When guests take their first steps into Disneyland Resort, the feelings of magic and pixie dust immediately fill the air. As soon as they see their first glimpse of the Disneyland Railroad, cast members are there, ready to greet and welcome them with open arms.
One of those cast members is Manuel, a Main Gate Receptionist at Disneyland Resort. With a kind smile and a wave, Manuel sets the tone for the guest experience from the very beginning.
@disneyparks Manuel wants to welcome you all to Disneyland! ✨ ##Disney ##DisneyParks ##Disneyland ##DisneyCastLife ##Magic
♬ original sound – Disney Parks
We had the opportunity to speak with Manuel about his life as a cast member, including his future career goals and even his side gig of creatively expressing his #CastLife on his personal TikTok.
Q: What made you want to start your creative outlet on TikTok?
A: It was just something to do. I would spend hours just scrolling through videos, and I ended up finding the Disney accounts that I loved.
Q: What are your future career aspirations with The Walt Disney Company?
A: I definitely want to make Disney a career, so someday I hope to become a manager. I definitely know I want to stay with the company.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to build a career at Disney?
A: Just be yourself. Talk to people and build those relationships with each other. Get yourself out there! One of the things that helped me a lot was stepping out of my comfort zone. Being comfortable being uncomfortable.
Q: What initially made you want to join Disney?
A: I was a Passholder for several years, and I was here all the time, almost every day. I started noticing cast members interacting with guests and seeing the smiles they brought to their faces. I remember thinking to myself, “That’s something I want to do.”
Q: What do you love about being a cast member?
A: The cast members! I love working with them, and I’ve met so many amazing people here. I’ve built life-long friendships. The people – both the guests and the cast members – make my day every single day.
