So you’re ready to become a cast member (employee) at Disneyland. Your first stop in getting a job at Disneyland should be looking for one. The first place to look is at the Disney website for available jobs. They also post new jobs quite regularly, so keep checking if you find no current jobs that will work for you. You can apply online for these jobs by pasting your resume and answering questions. You must be at least 17, and show proof of ability to work in the US.
Jobs will vary and some require a college education or certification. Disneyland looks for registered nurses to fill their onsite emergency clinic if a guest gets injured, those with bachelor’s degrees or equivalent experience in business to run their retail stores, and certified cosmetologists who help to put together costumed employees. Engineers and electricians are often needed and welcome, as are maintenance engineers, experts in human resources, people with food industry experience and those with restaurant management skills. In addition, Disneyland has large offices that are filled with employees with secretarial and computer skills.
As well as looking at experience, Disneyland also looks for a specific type of person. One cannot get a job at Disneyland if one has visible tattoos, hair dyed in unnatural colors or multiple piercings. Hair has to be clean cut, for men, above the ears. Men cannot have pierced ears. For women, hair must be styled well, in a classic and simple cut. Disneyland does judge on appearances and looks for simplicity.
Interviews should be attended for cast member jobs in either business attire, or clean, blank slate clothing, like a white dress shirt and black pants, or a black skirt for women. Shoes should be simple dress shoes or docksiders for men in more casual clothes. Women should not wear opened toed shoes, and should wear nylons or tights if they wear skirts.
Any interviews for professional or business jobs should definitely be attended in business attire. Women applying for any Disneyland job should probably wear a small amount of makeup, but no excessive makeup like eye shadow or eyeliner. Simple foundation in a light coat, a slightly tinted lip gloss and mascara may be the best choices. Disneyland interviewers need to see you as fitting in at one of their parks or hotels, so the interview is not the time to express your punk rock personality. Think dress standards of the 1950s for young men and women, instead of the more relaxed standards of today.
If you get called to an interview you must be able to emphasize that you can work under pressure, are extremely flexible as to hours worked, and have a charming and effusive personality. Disneyland wants all cast members to be cheerful and helpful so that guests to the park have an overwhelming sense of being well served by employees. Enthusiasm, a nice smile and some experience in the field for which you are applying are helpful.
Unless you’re applying for a professional level job, you really must expect to work at any time, and virtually all holidays. Only employees of Disneyland with significant job seniority get to take the major holidays off. If you can’t work amusement park hours cheerfully, then Disneyland will not consider you. Thus you should really question whether you want to work a varied schedule, and have a life that will allow a very flexible work schedule.
For college students there are a number of Disneyland internships that might be attractive. Some employ college students to work over the summer in cast member and service industry jobs. Others offer a chance to gain experience in a field in which you hold interest. Jobs that offer experience in engineering or other professional fields may have heavy competition. Good grades and references can frequently help secure these positions.
