Cast Members Steve Valkenburg and JP Pryor formed a life-long friendship during their over four decades working together at Disneyland.
40 Years of Friendship at Disneyland
James “JP” Pryor joined the Disneyland cast at Plaza Inn in 1977. Steven “Steve” Valkenburg became a Cast Member at French Market (now Tiana’s Palace) in 1980, then moved to Plaza Inn in 1983. The pair quickly became friends and have been creating magical moments for guests ever since.
JP and Steve welcomed guests to Disneyland and Plaza Inn with high fives and their “Chicken Bell” moment. During the tradition, they chose one guest to ring the chicken bell, signifying the restaurant is open for lunch.
“We just enjoyed working with each other, and we both share the same passion for why we work here,” JP told Disney Parks Blog.
“When I came to Plaza Inn,” Steve explained, “I was welcomed and felt like I belonged. JP trained me as a lead, and I received some of the best training [I’ve seen] anywhere.”
“I consider you more of a brother than my real brothers,” JP said to Steve. “I know we’ll always be in each other’s lives. Maybe too much,” he added with a chuckle.
The two take pride in honoring the memory of Walt Disney and are recognized by fellow Cast Members as the unofficial historians of Plaza Inn. Above is a picture of the two at the Plaza Inn “Legacy Wall,” a backstage monument to the restaurant’s history full of photos and artifacts.
Plaza Inn first opened as the Red Wagon Inn on the opening day of Disneyland — July 17, 1955. It became the Plaza Inn in 1965 with a buffeteria-style service. Walt Disney’s concept for the restaurant was a luxurious yet affordable dining experience for families.
The restaurant and its cast have another special connection to Walt. Early in his time at Plaza Inn, one of Steve’s routine tasks was replacing refreshments in Walt Disney’s apartment above the fire station on Main Street, U.S.A.
“When I started, I used to go up to Walt’s apartment about once a month,” he explained, saying the space felt like a hallowed museum where you can feel the presence of Walt Disney and his legacy. “Working in the Plaza complex meant we had access to [Walt’s apartment], and that was really neat.”
JP and Steve agreed to stay at Disneyland through the 70th anniversary on July 17, both retiring on July 18. WDWNT attended their joint retirement party at The Golden Horseshoe with the Plaza Inn team and friends.
Though they won’t be working together anymore, Steve and JP plan to continue their annual road trips. In May 2024, they visited Walt Disney’s hometown, Marceline, Missouri.
Congratulations, Steve and JP!
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