4. The rules
The rules for Disney's Cooks were in line with those at other restaurants. "As with any food service job, safety was the most important. Disney had various Food Safety classes and online modules that helped to teach this to the Cast Members. They also have their own set of health inspectors that come in more often than the State does and has much higher standards than them as well. This helps to protect and ensure all food safety and sanitation is being followed."
5. The upsides
Rian enjoyed his time working at Walt Disney World: "I loved working in the resorts. I love how themed and special Disney resorts are and how much dining is a part of that as well. I am fortunate that I got to work at one of the signature restaurants. Artist Point is a beautiful restaurant as is the Wilderness Lodge Resort, so it was great to come and work in that every day."
Image © Disney
"It was a emotional rush every night to work so fast and hard for 4-5 hours non-stop as you prepared food for 200+ people. You had a great sense of accomplishment and team work from doing it."
6. The downsides
The biggest issue with the role was the sheer number of people that pass through Disney's restaurants, which could sometimes lead to problems. "There were of course nights when Cast Member performance, unexpected seatings, and other issues would put you 'in the weeds'. This meant that you had gotten behind, unorganized, and distracted. This could cause the whole kitchen to slow or even stop which of course resulted in less than happy guests."
"Those nights were rough but you did what was needed to bring it back together and get the food out. Even though you are behind the scenes you still have a role in someone’s magical Disney vacation, so you had to deliver. Some people only come to Disney World once in their life, or they save up for years and years to come. So you have to always keep that in mind when you are having a bad day. Remember what Disney means to you and why you wanted to work here, and keep that magic inside you alive."
7. Tips for visitors
Rian has a few tips for those dining at Walt Disney World's restaurants - the first being to appreciate where their food comes from. "A lot of time and work goes into your food, especially at the higher end table service restaurants. A Cast Member is in early in the morning to prep food that you may be enjoying for dinner. Sauces, soups, stews, bread and cakes are all made from scratch. Someone is cutting all those vegetables and fruit that you are enjoying."
Image © Disney
There are a few things to look out for at the restaurants Rian worked at. "The Wilderness Lodge resort has a smokehouse out back (you can see it from some rooms facing the Magic Kingdom) where they smoke a lot of the pulled pork, chicken, and other meats for both the Lodge and Campground."
"Artist Point is designed to be grand like the great National Parks. It features cathedral ceilings with large paintings of the wilderness in America. The bar just outside the restaurant is a great place to relax before or after your meal and has a Louis and Clark theme to it."
8. Getting onto the menu
Rian has no doubt about the highlight of his time working as a Cook. "It was while at Artist Point I had some great opportunities. I was able to participate in many Food and Wine Festival Events including Party of the Senses with Cat Cora and other great chefs. But what I am most proud of is that I was picked to have an item I created on the Artist Point menu."
Image © Disney
"The salmon dish changed each season based on what was in season. I created a dish for the fall season. It was a hash consisting of rainbow swiss chard, turnips, potatoes, pork belly and leeks. This was pan roasted and placed over a pear ginger glaze with beet puree accents for color. The cedar plank roasted salmon was then placed on top. Even though it was a seasonal item it stayed on the menu for almost a whole year and received compliments from many guests. So that meant a lot to me. I remember being a boy and visiting WDW and wanting to be a part of it, and now I can say that I had one of my creations on a menu at Disney World!"
Thanks to Rian for sharing his memories with us. If you'd like to learn more about Cast Members' roles and experiences at Walt Disney World, sign up now to be notified when Creating the Magic: Life as a Disney Cast Member is released.
Comments
Great article......I grew up in Orlando as a Disney kid and now as an adult I love hearing about the "Behind the Scenes" hard workers (Disney Cast Members). My dad was involved in creating the sound system throughout EPCOT and I never new how special that was until I read this article.
Disney Forever,
~Jodie