Lifestyle6 min(s) read
Published 16:58 12 Aug 2019 GMT
Three years ago, after graduating, I decided to take a leap into the unknown and apply for a job at Disney World. A summer of fun in a place I'd dreamed of working in since I was a kid seemed like the perfect way to de-stress after college.
[post_page_title]Do You Really Want To Work At Disney?[/post_page_title]
A few weeks into my journey as a Disney employee, my childhood was ruined. Working at Disney World might seem like a dream job. But behind the scenes, employees are placed in shackles and forced to follow a very large and strict rulebook.
[post_page_title]You Must Be Slim[/post_page_title]
Disney princesses have to be slim. They have to have slender waistlines because the costume designs haven't changed since the '70s, and back then, women were, generally speaking, slimmer.
[post_page_title]"Speeding" Is A Very Real Problem[/post_page_title]
If an employee rushes through the park, it's referred to as "speeding", and it's a real problem. Unlike in most jobs, if you're late, you're just going to have to accept it and walk into the park at the same speed as the tourists. It's considered dangerous if employees run through the park, especially as there's a lot of small children around.
[post_page_title]Celebrities Aren't Special[/post_page_title]
Whenever we saw celebrities, we were told to treat them like any other guest. If we failed to follow this rule, and let our inner fangirl lose, then we'd be at risk of losing our job. All I can say is that I'm glad (sort 0f) I never bumped into Johnny Depp!
[post_page_title]Creepy Dads[/post_page_title]
I had to play a lot of different princesses during my time at Disney World, and a lot of dads (and even granddads) would try and hit on me. I'd get jokes about living with the seven dwarfs when I was dressed as Snow White...
[post_page_title]Most Princes Are Gay[/post_page_title]
Sadly, most of the handsome young men on the arms of Disney princess are gay. Don't get me wrong though, there are still relationships which occur between the princess and the straight princes, which I'll get to later in this article...
[post_page_title]There's Only One Mickey At A Time[/post_page_title]
Behind the scenes, there's a lot of people who make sure that two of the same character are never in the same place at once. There will be a different Mickey Mouse in the parade from the one who's doing a meet and greet with guests.
[post_page_title]Kids Can (And Will) Attack[/post_page_title]
Children believe almost anything they see on the screen. That's why it's incredibly important that Disney princesses look the part. However, there are some things in Disney movies that can't be recreated. I once had a little girl start shouting at me before trying to rip my dress whilst I was dressed like Tinker Bell when she realized I couldn't fly...
[post_page_title]Parents Encourage Them...[/post_page_title]
I was once hit by a kid whose dad encouraged it after I laughed when he made an inappropriate comment about me. It only happened once, but that was the beginning of the end when it came to me caring about the job...
[post_page_title]Weird Guests Can Be Very Awakard[/post_page_title]
Dealing with people every day can be tiring. Whilst the majority of guests are lovely, I did have to interact with some people who really were strange. A guy even proposed to me whilst I was dressed as Cinderella.
[post_page_title]You're Never A Disney "Employee"[/post_page_title]
This may sound a little confusing, but when you are employed by Disney, you immediately become a "cast member". Disney never refers to us as "employees" or "staff", only by our first names - which are displayed on our badges. Rumour has it, this is because Walt believed it was way more personal. And to be fair, he was right!
[post_page_title]You Are Not Allowed To Say "I Don't Know"[/post_page_title]
If a guest ever asks you a question, you must never reply with "I don't know". If you don't know the answer, it's your job to find it out. We were given extensive training to prepare us for all sorts of situations, but in those rare occasions where we couldn't help, we would have to call an operator on the staff phones hidden around the park.
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[post_page_title]'The Disney Look Book'[/post_page_title]
When you are first recruited, Disney provides you with a whole book dedicated to how you are supposed to look whilst on the job. It is appropriately named The Disney Look Book. Hidden within its pages is everything you need to know about the appearance of a cast member, and, trust me, there's a lot involved...
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[post_page_title]You Must Follow These Strict Rules[/post_page_title]
Disney doesn't just want its staff to be happy all of the time. It also wants them to look as plain as possible. They've provided their employees with a shockingly detailed description of what they're looking for, which describes exactly how they should look down to the length of their fingernails...
[post_page_title]Everybody's Having Sex[/post_page_title]
When you have women beautiful enough to be princesses and men attractive enough to be heroes, it's no surprise that all the cast members backstage are doing it! I literally walked in on Ariel doing it with Aladdin after the parade.
[post_page_title]You'll Be Taught A Whole New Meaning To "Backstage"[/post_page_title]
Disney cast members have to learn a special language when they arrive. As I said before, employees are not referred to as "staff", only "cast members", whilst the customers are known only as "guests". If guests wander into areas that are off-limits to them, it is referred to as going "backstage". It, therefore, makes sense that everywhere else is called "onstage".
[post_page_title]You Must Never Refer To Vomit As "Vomit"[/post_page_title]
Yes, Disney may be "The Most Magical Place On Earth", but that doesn't mean guests don't hurl from time to time. What do you expect when you combine cotton candy, hamburgers, and roller coasters? When a cast member hears "Code V" echo down their earpiece, they know that someone has thrown up after (or on) a ride. And yes, it's as gross as it sounds.
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[post_page_title]You Can Buy Lost Items Guests Have Left Behind[/post_page_title]
As you can imagine Disney accumulates quite a lot of stuff in Lost Property every single day. Once the cameras, phones, clothing, designer bags, and sunglasses have been stored for the allocated time, they are then sold to cast members in a special store. Don't worry, all the money received is donated back to charity.
[post_page_title]You Cannot Point With One Finger[/post_page_title]
One of Disney's magic rules is that you should never point with just one finger. Firstly, in many cultures, it is considered rude, and secondly, Walt apparently hated it. Instead, you must guide guests with the index finger accompanied by the middle finger (known as the "Disney Point"), or use an open palm.
[post_page_title]The Secret Of The Smells[/post_page_title]
There's a reason why Disney smells so God damn good (toilets aside). The parks pump pleasant smells around them using things known by cast members as "smellitizers". Not only do they help mask the smell of the trash, but they also pump out smells to fit in with the atmosphere of each "land" - such as a salty sea breeze near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
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[post_page_title]It STINKS Backstage[/post_page_title]
Unfortunately, the amazing smells of the park itself aren't backstage. That's where everything we don't want guests to see goes on - everything that you can imagine goes into the running of such a big park.
[post_page_title]You'll NEVER Forget When The Parade Is[/post_page_title]
Cast members get asked the same questions every single day. Most of the time you shrug them off because, hey, you are at Disney so you have to be polite. However, when you get asked what time the "Three O'Clock Parade" is for the 100th time that day, you can't help but die a little inside.
[post_page_title]You Must Never Break Character[/post_page_title]
Every Disney character has their own voice, interests, and personality. It is a golden rule that irrespective of what character you are playing - from Minnie Mouse to Jack Sparrow - you must never, ever deviate from the part you are playing.
[post_page_title]The Disney Scoop[/post_page_title]
At Disney, you must never walk past litter, or draw attention to the fact that you are getting rid of litter. Instead, you must perform the "Disney Scoop" and discreetly dispose of the litter whilst on the move - you must not stop or bend over.
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[post_page_title]You Cannot Use Twitter[/post_page_title]
Cast members aren't allowed to discuss their roles at Disney. Ever! Of course, they're allowed to use social media sites in their free time, but not when they're on the job. Even though there's some great backstage action that would make for some amazing Instagram pictures, staff wouldn't dare whip out their smartphones!
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[post_page_title]You Will Get Fired If You Take Pictures[/post_page_title]
It is imperative that Disney "keeps the magic alive" and, therefore, cast members are not permitted to take snaps backstage. In fact, your contract with Disney will be terminated immediately if you are caught taking pictures in costume.
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[post_page_title]You Will Notice Hidden Details EVERYWHERE[/post_page_title]
The next time you are vacationing in Disney, keep your eyes peeled for "hidden Mickeys" everywhere. They are concealed in the strangest of places; around the parks, retail stores and cruise ships. A flowerbed may look like a sweet display of carnations but delve deeper and you'll soon notice that the plants are arranged in the shape of Mickey Mouse's head.
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[post_page_title]You Will Learn Some Very Interesting Facts[/post_page_title]
During orientation, cast members are taught some pretty interesting facts about Disney. One that sticks in my mind is that the Animal Kingdom is sunk into the ground. Apparently, this creates a more preferable climate for the animals contained there, which makes sense as the weather in Orlando is extremely hot!
[post_page_title]Your Children Are Never Lost At Disney[/post_page_title]
When a child becomes separated from their parents whilst on Disney property, they will never be referred to as a lost boy or girl. They are referred to as lost adults. Therefore - technically speaking - a child is never lost. It's a strange thing to do given that a lot of children inevitably wander off from their parents in the park!
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[post_page_title]You Cannot Have Tattoos[/post_page_title]
As I previously mentioned, Disney has some pretty strict rules on appearance. In keeping with this, you are not allowed to have tattoos (unless they can be discreetly covered), body piercings (other than one in each year), earlobe expansions or any disfiguring skin implants.
[post_page_title]You Actually Get Some Pretty Great Perks[/post_page_title]
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