Windermere author pens book on Disney World

Windermere’s David Schroeder recalled walking into Disneyland in 1968 at 10 years old captivated by the magic of Disney. 

But unlike most children his age, the questions running through his mind were different. He wasn’t asking where Mickey was or what his next delicious snack would be or what ride or attraction would he venture to next. 

All he could think of was how? 

How did this all work?

As he sat in the Enchanted Tiki Room, a relatively new attraction at the time having opened in June 1963, he was in awe of how it all worked.

How did Disney synchronize the 438 separate actions of 250 audio-animatronic birds, flowers, tiki drummers and tiki gods with an audio soundtrack blaring through 100 speakers?

Standing in line waiting to board the boat of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which opened in 1967, he wondered, how are thousands of people cycled through this ride at a constant rate?

“I was a bit of a strange child in that I also was taken with how clean the place was, how great the landscaping was, how efficient they were loading people into the attractions and when they had a parade, setting up the parade and taking down,” Schroeder said. “For some reason, as a 10-year-old, I was intrigued with how it all worked, as well as just enjoying the attractions.”

Schroeder decided to have all of his questions answered when he started working in Disney’s finance department in 1987. 

With the thought that others might have the same questions, Schroeder published “How in the World …?” a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create the magic of Walt Disney World. 

Faith, trust and maybe a little pixie dust

Growing up, Schroeder’s family vacationed at Disneyland every five years. His fascination for everything related to the parks only grew. 

He read every article and book he could find on the parks to learn as much as possible. 

“(Disneyland and Disney World) were just so different from anywhere else that you experience in normal life, so that all just intrigued me for whatever reason,” Schroeder said. 

It wasn’t until 1987 that Schroeder decided to apply for jobs with Disney. He spent his years after graduating college working as a finance consultant, and he thought he had a skillset from which Disney could benefit. 

Typical application routes were not panning out, so Schroeder went a different avenue. 

He sent a letter in January 1987 to several Disney executives, including Michael Eisner, the chairman and chief executive officer; Frank Wells, the president and chief operating officer; Richard Nunis, the president; and Gary Wilson, the executive vice president and chief financial officer. He proposed how he could use his financial background at the Walt Disney Company.

It was a shot in the dark with hopes of the letter somehow landing on at least one of these executive’s desks. 

But he received no response. 

A few months later, Schroeder decided to try again. 

This time, he received a call. He was flown out to Burbank, California, to meet John Forsgren, who was treasurer of the company at the time. 

Schroeder was hired. He would start his Disney career in the corporate treasury department. 

“It’s kind of like a Disney fairytale story of how it all worked out but in the boring finance world,” Schroeder said. 

But the biggest perk of working for the Walt Disney Company was his newfound access to the Disney archives. 

Every day during his hour lunch break, Schroeder moseyed down to the archives to finally have the burning questions he’s had since he was 10 years old answered. 

Once upon a dream

Walking into Schroeder’s Windermere home, no one would guess he is a Disney fan. 

Dressed in a white shirt with palm trees printed all over it and black jeans, Schroeder was unassuming. 

Rather than his living room being filled with Disney decor or memorabilia after working for the company for 13 years, the room was elegantly designed with antiques from around the world as his partner, David, purchases and sells antiques. 

The only Disney related item to be seen was a hardcover copy of his book, “How in the World …?” which Theme Park Press published April 8. 

But as Schroeder began talking about his book, his love for the parks came to life. It didn’t take long to discover Schroeder was a living encyclopedia of the first 25 years of Disney World as he delivered fact after fact about the parks without any hesitation or second guessing.

Through his seven years working in the corporate offices at Disneyland and another six years at the corporate offices at Disney World and his plethora of research from the archives, Schroeder decided to write a book on the operational side of Disney. 

Schroeder wrote his book in three sections: how Walt Disney World came to be; how some of the classic attractions were designed and built and how they function; and the operational side of Disney, diving into wardrobe, food distribution, merchandise, custodial operations and so much more. 

He recalled learning about the lava used in the Universe of Energy pavilion, which was part of the Future World section of Epcot from 1982 to 1996. 

Imagineers used the same machine that shoots dog food into a can for packaging to shoot lava from the volcano. The lava is made of toothpaste, thickener and black light dyes so it would glow as it came down the side of the volcano. 

“There’s a whole manufacturing division of Walt Disney Imagineering that builds most everything that’s needed for the parks,” Schroeder said. “These guys are amazing. They’ve built everything from the audio-animatronic figures to the movie projection cabinets they needed to ride vehicles, they built whatever was needed.”

A cumulative two years of detailed research came together in his book, showcasing the little-known aspects of Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios, which Schroeder still affectionately calls MGM Studios. 

Throughout his research and writing, Schroeder discovered the whole other world of Disney that goes unnoticed by the general public by day as thousands of people work to keep the parks pristine and operational by night. 

“There’s a whole other world within Walt Disney World, of all the backstage warehouses and manufacturing facilities and offices and nurseries and tree farms and bus washing stations and all that that people never see,” Schroeder said. 

Thinking of all those cast members who do not always receive recognition for the hard work they put in to create the magic of Disney brought tears to Schroeder’s eyes. 

As he clutched a tissue, Schroeder grabbed a hardcover copy of his book and gently turned the pages to the epilogue. 

Unable to read it himself as he held back tears, Schroeder shared a passage he had written as a reminder for why millions constantly return to the happiest place on earth. 

“There is a special magic to Walt Disney World, and other Disney parks, which can take on different forms for different people,” Schroeder wrote. “The magic can be as simple as the music in the air, a child meeting Mickey for the first time, a delicious caramel apple, the exhilaration of Space Mountain or fireworks bursting in the night sky. The magic can bring a smile to your face, reinvigorate the child in you, awaken a precious memory or allow you to forget all your worldly cares. But what makes the magic so special is that it usually involves, and is shared with, the family and friends you love. So, why would you not want to come, or return, to this most magical place on earth?

“And all we can do is say ‘thank you,’ to Walt and all the exceptional artisans, craftsmen, performers, managers and cast members who have had the ‘can do’ attitude to make it all possible.”

“I’m just very fortunate that I was able to do all the things that I did,” Schroeder said. “It’s been a wonderful experience, the whole thing, even though I don’t work for Disney anymore.”