Employment at Disney
The Walt Disney Company is one of the most sought-after companies in the world to work for. They hire hundreds of thousands of employees each year to work in positions all over the world. Since the company is so large, there are thousands of positions offered in six continents.
This is great news if you want to work for Disney. Many of the positions they offer are based in California and Florida thanks to the presence of Walt Disney Studios, Disneyland and Disney World in those states. Yet, working for Disney doesn’t mean you’ll end up in one of these locations. Disney not only has offices all over the world, but they also run one of the largest cruise ship companies; this means you’ll likely even work on the open ocean.
Disney Application
Unfortunately, submitting a Disney application is no easy feat. Many applicants have long complained that the process is arduous and clandestine. Most job applicants often wait at least one month to hear back from the first recruiter. One Disney employee even went as far as to contrast the application process to the instant gratification of ordering pizza. Hot and fresh in 30 minutes or less is not what you’ll come to expect when applying at Disney.
Disney is the parent company of many subsidiaries, so you could work for the company in pretty much any role. Here is a list of just some of the Walt Disney Company departments where you can send your Disney application:
Disney Parks and Hotels
- Hotel manager
- Front desk
- Housekeeping
- Food Services
- Ride Technician
- Imagineer
- Cast member
Disney Cruise Ships
- Cruise Director
- Deck Officer
- Engineering Officer
- Merchandise Host
- Entertainer
- Human Resources
- Food Services
- Youth Activities
Corporate Disney
- Marketing
- Legal
- IT
- Management
- Finance
- Communications
Disney Stores
- Management
- Retail sales
Disney Entertainment
- Retail sales
- ESPN
- Pixar
- Marvel
- LucasFilm Ltd
- Disney Studios
- ABC
The process to apply at Disney is extremely long and arduous. Before you even begin submitting a Disney application, you’ll need to consider a few factors. The most important thing to consider is what type of position you’re most interested in. Luckily, many of the same job titles are filled throughout different departments and locations.
For example, if you’re interested in management, you’ll be eligible to work in management positions in retail stores, corporate offices, Disney Entertainment, Disney Parks and Hotels and Disney Cruises. To help you decide on where to narrow your search, you’ll want to consider a few factors:
1. Location
Where do you want to work? Do you want to stay local? Do you want to work in a corporate environment, in a park, in the entertainment sector or in a retail location? Also, you’ll need to consider what geographic location you want to work in. For example, you could work in a Disney retail location nearly anywhere in the world. You might even consider selling merchandise on a Disney cruise ship.
2. How to Find Your Desired Position
One of the easiest ways to find out if Disney is hiring for your position is to research the position online. Disney posts most of its position on its website and hiring portal.
3. How to Select a Type of Employment: Full-Time, Part-Time or Seasonal
Your desired type of employment will depend on the specific job. Disney offers a variety of positions for full-time, part-time and seasonal employment. Most part-time jobs are in retail locations. Some full-time positions are offered in retail locations, too.
Nearly all of the other positions Disney fills are classified as full-time or seasonal positions.
Most of the seasonal positions are offered in Disney World or Disneyland Parks and hotels. Each year, the company hires thousands of seasonal employees to work during peak seasons. Many of these positions are filled by college students.
How to Apply Online
Visit the online Disney application portal at jobs.disneycareers.com. Search for your desired role. Submit your application via the process below.
How to Apply in Person, Phone or Mail
Disney rarely accepts a Disney application by phone or mail. Many retail applicants can still apply in person, but Disney is actively phasing out in-person applications in lieu of online ones.
How to Create a Profile with Disney’s Career Website
- Find out when Disney’s open enrollment program will commence in a given year.
- Attend an information seminar or college campus job fair (if this applies to you).
- Choose your desired position at Disney.
- Find your desired location of employment.
- Apply using the online portal.
Detailed process for how to optimize the career website profile in order to successfully apply:
1. Upload Your Resume
Before doing anything else, you’ll need to upload your resume to Disney’s website.
2. Personal Information
In addition to the personal information on your resume, you’ll need to fill out your information using the provided forms on Disney’s site.
3. Answering General Questions
Disney has a few general questions to weed out potential uninterested and unqualified candidates. Make sure you answer the questions as sincerely as possible. Yet, you’ll also want to ask yourself “What would Disney do?” before answering each one. Answer questions professionally but in a way that stands out.
4. Education
Your education is extremely important to Disney. While most tech companies no longer require continuing education, Disney loves seeing college degrees on resumes. Yet, don’t let your lack of a degree stop you from applying! Disney also loves to see spunk and a can-do attitude.
5. Employment
Your previous employment will matter on a Disney application. Try to think of as many creative points of interest to include on your application as possible. Disney loves seeing applicants with creative backgrounds nearly as much as it loves a formal education.
6. Degrees and Licenses
Always include your appropriate degrees and licenses on your Disney application. The more you can prove your worth to the company, the better your chances of getting an interview.
7. Attachments
Disney often asks for proof of a degree or license by attaching the document to your Disney application. Don’t ignore this step. The more complete your application then the more likely you are to receive a callback from the compay.
8. Diversity Survey
You should absolutely fill out the diversity survey in full if you fill a diversity requirement. Disney takes hiring diverse applicants very seriously. You don’t want to miss out on an opportunity because you did not fill in your ethnicity, race or gender correctly.
9. eSignature
Don’t forget to finish the Disney application with your eSignature. Forgetting to sign your application negates all of the hard work you’ve just completed. Not only does it null and void your application, but it also makes you look sloppy and unprofessional.
Minimum Age for Employment at Disney
Disney requires most employees be at least 18-years old. Yet, there are many exceptions to this policy. Many park cast members, actors and entertainers are underage. Disney will hire someone with no experience since they have so many entry-level positions. If the applicant has no experience whatsoever then he or she should apply for a food service or retail position.
Disney Hours of Operation
Disney’s hours of operations vary greatly. The hours depend on the type of job, location and type of company. For example, Disney parks are open various hours throughout the year. These hours change on a daily, weekly and seasonal basis. The hotels and resorts don’t “close” and have round-the clock maintenance and staff.
Disney corporate offices and entertainment offices don’t have “regular” business hours. Employees generally work from 9 am to 5 pm, but this varies greatly throughout the industry.
Entry Level Disney Careers and Respective Income
Disney offers a variety of entry-level positions in various departments. For retail locations, they offer slightly higher than minimum wage. For parks, hotels and customer service positions, they also offer slightly higher than minimum wage.
Corporate positions generally start at an intern level and aren’t paid positions. Though many Disney employees start out with a very meager salary for internships.
Yet, you can expect solid promotions once you are a part of the Disney family. The company offers amazing benefits packages and time off for employees.
The company is also known for promoting from within, so many employees choose to work with Disney for decades or even for life.
Disney Careers in Management
Managers generally need at least basic management-level experience if applying for a position from outside the company. Disney is willing to train employees it promotes from within for management jobs. Most prospective managers who apply from outside the company need to have worked at a company with similar status, values and goals to be considered.
Benefits of Working at Disney
- Being a part of one of the most beloved companies on earth.
- Standing at the forefront of technology, Imagineering, and engineering.
- Working closely with masters of the entertainment field and some of the most groundbreaking names in Pixar and the Walt Disney Studios.
- Benefits such as a 401k, generous time off and free vacations at Disney parks.
- One of the best management training programs in the world.
- Assistance with tuition and education for further advancement.
- Access to Disney grounds, fitness centers and holistic services.
- Mission statement: “One of the world’s leading producers and providers of entertainment and information, using its portfolio of brands to differentiate its content, services and consumer products.”
- Discounts on products at retail stores.
- Discounts on Disney Cruises and worldwide Disney vacation options.
- Premiere access to Disney Vacation Club.
Basic Tips for Applying at Disney
Before applying for a job at Disney, applicants should be aware of a few key pieces of advice:
- Disney has placed an emphasis on diversity in the past decade and seeks employees that will fit in well with other open-minded individuals.
- The company has a history of encouraging professionalism and hard work.
- Disney is looking to expand its brand and has been looking for opportunities to hire fresh faces with forward ideas in recent years.
- The idea, “Work hard and play hard” is a cornerstone of the Disney brand.
- Do you know someone who already works for Disney? If so, you should reach out to that person immediately. Disney is much more inclined to hire individuals with connections already associated with the Disney brand.
Disney Interview Tips
- Respect is everything at Disney; practice a firm handshake, say please and thank you and be prepared to add the word “Sir” into your vocabulary.
- Remember to follow up after the interview. Send a card or a small gift to your interviewer to help set you apart from other candidates.
- Network, network and network some more. Disney loves candidates who are willing to get to know as many people as possible and who have a can-do attitude.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early for your interview.
- Bring a few extra copies of your resume to your interview; Disney loves candidates who are prepared.
- Never give your interviewer reason to believe you’re unprofessional; Disney regards professional employees highly.
Working at Disney
Applying to work for Disney isn’t an easy feat, but the work is worth the stress. Many employees tend to stay at the company for many years and receive amazing benefits. Don’t stress too much if you haven’t heard back from the company within a few weeks; many applicants don’t hear back for weeks to more than a month.
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