ANAHEIM – Disneyland employees who work on Main Street, U.S.A., got an unusual request: How’d you like to be in a Tom Hanks movie?

“I said, ‘Attaboy! Put me down,’” said Steve Finley, a 40-year Disneyland employee.

Two Main Street drivers and a balloon vendor were among the handful of Disneyland employees who served as extras in “Saving Mr. Banks,” which comes out in wide release today.

The movie, starring Hanks as Walt Disney, was filmed for two days in November 2012 inside Disneyland – one of just three movies ever allowed to be shot inside the park. “Saving Mr. Banks” shows how Disney, in the early 1960s, attempted to persuade author P.L. Travers, played by Emma Thompson, to sign over the rights to make the “Mary Poppins” movie. Find out how Disneyland was transformed into the look of 1961.

Nine Disney employees were among the 400 overall cast as extras who got dressed up in 1960s clothes to appear as park guests. About 10 others, including drivers and balloon vendors, performed their jobs while the cameras rolled.

The drivers and balloon vendors got their regular Disneyland pay. They didn’t change their costumes – the current ones look like those from the ’60s. And the vehicles are the same: Fire Department Engine No. 1 has been in operation since 1958; Walt Disney used to drive it. The yellow Horseless Carriage hit Main Street in 1956.

“It was really fun,” said Ken Goodman, a driver for eight years.

The Disneyland segment of “Banks” is short, five or six minutes, and covers when Walt takes Travers to Disneyland for a break from developing the movie.

Finley and Goodman drive in the background and vendor Nick Lanham holds balloons, while the actors stroll along Main Street toward Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Finley, who has seen the movie, said he doesn’t think he or the fire engine made the cut.

The back of Goodman’s head is visible in the yellow Horseless Carriage as Hanks and Thompson saunter by. His shoulder and arm made the trailer.

Goodman might be on the steam train in the movie, when it trundles by as the stars walk into the park. Off-camera, Thompson waved to him.

Filming day, Finley got to the park about 4:30 a.m. to prepare the engine. He was told to drive up the street, then back again, before the park opened to the public. He estimates there were 20 takes. “What was great is all the kids (extras) were in period outfits, all in ’60s attire,” Finley said.

Goodman’s carriage was stationed in front of the Main Street Cinema, where he waited with extras to drive up and back about four or five times.

Between takes, Hanks led the carriage passengers in a round of the “Mickey Mouse Club March,” with an “M-I-C-K-E-Y” shout out.

Farther down the street, there was a child, apparently an extra, with a birthday button, so he led the “Happy Birthday” song with a megaphone.

“It was really cute,” Goodman said.

While cameras roll, Lanham pretends to sell balloons to children, with Hanks and Thompson nearby. In one scene, Lanham is strategically placed by the gates to block outside visitors who were trying to see the movie set. He also masked the modern-style turnstiles during takes.

“At the time, it was kind of surreal. I didn’t realize how big of a movie it is,” said Lanham, who has yet to see it. “But now, looking back, I’m glad that I got to see the nostalgia of Disneyland and how it was at that time.”

Off-set, Finley and Goodman happened to see the actors taking a break. Although Disneyland employees aren’t supposed to bother celebrities, the actors struck up a conversation.

Goodman handed them “Honorary Citizen” buttons.

Finley told Hanks that he used to watch “Bosom Buddies,” the TV comedy from the early ’80s in which Hanks dresses up like a woman. “He cringed a little,” Finley said. “That’s from his distant past.”

When Finley said that he used to be a Jungle Cruise skipper, Hanks broke out into a bit of the spiel, which they did together.

As a driver for 29 years, Finley has given rides to celebrities, including Heidi Klum and Mickey Rooney, during parades and special events. In November, he drove Jimmy Kimmel for a taping of “The View.”

But this was his first big, studio movie.

Last month, Disneyland treated employees who were extras and helped with filming to an early screening of “Saving Mr. Banks.” They scanned the screen to see if they were on it. Disneyland employees are thanked in the credits.

The two drivers enjoyed the movie, which is getting solid reviews. Goodman has always been a fan of Hanks’ movies, including “Cast Away.”

His favorite?

“Probably ‘Saving Mr. Banks,’” he said.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3793 or stully@ocregister.com