Credit: DisneyWalt Disney World is a place built on the idea that everything runs seamlessly, that every ride launches on cue, every light hits its mark, and every experience feels effortless to the people paying to enjoy it. What most guests never think about is the army of people behind the scenes making all of that happen, and right now, Disney needs more of them. The company is hosting an in-person hiring event at the end of April, aimed specifically at the kind of technical, skilled tradespeople who keep the rides running, the hydraulics working, and the whole mechanical heartbeat of the parks thumping along right on schedule.
The timing of this event, however, is hard to ignore. It comes just days after new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro confirmed that the company is laying off roughly 1,000 employees, a move that has left the broader Disney community trying to make sense of what is happening inside one of the most recognized entertainment companies on the planet.
The Disney Hiring Event
Disney’s Facility Operating Services team is hosting the hiring event on April 28, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Walt Disney World Casting Services Center, located at 1515 E Buena Vista Drive in Orlando. The event is focused on filling full-time Attraction Mechanic positions, and Disney is making it clear they are serious about hiring quickly. Qualified candidates may be interviewed and receive a job offer on the spot, which you don’t often see at a lot of corporate hiring events. Free parking is available at the Grapefruit Garage, and Disney recommends applying online in advance to expedite the process; computers will be available on site for those who do not. The full process can run up to three hours, so anyone planning to attend should clear their schedule for the morning.
What the Job Actually Is
The Attraction Mechanic role is not an entry-level maintenance gig. Disney is looking for people with at least four years of hands-on mechanical maintenance experience, specifically with gearboxes, hydraulics, pneumatics, and ride systems. Candidates must be able to read schematics and work from blueprints, and must have a valid Florida driver’s license.
These are the Cast Members responsible for keeping attractions operating safely and on schedule, handling both preventative maintenance and real-time troubleshooting inside the parks. The starting pay is $29.59 per hour, and full-time employees have access to Disney Aspire, the company’s program that covers 100 percent of tuition costs for eligible hourly Cast Members pursuing continuing education. Full availability is required, including nights, weekends, and holidays, because the parks do not take days off, and neither does the work that keeps them running.
The Disney Layoffs Happening at the Same Time
It would be impossible to write about Disney hiring right now without acknowledging what is happening on the other side of the ledger. On April 14, 2026, Josh D’Amaro, who officially took over as CEO from Bob Iger on March 18, confirmed through a company-wide memo that Disney is eliminating roughly 1,000 roles. The cuts are largely concentrated in marketing departments and are part of a broader restructuring of the company’s marketing operations, first announced in January. Some employees had already been notified before the memo went out.
In the letter, D’Amaro framed the decision as part of an effort to build a more agile, technologically equipped workforce, and he acknowledged directly that the people being let go have done meaningful work for the company. Several open positions were also eliminated as part of the restructuring, reducing headcount without requiring additional individual notifications.
Two Very Different Kinds of Disney Roles
What is worth understanding here is that the layoffs and the hiring event are not really in conflict with each other, even if the optics are a little jarring. The 1,000 positions being cut are primarily in marketing and corporate operations. The roles Disney is actively recruiting for are skilled technical positions that require years of trade experience and are directly tied to keeping the parks’ physical infrastructure of the parks functioning. These are two entirely different parts of the business, and the demand for qualified Attraction Mechanics has nothing to do with the restructuring happening in the company’s marketing departments.
That said, the timing highlights the kind of workforce Disney is prioritizing right now. D’Amaro has signaled since taking over that he wants the company to move faster and think bigger, reportedly pushing Imagineers to rethink plans for the upcoming Disney Villains land and the Cars-themed land at Magic Kingdom. Whether that ambition translates into more investment in the parks’ physical operations remains to be seen, but the April 28 hiring event suggests that at least in one corner of the company, the focus is squarely on keeping the magic running.
Anyone interested in attending can apply in advance at Disney’s careers website before the event date.