If you’re looking for a cast member at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort who has been making magic since it opened, you’ll hear her before you see her. Undrill Munfus, or Drill for short, has a laugh that’s as bright as the colorful walls at Centertown Market, one of the resort’s dining locations.
The Orlando native started working at Walt Disney World with her cousin in 1982, spending weekends and summers at the Most Magical Place on Earth while they were still in school. Drill initially worked at Pinocchio’s Village Haus at Magic Kingdom Park when it was surrounded by the Fantasyland eateries of yesteryear — Troubadour Tavern, Tournament Tent, and The Round Table.
For the last 35 years, she’s delighted both new and returning guests at the lively, island-inspired property as Caribbean Beach Resort’s only remaining opening-day cast member. She fondly recalls making connections with longtime guests who traveled to the resort year after year.
“A lot of people touch your heart,” Drill said. “It’s not about whether they write a comment about you. It’s when someone comes back and remembers who you are, and the heartfelt welcome that they get, [I’ve] made you feel like family.”
She has a historian-like ability to recall changes – big and small – throughout the resort’s 35 years with ease, including what the original floorplan of the bakery and gift shop looked like, or that arriving guests didn’t always check in at Old Port Royale.
Drill encourages anyone visiting the resort to just “take a walk” around the lush grounds to enjoy the sights. “There’s always something different to see,” she said.
She recently received her 40th Anniversary Service Award, and this October, she’ll help celebrate Caribbean Beach’s 35th anniversary. So, what’s the secret to these major milestones? According to Drill, “It’s not the job, it’s the people you work with.” And she’s right — 35 years of magic is made possible only by the cast who’ve called the resort home, past and present. Happy anniversary, Caribbean Beach!
