Seasonal Job at Disneyland Paris Helped Me Travel the World

• I was paid about $300 a week, slightly more than the minimum wage in France at the time.
• Some of the people who worked there were into Disney, but I hadn’t heard of most Disney movies.
• The job also came with perks like a free Disneyland Paris Park Pass and food discounts.

This so-called essay is based on a conversation with Geneva, The 26-year-old took a seasonal job at Disneyland Paris to earn extra money to travel the world.The following has been edited for length and clarity.

In 2018, while studying for my degree in French and English Literature, I wanted to get a temporary job. I wanted to earn extra income and use it to travel the world.

I grew up in France but have always been fascinated by different cultures. At the time, I was eager to travel to Hong Kong and Taiwan, so he wanted to do a seasonal job for three months to cover the costs.

I decided to work at Disneyland Paris, the same place my older brother worked at years ago. He held various jobs there, including a receptionist and restaurant server. He gave me a good experience and because of him I knew how the job application process worked.

Since I have a background in the hospitality industry, I first applied for jobs in restaurants and stores through websites. I received an invitation to an in-person group interview where candidates learned about the company and did team building exercises.

Applicants were apparently presented with two types of contracts. One was for people with specific skills, such as cooks or vehicle technicians. Another was more seasonal. Also, if you can speak English, it seems that they will offer you a job where you can interact with customers.

Four months later, I got an offer to work in the hotel restaurant at Disneyland Paris.

I knew from my brother that long wait times were normal, especially since I was applying for a summer job (July-October).

During the first week of training, you will learn about Disney history. The second week was more fun than I expected because you get to meet other recruits at your particular job.

the job had perks

I usually worked the night shift from 4:00 pm to midnight and was paid around $300 a week, slightly above the French minimum wage at the time.

The job also provided perks such as two free Disneyland Paris Park passes per month, discounts on food and products at the parks, and a flexible schedule. Additionally, for those not living in Paris, Disney paid for their travel expenses and provided accommodation that was deducted from their pay.

However, I did not get a tip at the restaurant. Since it was a buffet style, customers paid a flat rate before entering and usually didn’t think about tipping.

The night flew by — and Disney cleaned my uniform

I arrive at 4pm and change into a cowboy style uniform of long jean skirt, jeans and blouse (to match the theme of the restaurant). At the end of every shift, we left our uniforms there and Disney cleaned them for us.

Walk through the restaurant and set it up. Since it was a buffet, the staff did not have to wait for guests. The manager gives each person a position for the day, such as operating the cash register, bussing tables, or guiding guests around the restaurant.

I had to stand a lot, but maybe because I was moving around, the night went by quickly and I didn’t feel tired.

I have to meet people from all over the world

This job was very exciting because I work in a restaurant that attracts people from all over the world. Disney encouraged us to talk to our guests and make them feel special (also known as Disney magic), so the best part of my job was learning about new cultures. There were many guests from Northern Europe, Spain and Italy.

These may seem like generalities, but people in Latin countries and Spain usually eat slowly, whereas many people in the UK ate quickly and left.

Customer wasted a lot of food

Perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of the job was seeing how much food was wasted. Since it’s a buffet, I’m careful not to overeat. We didn’t take any leftovers as they weren’t allowed due to food safety measures. People seemed to pile as much as they could on their plates and walk away without finishing it.

My job at Disneyland Paris was better than I expected

I never thought I’d be working for such a big name, but Disneyland hired people who were friendly, outgoing, and genuinely who they were. Interaction with other employees was smooth and the environment was at home.

Some of the people who worked there were into Disney, but I was the opposite. I had never heard of most Disney movies or characters.

If you want to work there, I recommend applying before you actually start working. The hiring process can take months. But it’s an easy seasonal job, and by the time it’s done, you’ll understand the magic of Disney, or at least what it means to you.