Work at a Theme Park

Theme Park Jobs

In the old days, theme parks just included a few fairground rides for children and some scenic gardens for adultss. Noways theme parks are a multimillion pound business offering exhilerating rides, entertainment and food. Theme parks recruit thousands of seasonal staff every year due to the amount of vacancies available. Theme parks are one of the most popular places to visit for entertainment in the UK and around the world.

Theme parks look to recruit people who are people friendly, can show initiative and are fun to be around. In most roles you will have interaction with the public and so you will need to have a positive personality, adaptable and open to doing different things. Working at a theme park is a lot of fun, it is a fast-paced environment where you will be interacting with people who are there to have fun. 

If you are a student looking for a temporary job for over the summer holiday, theme parks are a fantastic option. You can find roles to match your skills/interests - there are also positions which can boost your CV and help future career prospects.

 

Top Reasons to Work at a Theme Park

  • Get paid
  • Gain new skils
  • Meet new people
  • A lot of jobs are flexible
  • Boost your experience and skills

 

Theme Park Jobs for Students

If you are a student seeking casual and flexible employment why not consider working at a theme park? This is a great way to earn funds, meet new people and also have fun. There are various jobs available for students with flexible working hours perfect if you are looking to continue studing, or you have break during the holidays. There are lots of flexible shifts available during days, evenings and weekends, depending on the role you are hired for. Most general positions do not require any previous experience.

 

Types of Positions Available

There are a diverse range of roles available at theme parks including:

Parking & Entrance Fee 
Most theme parks offer onsite parking and employ car park attendants and traffic safety oficers to help with new arrivals. Some parks employ welcome staff to greet members of the public on arrival to add to the friendly experience.

Sales & Marketing
Sales and marketing staff are needed all year round even when theme parks are closed because they need to generate interest and ticket sales. Competition is high due to the amount of theme parks now operational and as part of a marketing and sales team you will be required to boost sales, be creative, be able to think of eye catching offers, special offers and promotions. Both online and offline campaigns are run and you will need to be full of ideas and have a keen eye for detail to entice visitors. Generating a profit is key to the sucess of theme parks and sales and marketing are vital.

Ride Operators & Technicians
Theme parks wouldn't be able to run without the ride operators and technicians. Rides are one of the main draws for any theme park and staff are need to make sure rides are safe. As a ride attendant you will need to help customers embark, provide safety information and make sure they are able to depart safely. You will also be required to make enforce restrictions, for example check to see if people are a certain height to be eligible to ride. As a ride technician you will be reqeuired to check all rides are safe, by checking engineering aspects. For these positions you will need previous qualifications, skills and training.

Kiosk Staff
Inside theme parks there are lots of shops, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops which need staffing. You could be employed in the food and beverage area at a kiosk selling food, drinks, official merchandise like photos and also toys.

Cooks, Chefs & Catering Staff
Thousands of people visit theme parks daily and it is important they have access to food and drink throughout the day. Parks employ lots of chefs and catering staff as this is one of the main areas where they make money. From cooking meals, waiting on tables to working behind the bars there are various positions available.

Retail 
There are lots of roles available working in retail departments of theme parks. At a shop you could be a sales assistant, help with shelf-stacking, operating tills and selling merchandising. 

Cleaners & Gardeners
It is important theme parks look appealing to visitors, the sight of rubbish and mess can be off putting so theme parks employ teams of staff to clean and pick rubbish up. Most theme parks also have gardens which need to be kept pristine and pretty.

Hotel & Hospitality 
A lot of theme parks offer onsite accommodation and so managers, receptionists, cleaners and other roles are available. 

Film & Photography
If you have a passion for the media industry you can find work as a park videographer or photographer. You will be responsible for capturing special moments on camera which are then sold to members of the public. Some roles even offer commission on success. Recruiters to check out include Picsolve who hire staff for theme parks in the UK, USA and worldwide.

Entertainment 
Entertainment staff are required to make peoples visit to the park special. You could be employed in a role which includes dressing up, dancing, playing a musical instrument, singing, providing entertainment like making balloon animals or giving face painting.

Childcare Staff
If you would like to work with children and teenagers, there are positions where you can lead workshops and tour groups. 

More Roles
There are also lots of other roles available including behind the scenes, conference and events roles, finance, recruitment, IT, logistics, operations, lifeguards or working in stock and supply at the parks warehouses.

 

Jobs at Theme Parks in the UK

There are lots of theme parks throughout the United Kingdom which hire seasonal staff, popular resorts include:
 

Merlin Entertainment Group 

The Merlin Entertainment Group are one of the biggest recruiters of seasonal theme park staff in the UK and they offer a wide range of vacancies. Some of the most popular theme parks in the UK including Alton Towers, THORPE PARK and Chessington World of Adventures Resort which are all owned by the Merlin Entertainment Group.

 

Alton Towers Resort

Alton Towers is a theme park, water park, and hotel complex in Staffordshire. It is operated by Merlin Entertainments Group. Alton Towers is one of the most popular theme parks in the UK with thrilling rides and entertainment. 

 

Chessington World of Adventures Resort

Chessington World of Adventures Resort is Britain’s Wildest Adventure. So whether you join as a seasonal worker or a seasoned professional, you’ll find life is far from tame. In fact, when a short walk can see you go from a Pirates’ Cove to the Mystic East, or from the ruins of Wild Asia to a cave full of creepy crawlies, every day is full of excitement. Your challenge will be to make it better than ever.

 

Crealy Great Adventure Park & Resort

Crealy have a variety of seasonal vacancies available including assistant and supervisory roles, many which include flexible working hours. If you are looking for part time or holiday work, or to gain more experience in a particular area, seasonal work may be ideal for you!

 

LEGOLAND Windsor Resort

There are a wide variety of different roles within the LEGOLAND theme park. Staff are needed to provide memorable experiences to guests and there are a variety of opportunities.

 

Oakwood Theme Park

Oakwood Theme Park is a theme park in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

 

THORPE PARK Resort

THORPE PARK is a theme park and accommodation located in Surrey. It is operated and owned by Merlin Entertainments Group. THORPE PARK offers some of the most extreme and exciting rides in the whole of Europe - with over 28 rides and attractions. 

 

When is The Best Time to Apply?

Theme Parks usually open in the spring (around February in the UK) and close for winter when the weather is bad. Thousands of people apply for roles at theme parks every year and competition can be high even for non-skilled roles so you will need to apply early to give yourself the best chance of getting hired.

Most theme parks have recruitment sections of their websites open all year round and want to get all staff in place before opening. Theme Park main recruitment time is between December and February so this is a great time to get your application in but do not worry if you miss these dates, there are year round opportunities available.

 

Theme Park Jobs Abroad

Would you like to work abroad? Working at a theme park is a great way to make money and also gain valuable work experience whilst overseas. You can find theme parks in a number of worldwide destinations and some hire international staff. You could apply for seasonal jobs in Europe, Asia, North America and other locations. A popular option is to apply for seasonal work in the United States and then apply to theme parks as part of a cultural exchange. 
 

Theme Park Jobs in Europe

Siam Water Park is a stunning complex with many superb attractions, situated close to Adeje, near Tenerife, in the Canary Islands which is a popular place to work on a gap year in Spain. The combination of excellent weather and everything on site is very tempting. The park itself is designed around the natural landscape, and offers a wide choice of exciting rides and attractions, more leisurely entertainment, beaches and other facilities. T

hrill-seekers are attracted to the stunning Tower of Power, a 28metre high near vertical drop that is not to be missed, while there is also the relaxing Siam Beach close by. Siam Park really is that sort of place, a resort that caters for everyone. As this is one of the most popular water parks in Europe, it is best to seek employment well in advance.

 

Theme Park & Amusement Park Jobs in the USA

The United States is home to some of the biggest and best theme parks in the world! Popular places to seek employment include:

  • Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
  • Schlitterbahn Water Park
  • Universal's Island of Adventure
  • Six Flags Magic Mountain
  • Kings Island
  • Dells Water Parks
  • Wisconsin Dells
  • Hersheypark
  • Knott's Berry Farm

 

Walt Disney World Resort Jobs in the USA & Worldwide

For many people nothing can beat the thrill and magic of Disney World, the world-famous resort in Florida. Walt Disney World, as it is known, is a comprehensive homage to the works of the great man, and was first opened to the public in the early 1970s. It is, without doubt, the original, and the one that everyone lines up to emulate. There are now 15 million Disney World tickets sold each year, so what busier or livelier place is there to work.

The resort has been vastly expanded since it first opened, and new attractions have been added routinely across the years. It is home to some of the most iconic rides in the world, plus two exciting water parks, and there are Disney-themed hotels on site that make for a more interesting experience. Perhaps more of interest is the Epcot centre, with its stunning futuristic exhibits and ‘World Showcase’, as well as Disney’s Hollywood Studios attraction which charts the company’s history in the movies.

There are Walt Disney World Resorts in:

  • China: Shanghai Disney Resort
  • France: Disneyland Paris
  • Hong Kong: Hong Kong Disneyland
  • Japan: Tokyo Disney Resort.
  • USA: Florida, California, Hawaii - Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, Walt Disney Imagineering, Disneyland Resort, Aulani - A Disney Resort & Spa

Disney is one of the most well known theme parks in the world which attraction millions of visitors every year. Disney Resorts in the USA hire international staff during summer and throughout the year and these positions are popular with students on J-a visas. If you want to take the opportunity to work with the great Mickey Mouse and other famous characters, remember to apply well in advance. 

 

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