LifeGuard
Lifeguarding at Walt Disney World means you get the Disney Experience whilst spending your time around the pool! This is such a good way to stay fit, as you are constantly walking, standing and swimming. You do not need to worry about previous experience, you will receive all of your training on your first week! Although do be aware that if you do not pass the lifeguard test you will be put into another role on the program!
In this role, you are most likely to be put into a WDW resort - such as the Polynesian or the Art of Animation.
This role involves:
- Monitoring guest safety in the water
- Providing first aid ans basic life support in the event of a guest injury/illness
- Strong Swimming Skills
Character Performer
Everyone's childhood dream - being a character performer! Character Performers are "friends with" specific costumed characters (although Disney do not offer "face" characters to participants on the CEP due to the time it takes to train these characters - so this means no princesses or princes!). This is a fun role that requires you to spend your days dressing up in costumes and interacting with guests. There is also an opportunity to perform in parades, shows and at character dining events!
This role isn't placement pacific, instead, it is character pacific, so unfortunately if you are 4'10'' you won't be able to play Goofy! This role can be impossible to get if you do not fit into one of the height ranges they are looking for, but here are some examples to give you an idea:
3’11”-4’6″- Ewok, Huey, Dewey and Louie
4’6”- 4’10” - Donald, Daisy and Stitch
4’8”-5’2” - Mickey, Minnie
5’2″- 5’4″- Pooh, Gus Gus, Chip and Dale
5’6″-5’8″ - Pluto, Rafiki, Flick and Buzz Lightyear
5’7″- 5’9″ - Eeyore
5’10”-6’0″ - Tigger
At 6’0″ - Goofy, Beast, Captain Hook, Genie and Jafar
If you’re keeping track your easiest way to get a character performer role is if you are under 5’4” or over 6’0” but don't be put off if you are in-between those heights! If it is something you have always wanted to do, put it as one of you're top roles! The worst thing they can say is no! Just keep in mind you will need to be able to handle the heat - you will be outside in what is essentially a onesie in the middle of summer for up to 30 minuets!
This role involves:
- Portraying specific costumed character roles
- Working in hot, confining heavy costumes with limited vision
- Communicating non-verbally to guests
- Signing autographs and posing for photographs
- Interacting with guests outdoors and in dining establishments
Merchandise
The CEP is targeted at students and young adults; many of whom have experience working at a supermarket, clothing shop, any other type of shop before they apply! This is essentially what the Merchandise role is at WDW, but with the added Disney magic!You get to create magical moments, work in some fantastic places and wear costumes that are really cute! You could find yourself working in Disney Springs, Mainstreet USA or even Disney's Character Warehouse in the Orlando Premium Outlets!
This role involves:
- Demonstrating and selling merchandise in indoor and outdoor areas
- Cash Handling - using Manual and Digital Registers
- Stocking and Clearing Shelves
- Receiving and putting away stock and deliveries
- Preparing packages for shipping
Quick Service Food and Beverage
QSFB is a face pace, high intensity role where you will meet and interact with many different guests. You will find yourself working at any Fast Food location on WDW property. If you have a love of food and customer service, then this is the role for you!
This role involves:
- Selling food and beverages at outdoor carts and/or in restaurants
- Taking orders
- Multi-tasking
- Preparing food in a kitchen (using a fryer, grill and other industrial equipment)
- Cash Handling
- Heavy Lifting and pushing heavy carts
- Working with cleaning chemicals
Full Service Food and Beverage / Seater
I have seen this role listed under both names on different websites and blogs, but I know it as the Seater role. This is a hosting role at any of the full service restaurants on the WDW property. You will seat people, handle cash, role napkins and set tables as well as other things. It is a high paces, fun work environment to be in! You could be working at any of the dine in restaurants - so Cinderella's Royal Table or Be our Guest!
This role involves:
- Greeting and seating guests in restaurants
- Managing a seating chart
- Cash Handling - using Manual and Digital Registers
- Rolling silverware, folding napkins and keeping area stocked
Costume
A backstage role which plays a crucial part in the cast member experience. You will be dressing the characters and making sure that everyone looks their best! Mickey Mouse alone has 290 different costumes! In this role you will be taking costumes from location to location, and will operate laundry equipment; you will also be given the opportunity to make sure all the costumes are up to standards and will get to work on your sewing skills!
This role involves:
- Issuing costumes to fellow Cast members
- Operating computerized costume checkout system
- Working around performers in various stages of dress
- Operating various laundry equipment
- Repetitive overhead reaching, bending and heavy lifting
- Moving heavy costumes from location to location
- Working independently with little to no guest interaction
Custodial
From what I have read about this role, it is one of the most underrated positions on offer. Though there are the downs of cleaning bathrooms, toilets and streets, it is apparently one of the most amazing and fun roles on offer! You get to create water art on the hot streets, enjoy interacting with guests and work with a team of up beat people, and can be placed anywhere within the resort.
This role involves:
- High Guest Interaction while working independently
- Extensive cleaning
- Working with cleaning chemicals and equipment
- Sweeping and Mopping
- Emptying bins
- Vacuuming, dusting, cleaning pool decks
Recreation
There is much more to do in WDW than visiting the four parks. Also on offer are resort activities, water parks and water activities. With so much to do, this role gives you the opportunity to experience something different.
This role involves:
- Assisting guests in areas such as water slide operations, towel rental, watercraft rental, arcades ect
- Prolonged exposure to outside weather elements
- Strong Swimming Skills
- Cash Handling - using Manual and Digital Registers
- Maintaining Safety Standards
Attractions / Operations
When people think about WDW, they think of the wonderfully nostalgic and exhilarating rides. The ability to put on a costume and guide people through the experience that is not only riding the attraction but from the moment they enter the line. Sometimes waiting in line is almost as good as experiencing the attraction itself! You could find yourself working on any of the fantastic attractions in the resort, from the Haunted Mansion to Expedition Everest. You will be able to work right in the middle of the magic, watching guests go through the amazing attractions that Disney has to offer! Unless you are placed on "It's a Small World" ... if this happens to you I am so sorry...
This role involves:
- Working at one of WDW rides or shows
- Loading and Unloading guests from an attraction
- Memorizing and delivering narrations to guests
- Working with the FastPass system
- Greeting all guests who enter the park
- Strong Knowledge of WDW ticket media
- Monitoring guest flow and providing a safe guest experience
- Retrieving and arranging strollers
- Assisting with audience control - including during Parades and Fireworks
There are so many great roles on offer, you will have a fabulous time no matter where Disney Casting put you! The role Disney will give you will largely depend on what you are willing to do, but your chances of being accepted are much higher if you are willing to do anything to work for Disney.
The most common role on the Cultural Exchange Program is Quick Service Food and Beverage, which is given to 41% of applicants. Attraction follows with 23% of applicants being given this role. Merchandise follows closely at 22%. Th remaining 14% are put into roles such as costume, character performing, seating ect.
It is best not to get your heart set on something like character performing when you are more likely to b put into a different area in the business, but it definitely doesn't hurt to let the interviewer know your preferences.
I hope this has given you more information on the roles that are on offer! And do remember that there is no such thing as a bad role, so embrace what you are given and go out and enjoy spending your summer in the happiest place on earth!
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