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

[TheAmazingSpidey]

...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!

 

[bradk]

don't do it for the pay. don't.

not sure what the housing situation there is like either. i've heard some pretty harsh things in anaheim.

 

[blackjackdelta]

don't do it for the pay. don't.

not sure what the housing situation there is like either. i've heard some pretty harsh things in anaheim.

I would suspect most of the people on these boards do their jobs for the pay, some maybe happy with their jobs/lives etc..I bet not.

Jack

What is the pay, no one seems to know, but there are 7-10k peole doing those jobs.

 

[brergnat]

Disneyland is up to paying around $10 as their "minimum wage".

This is slightly higher than the real minimum wage in CA.

It is EXTREMELY expensive to live anywhere in Orange County, CA. The cheaper areas are places I wouldn't drive through, much less live in.

It might be a fun job if you didn't rely on the money to support you financially. A lot of local teens work there. I assume many still live with their parents at home...

I would work there "for fun", but not to support myself.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Just out of curiousity...why are you moving to california? For fun? For school? to be an actress? or what?

 

[fairycat]

Working for DLR is great for a college student who lives at home, or has there dorm costs covered. Most of the people I know started/worked there did so in school.

There are few jobs at DLR that you can get right out of HS that will pay the bills, to live near DLR. You can drive but its not always worth it.

I know people who work at DLR for Disney and for other Companies there (they have all the same rules as Disney employees and the same break rooms in most cases) and some days they love it and some days they hate it. It really is mostly like any other job in that regard. But you deal with tourists which can be great or extra tough.

The only real fantasty jobs are the characters and even that isn't always perfectly magical. My friend hated being Lumiere (the costume was way top heavy), but the two girl's I know who did Snow White and Ariel respectably said it was there favorite job ever!!!

If you really want to work for them look at some of their college programs you might have better luck with that.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Working for DLR is great for a college student who lives at home, or has there dorm costs covered. Most of the people I know started/worked there did so in school.

There are few jobs at DLR that you can get right out of HS that will pay the bills, to live near DLR. You can drive but its not always worth it.

I know people who work at DLR for Disney and for other Companies there (they have all the same rules as Disney employees and the same break rooms in most cases) and some days they love it and some days they hate it. It really is mostly like any other job in that regard. But you deal with tourists which can be great or extra tough.

The only real fantasty jobs are the characters and even that isn't always perfectly magical. My friend hated being Lumiere (the costume was way top heavy), but the two girl's I know who did Snow White and Ariel respectably said it was there favorite job ever!!!

If you really want to work for them look at some of their college programs you might have better luck with that.

I think it would be fun to be a plaid (not sure what they are actually called...a valet?) It would be fun to get paid to go on the rides....especially if it were with someone cool like Harrison Food. Although getting stuck with a mean celeb would be no fun.

 

[scooter15]

Worked as a on stage CM in foods and also worked backstage in clerical while in grad school. Hated the hours...both positions had awful hours. Pay is pretty low to support yourself even if you had a roommate. If you and your friend are moving out here for school that's a different story. A lot of college students work there. If you want a career there or expect just to work there for a living...don't bother. Benefits are non-existent if you aren't regular PT or FT. Don't expect to get that status immediately.

Job is fun for a couple of weeks and that changes when you realize they want a lot from you. Its not a place to mess around in because if you do and get fired...you have no rehire in all Disney companies...that includes ABC, WDW, Walt Disney Studios, etc and that does make a difference if you live out here and want to find another job.

As for "magical"....nope. It loses the magic once you work there. It is just like any other place.

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

I think it would be fun to be a plaid (not sure what they are actually called...a valet?) It would be fun to get paid to go on the rides....especially if it were with someone cool like Harrison Food. Although getting stuck with a mean celeb would be no fun.

Whoa--explain that? You can actually have that job??

 

[bradk]

plaid is guest relations. it's actually a very coveted position. guest relations handles tours, an even more coveted position. one that you have to earn your way to.

this is geared towards the college program, but here are more likely positions:

http://amedia.disney.go.com/disneyc.../pdf/disneyland_rolechecklist_application.pdf

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Would someone be so kind as to explain the college program?

 

[bradk]

see

http://disney.go.com/disneycareers/disneyland/home/index.html

and

http://disney.go.com/disneycareers/disneycollegeprogram

and

http://disney.go.com/disneycareers/internships/home.html

one of those will apply to your situation

 

[toocherie]

I think it would be fun to be a plaid (not sure what they are actually called...a valet?) It would be fun to get paid to go on the rides....especially if it were with someone cool like Harrison Food. Although getting stuck with a mean celeb would be no fun.

I do love that Harrison FOOD--LOL!

(think he eats the churros?)

 

[bradk]

indiana scones actually.

 

[fairycat]

I think it would be fun to be a plaid (not sure what they are actually called...a valet?) It would be fun to get paid to go on the rides....especially if it were with someone cool like Harrison Food. Although getting stuck with a mean celeb would be no fun.

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!

 

[toocherie]

indiana scones actually.

Ok--that was really bad! (but I loved it!)

 

[lulubelle]

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.

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

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.

Your daughter is very beautiful, ma'am, and it sounds like she has a lot going for her. Congrats, to you, her parents, and herself as well.

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Would my roommate and I be able to support ourselves if we work full time?

 

[Monkey Monkey]

Would my roommate and I be able to support ourselves if we work full time?

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.