Adventure Is His Business!
John Michael Beck has one of the coolest jobs around. Not only does he get to work with the Trip Operations Team of Adventures by Disney to create amazing vacation experiences for Disney Guests, he has also been an Adventure Guide on several trips – which makes John Michael one of the few people in the modern world who can honestly say that adventure is his business. We turned to John Michael for a few tips on his favorite experiences, the rewards of his unusual career, and what to expect when setting out on an Adventure by Disney."Honestly, I thought I would always prefer Europe, but I have to say the trip I guided in Wyoming was amazing. It was truly a wonderful adventure. Wyoming is one of the most beautiful places on the planet." John Michael continues, "For me it's more about leading the adventure than one destination over another. It's not just being a guide – you're a maître D', an activities director, a concierge, and ultimately a storyteller. If something unexpected happens, we have great ideas in our back pocket to keep the Guests happy." Creating a sense of awe and excitement for the Guests is really one of my favorite things about Adventures by Disney. We go out of our way to make sure we have surprises hidden throughout the trip. You never know what may be waiting around the next corner," he explains. "It really is like theater. There's an interactive story being told, and the stars of our play are our Guests."
It takes a lot of skill to provide that level of experience, so Adventures by Disney Guides work in teams of two, to ensure that Guests get plenty of personalized attention and have a better opportunity to fully explore a location and discover its history and that of its people."We try to pair up guides that have a working knowledge of the destination," John Michael says. "If you have experience with the Grand Canyon and the Southwest, it seems like a no brainer to guide the Southwest trip. If you studied in Germany, your chances of guiding in Germany are greater. We will go to great lengths to put guides in places that play to their strengths, which means that our Guests are experiencing the story of the destination with someone experienced both geographically and culturally.
Having two Guides also makes it easy to cater to diverse groups of Guests. "That's one of the things that's great about Adventures by Disney – we have two Guides, so there's always someone there to make sure people feel included, whether it's a big family or a single adult traveling by themselves," says John Michael. "That's what so interesting about travel – you have people who are more outgoing and others who are shyer, but by the end of the trip they've bonded. We say 'you come in as strangers, but you leave as family,' and it's really true. The guides are a major factor of why Guests love these trips." Adventures also allow for differing levels of activity – whether you're a fitness buff and seasoned adventurer, or would like to spend your vacation taking it easy. "The great things about our adventures is that we never plan anything that's so demanding you couldn't do it, or we'll provide an alternate activity. In the Southwest if you don't want to raft, you can do a float trip."
It can be really fun for families, because the kids usually bond in the first 24 hours, and that helps the adults get to know each other as well. At the same time, you don't need to have kids to enjoy the trip," says John. "On every trip I've guided, there's been at least one couple without kids. As a Guide, I make sure we are including all of our Guests in on the fun and excitement." That said, some of his fondest memories of guiding have involved kids. "The kids bonding is a great moment. You lose all the sense of hierarchy you'd get in junior high or high school. In Germany, there was one kid who was feeling really low, and the other kids just took him under their wings and took care of him. And as guides, we're almost like aunts or uncles. So the last night he started crying again and we wondered what was wrong, and he sobbed, 'You and Jason are the best guides ever!' and hugged us! On another trip, a junior adventurer asked me, 'What was your favorite part of the trip?' and I said, 'Oh, the rafting was really great.' I asked him the same thing and he said, 'Meeting you.' These kids really surprise. We have families that have been traveling with us for five years, and every year they come back. It's a testament not just to the great programs we put together, but also to the relationship with the guides."
Where will Adventure take John Michael next? He has no way of knowing! "I think being a guide in Australia would be awesome. Ecuador. Anywhere in Europe is awesome. Spirit of America is a great trip and I'd love to do that one. I used to teach elementary school, and that trip is so rich in history. They learn without realizing it, and get a better appreciation of history, not just of the U.S., but in general," he says. But finally, he tells us, he can't choose. "For every destination there's another reason." And that is what adventure – and Adventures by Disney! – is all about.
