communications intern

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

Here we go, well a typical day at work was to create magic for guests, such as giving out small gifts and celebrating anything with special guests. This work experience was just all sorts of magic. It was a place to make everyone feel safe and to make all feel important. While I worked I knew that, everyone had a place in this world of magic and we all had a new adventure everyday, be it a good one or a bad one. If it was a bad one, well there was always a team, a team of bonds unlike any other, a team to pick you up and continue on to the next adventure. 

I learned that workers make the best of the job by what they put into it. You have to make the job what it means to you.
This job was a fantasy, with a happy ending. It almost isn't real because it's not a job, it's magic.

I enjoyed so much working with such good friends, in real life we don't really get to work with our best friends.

The hardest part of this job was to say goodbye to my friends.
Working with my friends we had such long hours to work, but we had each other and so many guests helped us keep going..

Many things and personal things came to me with this job experience. Everyone will have a different ending to their fantasy, I learned so much and I am so glad I did. I see things so much more now because of this experience. I hear things, and I keep things so dear to my heart now because in life we're all part of each others adventures, we cross paths when we least expect it and when we do. That small impact can drastically change someones moment in life, hopefully to open more doors or to see beyond the grey areas. 

This whole experience was an adventure that, I would never tell anyone to not go.

Well, that's from the heart. Good day.

The job started out really fun, but became very apparent that if you're not management's favourite, they will push you out. I was hired as a seasonal and after the December rush, I was lucky to get 10 hours worth of work a week. Listed eight hours shifts would get slashed down to three hours with a shrug. The perks are great if you're a huge Disney fan, but the treatment wasn't worth it to me.
The dress code is extremely strict and specific. Management would tell you a vague rule, you follow it, and then they'll write you up about specifics that they didn't tell you about. It's like high school all over again, where they're kind and sweet to your face and then gossip about you behind your back. 
You're judged a lot on your appearance and they leave no room for you to show your potential because management has already designated you as bottom tier. The specific store I worked at had a high male turnover rate. The management team was extremely contradictive and would berate you over the headset for a short conversation with a coworker in an empty store, but managers could fraternize with people from their personal lives and relationships on the clock and on the floor.

A typical day at the Disney store is never the same.  You come to work always being greeted by your fellow cast members and a wonderful set of managers and team leaders.  Being at the Disney store has taught me so much about different Disney facts that myself did not know.  Coming to work here is different than any other work place I've ever been too.  Guest service is key to their success along with their enthusiasm and the love for what the company stands for.  The most enjoyable part of this job is being able to work here.  You come to work and Disney songs are playing, trailers are playing backstage, you have a choir operating in the theater from many of our youngsters and Disney trivia and competition happening among your cast members.  It is definitely a work experience I will not forget.  The Disney store differentiates itself from any other retail store and its definitely an honor to work there.

While the days were long and the kitchen was not air conditioned, the management in my particular department were quite supportive. Issues were mainly staff-based, and more could be done by the company to create and promote a safe and happy work environment free of discrimination from other employees (witnessed not experienced). Free lunches provided to staff was an added benefit without any ability/time to leave the premises for breaks. Free annual visits to each of the Disney Parks with a guest pass was cool as well as the hotel offering perks and discounts; some from the get-go, others were accrued. Most of the time there was a decent culture in support of learning and passion for the craft, and the highest standards of service were observed in the kitchen. Even during the slower months, hours were usually able to be maintained at around 30+ per week.

Disney is a good company in general. 

Unfortunately the expectation for unrealistic returns to share holders year after year, along with guest demands, the employees take an unfair beating. 

Management takes efforts in training and supporting their direct reports. The rewards and recognition programs don't seem to be enough to make up the difference.Unfortunately with the demands from above and a significant amount of union employees working the system, the employees who care and love their job end up paying the price with long frustrating hours.

On the positive side. You're surrounded by lots of amazing folks that make things happen to open the park for the world to enjoy. I love working with these folks, down to earth, hard working.

A typical day at the Disney store was never a sure day, it could be a busy day or a very slow day or it would come in waves. I do think I've learned a lot from them when it comes to money and dealing with guest and children also with being on stage there's many way to deal with guest.I simply loved all my managers they were all very laid back and understanding to many things along with all the cast members they were all get people to meet and get to work with. I think the hardest part about that job was knowing that it was just a seasonal and I wasn't sure about having it in the end. And, the most enjoyable was the job it's self it seemed that a lot of people had a dream job and it was on of mine to work with Disney was a joy.

Seasonal at Christmas.

It was a great experience. I met some of my best friends while working there, and still talk to my old manager. Really just great all around.

Definitely strict around dress code, the way you speak and act and such, but that's to be expected with Disney. 

It sucked a little with seasonal just because you could only switch shifts three times, and after that you'd be let go, so if you were working two jobs like I was, that made life a little difficult unless your other boss was understanding (thankfully, they were). 

I would recommend working here, easily. But as a part-time, probably second job unless you can get in as management, because you won't get many hours.

Often times each day bring challenges but with the great pool of international talents with excellent knowledge we are able to rise above.Over all it is a very productive and result driven work place.It is wonderful working with so many different nationality,I have learnt a lot because of this diversity, although at the same time this can pose the biggest challenge as it relate to misunderstandings owing to deference in culture.Manager are proactive and eager to teach.I enjoy the appreciation shown to each crew member on a day to day basis both by ship board and shore side leaders.

Training the magic to the cast members was fun. Not many places ask you to have fun on the job but has changed over the years. The changes VPs so many times that we get to many different messages at store level. First it is all about the magic and then all about the metrics and back and forth. Now it is all about the magic and the guest having fun, Problem is the ideas are that the product sells it self. Just doesn't work because everyone has Disney product and the guest want the best deals. Disney now only care about the numbers when sales are not there, Then it becomes about the why.
Have I confuse you yet? See what I mean... 
Run the store as your own except when they tell you not to.

I honestly don't remember much as that was 12 years ago except that it was fun and friendly place to work also it's mostly seasonal so they stop scheduling you closer to the end of December they don't even tell you a end date they just stop scheduling you in hopes you won't call in for shifts and wait for their calls and when you call they don't have any shifts for you not a bad place to work just don't like the fact how they end your contract by not telling you  perhaps things have changed as it was 12 years ago when I worked their 



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