ORLANDO, Fla. — Disney World, the “most magical place on Earth,” has been on a hiring spree as COVID-19 restrictions lift and the resort prepares for a busy summer season.
What You Need To Know
- Walt Disney World is offering hiring bonuses for select positions
- New housekeeping and culinary workers are eligible for $1,000
- Last year, Disney laid off tens of thousands of workers amid the pandemic
- Other Central Florida theme parks are also on a hiring spree
The resort is now offering $1,000 hiring bonuses for new workers in select positions, including housekeeping, advanced line cooks and culinary chef assistants.
The new hires will receive the bonus if they stay on the job for at least 90 days, according to Disney’s career page. The bonus will be paid in increments, with the first payment of $250 given after 90 days and the second payment of $750 given after 150 days.
Disney World housekeepers receive a starting pay of $16 an hour, while advanced line cooks start at $18 an hour and chef assistants start at $19 an hour.
Last year, amid park closures, Disney laid off tens of thousands of its theme park workers. Since reopening last July, Disney World has rehired thousands of its workers for its parks, hotels and restaurants, although it’s unclear how many. Disney has not responded to Spectrum News’ inquiries about an exact figure.
Disney’s efforts to bring workers back has included the Disney College Program, the company’s paid internship program, which resumed earlier this month after being suspended more than a year.
In recent months, Disney World has been easing many of its pandemic restrictions — ending temperature checks, lifting mask mandates in most areas, and reducing physical distancing — as it gradually increases capacity. The resort is also adding more workers ahead of its 50th anniversary celebration, which kicks off Oct. 1.
However, Disney isn’t the only theme park operator trying to find workers. Other parks in Central Florida have been ramping up their hiring efforts as well. Universal Orlando is currently looking to fill thousands of positions across its resort while offering a starting pay of $15 an hour. And SeaWorld Orlando is holding virtual hiring events throughout the summer for a variety of positions. The company is also offering a $1,000 hiring bonus for select positions.
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