Clayton Lyndsey Bids Farewell to Disney Cruise Line to Share Magic With Retirement Community in Colorado

What's happening:

• A long time Disney Cast Member Clayton Lyndsey has bid adieu to Disney Cruise Line and has begun a new chapter in his life at Spectrum Retirement Communities. 
• Lyndsey made the move from Florida to Colorado where he now serves as Vice President of entertainment and programming for the company.
• Prior to taking the position with Spectrum, Lyndsey served a the cruise director for Disney Cruise Line and Disney fans will recognize him as someone who always got everyone involved in a variety of activities.

• Lyndsey had such a way with guests that he was able to convince older cruisers to take a ride down a water slide or join him for a lovely ballroom-style dance.
• In a recent profile article for Spectrum, Lyndsey's career with Disney was mentioned pointing out two very special occasions when he provided magical opportunities for some special cruisers:
  • Years ago a World War II veteran named Joseph took his whole family (18 in total) on a Disney Cruise. Lyndsey made sure that Joseph was having a just as much fun as his family and according to the article told Joseph, “We’re going to ride The AquaDuck — you and me.” And they did! That experience began a tradition for Lyndsey where he'd find the most senior person on each cruise and take them for a ride on The AquaDuck.

•  Another guest named Anne-Marie was paired with Lyndsey for "Dancing with the Officers" during evening entertainment. She was nervous about dancing in front of a crowd, but Lyndsey put her at ease. Their Samba was the talk of the cruise and years later, Anne-Marie's widowed husband tracked down the director on another cruise and told him “Don’t be sad. You were the memory of her life. She never stopped talking about it.”

• Clayton Lyndsey, vice president of entertainment and programming for Spectrum Retirement Communities: "I haven't been this excited in a really, really long time. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone at Spectrum...my new family.”
• Lyndsey, on how senior living communities are like cruise ships: “It’s our obligation to make sure [the residents] enjoy every day of their stay. They should live with purpose, feel valued and know they can still share in making memories with their families.”
• Lyndsey on his life motto 'You Never Know': “Those are three powerful words: You never know. You never know what a hello or a smile will do for someone’s day. You really just never know the impact you’re having on someone’s life.”

• While it's been nearly a decade since one of our own took these pictures with Lyndsey, we do have some fond memories of his personality and charisma. Here he is in 2009 taking a few minutes to play with Gideon.