In the past months the Disneyland Resort Paris has sent cast members all over Europe (most recently the UK) to find new cast members for the summer season starting today – traditionally one of the busiest parts of the year. With this job done the casting department is now turning to the next two major seasons of the resort: Halloween and Christmas. In the past years both seasons have become more and more important for the resort with major guests numbers in both parks and the hotels during the festivities. Especially dates such as the actual Halloween night and New Year’s Eve see the Disney hotels booking up early in advance. So from June 27th till July 1st the casting department is on a bus tour through the regions of Nord-Pas de Calais and Wallonie looking for potential cast members for the Halloween and Christmas seasons interested in working in the various service positions (in the parks as well as the Disney hotels) offered in the resort.
In itself this is a news that can be expected from the resort – however, the according press release includes one interesting statement: “In 2008, Disneyland Paris recruited more than 9,000 new cast members. Despite the current economic macroclimate the company offers many positions. In 2009 nearly it is expected that about 7,000 recruitments in various trades will be conducted“. While clearly worded to show that despite the economic situation in Europe the resort still hires new cast members (and at a significant number) the statement indicates that the number of open positions went down 22%. Certainly to some extent this might be due to fewer cast members with permanent contracts leaving their positions (such reducing the turnover rate), but the reduction also indicates that the resort is reacting to the economic situation on its main markets and the recent impacts in particular on the occupancy of the Disney Hotels (respectively the necessary special offers to support occupancy rates at the hotels) by reducing the size of its work force to reduce costs. 
Indicators were already spotted in the resort in the past weeks as not only shops continued to open only significantly after the park but also certain attractions (such as Alice’s Curious Labyrinth) had a reduced operating hours such reducing the number of cast members needed for staffing the attraction. Reducing the work force is a fast and easy way to reduce costs, however it is a risky method as well as the service quality must be maintained to avoid a negative impact on guest experience and word of mouth.
For those interested in applying: the casting bus of DLRP stops in Roubaix (in the vincinity of the subway station Epeule) today, June 30, before departing for Belgium as Jul 1 with stops planned for in Lessines, Nivelles and Charleroi. All applicants must be minimum 18 years of age, interested to work in service positions and ready to work in teams as well as have language abilities. Further information about open positions and recruiting projects can be found on the official casting website of DLRP, which has just been updated to provide more information to potential applicants with more ease.