Will Ferrell recently shared an amusing anecdote from his college days during an appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast, *Good Hang*. In the episode aired on 14 July, Ferrell, now 58, recounted how he took on a brief role at Disneyland while attending the University of Southern California (USC).
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The conversation began with Poehler, aged 54, asking Ferrell if he had ever held any amusing or peculiar jobs during his university years. Ferrell revealed, with a hint of laughter, that he had only worked at Disneyland for a single day. This revelation prompted Poehler to jokingly inquire if he had been fired or simply not asked to return.
Ferrell explained that his 24-hour stint at Disneyland ended rather comically when he decided to quit. Embarrassment prevented him from making the call himself, so he asked a friend to do so on his behalf. “For some reason, I was so embarrassed to call,” he confessed, leading to a humorous twist in the tale.
He further elaborated on his expectations when he took the job. Initially, Ferrell had hoped for an entertaining role, such as operating the Jungle Cruise ride. However, it quickly became clear that such positions were reserved for employees with years of tenure. Instead, he was assigned to sell tickets at one of the front kiosks, a task he found far less appealing.
Ferrell also revealed that he was considering a “rival offer” from a friend’s surf shop in Newport Beach, which paid the same hourly rate of £5.50. Feeling more drawn to the surf shop than to his Disneyland role, he ultimately made the decision to quit before the day was up.
Faced with his reluctance to resign directly, his friend John stepped in to communicate his intentions. When John informed Disneyland that Ferrell would be quitting after just one day, the theme park’s staff inquired about the reason for leaving. To Ferrell’s amusement, John replied with the preposterous excuse of a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys, leading to a chuckle from Poehler.
Ferrell quipped that somewhere in Disneyland’s corporate records, there exists a note stating, “Will Ferrell worked for one day. Reason for leaving: Tryout with the Dallas Cowboys football team.” This comedic turn of events drew laughs from the podcast audience and highlighted the lighthearted nature of the discussion.
Interestingly, Ferrell’s brief employment at Disneyland is not an isolated case among Hollywood personalities. In a separate incident, actress Geena Davis shared on a May 2026 episode of *Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen* that she once donned the Goofy costume for a few hours at the Anaheim theme park.
Davis recalled that she was briefly allowed to interact with guests and signed autographs in character. “Somehow, they let me be Goofy,” she said, revealing the extraordinary experience she had while mimicking the beloved Disney character’s movements.
The stories of Ferrell and Davis illustrate a quirky side of Hollywood stars, offering a glimpse into their lives before fame. Both anecdotes highlight not only the humorous aspects of working at Disneyland but also the kind of experiences that shape individuals before they achieve celebrity status.
Will Ferrell’s quirky tale from his past serves as a reminder that even future stars were once simply trying to find their way like many students today, navigating through jobs both fun and foolish.