Best activity an Imaginner or Cast Member has?

brb1006 · Jun 1, 2015

Since I've recently finished my third Walt Disney World trip during my Senior Trip. I've felt motivated for working at Walt Disney World as a Cast Member or an Imaginner (Specially the Magic Kingdom and Epcot). I also really want to work as an Imaginner. However, I don't know what type of actives Imagineers have at the parks. So for actual workers at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Can you let me know what type of activities do they have back there? Along with giving me the best reccomindations for the specific job and activity. Because I've recently been thinking about being one of the designers for a new attraction or a brand new show in the parks that might became a reality in the future. I've also got alot of inspiration for being an imaginner since I've payed close attention to the "One Man's Dream Exhibit" at Hollywood Studios and watching alot of biographies and some documentaries on Walt Disney. It's also my new life time goal and I been a huge lover Disney related stuff since I was born. The reason I brought this up, is because it's getting close until my graduation from high school and I'm prepared for college. My mother is not very familiar with Imaginners, since she isn't that familiar with Walt Disney World.

Another reason I created this thread, is because over the past few weeks. I've been thinking of very creative ideas for a future show or attraction at Epcot. Since Epcot hasn't added a new attraction since Soarin, and the "Horizon" and "Wonder Of Life" area might need a new theme besides being used for special events. I've also gained this inspiration after seeing the 60th anniversary announcement video earlier this year.

minnie mum · Jun 2, 2015

There are many types of Imagineers employed by Disney. Most, if not all, will have advanced degrees in engineering or design plus years of experience in their respective fields before Disney would even look at their resumes. Disney has their own employment website. You can look there to see the types of positions available for Cast Members, and the qualifications that are required.

If you are serious about pursuing the university degrees necessary, you might speak with your school counsellor about the avenues you need to follow.

PelletierBears · Jun 2, 2015

My family and I just returned from a trip to the world and my husband had a great conversation with an imagneer named Eddie. In the Art of Disney stores in the parks there are artists who will sketch characters (for a price of course

My DH asked Eddie how he got the job because its seemed like so much fun to be able to sketch and talk to guests for a living. Eddie started out as an architect in the "real" world but decided after some time that he wasn't happy. He was able to get a job with Disney as a lower level artist... (apparently there are several levels of artists from sketch artists to colorists, etc). When Disney started to move more toward CGI many of the artists were offered others jobs and Eddie accepted a position in the parks sketching.

minni mum had some great advicde to browse through the job postings on the Disney employment site to understand the requirement of the more professional level positions. I imagine most jobs require an advanced degree as a start. Also you should look into the college program. You could make some great contacts and get an insiders understanding of the best path toward a career at Disney.

Good luck at college and all the best to you :goodvibes

lpoeppelman · Jun 2, 2015

I did lots of research on our recent trip - as did my son and some of this we knew already. Imagineer does include many different disciplines. First off - you will want to target your major around what type of work you want to do at Disney. I was told your chances of getting into the professional intern program are much better if you participate in the college program first. Don't limit yourself when applying to the college program and do lots of research and practice so you nail your phone interview down. Once there - make contacts and as one very respected Disney official said in our school career forum at Epcot - let others know what you want once you are there. Good luck!

brb1006 · Jun 3, 2015

PelletierBears said:
My family and I just returned from a trip to the world and my husband had a great conversation with an imagneer named Eddie. In the Art of Disney stores in the parks there are artists who will sketch characters (for a price of course My DH asked Eddie how he got the job because its seemed like so much fun to be able to sketch and talk to guests for a living. Eddie started out as an architect in the "real" world but decided after some time that he wasn't happy. He was able to get a job with Disney as a lower level artist... (apparently there are several levels of artists from sketch artists to colorists, etc). When Disney started to move more toward CGI many of the artists were offered others jobs and Eddie accepted a position in the parks sketching.

minni mum had some great advicde to browse through the job postings on the Disney employment site to understand the requirement of the more professional level positions. I imagine most jobs require an advanced degree as a start. Also you should look into the college program. You could make some great contacts and get an insiders understanding of the best path toward a career at Disney.

Good luck at college and all the best to you

Eddie sounded like a very nice guy.

YawningDodo · Jun 5, 2015

I agree with the suggestion to do the College Program. You can do it as early as the second semester of your freshman year of college (I did). It's a program where you leave school for one semester to work in the Disney parks, either at Disney World or Disneyland (you can also do a program that extends through the summer either before or after). They'll put you in an entry level position at one of the parks or resorts and provide a place to live and bus transportation to work while you're there.

Most importantly, though, they'll also provide you with networking opportunities. The job you do as a CP often has nothing to do with your degree or career plans, but if you ask the people whose job it is to work with the CPs they'll hook you up with people doing the kinds of jobs you eventually want so you can talk to them and get an idea of how they got there. It's also, as someone else said, a big boost on your resume if you apply for a Disney Professional Internship later. Professional Interns do more advanced work and there's a huge variety of areas for them to work in; one of the cases I heard about was an intern conducting a months-long observational study on the gorillas at AK, and another was an intern who helped design the new carpets and drapes when Disney refurbished one of the resorts. Get something like that under your belt and it'll be easier to apply for jobs, period, including other jobs at Disney.

So yes, you need to get specific about what field you want to go into. There are a lot of people working on each new attraction -- engineers who figure out how to make it work mechanically, artists who design the look of it, writers who create the scripts for any characters in it...lots of things. Read up on the kinds of jobs available on the Disney careers site, and go ahead and bring some of those job descriptions to your guidance counselor so they can help you figure out your path. Then look into the College Program -- if you're serious about it, do the College Program as early as possible so you can meet people who will help you and get a feel for what it's like to work at Disney, and have more opportunity to get a Professional Internship afterward.

brb1006 · Jun 5, 2015

YawningDodo said:
I agree with the suggestion to do the College Program. You can do it as early as the second semester of your freshman year of college (I did). It's a program where you leave school for one semester to work in the Disney parks, either at Disney World or Disneyland (you can also do a program that extends through the summer either before or after). They'll put you in an entry level position at one of the parks or resorts and provide a place to live and bus transportation to work while you're there.

Most importantly, though, they'll also provide you with networking opportunities. The job you do as a CP often has nothing to do with your degree or career plans, but if you ask the people whose job it is to work with the CPs they'll hook you up with people doing the kinds of jobs you eventually want so you can talk to them and get an idea of how they got there. It's also, as someone else said, a big boost on your resume if you apply for a Disney Professional Internship later. Professional Interns do more advanced work and there's a huge variety of areas for them to work in; one of the cases I heard about was an intern conducting a months-long observational study on the gorillas at AK, and another was an intern who helped design the new carpets and drapes when Disney refurbished one of the resorts. Get something like that under your belt and it'll be easier to apply for jobs, period, including other jobs at Disney.

So yes, you need to get specific about what field you want to go into. There are a lot of people working on each new attraction -- engineers who figure out how to make it work mechanically, artists who design the look of it, writers who create the scripts for any characters in it...lots of things. Read up on the kinds of jobs available on the Disney careers site, and go ahead and bring some of those job descriptions to your guidance counselor so they can help you figure out your path. Then look into the College Program -- if you're serious about it, do the College Program as early as possible so you can meet people who will help you and get a feel for what it's like to work at Disney, and have more opportunity to get a Professional Internship afterward.

I'm definitely going to think about the College Program once I begin College.

Eandbmom · Jun 9, 2015

Yes to the college program! My sister did it and loved it. She was invited back and filled in a few times on those in between weeks before the summer program really got started.

Best activity an Imaginner or Cast Member has?

brb1006

Bring Marie back to Walt Disney World

minnie mum

Unapologetic Disney Fan(atic)

PelletierBears

Mouseketeer

lpoeppelman

DIS Veteran

brb1006

Bring Marie back to Walt Disney World

YawningDodo

DIS Veteran

brb1006

Bring Marie back to Walt Disney World

Eandbmom

Mouseketeer

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