What is Working at Disneyland Like?

[sarahssoiree]

I have always thought it would be a blast to work at Disneyland as a Cast Member. I was just wanting to know how many of you had worked or are working at Disneyland, as well as any good stories and thoughts about this. I don't know if this has been asked before or not but I would love to read some stories and opinions. THANK YOU!

[chelsealela]

ooo! yes i wanna know also please!

[jagfkb]

Someone I know had met someone who works as Cinderella at WDW. She says that you have to paractically memorize the movie so at if a young child asks you a question (such as what are the anmes of the mice) they can answer.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I guess working at Disneyland is quite a bit different than working at Magic Mountain. The summer I did that was probably the worst summer experience I've ever had.

...but to look at the positive side of things, I gained a lot of experience & changed a lot of things that I never would have otherwise. Hmm...

-- PMM

[CA Screamin Dude]

Working at the Disneyland Resort is awesome. Since I went through Traditions right before an onseason, I've never really seen summer as a "test" of being a Cast Member; the offseasons are just times when you can really relax more - take time to chat with guests, have a blast doing things for a person rather than for just a stereotypical tourist. Summer is very tiring, but it's worth it. My favorite "CM" event was previewing DCA in Jan '01. I fell in love right then and there, I've made sure to stay in DCA, moving around occasionally to DTD and DL (merchandise allows for great variety). Sure there might be negatives, but there are to any job, but if I thought for a second that the negatives outweighed the positives, I wouldn't still be working there. It's the best job I've ever had (and the one I've kept for the longest too!).

[TowerGal_13]

Originally Posted by PeoplemoverMatt

I guess working at Disneyland is quite a bit different than working at Magic Mountain. The summer I did that was probably the worst summer experience I've ever had.

yes the people that work there have like the most boring job on the planet. when i went on jetstream there was a lady on her cell phone just talking not giving a care at all. those people seriously are board out of their minds, they are always on the phone!! im so glad disneyland is nothing like that!!! omg that would suck.



hey Gil i have a question, about what is the hours and pay for someone that would work in the parade or character cm jobs? just wondering, something i have always wanted to do

[skipperkyle'05]

I have been living in Orange County all my life. Disneyland has been a part of my childhood. my friends and I got the annual passes back in the 90?s for 50 bucks no black out dates. We would get our AT&T decoder cards and go on Indiana Jones all the time. We would go on the Haunted Mansion and repeat verbatim the script. We even went into Toontown and go on the Jolly Trolly. That?s when I realized: I want to work here. I want children to remember me as I put magic in their lives for just one day when there out of reality and into a fantasy that is Disneyland. My dream came true. I was 18 and it was spring break. My parents let me borrow the car and I went over to the casting place on Ball Rd. There I waited for an hour for the next available interview slot. I thought I nailed the interview. I waited outside as the CM told me it would take a few minutes.
She called me back in and said ?First off I would like to thank you for coming in today, we appreciate it when we see people interested in the company.? My mind was in tears I thought ?Uh oh, this is the rejection speech.? Then she said ?I am pleased to let you know we have an available spot in Adventureland. I took a BIG exhale. So big, she kind of laughed at me.
June 16th 2005: My traditions day. The day where everyone in the company takes to know info about the company, its history and policies. I am still friends with people who were in my traditions class. At the end of the day, Mickey Mouse gave us are nametags and ID passes. I was half excited and half nervous because now came the moment of truth: What attractions we were assigned to. My fellow CMs got Mansion and Autopia and Fantasy Classics West. Then came my tern. I still remember what the manager of attractions said: ?Kyle, looks like we?re seeing you in the Jungle.? My dream came true.
It?s been almost a year now and here?s the honest truth. If you?re going to work at Disneyland, don?t do it for the money. You?re not getting a lot. Don?t do it for the free tickets. Do it so that when that kid you touched grows up and takes their children, they?ll say ?When I came here at you age, there was this Cast Member who???

[GreenLantern13]

no offense to disneyland employees but when I heard disney's radio advertisement talking about how cool it is working at DL and they're hiring part time and full time positions and how these great jobs start at $8.20 an hour I had to laugh. i mean you could do worse but it's just funny hearing them shout it out on their radio ad as if it's absolutely amazing heh.

[RankoAnime]

I would LOVE to work as an atmosphere character at Disneyland, but there are SO many things preventing me from going to the auditions. ::sigh:: Maybe someday! Until then, I'd love to hear more stories about working at Disneyland!

[CA Screamin Dude]

Character wages are generally higher than other roles.

Character hours are generally less than other roles.

[mhendrix]

Originally Posted by skipperkyle'05

I have been living in Orange County all my life. Disneyland has been a part of my childhood. my friends and I got the annual passes back in the 90?s for 50 bucks no black out dates. We would get our AT&T decoder cards and go on Indiana Jones all the time. We would go on the Haunted Mansion and repeat verbatim the script. We even went into Toontown and go on the Jolly Trolly. That?s when I realized: I want to work here. I want children to remember me as I put magic in their lives for just one day when there out of reality and into a fantasy that is Disneyland. My dream came true. I was 18 and it was spring break. My parents let me borrow the car and I went over to the casting place on Ball Rd. There I waited for an hour for the next available interview slot. I thought I nailed the interview. I waited outside as the CM told me it would take a few minutes.
She called me back in and said ?First off I would like to thank you for coming in today, we appreciate it when we see people interested in the company.? My mind was in tears I thought ?Uh oh, this is the rejection speech.? Then she said ?I am pleased to let you know we have an available spot in Adventureland. I took a BIG exhale. So big, she kind of laughed at me.
June 16th 2005: My traditions day. The day where everyone in the company takes to know info about the company, its history and policies. I am still friends with people who were in my traditions class. At the end of the day, Mickey Mouse gave us are nametags and ID passes. I was half excited and half nervous because now came the moment of truth: What attractions we were assigned to. My fellow CMs got Mansion and Autopia and Fantasy Classics West. Then came my tern. I still remember what the manager of attractions said: ?Kyle, looks like we?re seeing you in the Jungle.? My dream came true.
It?s been almost a year now and here?s the honest truth. If you?re going to work at Disneyland, don?t do it for the money. You?re not getting a lot. Don?t do it for the free tickets. Do it so that when that kid you touched grows up and takes their children, they?ll say ?When I came here at you age, there was this Cast Member who???

This is exactly why Disney Parks continue to stay the BEST and HAPPIEST places on earth.

Kyle, you are why we love the magic, the dreams and the joy of a place that can only be as good as their employees make it.

Thank you, sir, thank you very much

[TowerGal_13]

so like do you have to like try out for the character parts or what? i know what is like to be in one of thoes hot costumes before. so i have had experience does that give me a good chance of being a DL Character? i have so many questions omg, sorry!

[RankoAnime]

^^Yes. The Disney Careers website has audition dates for character roles. I want to do atmosphere characters and if I understand correctly, they cast roles based on height. I wish I could choose which character I'd like to do, but after checking out some of the characters in my height range, any one would be pretty cool (of course, you all know I'd want to be Stitch! ).

My view of the job is pretty jaded as 1) I've never had a job before and 2) I've never been in a full-body costume before. All I know is that you need to be really good at pantomime and you need to have a lot of personality that shows through the costume...which are some skills that I currently lack.

[VegasTigger]

I was a CM the summer of '97. To this day it was the best job I have ever had. I worked at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor which was dangerous because I love ice cream. I remember that no matter how bad my day was as soon as I steped onto Main Street I couldn't help but smile. I have always been a huge Disney freak and working at the park had always been my dream. When they told me in my interview that I got the job I couldn't hold back the tears of joy. It was the best summer of my life, I even met my future husband who was also a CM that summer. Believe me when I say you haven't seen anything until you've seen the sun rise behind Sleeping Beauty Castle and the ducks from the Rivers of America waddling down Main Street. I would advise anyone who has ever thought of working for "THE MOUSE" to do it, even if it's just for the summer, you'll be glad you did.

[skipperkyle'05]

Here is a guide I made for my friends and I?m passing it down to you guys. This guide doesn?t reflect the DLR and is only my opinion. It?s just what I?ve found out over working there. Good Luck!

How to Get a Job at Disneyland
By, Skipper Kyle


! So you want to work at Disneyland?
Good for you! Being a Disney cast member is a very prestigious and honorable job. Where else can you make magical memories every day for you and others? One of the great things about the company is that there are so many different departments that make the entire Walt Disney Company.
! What they are looking for
In addition to being spontaneous, happy, and nice. They are also looking for people who are mature, serious about their job, and happy to be there. They are looking for a well rounded individual who wants to put in a lot of effort into their job at the resort.
! Applying
First, go to the casting website which can be found at Disneyland.com there, you can see what jobs are available and what the starting wages are. YOU HAVE TO BE 18 OR OLDER to do Attractions. If this is your dream to do Attractions, wait. For all other jobs, you can be 16 or older. Find the Department that is right for you. Pick the one that is going to be the most fun and not boring. If you are local but plan to go to college in a far off place, apply to be a Seasonal, CT, worker. If you are going to college locally or just want a part time job. Apply to be a part time, CR. There is also full time CR positions. On you?re application, mention a lot of leadership roles, skills and other vital things to getting a job. Knowing a foreign language really helps. The casting palace is on Ball Rd. and it?s before the main parking structure. After you apply, you schedule an interview time. It could be that day or another. Dress semi-formal. I wore a short sleeve button down shirt, black slacks and black shoes. Also have the Disney look. Men: Hair cut not touching the ears or collar. No visible tattoos or piercings. Women: No non-natural hair colors, one ring per ear. 
! Owning the Interview
***DON?T ADMIT TO BEING A DISNEY FREAK*** They like to see that you?re interested in the philosophy of ?Cast Members? and how Disney holds a place in your heart. But not that you haven?t washed the hand that Mickey touched since you were 7 years old. During the interview, talk talk talk and smile smile smile.
! You?re a Cast Member, now what?
Now, they will schedule two more dates. Paperwork day and Traditions day. Paperwork day you come to the same place and fill out all the paperwork. You also get all the pamphlets on company policies etc. Traditions day is taken by everyone in the resort. It?s your first day of work. You learn about the companies history, policies, and, above all, standards for guest satisfaction. At the end of the day, you get your name tags and ID badges and then your assignments. This mainly applies for attractions. Other depts. Know their locations. However, in Attractions you just know the Land and that?s it. At the end of the day, you find out the specific ride and the dates of training. Then you?re off! Have a magical time and good luck!

If you are going to apply, let me know and I will give you my CM ID # to use as a reference.

-Skipper Kyle