Life

A Former Disney Employee Just Revealed The Insane Perks Of Working For The Park

by Eliza Castile
Handout/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

I'm not exaggerating (much) when I say it is every American child's dream to work at a Disney theme park. Eventually, the day comes when every kid realizes that the chances of being whisked away by a woodland creature to fight for their rightful place on a far-off kingdom's throne are slim. When that epiphany finally happens, the best alternative is obviously to dress up as a Disney princess as often as possible, and adults can get paid to do it by working at a theme park. What could possibly be the downside?

As it turns out, even a cool job is still a job. Every position has its pros (like, say, dressing up as Ariel and spreading joy everywhere you go) and cons (sweating profusely under a heavy wig in 100 degree heat). But if you're still curious about what it's really like to be a Disney park employee, Reddit has got you covered.

On Saturday, a Reddit user claiming to be an ex-employee invited people to interview them on the Ask Me Anything community. As you can imagine, their fellow users leaped at the chance to learn about the experience. To be fair, the user (whose username is slightly NSFW) didn't provide any proof that they once worked for Disney, so you'll want to take their answers with a grain of salt. But for a fun glimpse into what life might be like behind the scenes of the most magical theme parks in the world, read on.

1Free Admission

According to the Reddit user, working at the park earns you free admission year-round, but free tickets for friends and family require you to put in time. As they explained in a later comment, this is to keep people from working at the park long enough to take their family on a free vacation before they quit.

2Dreams Really Do Come True

What kind of weird dreams came true? Inquiring minds would like to know.

3Disney Could Employ A Large Town

According to Walt Disney World News, Disney employs more than 70,000 people in central Florida alone.

4How Mascots Survive The Heat

If you've ever wondered how people in mascot-style costumes survive the California or Florida heat, here is your answer: lots and lots of breaks.

5The Most Memorable Moment

If that's not the sweetest thing you've read today, you must be living a charmed life.

6Food Safety Is Super Strict

Neurotic parkgoers, you can rest easily in the knowledge that your food is safe from disgruntled employees.

7You're Always In Character

It isn't enough to just look the part. When performers are working, they have to be the character.

8Famous People Make Appearances

Even celebrities are drawn to the most magical place in the world.

9Underground Disney Exists

An underground network of tunnels allows employees to unobtrusively get around certain areas of the park. The more you know.

10It Really Is The Happiest Place

There you have it, folks. Disney parks truly are the happiest places on Earth — and that's coming from someone who allegedly worked there, so you know it must be magical.