Recommended for you
When we pay a visit to Disneyland, we never, ever want to leave. The whimsy, the imagination, the churros — it’s all just too wonderful! And as we saunter down Main Street and skip from ride to ride, we fantasize about being at Disneyland every single day, not just enjoying the experience but of being a part of it. We’ve curated a list of 10 of the coolest cast member gigs at Disneyland that help make the magic come to life.
Disneyland Photographer: These camera-toting cast members have an incredibly important role at the parks: They are responsible for capturing those priceless guest moments and helping create memories that will last forever. That family vacation to the parks might be fleeting, but the photos sure aren't. Plus, they get to peer at smiling faces all day: What beats that? (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Disneyland Artist: For an artist, being able to make a living honing their craft is a dream come true. And at the Disney Parks there are a number of places artists can show off their mad skills: as a portrait artist in New Orleans Square, as a teacher at the Animation Academy in Disney California Adventure, as a cartoon artist at Disneyana or Off the Page, or as a silhouette artist on Main Street. It’s a pretty sweet gig: Silhouette artists like Bonnie Elliott and Steven Thompson have been happily cutting profiles in Disney Parks for decades. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Jungle Cruise Skipper: For those who love a pun, guiding a Jungle Cruise vessel through the legendary attraction is a perfect match. And the role of Jungle Cruise skipper will soon have a Hollywood moment when the feature Jungle Cruise starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt comes out later this year. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
VIP Guide: The VIP Guides at Disneyland have chic outfits and an enviable task. These chipper chaperons lead celebrities and deep-pocketed guests through the parks while educating them on Disneyland history and trivia and often acting as a human FastPass, allowing these lucky visitors to skip the lines. And they often ride the attractions with guests — yes, they get paid to do this! Plus, you never know who you could be leading through the parks; it could be a Disney-loving Kardashian or an Oscar winner. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Disneyland Musician: There’s a wide variety of Disneyland bands that talented musicians can join, from a marching band to New Orleans-style jazz bands to a whimsical group paying tribute to Pixar. Vocalists can sing along with the Five and Dime or even nab the coveted role of a Dapper Dan. From the guitar to the clarinet to the sousaphone, there's a whole plethora of musical needs at the parks. (Photo via Disneyland Resort)
Imagineer: While most Imagineers are creating magic miles away in the main creative campus, there are a few in-house Imagineers like Kim Irvine. Kim has worked at Disneyland since 1970 and is a second-generation Imagineer. (Her parents both worked at Disney, and her mom, Leota Toombs Thomas, is famous for being the face of Madame Leota in the Haunted Mansion.) The job of Imagineering mixes art and science with creativity and innovation. (Photo via Disneyland Resort)
Disneyland Ambassadors: The Disneyland Resort Ambassador Program has been an essential part of Disney’s outreach since Walt Disney started the program back in 1965. During their two-year term, these “Emissaries of Goodwill” visit hospitals with Disney characters, attend special events, and act as spokespeople for the park. This year, Justin Rapp and Rafa Barron scored the sought-after full-time gigs, representing the Disneyland Resort and its 30,000 cast members as the 2019-2020 Disney Ambassadors. (Photo via Disneyland Resort)
Fairy Godmother in Training: For those who adore children and transformative makeovers, being a Fairy Godmother in Training at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland will warm the heart day after day. Little girls flock to the salon for a unique hair and makeup experience paying homage to favorite Disney Princesses like Cinderella and Belle. And seriously, there’s nothing cuter than seeing little ones dressed up as their favorite characters. The smiles at the end of the session are totally worth it. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Holiday Services Decorator: Alecia Keen and Cathy Carson, part of the Holiday Services arm of Disneyland's resort enhancement team, are filled with the Christmas spirit all year long. They create that added magic that appears during the holidays and Halloween in the Parks. And yes, this is a job that's year-round. As soon as the decor is up for the current year, they’re already brainstorming the next. The idea that holiday decorating is an actual job is mind-blowing for those of us who love seasonal decor! (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Pastry Chef: The pastry chefs at Disney Parks are miracle workers. They’re able to do wildly creative spins on cupcakes, cake pops, and the mighty churro to fit pretty much any theme or season. Not only does this sweet job let your imagination soar, but it’s also an incredibly tasty gig at that! (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Which Disneyland job would you want? Tweet us @BritandCo.
Which Disneyland job would you want? Tweet us @BritandCo.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
