My first experience in Disneyland Paris was with my family when I was 11 years old. My parents had spent months saving up for the trip and when we finally got there, it really was a dream come true. Little did I know that 10 years later I myself would be working in Walt Disney Studios for 2½ months as a full-time seasonal sales assistant!
Application, interview and Talent Pool
It all started when I was looking online for a summer job abroad that would allow me to practise my French or Spanish. By chance, I came across the Disney job site (http://disneylandparis-casting.com/) and, with little thought, uploaded my CV and cover letter. A few months later, having almost forgotten about it, an email from Disney Casting popped up in my inbox inviting me to an interview down in Dublin.* The interview was 10-15 minutes long and whilst most of it was conducted in English, I also had to speak some French as most roles in Disneyland Paris require at least basic knowledge of the language.** If you mention on your application that you speak a third or fourth language, you normally have to say a few words in those, too, but it’s all very casual. They also asked what my preferred role was, since you can work in anything from catering, sales and hospitality to parking and attractions!** Not to put any beginners or refreshers off from applying, but you should note that, if you get the job, ALL training is done in French and most of your colleagues and quite a few guests will speak to you in French, too. So, it’s worth brushing up on your language skills both before the interview and before you start the job!
Typical questions during the interview include the standard ‘Why are you interested in working at Disneyland?’, ‘Other than the role you indicated on the application, are you interested in any other roles?’ and ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses?’ followed by a general conversation about any previous trips to Disneyland and, in some cases, you will be asked to present your favourite Disney-related possession (which you’re asked in advance to bring to the interview) and explain why you chose it.
One to two weeks later, you should receive an email stating whether or not you’ve been accepted into the ‘Talent Pool’. Should you be successful at this stage, you will be contacted over the next month or two when a suitable job opportunity arises. You just reply to the email confirming your availability for the dates suggested and your work contract and information pack will then be sent out to you in the post. Voilà, you are now on your way to becoming a Disneyland Paris Cast Member! If you can’t work the dates proposed to you, don’t worry, just reject the offer stating your interest in the job and your availability over the coming months- I did this as I had exams when the first job started, and ended up being offered a similar one in the Tower of Terror (Walt Disney Studios) a couple of weeks later! In terms of the length of the application process, I applied in October, was invited to an interview in November, got accepted into the Talent Pool 10 days later, and got offered a job in March for that coming summer. Be patient- it could be worth it!
Working in Disneyland
Once you’ve accepted the job offer, you will be given training dates. This is when you’ll meet other newbies from all over Europe/ the world and learn everything you’ll need to be a great Cast Member. Depending on your position, you will get full training- as a Sales Assistant, I got intense till training- as well as practice runs and the opportunity to meet your ‘Team’ (store colleagues), so you’re not too overwhelmed when you start. That being said, I’ll warn you that nothing can fully prepare you for the intensity of working in one of the busiest attraction parks in the world. You will be in direct contact with ‘guests’ (customers) from all over the world who often don’t speak English or French and who have spent A LOT of money coming to Disneyland, so it is expected that you provide the best customer service possible at all times. If you’re a Sales Assistant like I was, you might spend some time working in the main store and the rest of the time alone on carts (kiosks) which can be very stressful when it gets busy. Never in my life have I seen such large queues of people, especially when it rained and people rushed to buy overpriced rain ponchos, often pushing each other out of the way! You’ll also inevitably get a few very rude customers, just as you would in any job, but these people often think they can treat you like dirt just because they spent a bomb on coming to Disneyland. Working here is NOT easy, but it is rewarding. My advice is to be patient, try to remain calm and pleasant, and if anyone gets out of hand, call your supervisor.
Many people might be surprised to hear that working in Disneyland is one of the most challenging jobs you could ever have, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. Personally, I applied for the job thinking it’d be all fun and games- it is Disneyland after all!- and that maybe I’d have the added advantagee of practising a bit of my français. Little did I know that I’d be run off my feet 5-6 days a week, alternating between three languages every day, and that I’d get the chance to make friends from all over the world! The icing on the cake was seeing the smiles on many of the children’s- and some adults’- faces as you helped contribute to their magical stay at Disneyland- and that’s coming from a girl with a distaste for kids in general!
Other perks include discounts on Disney merchandise and hotels, reimbursement of up to 80% of your travel costs (including flights and daily commuting), the possibility of taking 3 friends or family members into Disney twice during your contract (for contracts of more than 6 months, this number increases), and of course, the ultimate perk of being able to spend time in the parks yourself on your time off- the ultimate combination of work and play!
Salary, working hours and accommodation
Like all full-time jobs in France, you are required to work 35 hours a week, which normally works out at 5 days a week with 2 days off to relax- this could be any 2 days so don’t expect to always get weekends off. Depending on your role at the resort and on the business of the period, you could sometimes be working 6 days a week (in which case, you’re paid overtime). Cast Members are paid at the end of each month and even after tax, the French salary is fairly generous…even when living in Paris! The monthly salary is around 1,460 euros (not including 20-22% tax deduction) and will be paid into your home bank account provided you have a copy of your IBAN. In terms of accommodation, you can choose between finding your own or letting Disneyland organise it for you. In the case of the latter, some temporary employees will be set up in a residence near the resort, but most- like myself- end up sharing hotel rooms with one other Cast Member. Whilst living in a hotel sounds amazing, it’s definitely not ideal even for just a few months, but the advantage is that it’s a very cheap option in a very expensive city- I paid 309 euros/month- and you can have it deducted from your wage, so you never feel like you’re really parting with the money.
NB: for contracts longer than 3 months, you’ll be paid by cheque unless you open a French bank account.
All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend applying for a job in Disneyland Paris to anyone with an interest in working in a multilingual, multicultural, exciting environment with great perks. Just remember to be realistic as it’s not as easy as it might seem! If you bear this in mind, you’ll be able to make the most of a great experience that will make you stand out from the crowd. Bon courage! Good luck!
*Interviews take place in most major cities in the UK, Ireland and all around Europe.
**Those wanting to work as Disney characters are normally required to have acting or performance experience- sorry to disappoint!
