Since I have become a cast member at
Walt Disney World, I have had the opportunity to view the parks from a new
perspective. When I first expressed interest in working at WDW, so many people
told me that I would not like working in the parks and that I would get sick of
going to Disney World everyday. Now that I have been working for a while, I can
say that being a cast member has not put a damper on my love for the parks, nor
has it spoiled the magic for me. Since I have been a cast member, I can
honestly say that I feel like I am part of creating magic and happiness for
others. This has given me an even stronger appreciation for all of the hard
work that makes Walt Disney World function so well.
When someone
starts as a cast member, he or she attends Traditions, which is a class that
helps to explain the history and mission statement on which the Disney Company
is built. This all-day course was so much fun for me because I love Disney
history, and I also believe in furthering Walt Disney's legacy of quality
family entertainment. We learned some important core values during Traditions.
First, as a cast member, one of our primary goals is to create happiness for
our guests. We are part of the magic that makes Disney Parks so special, and we
are the stewards of Walt Disney's legacy. We have a responsibility to treat
every guest as a very individual person (VIP), and we need to have pride in all
that we do. In addition to these lessons, we also learned about the four keys
basics, which are safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency. These four keys are
the guiding principles by which all Disney Parks operate. Safety is the first and most important
key because we want both guests and cast members to be safe so that they can
have fun. You are safer at a Disney Park than anywhere else on earth!
After
completing all of my various orientations, I finally found out that I would be
working at the Great Movie Ride in Hollywood Studios. I was both excited and
nervous because I knew that I would have to learn a 40 page script in a very
short amount of time. Even though I definitely felt concerned, I was so excited
to start my journey as a cast member! I trained for six very long days, and
then I had to go through my assessment, which was very challenging. Luckily
(and with lots of hard work), I passed and earned my ears!
I never
thought that I would be pursuing my dream of becoming a cast member; so many
people told me that it was impossible and would just ruin my love of Disney
World. However, I am proud to say that all of those folks were wrong, and I am
glad that I took a risk and became a cast member. Every morning when I am
walking through Hollywood Studios before the park opens, I am able to watch the
park come to life. It goes from a peaceful place to a hive of activity as all
of the cast members start to arrive and prepare their areas for another day of
creating magic. Then, I spend all day fighting bandits and gangsters who try to
steal the jewel from the great stone god, Anubis. I get to protect guests from
the Wicked Witch and visit the wonderful land of Oz every 22 minutes.
All in all,
working for Disney has enhanced my love of the parks, and I can't wait to see
where this journey takes me. There are so many different opportunities for cast
members, and who knows where I will be working a few years from now? So, if you
make it over to the Great Movie Ride, "my name is Jenn, and I'll be your
guide for a magical journey into the movies!" Until next time, have a
magical day, and keep moving forward!
