Disney Reviews in Los Angeles, CA Area

Pros

Underground parking at the main headquarters! Free Disney propoganda for kids & relatives!

Cons

Too many deadwood VPs that are killing time, productivity, and the shareprice while working 10-4. They clog the system preventing others from advancing.

Advice to Senior Management

Clear out the deadwood VPs.

Pros

Very organized, lots of divisions, good opportunities. Part of a larger family. Free passes to the parks. Leaders with years of experience. Many different divisions with good opportunity.

Cons

Too many fiefdoms, lots of nepotism, not much communication between teams or groups. No interaction with ESPN. Disney Channel is a fiefdom.

Advice to Senior Management

Break down walls, look for more synergy. Create rotating programs. Encourage overseas opportunities.

Pros

Get the Disney name on your resume.
Get to get into Disneyland or Walt Disney World for free, but note that they have black out days so you cannot always go the day you want. Oh, and if you go too many times (or your family members do) then they will send you a warning that you are going too much.
Your peers will usually be fun to work with.
Most non-Disney employees will be impressed that you are or have been a Disney employee.
It's easy to be motivated to do a good job because you like what Walt stood for.

Cons

They expect you to be available 24/7.
Disney comes first - before family and friends.
If you stay too long then they will you lay you off.
They do not like long term employees because they have to pay too many benefits.

Advice to Senior Management

Nothing. They will not listen anyway.

Pros

-the possible possibilities, the people, the energy, brand

Cons

-specific directors and senior management not listening,condescending and patronizing, lying, taking credit for other ppl ideas, poor listening skills, poor management skills

Advice to Senior Management

you should listen. you should not lie. you should

Pros

- casual flexible work environment.
- exposure to a variety of projects.
- great positive atmosphere.

Cons

- work/life balance is poor.
- salary lower than industry standard.

Advice to Senior Management

continue promoting a positive culture and making disney one of the best places to work.

Pros

Brand name recognition which leads to respect from others in the industry

Cons

Compensation and flexibity in schedules

Advice to Senior Management

Give more flexibility in schedules and compensate people for their hard work

Pros

Disney is filled with fantastic people who work hard at turning out quality products that live up to the company's high standards. The company values its heritage and does a great a job at explaining how today's Disney connects to yesterdays. There is a lot of room for lateral movement within the ranks depending on your area/site. Disney offers many perks such as park passes, access to special events, movie openings, etc. Overall, management and peers display a high level of enthusiasm for their jobs and this translates to a positive work environment--even when the workload becomes hectic and demanding.

Cons

Disney is often resistant to change. Too much of the company is rooted in traditional models of micromanagement and linear work styles. Although the company ostensibly advocates innovation amongst its Cast Members, they rarely encourage creativity and the type of creative atmosphere where ideas (even left field ones) are taken seriously and not shot down. Ironically, Disney can also sometimes be too collaborative when it comes to decisions, and this often leads to project slowdowns, indecisiveness, and the inability to act quickly when needed. In some areas of the company there can be competition between the "old timers" and newer Cast Members.

Advice to Senior Management

Encourage creativity by creating and sustaining a workplace environment that truly reflects those goals.

Pros

looks good on a resume. also, tons of other divisions to move to once you get bored with where you are.

Cons

rarely promote from within. corporate and overly politically correct mentality reduces directness and results in a loss of common sense. also, politics - if a higher-up doesn't like you, you'll know.

Advice to Senior Management

go meet your customer. you can't know what drives them if you're jetting around in business class and watching powerpoint presentations at resort hotel. spend an hour a week at a target or a wal-mart or an after-school and chat with the parents and, god forbid, some kids. focus groups are not the only or even the best source of 411.

Pros

Experience at a world-class marketing company, learning to work with whiny 'creative' types, exposure to some of the best (and worst) executives, fantastic resume builder

Cons

Highest average deviation of competence I've ever seen. From top to bottom, Disney employs some of the most talented people I've ever met, and some of the least qualified as well

Advice to Senior Management

Strike a better balance between 'creative' and 'practical' cultures - I found the constant pandering to the creative staff just inflated their egos (the really talented were very professional, and the rest just complained); time spent managing the personality clashes and bad business decisions made to appease the whiners cost my division millions in operating income.

Pros

Disney is a great company to work for mainly because of the Brand. Everyone knows your company and is interesting in discussing it. The perks are ok as well with the parks and discounts.

Cons

Maybe this is specific to my department but the hours normally are pretty long. Also, it is difficult to understand where I am in regards to recieving a promotion. I've noticed that those who get promoted are those with supportive managers and some managers promote more than other managers

Advice to Senior Management

Overall I think Bob and Tom are doing a great job, my issues are mainly with middle management.