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“I Worked In Disney Parks For 8 Years”: Former Magic Kingdom Employee Shares 29 Facts About It
Disneyland is commonly referred to as one of the most magical places on earth by pretty much everyone who visits it. The park is full of amazing attractions, rides, Disney characters, and different types of entertainment that young and old people can enjoy equally.
Even though it might seem exceptionally perfect, every place holds secrets. What’s interesting is that a former employee who worked at four of the Disney parks decided to reveal as much as possible about what actually goes on behind the scenes.
More info: Reddit
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#1
The Darkest Timeline 11 months ago
Kind of like how now it is frequently just as fast to go through regular security as it is through pre-check?
superfluous 11 months ago
No, it sounds like lines would be short for EVERYONE if they didn't collect more money to make some people's waits short. It probably will eventually devolve to being equal, but not before a lot of money is made.
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#2
Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
Pretty sure the guest got a bill afterwards. Possibly in the form of a "entertainment fee". Of all the places in the world, I imagine a Disney theme park would not have anything free.
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Nice Beast Ludo 11 months ago
The cast members form a circle so no one else witnesses someone die at Disney World, not to protect the one dying.
Ellinor 11 months ago
I mean if I had kids, I wouldn't like them to see someone die but that's just me.
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Richienotsorich 11 months ago
I thought that Disney didn't pronounce anyone dead on their property.
Dawn Marie 11 months ago
Are you not allowed to preform CPR? Are there not many defibrillator located through out the park? I understand you said the medic's were there within a few minutes, but could you not have done these things? CPR immediately could have saved this man. I am so disappointed in the priorities set by Disney World.
Blue Bunny of Happiness 11 months ago
CPR is not as effective as people often think. The survival rate is something like 12% out of hospital and 20-30% if in hospital.
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The most interesting thing about Disney World is how many visitors it seems to get. It’s estimated that nearly 48.77 million folks visit the parks every year, making it one of the most popular global tourist destinations. People tend to travel to it from all across the world, but a majority of its visitors are folks from the United States.
There are so many reasons why people are hooked on visiting the parks. One of the biggest selling points for it is nostalgia, and that’s why people who grew up watching Disney movies connect with the parks in a big way. There are also so many sights to see that a person can spend an entire day taking them all in.
#4
#5
Bi.Felicia 11 months ago
I guess The Haunted Mansion literally does scare the shít out of you.
Robert Larson, LPN, JD 11 months ago
No, it was on the lawn of the train station in Frontier Land when there was grass there in the 90s. Whole group was kicked out of the park.
Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
I don't know about s**t but the Pirates of the Caribbean ride always smelled like p**s, so...
#6
ILoveMySon 11 months ago
Unfortunately, people can be disgusting and this isn't confined to Disney.
BrownEyedPanda 10 months ago
Bring plenty of disinfecting wipes, antibacterial wipes, and gloves. Don't be surprised to discover that you have an entourage following you.
All of the Disney parks combined have more than 77k cast members working in them. Their role is to create the best and most fun experience possible for all visitors. From operating the rides to managing food stalls or playing roles as certain characters, these workers do just about everything.
A wonderful thing about Disney parks is that they want to create a more inclusive work environment for their staff by giving them more flexibility in the way they present themselves. This includes things like their costume, hair, nails, and other personalizations that they want. This would help cast members to show up as their most authentic selves every day.
#7
superfluous 11 months ago
I'm going to guess employee attitudes changed because of wages not keeping up with inflation. Up until 2019 Florida minimum wage was $8.46.
Nice Beast Ludo 11 months ago
We went to Disneyland once and the employees there are way ruder than at Disney World. I actually can't recall any bad experiences with Disney World employees but had like 5 bad/rude encounters in the 2 days I was at Disneyland/California Adventure. It was really fun the first day though. We stayed at Disneyland all day long. It was great. If you want the nostalgic Disney experience, go there
#8
Gen X Feral 11 months ago
There's a ghost of an employee that was killed in Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Also the Matterhorn ride in Disneyland has had several deaths and is rumored to be haunted.
#9
Although most Disney employees seem to love their work and their interactions with guests, there are a few things about their jobs that still need to be improved. According to a large survey of workers, their hourly pay is often less than $15. It also seems like around 13% of employees are paid even less than that and get $11 an hour.
Some workers have issues with not just the pay scale but also the work schedule. More than half of the employees with young children struggle to care for their families because of the erratic schedules they have to endure. These circumstances make it tough for Disney workers to maintain a proper balance between their work and their lives.
#10
The Darkest Timeline 11 months ago
Sounds like they prey on and exploit young people wanting to “be in show biz”.
Stannous Flouride 11 months ago
Like pretty much all of the entertainment industry.
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Jrog 11 months ago (edited)
I read that a wedding at Disneyworld cost $7k-40k for the venue alone, with most of them being priced at $20k; plus, there is a wedding minimum expense that can go from a minimum of $15k to over $100k for high-demand locations and peak times. Disney list the average wedding cost at $40k. Magic Kingdom cost $40k in venue alone, with an event minimum of $100k. Catering cost is not included in the venue, but is accounted in the minimum expenditure, and goes from $140 for a brunch buffet to $240 for a plated dinner, per person. All of these do not include applicable tax, service charges, gratuity or additional fees.
#12
One of the reasons why people flock to Disney World is because of how the place and the people make them feel. The rides, cast members, shops, and food items are all centered around storytelling, and that’s exactly what connects to people’s emotions. People who visit the parks often get immersed in the fairytale-ness of the place as soon as they get there.
It is wonderful to experience that joy with one’s loved ones and family members. This quality of Disney parks is exactly what employees like about it. Since it’s their job to make people feel jolly, those skills become valuable in other areas of life as well. That’s why many top companies look to hire former Disney cast members, especially because of their expertise in customer satisfaction.
#14
ohjojo (you/your's) 11 months ago
I find that so sad and a really good reason why I'm not going back, beside the ridiculous prices. everything seems a little dingier, a little old and much more made of plastic than of magic.
#15
If you’re an avid Disney lover and someone who regularly makes a trip to the parks, some of these secrets may shock you. Although it may not be the picture-perfect place everyone makes it out to be, it still creates a magical experience for every single visitor. That feeling of joy and wonder is a dire need in today’s world! Don’t you think?
#16
Nice Beast Ludo 11 months ago
I think it's different when you work there and when you vacation there. Disney really isn't THAT great when you grow up though. It's pretty stressful.
#18
Nice Beast Ludo 11 months ago
That's what Target does. Especially with employee theft. They fired so many people when I worked there but they waited until they stole over $5000 of merchandise. Same with shoppers. If you steal regularly, they are tracking you and waiting until they can lock you up with a felony. In 2004 their cameras were so good they could zoom about a football field away and read the burger king employee name tags in the drive thru window. That always freaked me out.
Joshua David 11 months ago
Target secuity is SO good, they assist the FBI with certain missing children cases.
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#20
marianne eliza 11 months ago
This. Been to Disneyland about 30 times since 1967, and WDW once, back in 1982. Disneyland has/had much more of the feeling of magic and wonder. Sadly they did get too commercial. All the "Lands" used to have their own proprietary merchandise and only the souvenir stands near the entrance had a mixture of things. All the little lights in the trees worked. Every guest was treated the same and had the same rights and privileges.
#24
marianne eliza 11 months ago
At Disneyland you can leave the park on foot for late lunch across the street, a nap in your nearby hotel (not Disney) then back to the park for the night fun, parades, shows. At WDW? No way can you just walk off the grounds to an independent restaurant or hotel.
#28
Catmom 11 months ago
I grew up in Miami and we went to WDW all the time. This was before Epcot! One Thanksgiving, my family practically had the park to ourselves. We walked through a gift shop and ended up getting on the brand-new Pirates of the Caribbean from the end of the ride. Magical fun!
#29
Robert Larson, LPN, JD 11 months ago
Worst night to work in the Magic Kingdom. So, so many people. I hated it.
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What do you think ?
Peter Bear 11 months ago
What do you expect? The crowds are worse, the work is harder than ever, people are far more rude to the cast members than they used to be, and the pay is still absolute shite. Of course the standards have 'slipped'; even young people are realizing it's just not worth it to give that standard of service for people who don't appreciate it and will abuse you constantly, while also getting paid barely above minimum wage (which is nowhere near cost-of-living in Florida). CMs have to band together 6-8 at a time just to afford living space, which obviously adds stress, and makes the standard slip even more.
Nice Beast Ludo 11 months ago
I can't imagine going to Disney having to pretty much use an app the whole time. Sounds like the worst nightmare ever
Tim Douglass 10 months ago
My college band played at the bandstand in Disneyland back in the 1980s. It was fun getting to the bandstand through all the weird backstage passages and tunnels, then we only had about 5 minutes to move everything the last 30 yards or so and set up all the chairs, stands, and percussion. Same for teardown. What was really odd was that one of the pieces in our program was selections from "The Damnation of Faust" by Hector Berlioz. We had to have special programs printed for our Disneyland concert because we couldn't use the word "Damnation".
Gavin Johnson 11 months ago
I just don’t get it. We live in a world of truly awe inspiring architecture, nature, people, and places to enjoy but folk will go to the same fake environment multiple times, rub shoulders literally with thousands of other people in order to feed the mouse. Baffling.
Richienotsorich 11 months ago
Disney parks are on another level to anything else. Have been to Florida 5 times, LA twice and going again soon and only once to Paris which needs to change.
Lady Eowyn 11 months ago
I haven't been to Disney World since 1989, and after everything I've read, I don't think I want to go again. I did have a good time all the times I was there.
Peter Bear 11 months ago
What do you expect? The crowds are worse, the work is harder than ever, people are far more rude to the cast members than they used to be, and the pay is still absolute shite. Of course the standards have 'slipped'; even young people are realizing it's just not worth it to give that standard of service for people who don't appreciate it and will abuse you constantly, while also getting paid barely above minimum wage (which is nowhere near cost-of-living in Florida). CMs have to band together 6-8 at a time just to afford living space, which obviously adds stress, and makes the standard slip even more.
Nice Beast Ludo 11 months ago
I can't imagine going to Disney having to pretty much use an app the whole time. Sounds like the worst nightmare ever
Tim Douglass 10 months ago
My college band played at the bandstand in Disneyland back in the 1980s. It was fun getting to the bandstand through all the weird backstage passages and tunnels, then we only had about 5 minutes to move everything the last 30 yards or so and set up all the chairs, stands, and percussion. Same for teardown. What was really odd was that one of the pieces in our program was selections from "The Damnation of Faust" by Hector Berlioz. We had to have special programs printed for our Disneyland concert because we couldn't use the word "Damnation".
Gavin Johnson 11 months ago
I just don’t get it. We live in a world of truly awe inspiring architecture, nature, people, and places to enjoy but folk will go to the same fake environment multiple times, rub shoulders literally with thousands of other people in order to feed the mouse. Baffling.
Richienotsorich 11 months ago
Disney parks are on another level to anything else. Have been to Florida 5 times, LA twice and going again soon and only once to Paris which needs to change.
Lady Eowyn 11 months ago
I haven't been to Disney World since 1989, and after everything I've read, I don't think I want to go again. I did have a good time all the times I was there.
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