4. Learn to walk on stilts

Mardi Gras Stilt WalkersUniversal's stilt walking classes can make you more employable for the special events.

Universal Orlando loves to hire from within, and they offer a full range of classes designed to help team members gain the skills needed to move into their dream jobs. One of the most popular classes is stilt-walking. Universal uses quite a few stilt walkers for their special events, so teaching as many team members as possible makes good sense for the company. Although I never managed to find the time to take the class, my friends who did said that it was one of the best perks of the job. Most of them went on to become stilt walkers for one or more events such as Halloween Horror Nights or Mardi Gras.

5. Walk through the show scenes

Disaster Ride VehiclesWho wouldn't want to go behind the scenes of the Disaster! attraction? Image: Jeremy Thompson, Wikimedia Commons.

If you are anything like me, you always wonder what the attractions are like from another perspective. You probably know that Universal ride designers intentionally draw your attention to specific highlights as your ride vehicle bobs and sways in different directions. You might even find yourself squirming in your seat, trying to look around at all the nooks and crannies as you speed through a particular show scene.

If you work in the Ride and Show department, you will have the opportunity to see your attraction and possibly others in a whole new way. When working at Kongfrontation, I got to spend a great deal of time 30 feet below the trams, dodging pyrotechnic blasts as I wandered through the recreated streets of New York. At Earthquake, I had the opportunity to walk through the miniatures that were actually used in filming the movie, and even to walk the ride track after it was closed for the night. I never worked at Jaws, but had plenty of friends who did, and I had the chance to see many of the iconic sets up close.

6. Be a "star,” or rub elbows with them

Macy's Parade Balloon HandlersYou can always sign up for extra shifts, including working as a balloon handler for the Macy's Parade.

Universal Orlando provides a bevy of opportunities for team members to put themselves in the limelight. Internal auditions are always held first, whether for annual events such as Grinchmas or for new permanent shows debuting in the parks. In addition, some TV shows and movies film at Universal. While these are generally cast through traditional channels, extras are often needed, and are sometimes cast via audition flyers posted in employee break areas.

In addition, the parks frequently receive celebrity visitors. Guest Services team members are generally tasked with escorting celebrities throughout their day, while other front-line team members have the chance to interact with them. I once had Liza Minnelli lead a round of applause for my Kong performance. A coworker escorted Metallica through the VIP entrance to the ride. When filming is taking place, there are numerous opportunities to pick up shifts in crowd control or performing minor support tasks. Just keep in mind that photographs and autographs are strictly forbidden. No matter who you meet in the course of your work day, you can be fired if you treat them as anything other than normal park guests.