4. Thinking of something else

Image: Disney

Although good cast members are always alert to what is happening around them, they are so familiar with their area that anything out of the ordinary pings their radar immediately. This means that there is plenty of room in their minds to think of other things while still paying attention. If a cast member starts to get down in the dumps, bringing forth a great memory of a recent positive guest experience, or even fantasizing about the ski vacation he is leaving on after the shift can be a terrific mood-booster.

5. Using each other as a support system

Cast members within a single area, such as an attraction or a restaurant, tend to form tight bonds. In fact, during busy seasons, many cast members see their coworkers more than they see their families. They face tough times together, which further strengthens their connections. In addition, those on the College Program or International Program may be far from home, and their roommates and coworkers are the closest thing they have to local family.

For these reasons, cast members serve as a wonderful support network for each other. If someone is going through a tough time, she really only needs to hold it together while she is “on stage” (in public view). Backstage, in the break room or cafeteria, support is there for the asking.

I left New Orleans in December 2004, intending to return after taking care of some family matters. I was driving a Safari truck at Animal Kingdom when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, leaving the fate of numerous loved ones unknown. I had one run-in with an unfeeling coworker, but everyone else was truly amazing.

The day the levees broke, I was scheduled for a long shift. When I pointed out the flooding on the TV in the supervisors’ office, they gave me the day off without a second thought. On my return, pretty much the entire Kilimanjaro Safaris family came together to provide emotional support. I was even given emergency time off two weeks later to return to the city to check on my loved ones and retrieve what I could of my belongings, which had taken on black mold in a storage facility. I will never forget the outpouring of genuine concern I received that summer, from fellow front-line cast members, management, and my union representative

6. Making magic

One of the best ways to get outside of your own head and make your own problems seem smaller is to focus on making magic for someone else. The summer after my mom passed away, I was an Educator at SeaWorld Orlando. Although I was still grieving heavily, I looked forward to getting up and going to work every day. There, surrounded by happy vacationers, I was able to reclaim my own happiness by going out of my way to make kids and adults alike smile.

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Being a front-line cast member is far from an easy job. But cast members have developed tricks and techniques for staying positive, supporting each other, and making magic no matter what. Have you had an experience with a cast member who stayed upbeat through adversity? Share your stories in the comments!