Cast Member Confidential Review
Cast Member Confidential: A Disneyfied Memoir
Have you heard about the latest Disney “tell all” type of memoir, “Cast Member Confidential”? If you were interested in it, I picked it up this week. I was torn on reading it or not. Don’t get me wrong, I like behind-the-scenes stories, but we’re talking a place that is the all time master of illusion and happy places. I love Disney – and I guess from my last post – you get that. The thing is, digging into this book, I wondered if it would tarnish the place in my eyes.
Does it? Nah – To me it reads like half fiction, half truth – and sounds like a lot of places that have young people working there. While every place runs like a well oiled machine during the day, the employees end up partying together at night to blow off steam. On the other hand, some of the stories are tossed in for “shock value” – and while you’d be all – OH MY GOSH, NOT MY DISNEY – honestly, I take it with a grain of salt.
It’s written as a memoir, but reads more like a story. How much you choose to believe is up to you. Remember when James Frey and his “Million Little Pieces” was all about “HIS TRUTH” – then it came out parts were exaggerated (well duh, just think of the root canal scene alone) – anyway, that’s how this reads to me.
Everything is heightened – everything feels TOO over the top.
Lastly, when I went to read reviews – there were 5 perfect 5 star ratings. Not one other type of rating. Mmmhmmm, sure…I’d wait a little longer if you want to read this, and wait for the REAL reviews to roll in. Then you’ll get a more biased opinion. What do I think? What would I give it?
I’d give it about 3.5 stars. It’s an easy read, it’s got some behind the scenes stuff, but mostly it’s all about how much of the Disney employment population is gay and has wild, massive parties on a regular basis…ummm, who cares? It’s like this is some massive reveal – oh my gosh – look at his *****, oh my gosh – the party – there were people who didn’t care if they were coupled up with men or women, drugs all over, sex all over, and party, party, things. There’s a level of how in or out you are, based on the character or your roll as a Cast Member…
I still give it a solid 3.5 stars, because it’s a quick read that keeps your attention. He can write – and can tell a story, and there are enough small details to hold your interest. It’s not the tell-all you might have been hoping for – but it’s interesting. I’d suggest this one for the over 18 crowd though. This isn’t the book I’d pick out for your daughter who LOVES Disney. Cursing, nudity, sex, drugs involved…
*link leads to Amazon
