Jessica Cody’s Experience as a Disney Cast Member
Jessica Cody worked as a Walt Disney World cast member in the 2010s.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jessica Cody, a 36-year-old from central Florida. From 2010 to 2014, Cody worked at Walt Disney World, embodying characters such as Lady Tremaine and Pluto. Additionally, she spent time as an actor and dancer at Universal Orlando Resort from 2010 to 2013. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Editor’s note: In 2021, Walt Disney World implemented a $15 minimum wage for its cast members, increasing it to $18 in 2023. The company provides employee packages that include benefits. In 2022, Walt Disney World Resort announced a plan to create affordable housing, offering over 1,000 apartments for cast members and the wider community in Orange County, Florida.
Living in My Car
I was working full-time hours at Walt Disney World after the major stock market crash in 2008. I was initially scheduled for about 70-hour weeks, which allowed me to afford rent. However, Disney eventually capped the number of hours I could work. When that happened, I could no longer pay rent and ended up living in my 2005 Chevy Malibu, which I parked in West Clock, the Magic Kingdom cast member parking lot. For months, I slept there and showered in the locker rooms, desperately trying to get more hours.
Not Alone in My Struggle
I was not the only cast member experiencing homelessness. There were countless others sleeping in their cars in that parking lot. Although it was prohibited to sleep on property, the company was aware of our situations and chose to overlook it. I was just one of many facing this struggle, and security knew we had nowhere else to turn.
Finding a Way Out
Although the theme park contributed to my precarious situation, it also offered a pathway out. I was hired as an actor and dancer at Universal in November 2010, and my first role was for “Grinchmas,” a holiday event at the park. Universal paid me $15 an hour, and together with my Disney hours, I was finally able to rent an apartment with two roommates and afford my basic needs.
Valuable Lessons from Disney
I would never trade my time at Disney for anything. I gained more knowledge about the entertainment industry than I ever did in college or during auditions in New York City. However, I find it absurd that people must choose between financial stability and jobs that bring them joy.
Moving On
I no longer work at Disney or Universal. My status at Disney shifted to seasonal, requiring a minimum number of annual hours, which I couldn’t meet. At Universal, after having my son, I transitioned to a different role in the call center during the last six months of my tenure there. I’m currently a dance teacher and choreographer.
Advocating for Better Wages
Disney has implemented some positive changes for cast members in recent years, including raising the minimum wage. However, in my view, it’s still not a living wage in Orlando. You can love Disney and still hold them accountable for doing better. No cast member should rely on food stamps or struggle to meet basic needs. Until no cast member is homeless or dependent on public assistance, we still have work to do.
The theme park wouldn’t be operational without the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to create magical experiences for families. Those are the true contributors to the park’s success.
