Kyra Ehlers '16 grew up in a family that loved Disneyland. She and her sister, Kalei Ehlers '13, visited the popular amusement park at least once a year with their parents, Barry Ehlers and Monica Ho Ehlers '86. Today, Kyra is working at the lively amusement park as a guest relations lead. Through Disney, Kyra is working on her master's degree in communications, with an emphasis in public relations. We caught up with Kyra to ask her what it's really like to work at "the happiest place on earth."
Can you tell us a little bit about your job?
I help our Disneyland Resort guests with any questions they might have, whether it's itinerary planning, sharing recommendations or listening to their concerns. My department is a sort of catch-all for the rest of the resort. Whenever people don't know the answers, they direct those guests to us. As a lead, I'm essentially a supervisor. I spend a lot of time managing guest relations cast members and making general day-to-day decisions.
What led you to the Disneyland Resort?
I've worked for Disney since 2019. It started with an internship in college at Walt Disney World in Florida. After that, I started working at Disneyland in 2020, right before the pandemic. I have always loved Disney and always wanted to work for them. The Disney experience is like no other—working there gives you such a unique perspective into the operation of a large, successful media and entertainment company.
What is it really like to work at Disneyland?
It's very fun, but it can also be very chaotic. There are a million things happening at any given time, and no two days are the same. Part of the reason I love my job is that I never know what each day will bring. I have so many opportunities to create magical moments for families, and to really turn around people's vacations. It's definitely very surreal to be paid to watch shows like Fantasmic! and fireworks every night, and to be paid to ride rollercoasters.
What is your favorite ride?
My favorite ride is Pirates of the Caribbean. It's always my first ride when I go into the park! I love it because it is a classic ride. Every time you ride it, you can find something new.
How has your work experience expanded and refined your skills?
I feel prepared for any situation. My confidence and public speaking skills were very low when I first started at the company. I can now speak to a crowd of hundreds with no problem. I have to make a lot of split-second decisions, and it has definitely made me quick on my feet. My job has also taught me a lot about working in a team environment.
Please tell us about your master's degree program and how Disney is contributing.
Disney has a program called "Disney Aspire," which provides free education for employees for a variety of degrees. I'm currently enrolled in the Communications Master's Program (with an emphasis in public relations), and I'm lucky enough to have all of the expenses—including books and tuition—paid for by Disney.
Is it really the happiest place on earth?
I think it is. Like anywhere, there are definitely moments when things go wrong. But, at the end of the day, people come to Disneyland to create memories with their friends and families.
