62. Rand Boyd, Author of Elbow Grease and Pixie Dust

Elbow Grease and Pixie Dust by Rand Boyd is an engaging story of working at Disneyland.

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When we visit theme parks, part of the magic is how well everything works. Broken attractions and bad show stand out because they are so rare. When Disneyland is succeeding, you barely think about the behind-the-scenes efforts that make that day possible. It helps Disney to sell the idea of the parks as magical places. That’s why I’m so interested in learning more about what happens away from the crowds. A perfect example is Rand Boyd’s book Elbow Grease and Pixie Dust: Memories of Disneyland Maintenance. His stories of working at Disneyland in Maintenance Services and other areas give an interesting lurk behind the curtain.

Rand Boyd, author of Elbow Grease and Pixie Dust: Memories of Disneyland Maintenance — Rand Boyd

Boyd is my guest on the latest episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast to discuss his career at Disneyland and amazing stories from that time. He worked at Disneyland for 20 years beginning in 1983 and has an up-close perspective. Another interesting factor is that Boyd worked apart from the attractions. His time in the warehouse, making deliveries on the graveyard shift, and other roles in Maintenance Services gives a different view of Disneyland.

Elbow Grease and Pixie Dust also includes the story of Boyd’s partner Eileen Schneider. During the podcast, we talk about the challenges that she faced as the first woman to work in her department at Disneyland. Some members of the old guard were not so friendly, but Schneider ultimately succeeded and has worked at Disneyland for 40 years. Boyd talks about incorporating her story into the book and how the two-act structure gives an in-depth picture of maintenance at Disneyland.