Hi!
I worked there last summer as part of their international college program - it's where university students from the UK apply to work there for 3 months during the summer. And it was the best 3 months of my life! I think I'm still grieving for my time there
I had a blog (in my sig) but never got round to finishing it whilst I was out there, due to crazy working hours and just trying to cram in everything that we could! I did write a type of journal though, and fully intend to get this up on my blog during the next couple of months! Almost a year late is better than never I suppose...
It was certainly no holiday working for Disney - especially during peak season where we worked many hours, and it was hot, hot, hot!! My 'role in the show' (We referred to DHS as a sort of film set/show
) was attractions, where I worked in the Honey I Shrunk The Kids Playground. This meant I worked outside everyday, come rain or shine! But I loved it - it was great fun. It really is the guest interaction that makes the job IMO! I met so many interesting people - both fellow CMs and guests from all around the world, and it's given me some great anecdotes and stories!
For example, I was a 'greeter' for the playground one afternoon, so just welcoming guests and guiding them into the playground. A family walked past, glanced at my badge, and saw that my name was Bethan. With it obviously being a Welsh sounding name, they looked closer and discovered that I was from where they were from. They were a lovely Welsh valleys family there on holiday, and were so interested in what I was doing there and how I was actually working for WDW! They even stood there and sang the Welsh national anthem to me (I did blush a little as my manager was in the vicinity and didn't have a clue what was going on haha!) and gave me a proper Welsh 'cwtch', just in case I was missing home. Literally, the guests at WDW never failed to surprise me!
I had lots of friends in all different positions at WDW - I loved hearing my friends' stories who worked in 'Entertainment', and were 'friends with the characters'. What they did sounded amazing, albeit very hot and sweaty! I would have loved to have applied for that role, but am a bit of a rubbish height (too big for the mice, and too short for some of the others). They used to work 20 minutes on stage and then 40 minutes off. I loved hearing about which characters were best to 'be friends with', and again all of their guest stories. And talking about characters.... I'll never forget walking into Cast Services, getting my costume, and then making my way backstage to the other side of the park to the HISK playground for work. Many a time I would see Mickey and friends being driven past on golf cart, and they always waved hello. This was so surreal at first, but then became the norm. I can't get over not seeing that when I'm in work now
The training was also out of this world - nothing like I had ever experienced before. And to be taught about the Disney Way really sets you up for life! Through my training, I got to see so many aspects of the company and the parks that I would never ever see as a holiday maker, and it's these moments right from the beginning of the program that still bring a tear to my eye! They really build you up and instill in you that it is really 'you', the CM, who make the magic at the parks - with this in your head, you just wanna head out and make everyone's day in any way that you can. My friends and I used to laugh, because even when we weren't working and were spending a day in one of the parks as guests, we still couldn't stop ourselves interacting with other guests, helping them find places, giving them tips, or just seeing how their day was going. But again, at Disney, this is the norm
Some people say that all that kind of stuff, spoils the fun of Disney. I couldn't be any more opposite though: experiencing all that backstage stuff, and seeing the workings of the company just took it to a whole new level of 'magic'!
The biggest perk working for Disney, in my opinion, was unlimited access to the parks during those 3 months - I will never forget the feeling of just strolling in after work to catch Wishes or Illuminations. It will never be the same again, just going on holidays for 2 weeks, but I know we will always keep returning!
I could go on and on about what it was like to work there and my experiences, but I've already written this super long post so I'll shut up now! Like I said, working for Disney is one of the most amazing experiences ever, yet so surreal. Yes, some of the jobs can be tough, like you mentioned with the performers, and working outside for example, but there are hundreds of reasons that make it all worthwhile. I will never, ever forget my time as a CM - it really did change me, and I feel like a new person for having had the opportunity to work for WDW, the happiest place on earth
