Judy Perry Daley: Walt Disney World’s VIP

Seasons Greetings! Happy Holidays! This has been a wonderful year in many ways, but it has also been a year of tremendous lost to myself and many who knew Judy Perry Daley. Judy was the first female manager in operations at Walt Disney World, and had a tremendous work experience, hosting presidents and princesses, rock stars and movie stars. She truly was one of the most remarkable leaders of Walt Disney World. Together my friend Joseph Gardner, and my long time friend and my business partner Mark David Jones meet with Danni Mikler, who was Judi’s best friend at Walt Disney World. She shares her journey with Judi, where you will learn more of Guest Relations in those early days, talks of managing Candlelight Processional, and of the challenges of opening Epcot with Dick Nunis. Did you know there was no centralized reservation, World-Key system in the first months of Epcot? How about the Epcot circus or President Reagan’s Inaugural Parade through World Showcase? We talk about all of these crazy events and Judi’s leadership in it. I then conclude by sharing the remarks I made at her life celebration service. Judy was truly one of the best leaders at Walt Disney World, was a dear friend and mentor, and I promise this is one of the most important podcasts I have ever shared. Join us as we share the life of Judy Perry Daley: Walt Disney World’s VIP.

As this is a special podcast, please visit the show notes or the Disney Insights website for announcements and other promotional mentions. I want to focus simply on this podcast. And please understand that much of this is recorded at Steakhouse 71–in fact we closed out their lunch service. So despite using some good mikes there was more banter nearby than I had hoped. And please understand that this is one of my longest podcasts, but I felt that it should be as one whole.

Without further ado, allow me to turn the mike largely over to Danni Mikler, who’ll share some details of her career as they intertwined with her long-time friendship with Judi.

I have to mention that we were seated near an older couple dining next to us at. They kept looking at us and I felt maybe we were interrupting their dining experience doing this interview. It turns out that when they got up to leave, he turned to Mark, mentioned that he had worked at Walt Disney World in the early days, and that he thought Judi was a great leader.

Here are my thoughts that I shared at Judi’s life celebration in November:

“It’s a privilege to be here and to celebrate Judi’s life. Unlike many of you, I didn’t come up through the ranks of Disney having been a Jungle Cruise skipper or having worn plaid. I knew a lot about Disney, had a library of Disney books I scoured, and had been to the parks over the decades times. But I knew nothing about the culture of Disney, or the business of Disney, I was a larger than life guy at the center of a venn diagram where naivete, cluelessness and idealism came together. It is in that junction that I first met Judi—not as a manager or as the person in charge—but someone who took me under her wing as a mentor, coach and friend. 

I was talking to Jeff Soluri the other day, and with a thumbs up said said, “If Judi was on Duty, everything would be good. Now I know enough about how in her earlier times she could be tough cookie. But for me, when Judi was in the house, it was all good. She taught me so much. And we enjoyed laughing together. More than anyone she could define what a great guest experience was all about. Walking through the parks she would bring things to my attention I had never thought of. And she seemed to know everyone. We would continually chat with people in the trench gleaning information, identifying a guest speaker, or creating new ideas for participant experiences. She knew the park, and I had this singular privilege of witnessing and learning it from her eyes.

Judi would talk about VIP service, and of course, she herself hosted presidents and princesses, rock stars and movie stars. Of all those experiences, the one that truly stood out for her was Princess Diana’s second visit. Having been through a divorce, having two boys soon to become teenagers, and being surrounded by paparazzi and entourage, Diana yearned to know what it was like to just be a mom who could take her boys and spend a day in the park without any other care in the world. Judi made that a reality, moving the family behind the scenes, keeping attractions opened late, and allowing Diana to just be a mom. 

Prince Harry a couple of years ago at the Invictus games spoke fondly about how they went on Space Mountain after hours for like 16 times in a row. Judi emphasized that it was not so much about being a Very Important Person, but a Very Individual Person. And she held to that principle—especially in her time that she spent with me and my wife and daughter—knitting scarfs for my wife Kath and creating butterfly homes for my daughter Madison. Her VIP service was truly individual, but delivered in a way that made you feel like a Very Important Person.

By the way, the term VIP had a whole new meaning after she retired. VIP was now Very Important, Very Individual Poultry! And with chickens named Batman, Russell Crowe and even Prince Harry. She knew how to make even a chicken feel like a VIP.

I asked Mark David Jones and Joseph Gardner the other day what was the first thing that came to their mind about Judi. Without hesitation Joseph mentioned the same thing that I initially thought. Now please understand, Judi was organized. She controlled her controllables. She had lists and attended to every detail in our programs. She planned her work and worked her plan when it came to the programs we delivered. But after all of that, after doing everything she could possibly think of, she would all of a sudden take us by the hand and stepping back stage, or behind a set, or somewhere, offered a prayer just before the program. She knew there were things she couldn’t control, and those things she put in God’s hands.

The things she couldn’t control were the things that ultimately took her life. But I assure you that Judi is alive and that in heaven “Everything Speaks” is now the new catch phrase. If she had to go ahead of us, she knew that would give her enough time to make sure when we got to the other side, it would be all set up just right. She’s making her lists, paying attention to the details and making heaven a little better before it opens its doors to any of us. I know that, because I saw Judi bring a little bit heaven to others on earth. In my eyes, Judi was truly Disney’s VIP.

Thank you for joining us for this special podcast. Thanks for joining us for this podcast. Wherever you go, find the second star to the right, and keep going straight on till you reach it. Follow the compass of your heart, and know that with a smile and a song, a little faith, effort and pixie dust, your dreams can come true. After all, if we can dream it, we can do it. Until next time, bright suns, we’ll see you real soon!