At Walt Disney World, you are never referred to as an “employee.” Instead, your job title will be called a “Cast Member.”
Working at Disney World requires you to constantly be on your “A” game and always stay in character. It’s part of what makes the whole experience magical. Next up, learn about the language used in the parks.
Getting hired to work at the happiest place on earth is a lot of people's fantasy. There are plenty of job opportunities at Disney whether you want to work as a costumed character performer, a ride operator, or in one of their many retail stores. Whatever you decide to be the perfect fit for you, as an employee at Disney, you will be referred to as a "cast member." If you dream of being one of the 70,000 cast members at Disney World, sorry to burst your bubble, but the hiring process is anything but easy. Not to mention that working as a cast member is a very rigorous gig that comes with an entire slew of requirements. All this to make every guest's experience as sparkly as possible.
Some cast members, after leaving their jobs, have shared what it's really like working in the parks. They've talked about the good, and the bad. And of course, they have shed light on the things that will make you want to quit your job right now and get hired to work at Walt Disney World, or at least plan your next vacation down to Orlando, Florida. Keep reading to learn some secrets of working in the parks.
Business, No Pleasure
When you're working at Disney World, you need to uphold to all of their standards. This of course includes how you should present yourself physically. Unfortunately, some very creative people who are so fitting to be Disney cast members are prohibited from working there because of visible tattoos. People with tattoos can get around this by covering up with long sleeve shirts and pants. But, imagine dressing like this in the scorching Florida summer heat. Yea, that doesn't bode too well and makes for a seriously brutal mix. Cast members are also required to wear their hair pulled back, unless their costume requires another hair style.
Finally, if you think that you’ll get away with your goth-colored nail polish or nail decor, then you are sorely mistaken. Disney also forbids this look. And if you are the kind of person to throw your clothes on the ground when you come home from work or stain your clothing, this job probably won't be for you. Cast members are required to keep their costumes in immaculate condition. Keep reading to find out how you know if you really pissed off an employee.
Their Own Lingo
When a guest mistakenly wanders off into a prohibited area of the park, the cast members describe this as "going backstage." For example, back offices and computer rooms are called backstage. Considering that everything at Disney World is like one big play, doesn't this make sense?
This term "backstage" isn’t the only term used when talking about performers and guests. The term “onstage” is also used when referring to retail stores. All cast members, from the employee dressed as Mickey to the employee working as the cashier, is instructed to stay in character onstage. For Disney, the most important thing is providing the best show as possible for the guests. See the next slide for another interesting fact.
Like a Real Jungle
Disney's Animal Kingdom reportedly cost nearly 1 billion dollars to construct. It covers an area of around 500 acres of land in the park. Animal Kingdom first opened to visitors on Earth Day in 1998. A lot of work was put into designing the park. Disney Imagineers traveled all the way to Africa and Asia to study the landscapes and wildlife in order to replicate them in a realistic fashion. They also brought back seeds from 37 countries to plan in the park. Talk about commitment! The Animal Kingdom was built sunken several feet into the ground. Several theories exist as to the reason for this. Some people claim that it’s the result of central Florida’s many sinkholes. But, this isn’t exactly why. Animal Kingdom was built in this way in order to create a more fitting environment for both animals and guests. You can see that Disney does everything to make the guest experience the best it can possibly be.
Disney also goes great distances to protect the animals of the park. There is a ban on all things plastic, including plastic straws, cups, cup lids, and balloons. The reason for this is so that they don't end up in the animals' cages. Another interesting fact about Animal Kingdom is that it houses the most expensive roller coaster ever built in the world. Expedition Everest, Legend of the Forbidden Mountain cost $100,000,000. It took six years to plan and build the ride.