Disney Culinary Leadership Intern (CA), Summer/Fall 2024

About the Role & Program

“We make magic.” That’s our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. And it permeates everything we do. At Disney, you’ll help inspire that magic by enabling our teams to push the limits of entertainment and build the never-before-seen!

As a Culinary Leadership Intern at the Disneyland® Resort, you will become part of the magic that is known worldwide, gain on-the-job experience working in our parks and resorts, and participate in unique learning experiences. You will embark on a new journey as a CULINARY LEADERSHIP INTERN as you build lasting impressions and unforgettable dining experiences for our guests. Master your craft as you work side-by-side with culinary leaders and cast members in areas that range from catering, fine dining, and even quick-service.

The Disney Culinary Leadership Internship is a robust 6-month learning and development opportunity for college seniors, graduate students, and recent graduates to work in a leadership role. Participants will learn from top leaders in the hospitality industry, gain hands-on experience, and participate in Disney leadership classes.

What You Will Do

• Culinary leadership participants work with and learn from chefs who lead a professional culinary team in a restaurant kitchen, catering/banquets facility
• Manage culinary concepts
• Engage directly with Cast to create an exceptional, integrated Guest and Cast experiences
• Learn and practice value for self, team and operation
• Be a mentor to hourly chefs, trainers and leads
• Foster a positive environment which builds on relationships, community and trust by delivering the Five Keys Basics and modeling the Disney Leader Basics
• Operate restaurants in compliance with The Walt Disney Company Global Resort Standards, The Walt Disney Company Global F&B Standards, Disneyland Resort Food Safety Standards
• Ensure show quality of the operation
• Sustain operational vision, including innovative and improvement initiatives to gain Guest, Cast and financial results
• Knowledge, application and presentation of the Restaurant's food and beverage offerings
• Ensure production, quality and presentation of food
• Continuous development and application of food knowledge
• Provide culinary specific leadership to support, motivate and develop Cast members with a hands-on approach
• Respond to special dietary needs
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of menu
• Ensure that products are properly ordered, received and stored
• Ensure maintenance and cleanliness of equipment and facilities

Required Qualifications & Skills

• A self-starter who enjoys making day-to-day operational decisions in line with Guest, Cast Members and Financial expectations
• Able to foster, build and maintain relationships to best communicate and work with Guests, front-line Cast Members, partners, vendors, leaders and peers in other lines of business as a point-of-contact for day-to-day operations
• Empowered to inspire, recognize, monitor performance, coach and develop front-line Cast Members from different cultures, backgrounds and styles
• Minimum one year demonstrated leadership experience
• Minimum one year Culinary experience
• Proven understanding of financial aspects of an operation
• Demonstrated ability to create both classical and groundbreaking (trends) food presentations
• Demonstrated problem solving and decision making skills
• Demonstrated strong written and organizational skills with attention to detail
• Proven ability to function effectively in a team environment
• Mature understanding, flexibility and willingness to reprogram previous findings and styles
• Demonstrated strong computer proficiency within a Windows environment

Preferred Qualifications

• 1 year entry-level culinary leadership experience
• Proven track record as a team leader within the kitchen (i.e. lead cook, shift supervisor)
• Three years of previous Culinary experience
• Demonstrated multilingual skills, particularly Spanish preferred
• Knowledgeable about catering specific dietary requests for individualized guests
• Demonstrated strong presentation skills

Education

• You’ll be an undergraduate or a recent graduate (within 6 months of your graduation date) pursuing a degree in Culinary or other related fields

Eligibility Requirements & Program Information

• Must be enrolled in an accredited college/university taking at least one class in the semester/quarter (spring/fall) prior to participation in the internship program OR must have graduated from a college/university within 6 months at time of application posting OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Internship
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must not have completed one year of continual employment on a Disney internship or program
• Must possess unrestricted work authorization

Additional Information

• Must follow The Disney Look appearance guidelines
• Must be able to have a consistent, reliable work schedule throughout the internship
• The approximate dates of this internship are June 2024 through January 2025
• Must be fully available for the duration of the internship (approximately 40 hours each week)
• Must provide own housing throughout entire internship program in the Anaheim, CA area
• Must have reliable transportation to/from work

Recommendation – Print This Role Description: Strong candidates may be invited to interview for this position. We strongly encourage applicants to print or save a copy of this opportunity for reference in the event they are selected for a phone interview. Note that this role description will not be accessible once the posting is closed. We hope to speak with you soon!