4. Ride load and unload
Cast Members in the load and unload positions are responsible for safely dispatching vehicles at most attractions. This usually involves pushing a button in conjunction with the person on the other side of the track. Both Cast Members need to indicate that the track is clear in order for the vehicle to proceed. On attractions where there aren’t dual dispatch buttons, the unload Cast Member will give a hand signal to indicate that it’s safe for the vehicle to depart.
If the attraction is an omnimover, like The Seas With Nemo and Friends or the Haunted Mansion, there’s no dispatch required. Instead, these Cast Members will walk the belt and make sure guests get in and out of the vehicles safely. The moving belt can present some problems for guests who can’t keep up with the vehicles or hop in on the move, so it’s important for these Cast Members to keep a careful eye on anyone looking unsteady or confused.
5. Belt check
If an attraction has a seat belt, someone is charged with making sure it’s buckled. There are several ways this position is handled. Star Tours has a lighted panel that tells Cast Members who’s buckled in and who isn’t. This is combined with a visible check of the seat belts to make sure everyone is secure. Attractions with a ride bar typically have the Cast Member give it a little tug. If you have a little yellow tab on your seat belt, as guests do on Dinosaur, the Cast Member will typically ask you to do the tugging. No matter how it’s handled the purpose is the same – keeping everyone secured and safe.
6. Tower
The control tower is one of the most popular positions on a Disney attraction. Cast Members here are allowed to sit, often in an air-conditioned environment. The tower has minimal guest interaction, as the Cast Member here is charged with focusing on a panel of television screens and numerous ride controls. When things are running smoothly, the tower Cast Member will spend their time here answering the occasional phone call and dealing with minor issues like lost and found.
If there’s a problem with the attraction, however, Tower becomes a busy place. The Tower Cast Member is responsible for monitoring and handling emergency stops and instructing Cast Members at other positions on how to handle down times. A lot happens in an attraction ride tower, and it’s the combination of a quiet atmosphere and the potential for a bustling down time that makes this such an appealing position.
Though some attractions may have some multitasking positions, you’ll find these jobs are a necessary inclusion for nearly every ride in the park. See how many of these Cast Members you can spot on your next visit to your favorite attraction.
Comments
I was a Tower of Terror bellhop on my International College Program. At ToT you rotate every 30min. At least you should. I was stuck in one of the libraries once for 2 hours. That is quere the pre show is. The most boring loneless place ever... I never worked at Tower because that was phase 2 training and you need 6 months in to work that position. But my CP was only 3 months long.