More than 2,000 cast members have participated in Thrive@Disney since the program launched.
Career Advancement at Disneyland Resort
We are proud of our record as a quality employer, investing in our cast members with hands-on training, professional development and advancement opportunities.
Discover the Possibilities
At Disneyland Resort, cast members can expand their skillsets through hands-on apprenticeships, technical certificate courses and other development programs, paving the way for career advancement.
Internal Growth
Nearly 1 in 3 manager-level cast members began their careers in hourly operations roles.
Promotion Opportunities
In the past five years, 1,200 cast members were promoted from hourly to salaried roles.
Future Advancement
On average, 2 out of 3 cast members are in roles that provide opportunities to learn and grow.
Endless Potential
At Disneyland Resort, there are unlimited opportunities for growth and development.
See an example of a career path at Disneyland Resort.
Meet Luis
Luis was hired into an entry-level hourly role in Food & Beverage, where he developed world-class service skills in a fast-paced environment. In this role, Luis helped ensure guests had the best dining experiences possible during their visits to Disneyland Resort.
Luis Grows His Skills
Luis was later trained in food prep, where he grew his culinary and service skills. In this role, Luis gained experience in many stations throughout the kitchen, working with all types of food and serving the high-quality meals that guests expect.
Luis Advances His Career
After taking a new opportunity as a dinner cook, Luis took pride in preparing all types of dishes across the menu. During this time, Luis was able to grow additional skill sets, such as leading and motivating other cast members in the kitchen.
Luis Becomes a Chef
As a chef at Disneyland Resort, Luis thrives in his craft and even creates new menu items from scratch. In this role, he is able to take risks and develop new offerings for guests to enjoy, in addition to collaborating with an advanced culinary team.
Luis Earns a Promotion
Luis is later promoted to area chef, where he supports a team of culinary experts, inspiring other cast members to continually learn and try new things. Luis ensures Disneyland Resort is serving diverse and innovative offerings, creating the best experiences for both guests and cast members.
Disney Aspire
Over 4,000 Disneyland Resort cast members are actively enrolled in Disney Aspire, the company’s career development program offering 100% tuition paid up front for full- and part-time hourly employees. Including local institutions like California State University, Fullerton, Disney Aspire offers programs ranging from GED and skilled trades to bachelor degrees.
Disney Aspire: By the Numbers
Since the introduction of the program in 2018, Disney Aspire has been an impactful resource for cast members at Disneyland Resort to bring their dreams within reach.
Nearly 2,000
cast members have graduated since the launch of Disney Aspire in 2018.
Over 3,000
students and graduates have been internally promoted across the company since participating in the program.
1 in 4
hourly job applicants cite Disney Aspire as their primary reason for applying to Disneyland Resort.
Thrive@Disney
Thrive@Disney is an annual mentorship program that engages cast members through professional development in the form of 1:1 mentoring relationships and networking events.
Employment Experience
Discover more about the employment experience and unique opportunities for our cast members at Disneyland Resort.