"It's Really, Really Cutthroat": 21 Secrets And Stories From A Former Disney World Cast Member

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15-02-2025

Recently, on Reddit, a former Disney parks employee started a thread on r/AMA where they invited others to ask them anything about their experience.
Here are some of the most interesting questions and answers from the thread:
1. Q: What was your role?
3. Q: What would you recommend as far as attractions go?
A: The all time most fun attraction is Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. You'll be grinning the whole time. Honorable mentions: Navi River Journey, Tower of Terror, and Rise of the Resistance.
4. Q: What's your best memory from working there?
A: I have so, so, so many. I helped with so many proposals, surprise family reunions, baby annoucement, you name it! Off the top of my head, one of my favorites is helping with this proposal in Epcot. This guest came up to me and asked me to help arrange his proposal and basically gave me an hour! I scurried to get a photographer there and get a romantic spot in Epcot cleared as fast as I could. I had a bunch of cute wedding-related merchandise to give them after the proposal! She cried, he cried, I cried, it was so fun.
5. Q: What's the most messed up thing you witnessed in the park?
A: One day, I had a shift as a leader (manager) at Hollywood Studios. I saw a man fall down on Sunset Boulevard, and he stayed down. I called 911 (I probably called 911 once a week or so working there), and we had medics there within a few minutes. The guy died of a heart attack right there in front of me. Other cast members and security had formed a circle around him by then to protect him, but he was there for a while before he was taken away. That was probably 5ish years ago, and I still think about it all the time. He was on vacation with his family and was from out of state.
6. Q: If you had your pick one long weekend of the year to go to Disney, when would it be keeping time of year/weather/crowds/etc. into consideration? Also, what is the best place to stay?
A: Definitely MLK weekend or President's Day. The weather is perfect, and the crowds aren't as bad (disclaimer: there's never really a time anymore when there are no crowds).
If you have money, definitely stay on the property. Really, any hotel you'd pick on the property would be fun. If you're on a budget, probably somewhere around the iDrive area would be more affordable while still in a really good spot!
7. Q: If you had your way, what's one thing you would change to make the park more efficient?
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A: That's a good one. I'd completely get rid of the Lightning Lane (formerly Fast Pass) system. That is the ONLY reason lines are ever longer than 30/40 minutes. If the standby line is just constantly moving without the other line interrupting it, there would be no need for fast passes.
Every ride is built nowadays to really focus on efficiency. The Lighting Lane always takes priority. If anyone is coming through that lane, which nowadays it's hundreds (HUNDREDS!!) of people an hour, the standby line stops moving entirely. If a ride vehicle is dispatched every 90 seconds, and let's say there are 16 seats on the ride vehicle, the whole line is moving 16 people every minute and a half.
With Lightning Lane, 100 people could cut in front of you and the vehicle has been dispatched six times, and you haven't moved at all! It's called standby because it's exactly that- you're on standby to ride until the lightning lane queue is cleared!
8. Q: Did you ever have a crush on any other cast members?
A: AbsoLUTELY. My whole time I was there my entire dating pool was other cast members! Now, when I go to the parks and see CMs interact at a store or restaurant or something, I always want to know the gossip about who they're dating or what the drama is with that group!
The world of Disney Entertainment is insane. They're all beautiful people who have crazy social hierarchies and date around like crazy. The ratio of women to straight men is CRAZY, though, probably 20 women for every one straight man. Spoiler: there's a good chance Prince Eric and Peter Pan are dating!
9. Q: Can you elaborate on the social hierarchies?
A: Sure! It's honestly what you'd expect. Entertainment cast members (the ones who play characters) definitely have a bit of a "holier than thou" complex. Obviously, some are great, but a lot forget that they're just playing a dog in a theme park, you know? Everyone else, attractions, merchandise, food and bev, custodians, all interact very well with each other. The social hierarchies mainly exist within entertainment, and I honestly don't know a ton about it, but it's really, really cutthroat.
10. Q: How does Disney manage to keep the parks so pest-free?
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A: There are definitely, definitely pests of all kinds! I've seen so many wasps of bees nests, rats, snakes, and especially mosquitos down in Florida. Cast members are trained to divert attention away or keep the area clear until the right team can get there. In 2023, a black bear got into Magic Kingdom and totally shut down the west side of the park for (I think) the whole day!
11. Q: What was the best part of working there? What was the worst?
A: The best part, for sure, was how easily you were able to make someone's whole vacation. Getting them a fast pass for their favorite ride, surprising them with their favorite plushie, or surprising them with free dinner all were so easy to do.
The worst was the pay. I would 100% still be there if I was paid something I could live off of.
13. Q: I've heard Disney is haunted in some parts of the park. Any stories about that type of stuff?
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A: Lots and lots of stories that I heard, none that I believe. Many people believe there's a ghost in Spaceship Earth. The cast members say good night to him every night, and when they don't, the ride will have a bad day the next day. Not sure if they're still doing that, but it was a big superstition!
15. Q: What is something you think people would dislike about the parks if they knew about it?
A: Probably how every single type of bodily fluid has absolutely touched every surface you could ever sit on. If you're at a spot that might mean something to someone, there's also a good chance someone has tried to scatter ashes there!
16. Q: Strangest place someone took a shit in?
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18. Q: How is the employee discount? What were the best perks?
A: The best perks for sure are the park entrance passes! Discounts weren't bad; I think it was 20% off merch, and then when you got to three years, it was 35%, and random discounts on full-service restaurants. Every October-February, there are holiday discounts (40% off merch and a lot of dining).
19. Q: What do you think of weddings at Disney World? Worth it or way too expensive for what it is?
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A: WAY. TOO. EXPENSIVE. I was at the Grand Floridian once as a guest with my family just to walk around and monorail hop, and there was a bridal party in the lobby taking pictures. The crowds were insane cause it was around Christmas, and the bride looked so stressed. It was impossible to get good pictures because of how many people were there! Also, I think taking a picture on your wedding day with Mickey and Minnie is… something else, lol.
20. Q: How much fun is New Year's from a cast member's perspective?
A: Once, I worked a New Year's crowd control shift at Epcot. It was by FAR one of the most insane nights of my life. Absolute GRIDLOCK, no one could move or walk from probably 9:30 p.m. to midnight. After everyone's shift ended, though, we did throw a super little party backstage, and I remember that being very fun!
21. Q: Have you been to Disneyland? If so, how do you think they compare? What is better or worse at each?
A: Disneyland is better by miles. You can tell the quality and love put into everything is so, so much better over there. They only have two parks, and I think two hotels? And they're over a much smaller area. Disney World is basically a city with four parks: two water parks, 30ish hotels, two mini golf courses, and Disney springs. The money is spread thin over here! Disneyland gets so much more attention from the company. Their special events and food are so much better, too!