Disney’s Animal Kingdom reportedly cost nearly 1 billion dollars to construct. It covers an area of around 500 acres of land in the park. Animal Kingdom first opened to visitors on Earth Day in 1998. A lot of work was put into designing the park. Disney Imagineers traveled all the way to Africa and Asia to study the landscapes and wildlife in order to replicate them in a realistic fashion. They also brought back seeds from 37 countries to plan in the park. Talk about commitment! The Animal Kingdom was built sunken several feet into the ground. Several theories exist as to the reason for this. Some people claim that it’s the result of central Florida’s many sinkholes. But, this isn’t exactly why. Animal Kingdom was built in this way in order to create a more fitting environment for both animals and guests. You can see that Disney does everything to make the guest experience the best it can possibly be.
Disney also goes great distances to protect the animals of the park. There is a ban on all things plastic, including plastic straws, cups, cup lids, and balloons. The reason for this is so that they don’t end up in the animals’ cages. Another interesting fact about Animal Kingdom is that it houses the most expensive roller coaster ever built in the world. Expedition Everest, Legend of the Forbidden Mountain cost $100,000,000. It took six years to plan and build the ride.
"Cast Members"
At Walt Disney World, you are never referred to as an "employee." Instead, your job title will be called a "Cast Member."
Working at Disney World requires you to constantly be on your "A" game and always stay in character. It's part of what makes the whole experience magical. Next up, learn about the language used in the parks.
Their Own Lingo
When a guest mistakenly wanders off into a prohibited area of the park, the cast members describe this as "going backstage." For example, back offices and computer rooms are called backstage. Considering that everything at Disney World is like one big play, doesn't this make sense?
This term "backstage" isn’t the only term used when talking about performers and guests. The term “onstage” is also used when referring to retail stores. All cast members, from the employee dressed as Mickey to the employee working as the cashier, is instructed to stay in character onstage. For Disney, the most important thing is providing the best show as possible for the guests. See the next slide for another interesting fact.
Never Break Character
Disney World cast members are strictly forbidden from breaking character when in costume. There are no exceptions. Even a cast member who becomes sick isn't allowed to break character. This rule is in place to maintain the magic that guests feel when they're in the park. There is a deep commitment to the guest experience in the company.
Remember “the flu game” when Michael Jordan played in the 1997 NBA finals with the flu and managed to score 38 points in 44 pants? Kind of like that... Keep reading for a funny remark from cast members!
Even on Down Time, There's a Dress Code
You would think that during training or off hours when cast members don't need to be in full costume, that they can lounge around in whatever they want. Wrong. they are required to dress in business casual attire. And if they break that rule, there's a punishment. They need to put on a costume. Seeing as though you probably don’t want to be wearing a costume while you're in a classroom training session... you’d be best to follow this rule. Apparently, it was important for Walt Disney to have his employees looking professional and sharp 24/7.
The Disney Careers website labels the Disney employee dress code as "The Disney Look." Women are allowed to wear either a dress, suit, capri, or dress pants with a formal blouse. In terms of footwear, they can wear closed-toe shoes or ones which are slightly open at the toes. Men, on the other hand, must wear a suit or dress pants with a collared, professional shirt. They should also show up in socks and dress shoes to complete the look.