From October 2013 to May 2017, I had the pleasure of being a Casual Regular Cast Member for The Walt Disney Company at the Disneyland Resort. Specifically, I was a Child Activities Leader at Pinocchio’s Workshop at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. In early 2017, the powers that be decided Pinocchio’s Workshop would be closing, so I became a Guest Services Assistant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and the Disneyland Hotel. It was one of the best experiences of my life, hands down! A lot of people want to live the dream and be a part of making the magic, so I thought I’d share some tips I learned from my journey!
(Disclaimer: Things may have changed since I left the company; these are just my experiences. Be sure to refer to your manager(s), the Disney Careers site, and/or The Hub for latest info!)
Application & Interview Tips
First things first! Make sure to check the Disney Careers website and look for a job posting that interests you. Sometimes you’ll apply for one position, but you’ll be considered for a different one, so don’t be surprised if this is the case. You are able to transfer after a certain amount of time in your original role!
Disney Job Postings Lingo
FT = Full Time. As a FT CM, you are expected to work 5 days a week, with 2 RDOs (Regular Days Off). I was never a FT CM, but from my experience working with people who were, don’t expect Saturdays & Sundays to be your RDOs right away. In most departments, it takes a long time to gain the seniority to do that.
CR = Casual Regular, aka Part Time. As a CR CM you’re expected to provide full availability Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In addition, during peak season (selected weeks during winter and spring, as well as the summer) you’re expected to provide full availability. The way I thought of this was that CR CMs spend about half the year providing FT availability, and half the year providing PT availability.
CT = Casual Temporary, aka Seasonal. As a CT CM, you’re expected to work during peak seasons. At DLR, CT positions are not as common as they are at WDW.
*Bonus Tip*: Many hourly positions are union positions. If you’re not interested in joining a union, make sure to do your research about the position(s) you’re applying for!
Application Tips
Be honest about your job & education history. If you get to the in-person interview, they will know pretty quickly if you weren’t genuine in your application. Also, sometimes it takes weeks (even months) to hear anything back. Be patient! In the meantime, keep your head up and look for opportunities elsewhere just in case, if you aren’t already employed.
Interview Tips
Dress nicely and arrive on time. The Disney Look is taken quite seriously at The Walt Disney Company – Cast Members are expected to adhere to specific guidelines when it comes to dress & appearance.
Be yourself! If you’re a genuinely happy, polite, and positive individual, chances are you’d be a great fit for this job.
Traditions & Training Tips
Traditions is the class that all Cast Members take when they first start out at The Walt Disney Company. Here, you’ll learn about the history of the company, and learn all about the Four Keys. Make sure to dress appropriately, and also wear comfortable walking shoes! Traditions is a really magical experience and was my favorite part of on-boarding.
After Traditions, you may have additional classes to take, or you may begin your on the job training. When I was hired in, we just took Traditions. Later, they added additional classes that have since been eliminated.
For your on the job training, take notes and ask questions! Trainers across the company are there to help you do your best in your new role. Find out where your break areas, time clocks, and restrooms are. It also takes a while to get the lay of the land for backstage areas. If you get lost, ask any CM to help you! They are all very friendly.
Miscellaneous Advice
If you want to move up in the company, take advantage of opportunities that come your way. When I was a CM, opportunities sprang up to be a facilitator for some of the on-boarding classes for new Cast Members. There were also opportunities to work with the media team. Anything that interests you, apply for it! You never know where it might lead you.
Be nice to your fellow CMs. There’s no reason to be catty or rude – nobody likes drama at the workplace! Additionally, you may need to trade shifts with one of your coworkers at some point, so you definitely want to have people that you feel comfortable doing that with. Some of these CMs may also end up to be lifelong friends. I’m still in contact with several people I used to work with!
Be on time and try not to call out sick unless you absolutely have to. I felt that the company was pretty generous with its “points” system (you’ll learn all about this when you get hired). However, be careful with your points – there might be times when you really need them, and you don’t want to be stuck losing your job because you’ve racked up too many points!
Final Thoughts…
Have fun!! Being a Cast Member is a seriously rewarding experience, but it takes hard work and sacrifice (especially in terms of your personal time). For many people – myself included – becoming a Cast Member only enhances what it means to experience the magic.
Feel free to drop any questions below!
