RETAIL/TOURISM : Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm Begin Summertime Hirings

With the Orange County economy remaining strong and most companies paying above-minimum wage, the county’s two largest tourist attractions--Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm--are scrambling to get students off the beach and behind the turnstiles.

Disneyland spokesman Bob Roth said the park has been actively recruiting at local colleges. Mickey and Minnie Mouse made appearances at a recruiting fair at Cal State Fullerton, and Disneyland ran a circular in the campus newspaper announcing summer job openings during the park’s 35th anniversary bash.

“We’re celebrating Disneyland’s 35th Anniversary in a big way with: big parties! big prizes! big employment opportunities.� But the salaries won’t be quite so big: Top pay is $5.96 an hour.

And the hours--Disneyland requires that employees be available on Friday nights and weekends--may not appeal to some.

But both Disneyland and Knott’s have one selling point that no supermarket or fast-food joint can match. Working in an amusement park can be fun.

Knott’s, which hired 300 youths at a March job fair, is “on target� with its summer hiring and plans to continue hiring through the Fourth of July, spokesman Stuart Zanville said.

“It’s always going to be a challenge,� Zanville said. “The unemployment rate is so low that the young people who make up the bulk of . . . the summer labor force are very selective.�

Besides the job fair, Knott’s officials meet with high school and college employment officers to try to get them to steer recruits in the park’s direction. The park offers flexible scheduling so youths can participate in family vacations, free admission to employees and their friends, prize drawings and discounted merchandise.