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Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Cast Members

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    Laguna Beach, Ca.
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    Default Cast Members

    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?
    PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE RIDE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP!!!

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
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    Clermont, FL
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    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.
    Average Banjo Picker. Pretty-Good Sailing Master. Newly Ordained.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    Laguna Beach, Ca.
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    Default What Position Would I Qualify For

    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?
    PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE RIDE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP!!!

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Leonardtown, Maryland
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    If you're tall, Goofy!

    If not, Grumpy!

    Disneyland Anaheim JUL66
    Cocoa Beach Hilton SEP86
    [just passing through] OCT94
    Coronado Springs JAN03, DEC06
    Caribbean Beach FEB05
    Disney Magic DEC06
    Fort Wilderness AUG08, AUG09
    Port Orleans French Quarter AUG11
    ???????????????????? XXX14

  6. #5
    CaptainJessicaSparrow Guest

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    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).

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    New Smyrna Beach, Florida
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    Quote Originally Posted by Airblue1 View Post
    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!
    Ron
    INTERCOT Staff
    WDW Cast Member
    Expedition: Everest
    Kali River Rapids

  8. #7
    CaptainJessicaSparrow Guest

    Default

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

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

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    Laguna Beach, Ca.
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    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
    PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE RIDE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP!!!

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
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    Clermont, FL
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    Quote Originally Posted by Airblue1 View Post
    . . . 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.
    Average Banjo Picker. Pretty-Good Sailing Master. Newly Ordained.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2000
    Location
    Swansea, IL USA
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    2,773
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    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.
    1999 -2005 Former CM at Space Mtn and Caricature artist at AK and Resorts
    Jan 06 BC/Cruise/ASM
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    Dec. 07 Caribbean Beach
    Aug 09 Pop
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    Jan 12 - Dolphin - WDW Half Marathon 1:44:45
    Sept 12 - ToT run and MNSSHP - Pop

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Essex, MD
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    Default

    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.
    First Trip ¨¨*:•
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    Next Trip ¨¨*:•
    Feb '13 Cars family suite!

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
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    Clermont, FL
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    Quote Originally Posted by ToraTory View Post
    . . . 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.)
    Average Banjo Picker. Pretty-Good Sailing Master. Newly Ordained.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Northern New Jersey
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    5,005
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TheRustyScupper View Post
    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...
    Lisa
    Multiple visits over Multiple years
    30 plus stays at Disney's Polynesian resort

  15. #14
    CaptainJessicaSparrow Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mouseketeer mom View Post
    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."

  16. #15
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Greensboro, NC
    Posts
    668
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TheRustyScupper View Post
    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.


    Quote Originally Posted by CaptainJessicaSparrow View Post
    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.


    Quote Originally Posted by TheRustyScupper View Post
    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! ), & Campfire Host.
    AJ (A.K.A. Figaro)
    Former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member


    “I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse.” - Walt Disney

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