If you can, the best way to get into research might be to go get the MS or doctorate. Disney research is made up of multiple labs, several of which are university programs that Disney sponsors, and full of people going for PhDs. In the internal labs most of the core researchers do have PhDs. There are ways to get in, it doesn't require a PhD, but it might take a demonstrated history of commitment to research, or willingness to take a job that is supporting or doing something tangential to core research. I have a friend who worked doing core research for both MSR and Disney research who doesn't have a PhD, but he published heavily and demonstrated he didn't need the degrees by being smarter and harder working than most researchers.
