Does anyone here work at Disneyland, CA, or have worked there previously? And could..

[NicoleDisneyFan]

I think starting out there would be a good idea to live at home, have plenty of room mates and know that a one job minimum wage will take a long time before anything will happen. I know that I had a time once when I thought I would move to southern california and work there and everything would work out but didnt get to far till reality set in. I would do it now but that is because my dh could work his job and support the bill and the house and etc....I heard that anaheim area is not to "good" (word of mouth)
If you do apply then make sure to SMILE while the interview is going. Brush up on disney trivia. Buy a season pass, do something that will show your interest in disney.

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Honestly, with the cost of living in Southern California, I think it would be extremely difficult.

Is there any way you could live at home for a couple of years, go to community college, get some job experience, and then move out here? That way you wouldn't start out in debt.

And without any college experience, it's going to be very hard for you to get a high-paying job unless you already have job experience or specific training.

Well, I turn sixteen this July, and my dad is friends with this woman who can most likely get me in with a stockboy job at Vons. I'm going to work and save up money for two years. So that when we move out there, I won't be some broke shmuck.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

I do love that Harrison FOOD--LOL!

(think he eats the churros?)

Haha.....yeah. That was a fabulous typo. I'm not even going to fix it...haha.

That job is probably harder to get then to be a princess and that is a VERY tough job to get. You have to have experience, a certain look and attitude and the ability to speak a foriegn language is very helpful. Being a plaid is a very big deal!

Yeah...definitely a job one needs to work up to. Not for people that aren't very driven/hard workers.

I would just like to say that everyone is pretty accurate with their facts. DD completed the college program. She has worked at the parks in attractions and is now in Guest Relations. Yes, she is a plaid in training. And she is the only one they have hired into the department in the last year. Prior to this she worked at Buzz, Nemo (opening crew) and a short gig on the Dream Squad. She has also completed two paid interships at TDA. She knows she has accomplished a lot but has worked very hard to get there. When she graduates from Cal State Long Beach she hopes to be hired in Disneys Marketing Department in Burbank. It is her dream and we are living it with her . The hours can be long and varied. You must be prepared to work as early as 6 am and as late as 2 am. And weekends are a must...always. And it is very demanding and trying as well as satisfying. She has told me stories that have made me cry (happy touching moments from visiting families) and also ones that made my blood boil (like the girl who threw a lollipop at her - it stuck in her hair - and cursed her simply because she could not take her balloon on Buzz). But she would not trade the experiences she has had thus far for anything. That said, if you plan on working at DL, working in attractions start at $9.05/hr., hotels pay about $10. DD lives in an apartment with her roommate built in the 1960's in a not-so-good part of Long Beach. It is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath. Each girl pays $700 towards the $1400 rent. Factor in gas, utilites, food and other expenses and believe me, it is not enough. We supplement her over $1,000 each month. I just want you to understand the realistic facts about working there if you do not have help from family or parents. Good luck to you.

I think you made some wonderful points that I really think the OP needs to take into consideration.

Living in Orange County in insanely expensive (I used to live there.) I really don't think it can be done on $9 an hour with nothing else. Most two-bedroom places are in the $1400 range (ours was $1350 and in Orange.) To the original poster, you expressed interestest in the guest relations job. Well, that is a hard job to get (as someone else mentioned.) And in your first post you made it seem like you don't want a job that is hard. Well, to get a job like the guest relations one...you'd have to do a lot of hard work and you'd have to be very driven.

What is your longterm goal? College?

 

[rockstargeisha]

Full time positions are hard to come by for those just applying to the company. Most cast members working there work seasonal or weekend only positions. I know people who take on an additional job while also working at DLR to pay the bills.

Be prepared to work long hours and on holidays. Best of luck!

 

[Albort]

...give me some information on the job? I'm interested in getting a job there when my best friend and I move out to California after high school.

If you could, I'd like to know such things as:

--What's the pay? Is it good?

--What are the hours like? The work? Etc?

--Benefits?

--Is it fun and enjoyable, and not too hard? Or is it "forget this job!" hard, demanding, and the opposite of "magical"?

--Etc?

I'd also love to hear any work experiences, tips, what your job was/what you did, etc.

Thanks for any help, and I would really appreciate it!

--What's the pay? Is it good?
It isnt great, but still, its better than cal' minimum wage. It varies by department. foods tend to be less attractive but has an higher pay. ODV starting rates is $9.32 while attractions get like $8.25 i think. Most likely, if you apply via office, most likely, they will throw you in starting departments, aka ODV, QSR, custodials or Attractions. usually, but you might have luck getting into other departments. Depends on the demand and department work force.

--What are the hours like? The work? Etc?
Again, varies by location. But be prepared to work overtime in heavy crowdings. I know most attractions do get like 6 hours a day at least. in ODV, it can range from 4-8 hrs as it varies on your senority. The higher senority, the longer hours you will get if you ask for it. When the workforce is on a low, you will often find yourself being forced overtime or just left out there until someone finds out later. When workforce is high and your senority is low, you will find yourself working 1 day a week. you will see this when going from high season --> low season.

--Benefits?
hmm, love them i guess.
1) you get an annual pass into Disneyland and all the rest of Disney Parks around the world, with the exception of Tokyo Disney.
2) you get this really cool pass where you can take 3 people into Disneyland 16 times a year. this can also allow you to take people into other parks around the world. (blackout dates applied, see your booklet)
3) lots and lots of cheap trips. esp to other parks, which includes air and hotel. really cheap, should take advantage of them when your going on a visit.
4) there quite a bit of discounts all over. such as cellphone promotions, discounts etc. Hotels as well. eatery too around Disneyland.
5) 20% everywhere in the park excluding ODV carts. 35% when you hit your 3 years working there.
6) a cool store. you will learn this later.

--Is it fun and enjoyable, and not too hard? Or is it "forget this job!" hard, demanding, and the opposite of "magical"?
I think its fun. sometimes it gets really magic destroying because guest treat will treat you really bad sometimes. sometimes you just want to strangle them. Other than that, its fun. most of the time, you can screw around which often makes guest happy. Its fun. It varies from person to person though as some of us will always have magic in ourselves while others cant tolerate it. Gives you a very good customer services skills boost. The job are usually easy, but they can be tiresome as you have to be quick to serve people as your lines can range from no wait - 3 hr wait. this includes quick small things like churros carts. the lines can grow like crazy and never go away. constant constant work work work work for 8 hours plus.

hope that helps, ask if you have any more questions

 

[ballarinamom]

Please keep this in mind when you start your first job at Vonns. Watch how cutsomers treat you and your co workers. There will be some not so nice people. It will be worse at DL because people pay alot of mony to go there to get hot and tired and for their kids to throw MAJOR tantrums. Some will take it out on you.
DH and I worked at a popular amusement park in college. You would never believe how rude people can be. Of course there are some very nice, happy people. How will you react to either type of group? Also remember that Disney can use the seasonal work benefits. They don't have tocomply to regular work realted issues. Dh and I had a "seasonal" pay rate which was actually lower than minimum wage at that time. We did not get paid over time ( time and a half) as we were "seasonal". Disney is open EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR! Don't expect to get Christmas day off. Or your birthday, Or if you have family in town visiting.
Do you have a car?
Could you and your friend share a one bedroom?
Do the math- at $10 an hour at 40 hours a week.
Rent as we've heard from other posters is around $1,700. $850 your share) after taxes, social security, and medicare taken out, that would be almost 3 weeks worth of pay checks just for rent.
Gas could be over $4 a gallon at that time. Electric, gas, phone, cable, food, car insurance, health insurance (if you are not a college student and your parents can't carry you)

We haven't heard- do you have plans for college? If so, how many hours would you be able to work?

I applaud you for thinking about the future and trying to live your dream. I love that you are planning.

My favorite saying is "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail"! GOOD LUCK and keep us posted

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

What is your longterm goal? College?

I don't think I'm going to college. I don't think I could handle it.

And then you have to put all this time in money in to it [college] and you work for twenty years just to pay that off. And sometimes you walk out learning little or nothing of value to a career. I mean, what's wrong with just working for a living, saving up for later in life? [I'm not saying I'll stay at Disney forever--just for a while, then move on].

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Full time positions are hard to come by for those just applying to the company. Most cast members working there work seasonal or weekend only positions. I know people who take on an additional job while also working at DLR to pay the bills.

Be prepared to work long hours and on holidays. Best of luck!

Since I [don't think] I'm going to college, I can't just apply for a full time position?

 

[Albort]

Since I [don't think] I'm going to college, I can't just apply for a full time position?

just ignore them. Currently my situation is like this, I pay for rent, i pay for food, i pay for school, i have about $2,000 in debt atm. This is how it works. The food and rent are per month to month as i work 3 days a week requiring to work 8 hours every 3 days. Yes, im a part timer. If i cant keep those hours, i usually just call in and ask to pick up a shift during the week on my free days if i start getting short on money. Its quite managable BUT i dont pay for many things such as insurance. My tuition and books are usually paid off during the holidays as we are forced to work 5-6 days a week so just take half of that and pay your tuition/books.

If you want full time status, i suggest just applying and make sure you get into ODV. They hand out Full Times just as long as you dont have points or descreptancy.

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Please keep this in mind when you start your first job at Vonns. Watch how cutsomers treat you and your co workers. There will be some not so nice people. It will be worse at DL because people pay alot of mony to go there to get hot and tired and for their kids to throw MAJOR tantrums. Some will take it out on you.
DH and I worked at a popular amusement park in college. You would never believe how rude people can be. Of course there are some very nice, happy people. How will you react to either type of group? Also remember that Disney can use the seasonal work benefits. They don't have tocomply to regular work realted issues. Dh and I had a "seasonal" pay rate which was actually lower than minimum wage at that time. We did not get paid over time ( time and a half) as we were "seasonal". Disney is open EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR! Don't expect to get Christmas day off. Or your birthday, Or if you have family in town visiting.

I can deal with "not so nice people". MCJROTC.


Well, Christmas, since I'll be living with my best friend, won't be as much a big deal as it used to be, I guess. IF I have to work that day, sure, more money, but if not--whew! That'd be great. My birthday, same...as for family, I'll have to work 'em in somehow with work.

Do you have a car?

Not yet. But I'm going to buy one before heading out there. My friend, who I'll be living with, is going to apply at DL, too, so that'll save money in gas.

Could you and your friend share a one bedroom?

Two [then] 18 year olds sharing a room?
No, that can't happen. Obvious reasons.

Do the math- at $10 an hour at 40 hours a week.
Rent as we've heard from other posters is around $1,700. $850 your share) after taxes, social security, and medicare taken out, that would be almost 3 weeks worth of pay checks just for rent.
Gas could be over $4 a gallon at that time. Electric, gas, phone, cable, food, car insurance, health insurance (if you are not a college student and your parents can't carry you)

Only 40 hours? For both him and I?

We haven't heard- do you have plans for college? If so, how many hours would you be able to work?

I don't think I'm going to college. I'd prefer to work, make money.

I applaud you for thinking about the future and trying to live your dream. I love that you are planning.

My favorite saying is "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail"! GOOD LUCK and keep us posted

Thanks!

And thanks to you, too, Albort!

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

just ignore them. Currently my situation is like this, I pay for rent, i pay for food, i pay for school, i have about $2,000 in debt atm. This is how it works. The food and rent are per month to month as i work 3 days a week requiring to work 8 hours every 3 days. Yes, im a part timer. If i cant keep those hours, i usually just call in and ask to pick up a shift during the week on my free days if i start getting short on money. Its quite managable BUT i dont pay for many things such as insurance. My tuition and books are usually paid off during the holidays as we are forced to work 5-6 days a week so just take half of that and pay your tuition/books.

If you want full time status, i suggest just applying and make sure you get into ODV. They hand out Full Times just as long as you dont have points or descreptancy.

ODV?

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Also...(some more)


Do you know what they base hiring on?

Besides appearance, enthusiasm, etc? (I've read the guideline stuff--dresscode, all that).

I get pretty good grades, I'm in MCJROTC, and I'm usually well groomed.

And since we're considering full time...would they be more inclined to hire us, due to our working full time, rather than hourly?

Any tips I should hold in regards for the interview (etc)?

 

[Albort]

Also...(some more)


Do you know what they base hiring on?

Besides appearance, enthusiasm, etc? (I've read the guideline stuff--dresscode, all that).

I get pretty good grades, I'm in MCJROTC, and I'm usually well groomed.

And since we're considering full time...would they be more inclined to hire us, due to our working full time, rather than hourly?

Any tips I should hold in regards for the interview (etc)?

ODV stands for Outdoor Vending. You know, Churros carts, popcorn carts. Then you would be working along side me.

they will ask you questions and see how well you answer questions. Im not allowed to share those questions and since these questions are already out in the net, i was told they have changed the questions. Just listen to the questions well, they ask simple questions, try not to get side tracked and answer it wrong. Give yourself like 3-5 sec to think about the question and come up with something. Try thinking maturity, esp in high school or a job that doesnt deal with childrens as thats how i failed the first time yes, i applied once and didnt get in. so i ran over to knotts and got a job there They dont care for grades. Im not sure if college program does or not.

They do consider your availability esp during the peak season, so thats a plus for you. I know people were turned away due to lack of availability. Didnt even get to be in the interview.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Not yet. But I'm going to buy one before heading out there. My friend, who I'll be living with, is going to apply at DL, too, so that'll save money in gas.




Two [then] 18 year olds sharing a room?
No, that can't happen. Obvious reasons.

Well, the car pooling thing would work find it you both have the exact same hours.

And it is very possible for two 18 year olds to share a 1-bedroom apartment. I know quite a few people that shared rooms in apartments. Mainly because it was in orange county where everything is insantely overpriced. (So happy I don't live there anymore!!! Haha)

 

[blackjackdelta]

ODV stands for Outdoor Vending. You know, Churros carts, popcorn carts. Then you would be working along side me.

they will ask you questions and see how well you answer questions. Im not allowed to share those questions and since these questions are already out in the net, i was told they have changed the questions. Just listen to the questions well, they ask simple questions, try not to get side tracked and answer it wrong. Give yourself like 3-5 sec to think about the question and come up with something. Try thinking maturity, esp in high school or a job that doesnt deal with childrens as thats how i failed the first time yes, i applied once and didnt get in. so i ran over to knotts and got a job there They dont care for grades. Im not sure if college program does or not.

They do consider your availability esp during the peak season, so thats a plus for you. I know people were turned away due to lack of availability. Didnt even get to be in the interview.

I want to thank you and all the others for posting this info. I have a 16 y.o. daughter who wants to go to MIT eventually, but she has her heart in going to work for Disney. She current is doing running start( 1st 2 years of college and high school at the same time), this info will give her a better picture of what actually goes on. More data to give her a better perspective.

To the 16 Y.O. SPIDEY, why not go into the Marine Corps, train, get into OCS, become an officer and make a fairly reasonable living. It will give you more avenue's to investigate.

Jack

 

[Albort]

feel free to ask more questions. id be happy to answer them.

 

[Quest4fun]

Here's my guide to the interview. I'm presenting this from a more professional perspective but anybody else who works on the executive or even middle management level will probably agree with me.

First and foremost you must always remain positive with an emphasis on progress. Most employers are looking for employees who are willing to grow with the company. If you create the perception that their company is just a stop on your journey then don't expect to get the job. Disneyland has a very high turnover rate for this very reason (and the lack of hours, low wages, etc) and they do want to prevent that as much as possible.

Do not focus on your shortcomings and don't allow whoever is interviewing you to do so either. They're making sure you can handle working there and you need to prove that you can handle working ANYwhere.

Aside from that there are a few minor pointers for Disney specific applicants.
Enthusiasm
Appearance
Competence
I put these in this order for a reason.
Enthusiasm is paramount. Think of it almost as an audition. Don't over do it though. If you're too bubbly and obnoxious you're not going to get the job. Be as pleasant and happy as you would like a Disneyland employee to be towards you.
Appearance is also very important. Disney does have a code for appearances. Nothing too over the top. Small earrings and light makeup if you're a lady. Be clean and well groomed of course. Obnoxious hair color or high lights will hurt your chances as well. They don't want to an environment where people are trying to be noticed for their uniqueness sad to say.
Competence is very important as well. You don't need to be well read but you do need to communicate in a manner that everybody can understand. Speak slowly and communicate clearly. Record yourself speaking then play it back and see if you sound like an idiot. I'm dead serious.

I noticed that there is a young lady making a move to Orange County to apparently make it and would like to work at Disneyland. You'll notice a lot of people trying to shoot you down. I'll try to be a little more constructive.

Housing
1. It's very expensive to live in one of the safer areas of Orange County. Expect rent for a two bedroom apartment to hover around $1500/month in one of the less affluent neighborhoods. If you're looking for something in an area with less crime you're looking at about $2000/month. Make sure you get a place with utilities paid.
Transportation
2. Driving in the state of California can be costly. You must have insurance and gas is expensive. I recommend finding a hole in the wall insurance outfit that will sell you liability (all that is legally required) which will keep you safe if somebody else hits you or you hit somebody. You may not be able to get your car fixed if it's your fault but at least you'll be covered for any damage to the other party. Make sure you get an economical vehicle that is easy to maintain. You cannot register your vehicle without proof of insurance.
Other Bills
3. You'll likely want a phone and you may need to eat and wash your hair and other things like that. Be sure to figure these into your budget.
Education
4. Get your butt into school. You can defer your college loans until you graduate which makes it easier and interest rates are very low for most loans. You don't need to go to UCLA to get a good education so don't worry about going broke after you graduate. If you are going to do something like writing or acting, you better have some training unless you're incredible. I want to emphasize incredible. Many aspiring writer and actors got where they are using contacts they've made while learning their craft. Your talent will only get you so far. If you want to be writer don't even think about finding a job without somebody backing you up. It helps to have an educator you can reference.
Showbiz
5. If you seriously want to get into the industry be prepared to pound the pavement. Living in Orange County is a little difficult because you won't exactly be in the heart of it all. If you plan on acting you will need to spend a great deal of your days going to audition after audition. Disneyland will not get you the exposure you may be looking for. Remember that you're not part of a minority. There are a lot of people looking to make it big in showbiz. If you don't have a backup plan you may find yourself heading home before you even got started.

I wanted more than anything to become an actor after I graduated high school. I decided that I didn't want to go to college and instead started going to auditions. I learned very fast that it's a big world and that I wasn't as special as I thought it was. It was a reality check I wasn't expecting. After just a month of failed auditions I found myself discouraged. I met 8 guys at my first reading for a Coca Cola commercial who could have been my twin. The only difference was that they had been doing it for years and were substantially better than I was. I gave up, got a full time office job, and eventually went to tech school and did what I should have done after I graduated. I can't help but think I'm a few years behind where I should be in the world. I have a good job now and I make decent money. Heed everybody's advice. You're planning a trip to nowhere if you don't wise up.

I don't want to rain on your parade but you need to be serious about this.

 

[NicoleDisneyFan]

I was just remembering my dd preschool graduaton newsletter when they asked the kids what you would want to be in the future. Some said doctors lawyers, vet's, scientist, etc...my dd said to work as a disney princess at disneyland. I thought it was cute but my dh said NO and was mad but didnt realize that she was so young and just dreaming right now. I think that it is what will make her happy in the future. I am happy as a homemaker. Some think that it is not a real job but to me it is and I worked it out so it doesnt financially ruin our family.No job is easy when you start out but if you are happy then I would rather get less then hate your job and get less.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Here's my guide to the interview. I'm presenting this from a more professional perspective but anybody else who works on the executive or even middle management level will probably agree with me.

First and foremost you must always remain positive with an emphasis on progress. Most employers are looking for employees who are willing to grow with the company. If you create the perception that their company is just a stop on your journey then don't expect to get the job. Disneyland has a very high turnover rate for this very reason (and the lack of hours, low wages, etc) and they do want to prevent that as much as possible.

Do not focus on your shortcomings and don't allow whoever is interviewing you to do so either. They're making sure you can handle working there and you need to prove that you can handle working ANYwhere.

Aside from that there are a few minor pointers for Disney specific applicants.
Enthusiasm
Appearance
Competence
I put these in this order for a reason.
Enthusiasm is paramount. Think of it almost as an audition. Don't over do it though. If you're too bubbly and obnoxious you're not going to get the job. Be as pleasant and happy as you would like a Disneyland employee to be towards you.
Appearance is also very important. Disney does have a code for appearances. Nothing too over the top. Small earrings and light makeup if you're a lady. Be clean and well groomed of course. Obnoxious hair color or high lights will hurt your chances as well. They don't want to an environment where people are trying to be noticed for their uniqueness sad to say.
Competence is very important as well. You don't need to be well read but you do need to communicate in a manner that everybody can understand. Speak slowly and communicate clearly. Record yourself speaking then play it back and see if you sound like an idiot. I'm dead serious.

I noticed that there is a young lady making a move to Orange County to apparently make it and would like to work at Disneyland. You'll notice a lot of people trying to shoot you down. I'll try to be a little more constructive.

Housing
1. It's very expensive to live in one of the safer areas of Orange County. Expect rent for a two bedroom apartment to hover around $1500/month in one of the less affluent neighborhoods. If you're looking for something in an area with less crime you're looking at about $2000/month. Make sure you get a place with utilities paid.
Transportation
2. Driving in the state of California can be costly. You must have insurance and gas is expensive. I recommend finding a hole in the wall insurance outfit that will sell you liability (all that is legally required) which will keep you safe if somebody else hits you or you hit somebody. You may not be able to get your car fixed if it's your fault but at least you'll be covered for any damage to the other party. Make sure you get an economical vehicle that is easy to maintain. You cannot register your vehicle without proof of insurance.
Other Bills
3. You'll likely want a phone and you may need to eat and wash your hair and other things like that. Be sure to figure these into your budget.
Education
4. Get your butt into school. You can defer your college loans until you graduate which makes it easier and interest rates are very low for most loans. You don't need to go to UCLA to get a good education so don't worry about going broke after you graduate. If you are going to do something like writing or acting, you better have some training unless you're incredible. I want to emphasize incredible. Many aspiring writer and actors got where they are using contacts they've made while learning their craft. Your talent will only get you so far. If you want to be writer don't even think about finding a job without somebody backing you up. It helps to have an educator you can reference.
Showbiz
5. If you seriously want to get into the industry be prepared to pound the pavement. Living in Orange County is a little difficult because you won't exactly be in the heart of it all. If you plan on acting you will need to spend a great deal of your days going to audition after audition. Disneyland will not get you the exposure you may be looking for. Remember that you're not part of a minority. There are a lot of people looking to make it big in showbiz. If you don't have a backup plan you may find yourself heading home before you even got started.

I wanted more than anything to become an actor after I graduated high school. I decided that I didn't want to go to college and instead started going to auditions. I learned very fast that it's a big world and that I wasn't as special as I thought it was. It was a reality check I wasn't expecting. After just a month of failed auditions I found myself discouraged. I met 8 guys at my first reading for a Coca Cola commercial who could have been my twin. The only difference was that they had been doing it for years and were substantially better than I was. I gave up, got a full time office job, and eventually went to tech school and did what I should have done after I graduated. I can't help but think I'm a few years behind where I should be in the world. I have a good job now and I make decent money. Heed everybody's advice. You're planning a trip to nowhere if you don't wise up.

I don't want to rain on your parade but you need to be serious about this.

Good job, very thought through post.

Jack

 

[Quest4fun]

Good job, very thought through post.

Jack

Thanks Jack!

I've seen enough employees come and go over the years as well as showbiz opportunities. I hate to see people who don't know what they're up against. Rather then tell them they're dumb for giving it a try I think it's better to let them see the facts and then make an educated decision.

I think you hit a point in your life where "Because I said so." Doesn't really work all that well. This girl is an adult for the most part but I'm not sure if she has really thought this through.

It's not impossible to move to the area and survive but you do have to do it with the right expectations as well as recognizing the warnings that others give.