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What are the best ways to get into the amusement/ entertainment industry?
I've always had an interest in working with amusement/theme parks like Disney, Cedar Point, and Six Flags. I would love to be able to give my ideas an input on how we could always reimagine the parks and keep business afloat. If anyone has any ideas on how I can reach this goal I'd be a open to them.
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Tiffany Holmes
Entertainment Production Logistics Coordinator - Universal Orlando Resort
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Tiffany’s Answer
Hi Reanna!
I have been a part of the Theme Park Industry in Orlando for almost 14 years. The best part about being in this industry is that the opportunities are endless for any type of career you choose. I was a Theater major/Film minor and I really love working in Events. I started in Attractions at Walt Disney World to get my foot in the door. Once you start working for a company like Disney or Universal, opportunities grow immensely. Currently, I work at Universal as part of the Entertainment Production team working on large scale events like Halloween Horror Nights.
My best recommendation would be to get your foot in the door. Attractions, Food and Beverage, Lifeguard, Resorts, Bus Drivers, Entertainment... Theme parks are always looking for more people in these entry level roles. Once you start, more internal positions will be open to you (not to mention networking and meet & greet opportunities). I agree with some of the answers above about the Disney College Program. I was not a participant myself as I went to college in Orlando and started out working seasonally rather than taking a semester off. However, I have heard nothing but wonderful things about it!
I also would recommend looking into Hospitality programs. University of Central Florida has one of the best in the country and works with theme parks all the time. It's a great way to get your classes in while also networking with people in the industry.
Good luck!
I have been a part of the Theme Park Industry in Orlando for almost 14 years. The best part about being in this industry is that the opportunities are endless for any type of career you choose. I was a Theater major/Film minor and I really love working in Events. I started in Attractions at Walt Disney World to get my foot in the door. Once you start working for a company like Disney or Universal, opportunities grow immensely. Currently, I work at Universal as part of the Entertainment Production team working on large scale events like Halloween Horror Nights.
My best recommendation would be to get your foot in the door. Attractions, Food and Beverage, Lifeguard, Resorts, Bus Drivers, Entertainment... Theme parks are always looking for more people in these entry level roles. Once you start, more internal positions will be open to you (not to mention networking and meet & greet opportunities). I agree with some of the answers above about the Disney College Program. I was not a participant myself as I went to college in Orlando and started out working seasonally rather than taking a semester off. However, I have heard nothing but wonderful things about it!
I also would recommend looking into Hospitality programs. University of Central Florida has one of the best in the country and works with theme parks all the time. It's a great way to get your classes in while also networking with people in the industry.
Good luck!
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
Hi Reanna!
I worked at Six Flags Over Texas from 2006-2011 in HR and Ride Operations. My best advise to you is apply to the department you want and that you feel the most passionate about. I chose HR at first because HR gave me the opportunity to train new hires at the park and help rewrite some of our training material. Next, I went into Ride Ops and worked at several rides/sections of the park and eventually ended up being a rides supervisor. I tell you all of this to encourage you to go after your passions and dreams at whatever park that you may be at.
There are so many aspects/departments that help an amusement park run on a daily basis. Do your best to find out which area you are most passionate about and then go after it! Also, be open to new ideas and even if you are put at a role that you may not enjoy as much stick with it and do your best to be a team player. The reason I tell you this is I wanted to work at a roller coaster so bad and I let the ride placement manger know this. He purposely put me at a flat ride to see if I would work hard even though I did not get to work at a roller coaster. I pushed myself and our team every day and within one month I was made assistant lead at the ride and by the end of the summer I was lead over a larger flat ride. The next season I was lead over the largest section of the park and by end of spring I was a supervisor over a section of the park with roller coasters!
Don't give up on your dreams, push yourself everyday and always be a team player. Good luck on your amusement park journey! Out of all the business books I have read my absolute favorite is called Love Works by Joel Manby. Joel Manby was the CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment (Silver Dollar City & Dollywood) and also the CEO of Sea World for a time. I really think you would like his book and could apply the books lessons in your daily work life.
Read Love Works: Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders by Joel Manby
I worked at Six Flags Over Texas from 2006-2011 in HR and Ride Operations. My best advise to you is apply to the department you want and that you feel the most passionate about. I chose HR at first because HR gave me the opportunity to train new hires at the park and help rewrite some of our training material. Next, I went into Ride Ops and worked at several rides/sections of the park and eventually ended up being a rides supervisor. I tell you all of this to encourage you to go after your passions and dreams at whatever park that you may be at.
There are so many aspects/departments that help an amusement park run on a daily basis. Do your best to find out which area you are most passionate about and then go after it! Also, be open to new ideas and even if you are put at a role that you may not enjoy as much stick with it and do your best to be a team player. The reason I tell you this is I wanted to work at a roller coaster so bad and I let the ride placement manger know this. He purposely put me at a flat ride to see if I would work hard even though I did not get to work at a roller coaster. I pushed myself and our team every day and within one month I was made assistant lead at the ride and by the end of the summer I was lead over a larger flat ride. The next season I was lead over the largest section of the park and by end of spring I was a supervisor over a section of the park with roller coasters!
Don't give up on your dreams, push yourself everyday and always be a team player. Good luck on your amusement park journey! Out of all the business books I have read my absolute favorite is called Love Works by Joel Manby. Joel Manby was the CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment (Silver Dollar City & Dollywood) and also the CEO of Sea World for a time. I really think you would like his book and could apply the books lessons in your daily work life.
Daniel recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, Daniel!
Reanna
Updated
Marya’s Answer
I wholeheartedly recommend the Disney College Program! It is a paid internship where you can work in one of many areas at one of the Parks or Resorts! I did my College Program the semester after I graduated college. I was in Attractions, but realized that I could make a career out of Entertainment Management at Disney, so I started networking during my College Program! I did my College Program for a year, became a seasonal Cast Member in Attractions, and then a couple years later became an Entertainment Manager. You learn so much on your College Program, and you also have a lot of FUN! It is a great foot in the door if you want to work at Disney for life, like I do!
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Megan’s Answer
Hi Reanna!
I would look into internships with theme parks. Cedar Point has a summer work program where you can stay in housing for the summer and work. I had a few friends who did it and loved it.
I did the Disney College Program when I was in college and after graduating I did a Disney Professional Internship. Although, I did not stay to work for Disney a lot of the people I interned with did stay. Once you get your foot in the door there is a lot of room for growth. If you work for Disney they will now help you pay for school. I would look into working at Disney because they do have a lot of jobs in New York as well.
I hope this helps!
I would look into internships with theme parks. Cedar Point has a summer work program where you can stay in housing for the summer and work. I had a few friends who did it and loved it.
I did the Disney College Program when I was in college and after graduating I did a Disney Professional Internship. Although, I did not stay to work for Disney a lot of the people I interned with did stay. Once you get your foot in the door there is a lot of room for growth. If you work for Disney they will now help you pay for school. I would look into working at Disney because they do have a lot of jobs in New York as well.
I hope this helps!
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Reanna
Updated
Luis’s Answer
Hey Reanna!
This is a great question! - I am from Florida and enjoy theme parks very much as well.
These business have a wide range of roles, all the way from the person greeting you when you come in.. to security guards.. to engineers helping design the next action packed ride.. They also have roles as film directors making their next movie release amongst countless industries under their roof.
I think it could be a good idea to look through some of the job postings under the career sections of these companies and see what jobs they are currently offering - like this you could see a breakdown of all the different sectors.
once done, check out the next company and their listings - once you check out a few of them you will a better idea of this industry generally breaks down their roles!
hope this helps!
Luis
This is a great question! - I am from Florida and enjoy theme parks very much as well.
These business have a wide range of roles, all the way from the person greeting you when you come in.. to security guards.. to engineers helping design the next action packed ride.. They also have roles as film directors making their next movie release amongst countless industries under their roof.
I think it could be a good idea to look through some of the job postings under the career sections of these companies and see what jobs they are currently offering - like this you could see a breakdown of all the different sectors.
once done, check out the next company and their listings - once you check out a few of them you will a better idea of this industry generally breaks down their roles!
hope this helps!
Luis
Updated
Alyssa’s Answer
Theatre is all about who you know so network with as many people as you can
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Jennifer’s Answer
Disney offers an amazing internship program. I know two of my relatives who took part in it and eventually relocated to Orlando to work at Disney on a full-time basis. One of them was involved in theater, while the other pursued business in college. I suggest looking into internship or summer job openings at nearby parks. This could be an excellent starting point for you!
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Trevor’s Answer
Check out this article: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/working-in-the-entertainment-industry
Thanks for the help.
Reanna
Updated
Eric’s Answer
Hi Reanna! You've got a lot of really great answers above. Theme parks require skills from every area you can imagine to operate them, so there is opportunity there no matter what your interest! Follow your passions, and that will help you figure out where to use your skills most! You mentioned that you want to be able to give your ideas on how we could reimagine the parks, and keep business afloat. Those are usually two separate disciplines. Lending your creative ideas would be along the lines of getting into something like Disney's "Imagineering" or the "Universal Creative" department at Universal Studios. The other one about keeping the business afloat has to do more with business management.
I'd take some time to search within yourself which discipline you're more passionate about. Is it lending creative ideas, or helping a business stay afloat? You may be able to combine both of these passions in the future in your job, but for now, that will give you a clear idea about where to start!
If you're more interested in the creative end, ask yourself what you're most interested in? Is the the visuals, the rides, the buildings and environments, the special events? When you have some of those answers, that will help you learn if you want to be more of a visual artist creative, an architectural creative, etc.
If you're more interested in keeping the business afloat, are you most passionate about crunching numbers, working with people, planning? This could lead you toward a finance, human resources, or project management path.
I always say following your passion is the first step to success and happiness.
Good luck Reanna, I know you'll do great!
Discover what you're most passionate about in theme parks!
Follow that passion for education as your guiding light
Make your own mini-projects to show off your skills to employers
Take entry level jobs and internships to get your foot in the door
Network with people, learn as much as you can, and use the company's internal HR programs to help get you where you want to be!
I'd take some time to search within yourself which discipline you're more passionate about. Is it lending creative ideas, or helping a business stay afloat? You may be able to combine both of these passions in the future in your job, but for now, that will give you a clear idea about where to start!
If you're more interested in the creative end, ask yourself what you're most interested in? Is the the visuals, the rides, the buildings and environments, the special events? When you have some of those answers, that will help you learn if you want to be more of a visual artist creative, an architectural creative, etc.
If you're more interested in keeping the business afloat, are you most passionate about crunching numbers, working with people, planning? This could lead you toward a finance, human resources, or project management path.
I always say following your passion is the first step to success and happiness.
Good luck Reanna, I know you'll do great!
Eric recommends the following next steps: