FindingMickey.com

Location: The Mad Hatter, Town Square - Main Street USA, Disneyland.

In June 1955, Anaheim High School graduates Ray Van De Warker & Robert Penfield applied for summer jobs at Disneyland. When Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, Van De Warker's first job was in Fantasyland, operating the carousel. He held jobs all over the park, in attractions, security, concessions and management.

As foreman of the Indian Canoe ride on the Rivers of America, Van De Warker helped create a Disneyland tradition. In 1963, Jungle Cruise foreman Bob Penfield, issued a friendly challenge. Penfield suggested a canoe race between the Indian War Canoe Cast Members and Cast Members from Adventureland and the Jungle Cruise. Van De Warker's team won and Disneyland's Annual Cast Canoe Races were born.

Van De Warker retired in 1996, after working at Disneyland for more than forty years.