Delafield man hopes Disney dreams come true

Posted: June 21, 2010

Twenty-six-year-old Brent Dodge isn't just wishing on a star to make his dreams come true.

The Town of Delafield native packed up his Herbie the Love Bug replica Volkswagen Beetle recently, moved to Florida, and has spent the past 105 days in a row - and counting! - at Disney World, in pursuit of his ultimate dream.

The self-described Disney nerd, who estimates he's been to the Florida park more than 750 times throughout his life, packed up to promote his newly finished book about film references in Walt Disney World and find his happily ever after.

Disney dreamer

Dodge, a St. Charles and Catholic Memorial graduate, has loved Disney "pretty much since the day I was born," he said. The son of Dean and Judi, Dodge is the third in a line of four boys and remembers heading to the theater for Disney's new releases and vacationing in Florida nearly every year.

Dodge had two dreams growing up, he explained. The first was to work at Disney World and the second was to own a real version of Herbie.

While earning his elementary education degree from what is now Carroll University, Dodge signed up for the Walt Disney World College program. He got a job as a custodian in Fantasyland and checked one childhood dream off his list.

"I thought it was going to be the worst job ever," Dodge said.

While he picked up trash, Dodge, whom his mom described as a fun-loving and energetic guy, had the opportunity to talk and mingle with Disney guests.

"I had a blast," he said.

Despite his friends' warnings that he'd hate Disney after the experience, Dodge's enjoyment grew, and he extended his stay from eight months to a year.

"I fell in love with it even more," said Dodge, who had his 2008 off-white VW Beetle customized with Herbie stickers he bought off eBay.

He loves the way "cast members" treat guests like old friends, said Dodge who went through almost a week of training in the program on how to interact and treat park attendees.

Dodge also started to realize the hidden secrets and details in the park, like how one of the rafts on the Kali River Rapids ride in Disney's Animal Kingdom Park is called Baloo Me Away after the bear in the Jungle Book. There are so many references to Disney movies in the parks that may go unnoticed by many, he said.

"You really feel like you're in a magical place," said Dodge.

In 2005, Dodge came back to the area to finish his degree. While student teaching at Dousman Elementary School, he watched Disney's "Robin Hood" with students during naptime and had an "aha moment" for a book. Fulfilling his sixth-grade teacher's prophecy that he would write a book one day, Dodge set to work on a guide about all the film references he saw hidden in Walt Disney World.

Livin' the dream

Looking out over Disney World from his Florida place, Dodge explained he decided to just go for it in March. For two years after college, he'd been substitute teaching at Elmbrook and Waukesha schools but decided the best way to do research and promote his self-published book was right in Walt Disney's World.

Dodge's mom, Judi, said her son has never been the type of kid to go half-heartedly.

"Whatever he goes for, he goes for 100 percent," she said.

Judi said they miss their son terribly but support his decision to go to Florida.

"Go for it and see what happens," Judi said she told her son. The worst that can happen is he comes back in six months without any money, she said.

Dodge has been networking as he tries to fulfill his ultimate dream - having his book sold in Disney World. Dodge explained it would be quite the feeling to have something he created in a place he enjoys so much. He's heard it can take anywhere from one year to 10 years for that to happen.

Dodge is already at work on the second book in the series. He'd originally planned to include all animated and live action film references in one book but later decided against it.

"No one wants to walk around Disney World with a 500-page book," he said. The book-writing process itself was a "lot of trial and error," said Dodge.

Dodge expects to release his second book about live action and classic character references found throughout Walt Disney World Resort in the fall. He's editing it now, but it's not always easy to stay focused minutes away from a 25,000-acre playland.

"You want to work on your books, but at the same time the parks are calling me," Dodge said.

In addition to writing, Dodge hosts a weekly Wednesday night podcast about all things Disney called the W.E.D.nesday show, a play on Walt Elias Disney's initials. His website, www.fromscreentotheme.com also features games, trivia, forums and regular blog posts. He said he tries to do some update at least once a day and has met many people from around the country and world through his site.

"It keeps me busy," said Dodge. "It's a lot of fun, though."

Dodge is in the works with one of his website's sponsors, a Walt Disney World travel company, to host four- or five-hour-long tours of Walt Disney World. He's working on his tour script right now, he said.

Happily ever after

Like Snow White's dream that her prince would come and Pinocchio's to be a real boy, Dodge has always had dreams.

"I have this connection (to Disney) because of that," Dodge said. "It is a dream company, and I'm a huge dreamer."

Disney, like her son, is positive, said Dodge's mother of his draw to Disney.

"Every day is the best day of his life," said Judi.

"He loves the 'happily ever after,' " Judi said. "Everything works out in the end."

Judi said she would love to see her son succeed with his book and for him to one day work at Disney.

"I would love to see him someplace in the Disney organization and making his dreams and everyone else's come true," she said.