I was a waitress, and I loved dressing up in a sailor costume, talking to children and pretending I worked on a ship, getting into the parks for free.
What I wish was different
I would not have minded a job at Disney that was less labor intensive.
Advice
It’s a great opportunity! I had a lot of free time to play at the parks. But I would do it only during the summer and not for longer.
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Cast Member
January - July 2017 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
I loved getting to meet and talk to people from all over the world. It was fun to see them having a great family vacation, and I loved the freedom I had to make their days better with free ice cream coupons, Fastpasses, etc.
What I wish was different
The hours are very, very long and it is a lot of work. I mean 15 hour days and not a lot of sleep. I was so burnt-out and couldn't wait to leave by the end of my program. There is not much room for anything else besides work.
Advice
You have to really enjoy what you do or at least form a bond with the people you work with. The program is very intense and without some form of motivation, you will get very tired and it isn't hard to give up.
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Lifeguard/Merchandiser
August 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
I had great coworkers and coordinators!
What I wish was different
My role was a pretty challenging one!
Advice
Some days will be harder than others, but making magic for guests is so worth it!
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Merchandise Hostess
January 2016 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
Experiencing the daily operations of a Fortune 500 company is a valuable experience. This is a great opportunity to build customer service skills and meet people from all over the world. I also enjoy having the flexibility to pick up shifts in many locations around the Walt Disney World property, becasue each is unique and offers different learning experiences.
What I wish was different
The pay isn't great, but the overtime opportunities and perks make up for it.
Advice
Working for Walt Disney World is not an easy job. It requires you to put in long hours, work in the heat, and deal with a lot of guest issues on a daily basis (with a smile on your face). But, if you love Disney, or want to work your way up in the company, this is a great stepping stone.
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cast member
June 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
Coworkers and making a magical experience for guests!
What I wish was different
The management not giving employees praise for working hard.
Advice
Work hard in all you do, even if it seems like no one is watching. The rewards will always pay off one day!
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College intern
August 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
What I wish was different
Advice
A great experience to meet new people and work for a very influential, successful business
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Disney College Program
April - August 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
An amazing experiencing working for such a large company. Plenty of networking opportunities and openings to grow within the company, if you so choose. Also a lot more fun than your typical internship, as playing in the parks and getting to know people from around the world is really what makes the program special.
What I wish was different
More consistent work schedules would have been nice, but needs fluctuate depending on the season.
Advice
It's important to use internships like this to have fun, but also to utilize all the networking opportunities available. There are so many people that will have meet and greets with you just to talk about their experience in the company and share advice on how to continue on and grow.
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Retail Salesperson
June - August 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
I enjoyed the postive attitude everyone who worked there have. It was a caring envirnoment where everyone was friendly and was willing to help.
What I wish was different
I wish that there was more of an option to work diffrent places such as stock.
Advice
I think this is a great job to break you out of your comfortzone and interact with people. You are able to talk to guest about the products that both of you might have good memories of.
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Attractions Associate
June - August 2018 • Anaheim, CA
What I liked
The management at the Disneyland Resort was amazing and valued their Cast Members a lot. I felt like the work I was doing for the company mattered and that the management cared about my growth as an employee.
What I wish was different
Nothing!
Advice
Take in every moment - it's not every day that you get offered a job at The Walt Disney Company!
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Machine Learning Intern
May - August 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
Lots of opportunities to see other areas of a single large company. Fun perks.
What I wish was different
My team could have been more prepared for an intern with work and materials.
Advice
Reach out to areas doing work you are most interested in.
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College Program
September - December 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
It is super fun to work for Disney! You get free admission to all the parks!
What I wish was different
Florida weather is awful and I worked outside for a while and it was really hard to be in the hot humidity all the time.
Advice
Be willing to work hard, Disney expects the very best!
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Walt Disney World Costuming intern
August 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
What I like about the disney program is I get to see what it is like working for a very large company. Seeing how they have been able to be as succsesful as they have. Another thing I like is the work I am doing is allowing me to do projects and day to day work on my own. It has been a lot of fun to be able not to be told what to do every minute but to get a list of things that need to get done and allowing me to work throughout the day at my own pace.
What I wish was different
What I wish was different was that we were able to meet some of the people who work in corporate or who work above us. I am interested in this company and want to have some time to meet with someone to talk about my goals in the company. That is not really an option at this point because there are so many of us, it is really up to you to figure out how to advance in the company.
Advice
One piece of advice I would share is have fun. At times you may feel insignificant and very out of your comfort zone but that is what life is about. Stepping out of your comfort zone and doing things you would never see yourself doing. Try something new every day! You will be amazed at how alive it will make you feel.
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Cast Member
May - August 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
I got to work with people from all over the world. People with all kinds of backgrounds and beliefs. I mean, I got to work for Disney, which is pretty incredible!!
What I wish was different
My managers were not always kind or fair. Had to take some hits for being a Christian in a very secular environment. I wish that I had more opportunities to learn instead of just flying by the seat of my pants
Advice
Never be afraid to ask questions and get correct information.
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Intern
June 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
I liked meeting new people and working at a Fortune 100 Company!
What I wish was different
Pay and hours
Advice
None
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Cast Member
January - May 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
I loved getting to work in a theme park. The hours weren’t bad and I got to enjoy the parks after work. I also made really great friends
What I wish was different
I wish the internship was more of a learning experience about Disney than just doing a job.
Advice
Utilize your time spent during the Disney College Program and take in all the information that you possibly can.
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Attractions Cast Member
May - September 2018 • Anaheim, CA
What I liked
I enjoyed working backstage and being part of creating magic for guests. The company is very generous and cares for their employees. The environment was a pleasant and goal-driven one.
What I wish was different
I wish the company would have been more willing to work with my school schedule that would have allowed me to continue with the company.
Advice
Working attractions is a role that requires lots of responsibility and practical knowledge. I found it to be very rewarding and enjoyed producing the work expected of me.
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Cast Member
January - May 2018 • Lake Buena Vista, FL
What I liked
Working for Disney was extremely rewarding and provided experiences to earn about customer service from the very best. The program helped me to grow a lot as an individual, and gave me life experience I can carry with me into my career and the rest of my life.
What I wish was different
If I had to criticize anything, it would be the housing situation. Considering you have to pay rent, the rules they enforced were a bit over the top. No overnight visitors is just one example.
Advice
If you are even considering the program, DO IT. Even if you get stuck in a role you aren't exactly happy about, if you make the best of it and become friends with your employees its an absolute blast.
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Disney college program
January - August 2018 • Anaheim, CA
What I liked
What I wish was different
More relevant internship experience
Advice
Super hard work, super rewarding
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merchantainer
January - May 2018 • Orlando, FL
What I liked
They offered housing and transportation. I also received all benefits of a normal employee.
