Disney World Cast Members can make or break your vacation experience — seriously!
We’ve told you a few stories about some of our team’s experience working at Disney World as a Cast Member and even let you in on a few Cast Member secrets. But there was one burning question we’ve always wanted to ask them and we finally had a prime opportunity!
Finding out you’ve been hired to work as a Cast Member at Disney World can be like hitting the job lottery. To most who choose to work around Disney World’s parks, hotels, transportation, and everything in between, it can be the most incredible and memorable experience of your working career. Now imagine that experience is elevated even further by finding out you’ve landed your dream job in the exact place you were hoping for — sounds like a dream, right?
We recently polled the former Cast Members on our team about which placements were the most coveted in all of Disney World, and these were the top 5 answers they agreed on!
Haunted Mansion
Ah yes, who can resist the pull of an eerie mansion and the call of the Grim Grinning Ghosts who have come out to socialize? Certainly not most of the folks that are hired at Haunted Mansion.
This popular work placement seems to have it all! You’re paid to work with a somber demeanor, while decked out in period-appropriate clothing. And you’re invited to the most swinging wake around. We’re having a really hard time finding any downside to being assigned to work here.
 Jungle Cruise
Do you know what’s probably the most fun job as a Cast Member at Disney? The opportunity to take your visitors around a river cruise lasting multiple weeks. Well, since we can’t exactly do that AND stay in Disney World, working at Jungle Cruise is your next best option.
We could totally see the appeal of showcasing our favorite plants (like that green one over there, and the bigger one in the back), doing back-to-back showings of The Jungle Book (sitting on a box of course), spitting off interesting and fun facts about the animals around the jungle (did you know elephants have great memories?), and who could forget seeing the 8th wonder of the world… the BACKSIDE OF WATER… approximately every 20 minutes or so.
Imagineer
Totally out of the box, but people don’t always equate Imagineers as Cast Members but they are!
We can bet there’s quite the interview process to land a role in one of these positions, but the great news about it is there are so many different avenues to being an Imagineer. In addition to designing and building all of Disney’s theme parks, resorts, rides, and cruise ships, Imagineers also oversee the creative development of Disney’s games, merchandise, and even book publishing.
Rise of the Resistance
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it was like working with the First Order in a galaxy far, far away, Rise of the Resistance could be your closest opportunity!
Not only is this ride technologically complex, but Cast Members who work here can embrace their darker side while capturing prisoners who are Resistance sympathizers (and maybe a few who are there to break them out in a pinch)!
Entertainment
If you’ve ever looked up at a character during a meet and greet, exchanged glances or a brief interaction with a parade performer, or attended the most raucous dinner show in all of Disney World you’ve probably felt the magic these Cast Members work tirelessly to create for their visitors.
Like Imagineering, there are so many different creative avenues built into entertainment — everything from a parade performer to a “streetmosphere” pianist! This makes it a super popular option to audition for and even more special when you find out where and when you’ve been selected to perform.
Check out more of our Disney World Cast member stories below and stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for even more soon!
I Was a Disney World Cast Member, and I’m Letting You In on a Photo SECRET
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Where you would choose to have worked as a Disney World Cast Member? Tell us your prime location in the comments below!
Joe B says
I would have enjoyed to be the Host or the Hijacker on the late, lamented Great Movie Ride which is sadly missed! How about bringing that back. Change one or two “rooms” every couple of years and it would be perfect.
Kelly says
Best front line cast job is Friendship Boat Captain in EPCOT!
Absolutely wonderful and fun!
Cookie says
I’m a current CM working merch at Creations in Epcot and my son is an Imagineer. He definitely has the better job, but mine is not bad. Get to meet lots of friendly, happy (well, some not as happy) people and work with a great group,