4. Special activities

This one is hit or miss, depending on what the event organizers have in mind. If you’re lucky, though, you might be in just the right spot to see special fireworks, a famous speaker, or something else out of the ordinary. Of course, you can’t get so absorbed that you forget to attend to guests, but no one will mind if you watch in between groups.

5. Relaxed environment

Naturally, you are still a company employee and are expected to follow the basic rules. But the pressures of hourly guest count quotas, back to back spiels, ride dispatch times, and other daily realities go out the window. Supervisors rarely work special events, and the team leaders who sign up to work are generally cool. As long as you don’t do anything really stupid, it would be hard to get in trouble during a special event.

6. Early release

Universal tends to overestimate the number of employees who are needed to work a special event. A couple of hours into the evening, it becomes clear that an awful lot of employees are standing around not doing much, because the number of guests per hour is so low. At this point, team leaders usually start offering ERs, or Early Releases, to anyone who wants one.

If you don’t really need the money, just need a couple of hours to hit overtime, or have plans for later in the evening, this can be a great way to earn some brownie points in your location. Sign up for the special event, work until an ER becomes available, and then head home with no hard feelings on either side. Of course, an ER is never guaranteed, so only do this if you are able and willing to work the entire event.

7. Coworker bonding

With the sheer number of guests coming through on an average day, it can be tough to get to know your coworkers in any meaningful way. This is especially true if you work at a large location with dozens of employees. During a special event, the relaxed, festive atmosphere, combined with the low guest count, makes it much easier for employees to bond. You could get to know someone better during a three-hour event than you did in the previous six months of working side by side.

Of course, special events are not for everyone. If you are a dedicated early bird who has trouble staying up late, or have family responsibilities that require you to be home at night, working a special event might not be the right choice for you. In my experience, they are always optional, and it will not count against you if you decline. If you have the availability, however, working special events is well worth the effort!