Disneyland, one of the most visited theme parks in the world is hiring–all the time. Not what you expected? That statement is very, very true. It wasn’t always like that though, and before 1998 it was extremely difficult to get a job at the self proclaimed Happiest Place on Earth. Very stringent look guidelines were in place at the resort. If you were overweight there was a very slim chance you would be gainfully employed at the theme park.
For most of its 40 years of existence Disneyland represented the good old American values that this country was built on, and they expected their employee’s to exhibit these same traits. Today though, getting a job at Disneyland is much easier. Because of equal opportunity laws and a growing resort, Disney was made to alter its once stringent hiring guidelines. This has made it much easier to find work at the resort.
Simply put, in the 21st century getting a job at Disneyland is about as easy as going to the Casting Center directly behind the park and filling out an application. With the internet, you can now apply online before heading in for your interview. The following guide is to help you secure your job at the Disneyland Resort and to help you become their newest cast member!
First off, the old fashioned values of America still apply and going to your interview in anything but business casual is highly discouraged. By appearing professional in your interview, irregardless of what position you are applying for will be helpful. Disneyland wants to hire people who are genuinely excited about work, and that starts with the dress code.
Men should wear slacks or khaki pants with a well fitted button up shirt or golf shirt. For ladies a pleasant blouse and pants should do the trick. Disney has very stringent guidelines for their professional cast members, so if you are applying for a professional position a business suit is highly recommended. As in every job interview you want to ensure you are looking sharp, even more so when applying at Disney.
The chances of you being interviewed the same day you apply are very great. Most people can walk into the Disneyland Casting Center in the morning and leave shortly after lunch with a position at the resort. By selling yourself as an great people person with good conflict resolution skills, you are almost guaranteed a position. Before you go into apply you surely have thought about what Attraction you will want to work at. The unfortunate part is that there are far more important places to staff cast members at, namely restaurants and stores.
Because of this you will need to go in expecting a position that best gels with your previous experience. If you have experience working in fast food, or quick service restaurants, you can expect them to try and place you in the food department or outdoor vending. If you have worked at your local mall in the past you should prepare yourself for an offered position in one of the many store divisions.
Every position has its pros and cons, but you must remember that they are going to try and place you in the best position that benefits them. You may dream of working the queue at Space Mountain, but they may feel you would be a better fit for a slower paced outdoor vending cart. Naturally you can either accept or decline their offer and re-apply in six months time.
This may be the best option, especially if they did not offer you the position you were looking for to begin with. They will explain to you that department transfers can be made easily after a certain amount of service at the park. This is a rare thing, and the paperwork involved will drive you crazy. The chances of you changing departments is very low, while the chances of them denying future transfers is extremely high. Thus, if they offer you a position that is less than appealing you will be better off re-applying at a later date.
In your job interview they are going to ask you several questions, mainly about your conflict resolution skills. This is the time you really need to think hard about how you have handled past problems in the work place. If you answer this question wrong, your hopes of working at the Resort drop very quickly. You want to project a confidence in you ability to handle problems, and be able to think quickly on your feet. I assure you that the problems you will encounter from Guest’s at the park will be something you have experienced no where else, so being able to adapt quickly is a big key to your success.
Another tip is to be very pleasant in your interview. You will most likely interviewed in a group of two or three, and the other people might be very nervous. This is YOUR time to shine. Do not go over the top, but stand out from the others in the interview. If you can be pleasant in the interview the Casting organizer will immediately pay attention to you.
Lastly you will want to be able to communicate to them that you can work well in a team environment. No matter where you work at the park you will be around at least 10 other cast members at any one time. Some larger attractions have over 30 cast member working at any one time. Additionally, Disneyland is the LAST place you want to have a meltdown with coworkers. Nothing will get you terminated more quickly than arguing with a fellow cast member on stage, so it is important that you have discipline in acting as a professional.
To recap, looking sharp and well groomed are your first steps to securing a job at Disneyland. By projecting confidence and being pleasant you are twenty steps ahead of the competition. Finally, being a team player will seal the deal. Disney likes to promote from within, so being a team player is a value they look for and do not take lightly. If you are a natural leader, exhibiting this in your interview and in the workplace will only help you move up the ladder.
People come from all over the world, from different walks of life to work at the Disneyland Resort. By taking the above tips and techniques into consideration you will be very successful in securing a job at the Happiest Place on Earth!
