Robyn Wheeler as an Animal Control Officer

in 1994.

• 16 years old, first job ever, worked as an assitant to the horse trainer at Rancho Del Rio Stables for $1 a hour during the school year (not a great deal financially but it was a job and I got to ride, groom, play and board my own horse at the same stables)
• 16 years old, Hostess as Marie Calendars Restaurants for 2 years, quit because I moved to a different city to go to college
• 17 years old, worked for one summer as a trail guide for YMCA summer camp called Camp Oakes in the Big Bear mountains (this one was tough...I rode horses all day)
• 18 years old, sorted envelopes & later on became a driver/delivery person for Master-Sort, Inc., a pre-sort mail company for 3 years, quit to go to work at Disneyland
• 20 years old, worked for 3 years as a groom and stable hand for an Arabian Horse Farm, quit to go to work at Disneyland
• 20 years old, worked for 1 day as a data entry worker but got fired becasue I did not type fast enough ( and I am a good typist too!!)
• 22 years old, worked for one month selling Pet Insurance before I realized I hated being a sales person
• 23 years old, hired as a Horse Appraiser for Central California but quit before I ever started because I lived in Southern California and didn't want to commute or move far away
• 25 years old, employed as a race horse exercise jockey for 1 week but quit because I had to be at the track at 5 AM and ride...no, run at lightening speed several ill-mannered, flighty horses as fast as they would go and prayed they stopped when I wanted it to (and I owned a horse and rode everyday for over 5 years)
• 25 years old, for 5 years I mentored high school kids on how to find a job working with animals through a Regional Occupation Program but quit to become an Animal Control Officer
• 25 years old, hired for the summer by JCPenny's warehouse unloading merchandise, scanning all items, tagging all items and then packing them back up to be shipped out to a local store, asked to work full time but went back to teaching part-time
• 28 years old, worked as an Animal Control Officer for 2 years but quit because I didn't like scraping dead animals off the road and writing people tickets for walking their dog off their leash

Robyn Wheeler, The Creature Teacher

riding Sam, a 1500 lb Percheron in a parade

Robyn and Maiden or better known as Mickey Moo,

a Holstein Cow once owned by Disneyland.

A PAST LIFE. Dec, 2008

Before The Creature Teacher was even thought of, Robyn Wheeler worked as a stable attendant at Disneyland's Circle D Corral in Anaheim, California. Circle D Corral or "the barn" as we called it, is 5 acres of property located on the North West Corner of Disneyland between the employee parking lot and the vehicle maintanance buildings. Back then, the barn was home to 20 draft horses, 3 Lippanzers, 3 miniature horses, over 20 goats and sheep, one Holstein cow, 2 burros, around 100 pigeons and a handful of exotic animals. Shifts started at 6 AM and lasted until 1:30 AM. Between 1:30 AM and 6 in the morning the lights were turned off, the barn doors closed and the horses slept for the night... or at least we hoped. On rare occasion, a smart and bored equine would escape his stall and the morning crew, still asleep from not having had their cup of coffee yet, were greeted by a very large and hungry horse standing right in front of the office door as to say "Where's my breakfast, you're late!"?. From 6 AM until 1:30 in the morning, life at the barn was never dull. Breakfast, lunch and dinner (hay and grain) needed to be served as well as the morning medications and any treatment for injuries. The horses needed their baths so they would be sparkly clean for their 4 hour shift pulling trolleys on main street. The farrier came once a week to put new shoes on all the horses and the equine veterianarian made his monthly apprearance to deworm, vaccinate and float teeth. Stalls needed to be cleaned, harnesses needed polishing and then there was the sweeping, cleaning all the water troughs, taking down bird nests, putting up and taking down outside pens and even milking a cow. Rain or shine, hot or cold, holiday or every day, 7 days a week, these things needed to be done. I spent many a midnight hour tending to sick animals, waiting for a mare to give birth or comforting a dying critter who wouldn't make it until morning. During the summer, Disneyland gives a spectacular fireworks display every night and those list of chores got longer and longer. Before fireworks go off every night,  the animals were brought into the barn from the outside runs. The hay bunker was covered and the barn locked down tight. Disney's fire department arrives 30 minutes ahead of time and takes their positions on the roofs--barn, hay bunker and office. Barn crew must remain inside the barn until fireworks have ceased and then the grounds must be inspected for debris before horses can be returned outside for the night. On occasion, a "hot" (still burning and dangerous) piece of a firework would drop down too close for comfort and the fire department would rush to save the day. For over 11 years, the person now referred to as The Creature Teacher, rode horses in parades, scrubbed and hosed pigeon poop out of the bird coop, and rescued baby ducks and birds from being trapped in The Mad Hatter attraction. So when you see her, don't be afraid to talk "Disney" as it is The Happiest Place on Earth (for the animals too) and anyone who's ever worked there will have fond and numerous memories of their time at the Magic Kingdom.  

Disneyland, the happiest place on earth

FOREIGN COUNTRY. Dec, 2008

Most often than not, when you enter one of Disneyland theme parks, you feel as if you have entered another land, another world. And you should. That's the way Walt wanted it. Walt Disney wanted you to leave your worries at the front gate. No more thoughts of work, responsiblities, chores or illnesses. He wanted you to feel enchanted, transported into another place and time. And every little detail about his parks were created to give you that effect. Even the employees. When a person is hired as a Disney employee they undergo one full day of orientation on how to act, dress, behave and even talk the "Disney" way. You see, Disneyland has it's own lingo and code of conduct. Employees are not employees, they are Cast Members. And uniforms are not uniforms, they are Costomes. Rides are called Attractions and there is an "onstage" and a "backstage" just like in a theatre play. And the park visitors are always referred to as Guests. If you have a family emergency and need to cut your day short, you must ask for an ER (early release). And if you wish to have a day off, you are granted an ADO (authorized day off). Cast Members may not eat, drink, sit or lean onstage in front of guests. Nor are they to use the same restrooms as guests and may not cross their arms or use offensive language either. All Cast Members must also sign an waiver agreeing to transfer to another departement if they marry another Cast Member. If it is true that "Old habits die hard" than Walt is responsible for many for behaviors exhibited today by The Creature Teacher. Robyn, even today feels that she wears a costume and not a uniform and you will never see her sitting down on the job. Unless at a public facility like a school or library, you will never hear The Creature Teacher ask to use your restroom, eating is done before or after a show and even though she's been offered many times to join a family for birthday cake, will respectfully decline the invitation. 

Sea Turtle "Arribada", Costa Rica, 1992

The Creature Teacher, Robyn (blue cap)

Counting turtle eggs with the island residents.