
“I Worked In Disney Parks For 8 Years”: Former Magic Kingdom Employee Shares 29 Facts About It
Disneyland is commonly referred to as one of the most magical places on earth by pretty much everyone who visits it. The park is full of amazing attractions, rides, Disney characters, and different types of entertainment that young and old people can enjoy equally.
Even though it might seem exceptionally perfect, every place holds secrets. What’s interesting is that a former employee who worked at four of the Disney parks decided to reveal as much as possible about what actually goes on behind the scenes.
More info: Reddit
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Kind of like how now it is frequently just as fast to go through regular security as it is through pre-check?
The cast members form a circle so no one else witnesses someone die at Disney World, not to protect the one dying.
The most interesting thing about Disney World is how many visitors it seems to get. It’s estimated that nearly 48.77 million folks visit the parks every year, making it one of the most popular global tourist destinations. People tend to travel to it from all across the world, but a majority of its visitors are folks from the United States.
There are so many reasons why people are hooked on visiting the parks. One of the biggest selling points for it is nostalgia, and that’s why people who grew up watching Disney movies connect with the parks in a big way. There are also so many sights to see that a person can spend an entire day taking them all in.
All of the Disney parks combined have more than 77k cast members working in them. Their role is to create the best and most fun experience possible for all visitors. From operating the rides to managing food stalls or playing roles as certain characters, these workers do just about everything.
A wonderful thing about Disney parks is that they want to create a more inclusive work environment for their staff by giving them more flexibility in the way they present themselves. This includes things like their costume, hair, nails, and other personalizations that they want. This would help cast members to show up as their most authentic selves every day.
I'm going to guess employee attitudes changed because of wages not keeping up with inflation. Up until 2019 Florida minimum wage was $8.46.
Although most Disney employees seem to love their work and their interactions with guests, there are a few things about their jobs that still need to be improved. According to a large survey of workers, their hourly pay is often less than $15. It also seems like around 13% of employees are paid even less than that and get $11 an hour.
Some workers have issues with not just the pay scale but also the work schedule. More than half of the employees with young children struggle to care for their families because of the erratic schedules they have to endure. These circumstances make it tough for Disney workers to maintain a proper balance between their work and their lives.
Sounds like they prey on and exploit young people wanting to “be in show biz”.
One of the reasons why people flock to Disney World is because of how the place and the people make them feel. The rides, cast members, shops, and food items are all centered around storytelling, and that’s exactly what connects to people’s emotions. People who visit the parks often get immersed in the fairytale-ness of the place as soon as they get there.
It is wonderful to experience that joy with one’s loved ones and family members. This quality of Disney parks is exactly what employees like about it. Since it’s their job to make people feel jolly, those skills become valuable in other areas of life as well. That’s why many top companies look to hire former Disney cast members, especially because of their expertise in customer satisfaction.
I find that so sad and a really good reason why I'm not going back, beside the ridiculous prices. everything seems a little dingier, a little old and much more made of plastic than of magic.
If you’re an avid Disney lover and someone who regularly makes a trip to the parks, some of these secrets may shock you. Although it may not be the picture-perfect place everyone makes it out to be, it still creates a magical experience for every single visitor. That feeling of joy and wonder is a dire need in today’s world! Don’t you think?
I think it's different when you work there and when you vacation there. Disney really isn't THAT great when you grow up though. It's pretty stressful.
That's what Target does. Especially with employee theft. They fired so many people when I worked there but they waited until they stole over $5000 of merchandise. Same with shoppers. If you steal regularly, they are tracking you and waiting until they can lock you up with a felony. In 2004 their cameras were so good they could zoom about a football field away and read the burger king employee name tags in the drive thru window. That always freaked me out.
This. Been to Disneyland about 30 times since 1967, and WDW once, back in 1982. Disneyland has/had much more of the feeling of magic and wonder. Sadly they did get too commercial. All the "Lands" used to have their own proprietary merchandise and only the souvenir stands near the entrance had a mixture of things. All the little lights in the trees worked. Every guest was treated the same and had the same rights and privileges.
At Disneyland you can leave the park on foot for late lunch across the street, a nap in your nearby hotel (not Disney) then back to the park for the night fun, parades, shows. At WDW? No way can you just walk off the grounds to an independent restaurant or hotel.
Worst night to work in the Magic Kingdom. So, so many people. I hated it.
Poll Question
What is your general opinion on Disney Parks after learning some insider secrets?
More interested than before!
No change at all...
It did change my perspective on them a little.
Can't have an opinion if I've never been or cared to go!
What do you expect? The crowds are worse, the work is harder than ever, people are far more rude to the cast members than they used to be, and the pay is still absolute shite. Of course the standards have 'slipped'; even young people are realizing it's just not worth it to give that standard of service for people who don't appreciate it and will abuse you constantly, while also getting paid barely above minimum wage (which is nowhere near cost-of-living in Florida). CMs have to band together 6-8 at a time just to afford living space, which obviously adds stress, and makes the standard slip even more.
I can't imagine going to Disney having to pretty much use an app the whole time. Sounds like the worst nightmare ever
What do you expect? The crowds are worse, the work is harder than ever, people are far more rude to the cast members than they used to be, and the pay is still absolute shite. Of course the standards have 'slipped'; even young people are realizing it's just not worth it to give that standard of service for people who don't appreciate it and will abuse you constantly, while also getting paid barely above minimum wage (which is nowhere near cost-of-living in Florida). CMs have to band together 6-8 at a time just to afford living space, which obviously adds stress, and makes the standard slip even more.
I can't imagine going to Disney having to pretty much use an app the whole time. Sounds like the worst nightmare ever