Disney Theme Park Employees Reveal Things They Love And Hate About It (30 Posts)

Kierra told Bored Panda that employees should consider looking for a fresh new job or a change in their careers "when they’re bored, feel like they’re undervalued, or feeling like work is causing their mental/physical health to suffer." According to the expert, it's difficult to be certain if it's ever the right thing to do, but it's vital that workers stand up for themselves.

"I think it’s rare to feel certain [about career change], especially when your financial stability is on the line but it’s important that you always advocate for yourself, even when it might not feel 'great,'" she said.

Something that managers can do to become more aware of any potential needs or concerns in the team is to consistently check in with their employees. Open and consistent communication is a powerful tool in their arsenal. "Asking at least biweekly will allow them to learn how each individual on their team works and what is important to them in their career. This can help the manager to adjust what goals and tasks the people they manage should work on… to get the best out of their role and to maximize their career."

According to Kierra, job satisfaction can be a very individual thing. However, there are some common tendencies. "Most would probably say money since it’s needed for survival, but there are many people who are out there doing what they love even though it might not pay well. In reality, I think people want to work a job where they feel appreciated and heard in all aspects (from career goals, innovative ideas, compensation, etc)," she told Bored Panda.

Meanwhile, she noted that managers and the company itself play important roles in helping maintain long term job interest. "Perhaps one should try to find roles where there’s lots of opportunity for growth and internal transfer in the event you would like to try something else," she suggested what employees can do on their part.

Disney’s ‘cast members’ do a very wide variety of tasks, from serving food and greeting the guests to giving people tours and aiding anyone in need of a friendly face or a helping hand. Though MVOrganizing states that 87 percent of employees are proud to work for The Walt Disney Company, reality is reality and no job is perfect.

Working for Disney has its own upsides, downsides, and frustrations, like any other vocation. For many employees, working at theme parks means working with customers. And it’s like any other customer service job, albeit with a light coating of fairy dust and probably more smiles and laughter than average. What this means is simple: the customers you have to deal with can make or break your day. While most customers are bound to be decent, polite, and empathetic, you’ll probably still deal with some rude ones from time to time.

Alexander Kjerulf from Positive Sharing previously told Bored Panda that employees should “keep their cool” if they ever meet a rude customer.

“Remember that whatever abuse they’re giving you is no reflection on you as a person. That customer doesn’t even know you, so there’s no way it could be. But on the other hand, don’t be subservient. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and tell customers that abuse is not tolerated. And if it persists, hand them over to a manager as soon as you can and let them deal with it.”

According to Alexander, not everyone who’s rude to you is a bad person. “You have to remember that in many cases a customer who behaves badly is not necessarily a bad person—it can be a good person having a bad day and that’s why they’re acting out. But the sad truth is that some customers act this way because they’ve learned that it works and will get them discounts or preferential treatment,” he said.

‘Inside the Magic’ applauds the ‘cast members’ for all the extra effort that they put into their jobs, pointing out that they’re what make the entire experience more magical for the customers.

“Cast Members treat guests in a way that makes us feel so appreciated, special, and welcome—as though Disneyland (and every other Disney park in the world) truly is our land, like Walt himself put it,” ItM writes. “Cast Members can go above and beyond to help guests have the best day ever when we’re at the parks. And while many Disney guests have grown to expect the Disney level of service on every vacation, Cast Members can always surprise us. Even the simplest, smallest gestures go a long way.”

In recent news, Shanghai Disneyland had temporarily shut its gates when a visitor to the theme park tested positive for Covid-19. The BBC reports that all visitors and staff members were being tested for coronavirus. “Health workers in protective suits examined them as fireworks went off around the park's landmark castle.”