambassadors, have a special pin that we would receive and then be able to pass on to the new Ambassadors. This is what they gave to us on our last day of being Ambassador when they gave our pin to the new Ambassador. This was kind of the replacement, but it's definitely a very sentimental replacement for me.

Do you have any favorite memories of being Ambassador?

WFS: Yes I do. One that stands out is going with Cicely (Rigdon) to Washington and we went to see Mount St. Helens, a few years after the eruption. That stands out because I thought, "Wow, this is amazing," although it's not related to Disney. When we went on our trips we had a chance to do a little bit of sightseeing, so we did that.

Australia definitely stands out, especially being in Sydney & Melbourne because I got to experience an opera at the Sydney Opera House and a ballet in Melbourne.

SW: Did you see any koalas?

WFS: Yes, I saw koalas and kangaroos. I remember being in the Melbourne Zoo and just having the kangaroos jump around me. I almost got scared because it was so unusual.

What also stands out was ten days after my Ambassador year ended, I was able to participate in Disneyland’s 35th Year Anniversary Celebration with the three original opening day commentators, Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings, & President Ronald Reagan. The new Ambassador, Jennifer (Faust) was able to be the hostess for President Ronald Reagan, and I got Art Linkletter. I loved it. That day, I got to take Art Linkletter around the Park to all of the Anniversary events.

I remember being at the train station when former President Reagan showed up and was with a group. All the Disney executives were standing with President Ronald Reagan, waiting to get on the train when he made a point to leave that group and say hi to me and the others standing around. Meeting a President of the United States of course stands out.

And... I fell in love with my husband on "Splash Mountain" during my year, because they used to use Cast Members to test it new attractions and we were with a group of friends, so we always laugh and say I opened "Splash Mountain" and I also fell in love on "Splash Mountain."

What a year!

WFS: Yes, it was a year! Then six months after my year I ended up getting married. 

What did you do after you were Ambassador?

WFS: I was still in college and was close to getting my degree. I ended up working an internship away from Disney for about six months, but fortunately was able to come back and work in Casting, Human Resources, and the Disney University. In Casting, I got to do a lot of hiring which I loved. Then after that I got to go to Walt Disney Imagineering and for six years I worked with their Design Studios, Show Quality Standards department; so I worked with Kim Irvine, Tony Baxter, and a little bit with Marty Sklar. I loved working for Imagineering because I felt like I fit in well with the Imagineering culture.

Then I took some time off afterwards to have my last child, my last of four.

Two years ago, I was able to come back into Human Resources at the Disneyland Resort, specifically in Cast Activities. Currently, I’m back and love my job!

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