Working for Disney, what do you think?

[Beuford]

I have been doing research about working for Disney Imagineering. See at this point in my life I am at a stand still with my current career and am looking to start something new that will take me for a long time. I have tried different things from a chef to a golf pro and though they are good I was thinking something totaly different.

My love for disney is like many of yours, but I am interested in working for a co. that is strong, constantly inovating, and what would seem a very enjoyable career. Now I wont get into details, but I have a business degree and business experience and I have a home in FL so I know the climate. I guess I just want to know If you had the chance to do it and the desire would you want to work for this co. we all love and talk about. I know there will be 1000 opinions, but I guese thats what I need. Let me know what you think. Would it be a good idea to persue or should I leave it as a place I vacation to and not ruin it by making a career?

 

[WDW77]

Did you ever try and go work for the mouse?

 

[MattyFresh]

I would do it in a heartbeat....but I guess I am a little biased, since I am still kicking myself for not taking the Disney Intership and letting my mother talk me out of it.:brick: I want to do something with Disney so bad, but my fiance has no desire of leaving NC.....so unless I can find something that will let me work from here, or buy a plane to fly in Fla and back, I don't see this materializing for me at all.

 

[CThaddeus]

I would love to do it - and my company just went out of business so I potentially could - but from what I've heard Imagineering only hires people for single jobs for the most part. I know there are some permanent people there - Tony Baxter, Joe Rhode, etc. - but they're the exception rather than the rule. I could be wrong about this, but I rarely see a job opening at Imagineering in Glendale (at least on the sites I check on the internet). So, if you do try for it, good luck. However, I wouldn't quit your other job until you hook the one from Disney! And if you do get a job with them, remember, I'm always ready to work for Disney again...

 

[DisneySaint]

I've been here for well over a year now and can tell you I learned I'm a lot farther from getting even close to WDI than I ever thought I would be.
It's VERY cliquey and extraordinarily difficult to get in to unless you're going for a Secretary or Administrative Assistant role. Honestly I think I'd become Mayor of Orlando before I got into any creative role in WDI.
Set your goals into realistic, accomplishable goals then set higher goals once you complete goals. A Disney career is one big ladder and there just isn't any way to skip a step.

 

[DrewDAK5150]

You need a degree in engineering before you can even think about working at WDI. Personally, I'd rather drive the Jungle Cruise boats.

 

[mousermerf]

I am in the process of transitioning from theatrical design (scenery, lights, all that stuff) to architecture in my college career (one class away from my BA, decided no to do the BFA in theater, and going for a master in architecture now).

One day i might design something for a theme park. In the meantime, i really just intend to be really good at what i do. Maybe i design some grand buildings and Disney will hire me to design a hotel.

Everyone i know who worked in creative at WDI was found by Disney, not the other way around. So, i'm doing what i love (architecture, not theater) and just hoping there's a place for me someday.

 

[mousermerf]

And I just realized the original question seems to be Disney - as in Disney World - not Imagineering.

If you want to work for Disney, it's not a bad job. Try to avoid starting at the lowest level. What are you interests in business? (I mean, there must be a reason you got the degree) Product development? Marketing? Sales?

Disney World has positions in pretty much everything.

 

[bgraham34]

I would definately love to work there and one day i hope too. At the moment I would not make enough money to support my wife.

 

[Chezman1399]

Most jobs, even jobs backstage, almost require a masters in some engineering field, and about 3-5 years minimum experience. I want to work there, at Disney one day. My plan right now, I just graduated Penn State with an IST degree, work as a Software Engineer at a contractor for NASA, and I also work seasonally at Disney World so I can make some connections. I plan on spending the next 3 years getting experience and my Software Engineering Masters, then hopefully reapplying down there for a job. Don't get me wrong I love my current job, but Disney would be my dream. My next step would be to get my MBA to put myself in position to possibly become President of WDW or even CIO of the Disney company(My dream jobs), however remote of a shot that might be. Once I got on the somewhat coporate side of things it would not really matter to me whether I got those two specific positions though. Lofty goals, but I'd rather set goals I may never achieve and can try hard for then set goals that I know I can get. I'm 24 in a month, and don't plan on applying there full time for another 3-4 years because of school and experience requirements. Also, the positions I'm looking at aren't even in Imagineering.

Finally, the business degree probably wouldn't hold much weight since Imagineers devolop and create things, submit them, and then someone who handles the business side of things either gives them the go ahead or puts a halt on the idea.

However if you are just looking to be in the Park, or management around the park and move up from there. The business degree will go a long way. People skills will go further. I suggest Vacation Planner as a good places to start if you are going to be in the park. It's a good way to get into Guest Relations and move on up from there. In guest relations you are point of contact for a lot of people and you may get to interact with some higher ups in the company. You also have to be knowledgeable and able to solve problems efficiently which makes you a good candidate for management. That is if you don't qualify for something higher up right off the bat.

 

[mousermerf]

I think my favorite job posting for Imagineering was for someone to design themed lighting, for resorts, theme parks, etc.

Think of the lights as you walk down the hallways in AKL for example - those are all custom designed and fabricated.

You needed experience in lighting, electrical, and art glass (fabrication/use).

So, there are jobs that aren't entirely engineering based. Designers, artists, and even architects fall in there too on an as-needed basis.