Disney employee questions

[Bethanymouse]

Ok fellow intercotees, I have a few questions after my return from the world. I am suffering some major disney blues as I am sure many of you can relate to. This is the reason for these questions.

First, what are disney employees starting salaries, generally speaking? I know it varies, but I am talking for someone like me, a graduate student of Psychology, doctoral student, teaching certification (nothing that I can use to get a job in disney, I know). Also, how long does it take to be a disney VIP tour guide and how much money do they make? Is it something that you can enter into, or do they make you work your way up?

Anthony and I have dreams of moving to Florida after I complete my doctorate. I would love to work for disney, but with a doctorate in Psychology what could I possibly do? Probably a whole lotta nothing. So I have these dreams of working at my own practice part time and working for disney part time. Hopefully someone will come along that knows the answer to some of these questions. I bet Capt.Jessica Sparrow knows..... Thanks guys!

[joanna71985]

The only question I know the answer to is the one about the VIP tour guide. Not everyone can be trained for this. You have to start out in Guest Relations, and after a certain period of time have the ability to be trained (I forget what the time period is- I will ask my friend who is in GR).

[CaptainJessicaSparrow]

I'll be the one to say the VIP tour guides don't get paid that much. I believe it's like $12-15/hr. Maybe if you are one of the top, around $20. Which is odd considering you pay $500/hr to have them with you.

Salaries? I'd guess starting around $30K. The hourly rate is $7.00 in most cases, some positions pay more. It's not very competitive.

[Figaro]

Disney hourly pay really is on the bottom. I began at $8.15 and have only made it up ta few cents. Most all of Disney is start at the bottom and work your way up. There's a few ways to "cheat the system".. well.. not really cheating, but to give you an edge over hourly CMs and that's thru Disney CP and Management intern programs. Don't get me wrong... I love my job, I love working for Disney, pay could be a lot better, but you find ways to even it out if you really want to stay with the company. It's worth it to stick it out and make it to the top. The guy who's running Recreation for WL, CT and FW began in housekeeping cleaning rooms, and now oversees Recreation operations for 3 resorts and all of Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon Lake Patrol. Disney is also like a small city. They honestly are. They have every job a small city has. Look into Walt Disney World Resort and Reedy Creek Improvement District jobs. Someone with your schooling shouldn't have an issue getting a higher level position.

[CaptainJessicaSparrow]

....what in Hades are you talking about? The CP's are at the very, very, very, very, bottom of the pay scale. They get paid $6.67, minimum wage in Florida. They never get a raise and while they work a lot of hours, a FT getting paid $7 will still come out ahead.

Bethany, there is a lot you could do as far as HR and Cast Services. But again, starting pay for Disney isn't that great. Look online at Disney's career sections, and there is an area called JOBS Online. You should be able to see what type of positions are available and what the prerequisites are for them. You can usually apply online. They do hire from outside the company a lot of the time.

[Figaro]

....what in Hades are you talking about? The CP's are at the very, very, very, very, bottom of the pay scale. They get paid $6.67, minimum wage in Florida. They never get a raise and while they work a lot of hours, a FT getting paid $7 will still come out ahead.

Well yeah... true. :p It's more so the management interns who get the edge into management.

[TheRustyScupper]

1) College Program kids
. . . make just under $7/hr
. . . they got raise from $6.80/hr
. . . they are the lowest of the low of WDW employees
. . . 3-6 month contract periods
. . . CP participants are not union jobs
2) Management Interns
. . . make $12-$15/hr
. . . depends upon the job and the department
. . . typical contracts 6-12 months
. . . full-time front-line managers start at $27,000-$35,000
. . . salaried ("Office & Technical") make considerably lower
. . . most full time managers come from Mgmt Interns, so WDW "tries you out"
3) Starting rates for hourly folks (per 4/29/07 union contract)
. . . are $7.45-$9.85, based upon job
. . . some specialists can go to $13.10 starting
. . . attractions & resorts are lowest paid
. . . most hourly jobs top out at about $13.70/hr
. . . some skilled jobs (eg. entertainment rigger) can go to $22.60/hr
. . . most hourly jobs are union jobs
. . . best paid hourly (w/tips) are waiters and bellmen and valet parking
4) It takes approx 15-years to make it to the top of the grade in your job.
. . . it used to take about 7-yrs
. . . with the new union contracts, it is about 15-yrs
. . . annual pay increases approx 3.1%-4.4% average
. . . there is a negotiated lump pay in January in lieu of bigger raises

5) VIP Guides *usually* come from the Guest Services
. . . they are hourly employees
. . . thye are bid jobs
. . . you need lots of WDW Guest Service experience to apply
. . . when you apply, you actually audition
. . . you have a very long spiel you must memorize
. . . a group of hourly and salaried employees evaluate you

6) A psych degree won't help you much for a position at WDW
. . . you will come in at an entry level, even in salaried/managerial
. . . you will have to work your way up the ladder
. . . to get more at hiring, your need a lot of relevant experience *
. . . my friend works salaried in HR-Training with an MBA degree, paid $17,000


* I was once offered an entry position as an Engineering Manager, but declined due to the low pay versus industry average pay for Engineering Managers.

[DrivingSideways]

...my friend works salaried in HR-Training with an MBA degree, paid $17,000

WHOA. I'm looking for an HR position now and was desperately hoping to find a place for myself at WDW. I make more than that part-time in retail. My goodness.

I'm assuming a retail management position would be considered "front line", and would therefore fall in to the $30K range?