2 SCARY Things Nobody Told Me About Working at Disney World

Working at Disney World is a dream for many people, but that doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and rainbows.

Fantasyland

Just like working anywhere, there are upsides and downsides to the job. While you get to be surrounded by Disney magic day in and day out, you also have to deal with some less-than-kind guests and work in the heat for months at a time. I asked some of our former Cast Member team members what some of the dangers were in working at the Most Magical Place on Earth, and I was pretty surprised!

You May Have to Call 911

Just like any other theme park, accidents and emergencies can and will happen every day. This may be someone falling and skinning their knee, so they go to first aid for some bandages, to someone having heat stroke symptoms due to dehydration, to having a heart attack in the middle of the park.

Magic Kingdom

It’s serious, but it’s true. We always tell our readers to grab a Cast Member if any emergency is taking place, because they know what to do. If the emergency constitutes it though, the Cast Member may call 911 to get the person in trouble medical assistance.

Typhoon Lagoon’s H2O Glow After Hours event

This means that as a Cast Member, you must be trained to assess the situation as calmly as possible and be able to tell emergency services where you are in the park and what’s going on. This can be nerve-wracking, but it is part of the job, so it’s best to be prepared!

Cast Member Discounts Are DANGEROUS

On a lighter note, but just as dangerous in a different way, you get discounts on nearly everything as a Cast Member — merchandise, food, hotel stays, you name it! And knowing how much you’re saving means you spend A LOT more than you normally would on these things.

©Disney

The discount is great, according to our former Cast Member friends, don’t get us wrong, but Orlando is already an expensive city to live in, so spending more than what you originally budgeted for on these additional experiences and items may put you in a less-than-ideal situation sooner than you anticipate.

Loungefly bags

We recommend being really strict with yourself on your budget for these things — maybe even buying yourself a Visa or Disney gift card to use for them so you don’t go overboard. Money goes quick in Disney World, and we all know that from personal experience.

Gift Cards

We’re always here to bring you the latest Disney World news, as well as inside scoop from Cast Members to help you decide how to plan your next Disney trip!