What the role actually entails

Image: Disney

Where other roles at Disney parks involve some element of cleaning, the custodial role involves a lot more than just cleaning. Most Disney cast members need to stay within certain areas of the parks and resorts. Even if cast members are trained in different locations, the costume they are currently wearing may prohibit them from straying too far from where they currently stand. Custodial cast members on the contrary, wear entirely white costumes, letting them seamlessly walk between lands in the park without looking out of place.

Custodial cast members are often the first point of contact with guests simply because they are the most visible. Think about it, if you have a question while on Main Street U.S.A. are you going to run into the Emporium to find a cast member or ask the custodial cast member who is sweeping only a few feet away? Like every role at a Disney park then, a large part of a custodial cast member’s day really is working in a guest services setting. Sweeping may be the current task, but helping guests is really what they’re doing.

Image: Brittany DiCologero

For someone who has never worked in custodial, or anywhere at a Disney park for that matter, it may be difficult to understand just how much this contributes specifically to the custodial role. Consider how many guests visit any one of the parks on a given day. One custodial cast member even when spending a day in limited areas of the park will come into contact with hundreds or sometimes even thousands of guests during a shift.

Aside from being around to answer questions, custodial cast members are often able to take photos for guests, pin trade, and like all other Disney cast members they are able to create happiness and unique magical moments for guests when the opportunities arrive. Though there is often a lengthy waiting period, custodial cast members are also able to learn how to create water art using their brooms, and depending on their location they may also find themselves assisting other cast members in crowd control or dancing with guests during parades and shows.

The guest interaction aspect of this role is one of the main reasons why so many people want to work in custodial at a Disney park. Another reason is the level of freedom custodial cast members have compared to cast members working in other roles. Even within their home location, custodial cast members are able to spend some of their day indoors and other parts of the day outdoors. They have the ability to be moved around the parks, and may even pick up shifts in other locations if they like.

“Teamwork makes the dream work”

Custodial is one of the most underrated roles at a Disney park, because people who have not experienced it firsthand often only take this role at face value. While it is doubtful that any custodial cast member seriously enjoys cleaning restrooms during their shift, there is so much more to their role that guests take for granted.

Many areas of the Walt Disney Company, including custodial, foster family-like relationships between coworkers. When cast members are working together all the time, and their cooperation with each other is vital to a productive and successful shift, it is no surprise that they can become quite close. Custodial is also a role where cast members tend to feel that they are on an equal playing ground with each other. There may be certain locations where cast members prefer to work, but overall there is little competition or animosity towards coworkers that can sometimes exist in other environments when delegating tasks.

Image: Disney

The next time you find yourself needing a quick photo taken, directions, or even just a recommendation for where to get dinner strike up a conversation with the nearest custodial cast member-- the high level of guest interaction is what makes them love coming to work everyday, and they would be happy to help!