Cast Members

[Airblue1]

We took a lot of tours on our last trip to WDW. We noticed that each presentor of the tour slightly mentioning they hold several positions throughout the parks etc.. My question is how are the positions determined? How many positions can one cast member hold in a given month/year?

[TheRustyScupper]

1) When hired, you sometimes can select a position/classification.
2) Afterward, you can bid to change jobs every six months.
3) Many get cross-trained for several jobs.
4) Then, they can fill-in when extra hours are available.

NOTE: In lean times, one might be forced to transfer, so the six-month rule is not in effect.

[Airblue1]

I have a an undergrad degree in Elementary Educaiton and a Masters in Administration. If I were to become a cast member what positions could I fulfill?

[btharvey]

If you're tall, Goofy! :mickey:

If not, Grumpy!

[CaptainJessicaSparrow]

I've held 4 positions in two years, and not all of them were for 6 months.

Pop Century F&B - 8 months (Jan 07-Aug 07)
Emporium Merch - 11 months (Aug 07-July 08)
Jungle Cruise - 1 month (July 08-Aug 08)
Entertainment - 4 months (Aug 08-Present)

You can transfer within 6 months if it's a higher pay scale. Hence why I was able to leave Jungle for Entertainment.

You can pick what area you want to work, but not necessarily what specific location. Like, when I went to Jungle, I had to choose all of Ad/Lib. They chose Jungle for me (a great choice that I loved and wanted though Mansion was a first choice).

[WDWdriver]

I have a an undergrad degree in Elementary Educaiton and a Masters in Administration. If I were to become a cast member what positions could I fulfill?

It doesn't work like that. Except for the executive and administrative support positions, Disney doesn't really care what you have done in the past or what your education level is. There are plenty of CMs with advanced degrees working in custodial jobs, or security, or food & beverage, or whatever. I have a masters degree, and I operate a couple of rides. Why do we leave our degrees behind and work for Disney as unskilled labor? Because we LOVE it!

[CaptainJessicaSparrow]

I've (almost - 123 days!!!) got my degree in Theme Park Management.

For the record, I'm still front-line.

[Airblue1]

that is a great philosophy. I like how they work you to see your work ethic and commitment before they move you along throughout the different lines of work. is the pay good and the benefits?
Thanks

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . is the pay good and the benefits? . . .

1) WDW pay is notoriously low, even for "professional & managerial".
2) Benefits
. . . health insurance, VERY good
. . . vision, average
. . . dental, average
. . . life insurance, less than average
. . . disability insurance, poor
. . . retirement, poor

NOTE1: As a newbie hourly person, you can expect to work all weekends and the worst shifts, until your seniority gives you rights to bid on better shifts and more desirable days off.

NOTE2: I have two Masters degrees and several patents. Fortunately, I am semi-retired and can afford WDW wages. WDW has many people receiving government assistance and even living in subsidized housing due to the low wages - and some of these have both husband and wife working at WDW.

[Imagineer1981]

When hired they give you an area as Capt Jessica said. Mine was Tomorrowland and they choose space mtn for me. I then cross trained on buzz and Alien at the time.

As far as pay, its LOW. My wife and I both worked full time at Disney as CMs as well as Full time as Caricature artist at Disney (yes we worked essentially 2 shifts a day, one at the parks and one as artist) and we still barely could afford our apartment with rent of 700 a month. It was tough for sure, which is why many CMs live at home with parents, live together with 2-5 in an apartment, or are retired.

[ToraTory]

My daughter is in the midst of this right now. She did the college program twice and was only one semester away from a degree in Recreation and Parks Management. The degree made no difference for her at all. She just finished her second college program and figured getting a full time job would be rather easy given her experience and education. Not so much. Currently she was told there are not any full time positions available and there probably will not be any openings for some time. She is working as a seasonal employee without any guarantee of hours. The sad thing is this is her dream job, she went to college thinking it would help and it didn't. She probably will not make her rent (she has 3 roomies) in February and it's looking like mom will have to pay it again (as well as her student loan payment).

The irony is even though she is living at a poverty level and eating mac and cheese to survive, if you ask her she will tell you that she has never been happier. She loves her job and the people she works with. I would like to see her get some stability and health insurance, but for now at least she is happy and I suppose that is just as important.

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . She did the college program twice and was only one semester away from a degree in Recreation and Parks Management. The degree made no difference for her at all.

1) For hourly personnel
. . . you need to breathe
. . . you need to stand for most jobs
. . . education does not matter
. . . physical appearance seldom matters
. . . past experience does not matter
2) For office and technical
. . . most are from hourly ranks
. . . past experience does count
. . . education sometimes counts
3) For managerial personnel
. . . many are hired from hourly ranks
. . . many are hired from management internships
. . . few are hired directly
4) For professional
. . . education does count
. . . past experience does count
. . . hired from inside or outside
5) For management of professionals
. . . hired from inside and outside
. . . education does count
. . . specific experience a big plus

NOTE: For hourly positions, your past - except for criminal history - does not count. In fact, WDW does not check employment references or education for hourly personnel beyond doing a state & FBI check on your fingerprints. They do not even do a drug test. (However, for bus drivers and security personnel ,there are specific background checks and drug tests.)

[mouseketeer mom]

1) For hourly personnel
. . . you need to breathe
. . . you need to stand for most jobs
. . . education does not matter
. . . physical appearance seldom matters
. . . past experience does not matter
2) For office and technical
. . . most are from hourly ranks
. . . past experience does count
. . . education sometimes counts
3) For managerial personnel
. . . many are hired from hourly ranks
. . . many are hired from management internships
. . . few are hired directly
4) For professional
. . . education does count
. . . past experience does count
. . . hired from inside or outside
5) For management of professionals
. . . hired from inside and outside
. . . education does count
. . . specific experience a big plus

NOTE: For hourly positions, your past - except for criminal history - does not count. In fact, WDW does not check employment references or education for hourly personnel beyond doing a state & FBI check on your fingerprints. They do not even do a drug test. (However, for bus drivers and security personnel ,there are specific background checks and drug tests.)

I noticed you mentioned physical appearance seldom matters...thought I heard about Disney grooming..like you have to have a certain "look" or presentation, right on down to hair color..meaning no crazy highlights or anything., no visible tatoos, basic makeup...

[CaptainJessicaSparrow]

I noticed you mentioned physical appearance seldom matters...thought I heard about Disney grooming..like you have to have a certain "look" or presentation, right on down to hair color..meaning no crazy highlights or anything., no visible tatoos, basic makeup...

They've been REALLY slack on this lately. I've seen some shady things on CMs that even I was like ".....Seriously? This isn't Universal, people."

[Figaro]

1) WDW pay is notoriously low, even for "professional & managerial".
2) Benefits
. . . health insurance, VERY good
. . . vision, average
. . . dental, average
. . . life insurance, less than average
. . . disability insurance, poor
. . . retirement, poor

NOTE1: As a newbie hourly person, you can expect to work all weekends and the worst shifts, until your seniority gives you rights to bid on better shifts and more desirable days off.

NOTE2: I have two Masters degrees and several patents. Fortunately, I am semi-retired and can afford WDW wages. WDW has many people receiving government assistance and even living in subsidized housing due to the low wages - and some of these have both husband and wife working at WDW.

Agreed. I actually came in new and I've had my RDO as Sat and Sun since I've began working with Disney. Don't ask me how. Now that I went Seas and I'm going back to FT, I pray I keep my RDOs. Not even my managers, besides the regional manager, had Sat and Sun off.



They've been REALLY slack on this lately. I've seen some shady things on CMs that even I was like ".....Seriously? This isn't Universal, people."

I agree. I've seen some stuff that's made me cringe and want to yell at a few CMs.



1) For hourly personnel
. . . you need to breathe
. . . you need to stand for most jobs
. . . education does not matter
. . . physical appearance seldom matters
. . . past experience does not matter
2) For office and technical
. . . most are from hourly ranks
. . . past experience does count
. . . education sometimes counts
3) For managerial personnel
. . . many are hired from hourly ranks
. . . many are hired from management internships
. . . few are hired directly
4) For professional
. . . education does count
. . . past experience does count
. . . hired from inside or outside
5) For management of professionals
. . . hired from inside and outside
. . . education does count
. . . specific experience a big plus

NOTE: For hourly positions, your past - except for criminal history - does not count. In fact, WDW does not check employment references or education for hourly personnel beyond doing a state & FBI check on your fingerprints. They do not even do a drug test. (However, for bus drivers and security personnel ,there are specific background checks and drug tests.)

I actually think they do the testing on Lifeguards and Lake Patrol, also. I know a few have gotten in trouble for it. On the note of CMs being crossed trained, etc. I've chosen to take that option also. I'm a Lifeguard, Cruise Driver (Fireworks Cruises), Cashier, Recreation Host, Character Attendant (Chip n Dale! :D), & Campfire Host.