DISNEY CULTURE
Disney
CREATING A CULTURE OF HAPPINESS
BY : ERIKA MACLEOD
F
Founded in 1923 by brothers Roy and Walt Disney , Disney has become the largest and most profitable media and entertainment organization in the world . With over 330 retail stores , four Disney cruises , 12 theme parks , and special attractions like Disney on Broadway , it has been spreading magic everywhere for almost 100 years . In this issue of Tulip Media Marketing Magazine , we ’ re going to explore the company culture of Disney to better understand how they continue to captivate people across the globe .
MY EXPERIENCE AT DISNEY
I wanted to examine the culture at Disney because I ’ ve actually had the pleasure of being a Disney cast member . Back in 1999 , long before I started thinking about company culture , I joined the Disney team at one of their retail locations , and I got to experience what it meant to be a valued Disney employee .
I immediately observed the difference in how Disney treats their staff versus other companies . The first thing I noticed working with Disney is that the goal is to make every experience magical . This was evident from the second the onboarding process began . There was an emphasis on treating their staff as guests in order to create a sense of belonging , devotion , and employees who wanted to exceed customer expectations . Walt Disney knew that the secret to designing the “ happiest place on earth ” started with having the happiest , most dedicated employees , and his dream has lived on long after his death through the organizational culture he created .
Skip to today , and I knew I had to study Disney ’ s company culture because of the exceptional experiences I ’ ve had both as a staff member and visitor throughout the years . I dove into a few books to supplement my knowledge even further , including Be Our Guest by The Disney Institute with Theodore Kinni , The Disney Difference by Wayne Olson , and Who Was Walt Disney ? by Whitney Stewart . Each of these reads gave me further insight into the culture behind the company , and I recommend these to anyone interested in learning more about the rich history and company culture of Disney .
CORE VALUES
Walt Disney understood that “ you can design and create and build the most wonderful place in the world , but it takes people to make the dream a reality .” Walt Disney knew that to bring his dream to life , he needed employees who would share his values and carry out the magic of Disney in every nook and cranny of their daily deeds . From the moment they stepped on Disney grounds , he needed them to become part of the dream .
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