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Walt Disney World Casting Interview Ins and Outs

Walt Disney World: Tips,tips,tips

From Tyler Bell
Posted May 30, 2012 at 7:50 AM
I FINALLY after years, have a interview at Disney, and its on My birthday this Thursday. Can you guys please tell me everything to expect from the time I arrive until I leave from the interview. Let me know a SURE way to land a job at Walt Disney World Resort. Also let me know what they ask during the interview, I want to do everything right to get hired.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Jeff Elliott
Posted May 30, 2012 at 9:12 AM
Smile, Smile, SMILE, SMILE, SMILE, and SSMMIILLEE!!!!

The rest is window dressing.....unless you are trying to go for a "talent" position....


It wouldn't hurt to read the following threads as well:

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201002/1682/

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201004/1876/

From Tyler Bell
Posted May 30, 2012 at 12:05 PM
Thanks

From Brian Emery
Posted May 30, 2012 at 1:01 PM
I would go into the meeting dressed in Shorts and an t-shirt, no shoes or socks.. Sit down put my feet up on the desk and say “Let’s talk Salary first”…. They will know you mean business and you will get the job…. Also Mention you know me… And Tip the person a $20

Be yourself, no BS, Do not try to sell yourself… Do not babble on if you do not know the answer to a question… Be honest… Dress up like you are serious…

From Scott Verble
Posted May 30, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Dont be affraid to dress up, everyone I know who wore a suit to their interview ended up getting a job. Obviously that's not the only factor, but looking nice definitely helps! Be yourself and have a little fun with it. Good luck!

From Richard Faraci
Posted June 1, 2012 at 8:46 AM
Just be happy and show enthusiasm, it worked for me, and I was dressed in the loosest definition of business-casual you can imagine.

Granted I also had prior theme park experience and food service experience so I was well qualified.

From Ashleigh Noad
Posted June 2, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Hi there, I'm just about to start my summer working as an international cast member, so my experience comes from international interviews - no idea if they will be similar, but I guess they will be looking for the same kind of things!

I had a paired interview so if that's the same for you, don't be intimidated by other responses. In addition, as others have said, just SMILE, alot. Appear to be enthused about the company in general.

I was interviewed by someone from the Entertainment section of Disney, so in my interview I talked about NextGen (the article had been posted on TPI the day before - Thankyou TPI!!) and how I found it all fascinating and wanted to see parks develop etc. I talked about how I regularly visit these kind of websites for updates and park tips etc, and want to share that knowledge with others. The fact that I knew about NextGen and other Disney updates (keep up to date with the official Disney parks blog) made the interviewer go crazy. She was pretty emotionless beforehand, then suddenly she got all wide-eyed and excited - I knew more about NextGen than she did! I genuinely think that sealed the deal for me.

Just enjoy the interview process - it will show if you are. Good luck!

From N B
Posted June 2, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Brian, that made me laugh.... you forgot to mention lighting up a cigar and pulling a flask out of your back pocket during an interview cant hurt.

From Anthony Murphy
Posted June 3, 2012 at 12:04 PM
SMILE! SMILE! SMILE!

Robert Niles wrote a great article about his experience with it! I think its in (PLUG) Tales of a Theme Park insider!

From Andy Milito
Posted June 3, 2012 at 2:51 PM
What kind of job are you applying for?

From Brian Emery
Posted June 4, 2012 at 9:08 AM
We need an update – How did you do?

Even if you did not get the job, Let us know…Then we will all Boycott Disney (well maybe not).

From TH Creative
Posted June 5, 2012 at 3:48 AM
If you have any safety training (certified CPR, etc.) that's alaways a plus.

Also emphasize that you are in it for the long haul: "What's really exciting about the prospect of working with the company is the variety of lonmg term career opportunities that I know I will discover. I mean, Walt Disney World is like a city. There must be countless careers that I had no idea existed."

From J. Dana
Posted June 5, 2012 at 12:05 PM
It all depends on the job...(I can't tell you the specifics, but I have intimate knowledge of the Disney hiring process, hint hint)...in the theme parks divisions, a knowledge of the parks is essential, sure, but you have to know about the job functions and skills too. For example, if you're being hired into finance, don't trot out all your Small World "behind-the-scenes" info. If you're interviewing for a technology/online job, same thing.

HOWEVER, if you will be having interaction with guests, you better make darn sure you present yourself as a likable, lovable person who will make lots and lots of fans, and make people happy and spend money. If they're calling you in for the interview, then your resume already was approved by the computer (yep, computer -- it's all about the key words that the computer can pick out on your resume), so don't give them a hard-sell on your qualifications. They already think you're qualified. They just want to know if the hiring manager will like you (the person you'll be working with day-in and day-out).

Many people think that "a love of Disney" is all it takes to get a good job there. That's wrong. Disney is a hard place to get a "career"-type job. If all you want to do is sell hotdogs, then it's not as much of a concern. But if you want to make Disney your home for the next 30 years, then you'd better hone your skills, get your degree (they prefer MBAs for moving up their ladder), and start networking with people. It may look all sunshine, happiness and roses on the outside, but when it comes to "running the mouse," they're very hard to break into -- and just as hard to please. Best of luck, my friend. Be prepared, be early, dress up, and be pleasant and likable.

From Ray Schroeder
Posted June 6, 2012 at 10:30 AM
If you get in, be prepared to work, work, work.
Slackers need not apply. My niece was a CP working in food service. Hated every minute. She was termed after 3 months for spraining her ankle. She couldn't stand on it for 8 hours and the boot she had to wear was not part of the uniform. Disney is tough on its cast members. That's why the operation runs so well, and guests keep coming back.

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