In Cast Place, we’ve posted many stories about making the magic at the
resort. However, before you can make an impression on a guest, you have
to make an impression on the Disneyland or Walt Disney World Casting Department.
I’ve gotten many requests for tips on getting hired and hints on what
to expect the first day on the job.
Well, your wish is granted. What can you do to set yourself apart from
the other applicants? Why should Disney hire you?
Do you need to know about foods to work in restaurants? No, but if you
have food experience, your odds of getting hired into that role increase.
If you are not a fan of food, let the interviewer know. If you do have
restaurant experience, but don’t want to work in a foods, be prepared
to say why. If you are in parking and transportation, be sure you have
a pretty good driving record. Want to be a tour jockey? Enunciate at your
interview—no one wants a tour guide they can’t understand.
When I applied at Disneyland, I had three years of experience at the
Disney Store, but I asked not to be placed in stores because I didn’t
need to come to Disneyland to work at a store. I wanted to work in an
area unique to the park and was luckily hired into attractions.
Among the hourly positions available:
- Food Operations
- Custodial
- Security
- Stores (retail)
- Guest Relations
- Attractions
- Ticket Takers
- Ticket Sellers
- Seamstresses – requires experience and/or licensing
- Culinary
- Costuming
- Night Custodial
- Nurses – requires experience and/or licensing
- Firefighter – requires experience and/or licensing
- General Maintenance – visit Disneyland career site for list
- Hotel Operations
- Walt Disney Travel Reservationists – prefer call center, reservation,
or travel experience - Innoventions – Please call the Disneyland Resort Jobline to determine
when Innoventions auditions will occur - Cosmetologists – requires experience and/or licensing
- Resort Transportation and Parking
No matter what area of the park you want to work in—from attractions
to costumes to outdoor vending—all CMs-to-be must fill out an application
and almost all go through a first-round interview. (The process is different
for those applying for a professional position.)
Disneyland asks that you apply in person at the Disneyland Resort Casting
Center at 700 W. Ball Road, Anaheim. To apply, please dress professionally,
and be prepared to fill out an application and possibly interview on the
same day. Please bring two forms of identification and other information
to complete the application. The center is open Monday to Friday, from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Applicants should be at least 17 years of age (or liberated
minor.) For more information on positions available, visit their hourly
jobs Web page (link).
In addition to the advice below, make sure you have reliable transportation—regardless
of which coast you want to work.
The positions at WDW are similar, but also include lifeguarding, stewarding
and textiling. For more information on the procedure at WDW, visit its
hourly jobs Web page (link).
If after reading this you feel ready to give it a shot, call the Disneyland
Job Line at 1-800-766-0888 or the Walt Disney World Job Line at JobLine
at (407) 828-1000 and press “1.” (the WDW job line is open Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-8 p.m.)
CM Jodie’s Advice
I worked for Disneyland from 1988 to 1994. The way I got hired was persistence.
I applied three times in a matter of a months. When I went in for my interview
I was told I was called in because of it.
CM Jeff’s Advice
I’m a fairly new cast member being hired just six months ago in November
2003. I currently work in Disney’s California Adventure Stores and I am
now a trainer for new cast members.
My tips are fairly simple, but I was surprised how many people don’t
follow them. These tips are more for an hourly position as opposed to
a salaried.
1) Be prepared for an interview immediately after turning in your
application. They interview everybody, with very few exceptions (like
if it’s been less than six months since you last interviewed with Disney).
I turned in my completed application around 11:15ish, and they asked me
to come back after lunch at 1 p.m. for an interview. I just went to lunch
in Downtown Disney while waiting.
2) The more available you are the better. The lady who interviewed
with me (it’s a group interview) wasn’t available on Tuesdays from 1-2:15p.m.,
Wednesdays from 7-9 a.m. Thursdays from 1:45-3:30 p.m., etc, She didn’t
get hired.
I told them jokingly I didn’t have a life and I’m available 24/7.
3) Wear a suit, or at least a tie (guys); women looks super professional.
I wore a tie and a sports coat and I got hired. Everyone else I saw was
wearing jeans, some even just simple T-shirts. I noticed right away I
was the only one in the three hours I was there who walked out with a
hiring packet.
4) Most of all, try not to stress—and have fun. The more
outgoing you are, the better. Also—don’t appear to be overly “Disneyethustiastic.”
I saw one person come in all decked out in Disneywear and they didn’t
get hired either. The casting crew isn’t impressed with your Disney trivia,
they’re interested in your work ethic.
CM Chris’ Advice
I hired into Disneyland in early 2000 and worked in Adventureland and
Tomorrowland attractions (Jungle Cruise skipper, Temple archeologist and
Monorail pilot), and only recently left to finish my bachelor’s degree
in technical theatre. I hope to one day rehire into the Tech Services
department.
I can offer my experiences in hopes that someone can use them to their
advantage to get a job at what I still consider to be one of the best
places I have ever worked.
1. Smile. Not a fake kind of smile but just generally show them
you are a pleasant person.
2. If you really want to work at Disneyland, let them know. Disney
likes to hire people who genuinely want to work there and they notice
if you are enthusiastic.
3. Don’t frighten them: On the other hand if you spend six days
a week there and come off as arrogant thinking you know anything and everything
about the park you should keep it to yourself, they want enthusiastic
–not psychotic.
4.Come prepared with a good Disneyland story: I told them the
story of how much the park meant to me and the last time my family went
to the park right before my father died in 1995, and how it will always
be a special place to me.
5. Be friendly: Again… not scary. During the group interview,
show off your people skills talk to your fellow interviewees.
6. This isn’t really a hiring tip but just a note to anyone thinking
about working at the park: Be realistic! If you love Disney and Disneyland
you will get a huge kick out of working at the park, however, don’t think
that everyday will be like that Saturday you spent with your friends going
on Pirates 16 times (guilty). Disneyland is a job—a really fun job—but
it’s still a job. Remember this when you are feeling frustrated. Think
of the good times you had and how you would like to pass that onto someone
else. As my mother said, “You don’t know if it’s someone’s first
time there… or their last.” It’s what kept me going for four
years
CM Patrick’s Advice
I remember the first day of orientation (had no idea what it was called)
took place at TDA [Team Disney Anaheim, also known as the big, yellow
building] in their auditorium. Was pretty boring, mostly watched films
about the park and company. I think everyone remembers the lawyer one,
at least the beginning. Went through the park and had to observe a CM
doing something. Nothing great for eight hours, though it came with a
free lunch.
Went in RT&P [Resort Transportation and Parking], their orientation was
a little better. was given a tour of their areas and rode all the trams
(Lion King was going to Simba at the time). I was told about the department
and given training schedules.
Best thing to do when interviewing: be open, be authentic and conversational.
You don’t want to be quiet and reserved.
Next time
In our next installment, we meet Anthony, as we follow him through his
hiring process.
