If Disney is so bad to work for then why do so many people work there? (Orlando: rental, waterparks)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Don't let people scare you off. My son works for Disney and loves it there. He started as a seasonal while attending UCF. He was hired as a lifeguard which pays better than most entry jobs because of the skill/license needed. He wasn't in the CP program but works with college kids a lot in his position now.
It can be a good experience and looks good for future jobs. You won't get paid a lot. Your hours may be long. You will be expected to be on time. You will be expected to show up for work sober every day that you are scheduled . You will be expected to have the Disney friendly attitude at work and actually off work to some degree, too. You will represent the company to the paying guests so hold a lot of responsibility in making good experiences.
Most CPs do well and have the time of their lives . My son loves meeting and getting to know people from all over the country and the world. He has made lasting friendships with many of the CPs he has worked with. A few each session tend to party too much and become irresponsible and may get sent home. A few might get sent home because they take something from a store or do some other illegal type activity while in town. Something like sleeping when on a life guard stand could get you terminated because you would not be performing the job hired for and actually endangering guests etc. . People just aren't fired for the fun of it. There is always a reason even if the person who is fired isn't willing to admit it. So don't worry about the negative posts about working at Disney. If you think it is something you would like to do go for it. I think for the CPs they let you choose 3 areas you might be interested in working. I think less kids apply for the life guard positions because it isn't in a major park, but you get all the perks and they seem to be a big family that work well together from what I have seen.
The bottom line is 2/3 of the 15 year olds in Orlando-Kissimmee will end up working at the attractions for some time, I did and it was fine, however I worked at Sea World.
Now mind you, front line operations salary is no way to make a living, so you will typically see young kids or retired folks filling these positions as they may not be indepenent. While most people in their young adult stages working with the company are mid-level management making border line living money. Middle aged folks who are still with the company tend to be in higher management positions... HOWEVER, you will typically find young-adults and middle aged adults working front line because of financial hardship.
The other aspect to this is the benefits. For kids who don't require health insurance or PTO, it is a great way to make some spending money while getting some primo benefits such as park entrance, family/friend passes, comp tickets, and steep discounts on food and merchandise.
The last reason you may see some folks working at a theme park is perhaps a disability which prevents them from holding a professional position. Unfortunately in this day-and-age, folks with mental disabilities may not get a job when competeing with someone who is equally qualified, their last method of employement is something like Walmart or the attractions... however these folks are always so open, warm, and they put everything into their front-line positions that really makes them a stand-out model.
While in certain situations a theme park may appear to treat employees like crud, if you delve a little deeper into the matter. Most of the workers are kids or old folks who don't require the benefits that other jobs provide.
The bottom line is 2/3 of the 15 year olds in Orlando-Kissimmee will end up working at the attractions for some time, I did and it was fine, however I worked at Sea World.
Now mind you, front line operations salary is no way to make a living, so you will typically see young kids or retired folks filling these positions as they may not be indepenent. While most people in their young adult stages working with the company are mid-level management making border line living money. Middle aged folks who are still with the company tend to be in higher management positions... HOWEVER, you will typically find young-adults and middle aged adults working front line because of financial hardship.
The other aspect to this is the benefits. For kids who don't require health insurance or PTO, it is a great way to make some spending money while getting some primo benefits such as park entrance, family/friend passes, comp tickets, and steep discounts on food and merchandise.
The last reason you may see some folks working at a theme park is perhaps a disability which prevents them from holding a professional position. Unfortunately in this day-and-age, folks with mental disabilities may not get a job when competeing with someone who is equally qualified, their last method of employement is something like Walmart or the attractions... however these folks are always so open, warm, and they put everything into their front-line positions that really makes them a stand-out model.
While in certain situations a theme park may appear to treat employees like crud, if you delve a little deeper into the matter. Most of the workers are kids or old folks who don't require the benefits that other jobs provide.
But Disney does give pretty good benefits/health insurance to its full timers. Can't remember but think you can get insurance as a part timer too. It also pays overtime for hours you work-even less than 40 hours if you are a part timer and scheduled to work 20 hours a week and they work you 21 hours the 21st hour is overtime. Not many jobs do that. They do promote a lot from within so people who start at front-line positions can move up to management if they are qualified and make the right connections. Some positions are dead end though because you have to wait till someone dies or moves on to have an opening because people tend to stay in their management positions. People I know love working for Disney.
But Disney does give pretty good benefits/health insurance to its full timers. Can't remember but think you can get insurance as a part timer too. It also pays overtime for hours you work-even less than 40 hours if you are a part timer and scheduled to work 20 hours a week and they work you 21 hours the 21st hour is overtime. Not many jobs do that. They do promote a lot from within so people who start at front-line positions can move up to management if they are qualified and make the right connections. Some positions are dead end though because you have to wait till someone dies or moves on to have an opening because people tend to stay in their management positions. People I know love working for Disney.
Wow I didn't know about the pt overtime system, that is very good indeed.
ll of the mentioned problems must be unique to the Florida park. I live in Anaheim and worked at Disneyland itself, and it was one of the best jobs I have ever held. My management was great, and would jump in and help on busy nights; the guests were awesome; I had a great, great experience and was sorry to leave.
The best part about it, honestly, was simply working in the park. Maybe it's because the Anaheim park is the one Walt actually designed and walked around in, but there's something about it that puts a smile on everyone's face. I have noticed that people that are hired into California Adventure are a little less "Disney" than people hired in at Disneyland, but that could be a decision made at the HR level - your personality and how you do in the interview may dictate where you get offered a position.
Trust me, Disney knows exactly what they're doing, and they have no qualms about making life a living hell for people that don't rise to their legendary (yes, legendary) corporate standard. You don't become one of the biggest entertainment corporations in the world by being soft-handed with people, as unfortunate as that seems. I've seen people get escorted off the property for being abusive or rude to guests. But I've also seen managment sweeping tardies/lates and dress code violations under the rug for people, I've seen management jump in and help servers that were overwhelmed, I've seen managment break rules to promote people early or start training people that were showing promise. I've also seen "wage slaves" go through the Emerging Leaders program and end up in management. It's Disney. If you're the best at what you do and you attack your work with your very best effort, you'll get noticed and get promoted. If not, you'll sit at minimum wage, get your 1-2% raise the Union fights for each year, and wonder why life is passing you by.
We did have a few people that transferred from out of state or from the Florida park, and they definitely did not fit in. One gentleman had a weird habit of answering guests with a loud "NO!" when they asked him anything wrong about the park. "Is this restaurant a buffet?" "NO! It's all you can eat, but it's not a buffet!" It was grating. If that's the way Floridian Disney workers act, I can see why the park is so universally reviled. Here in Anaheim, saying you work for Disney certainly has a level of prestige associated with it. When I would mention to people I worked for Disney it would start whole conversations - "What do you do there? Is it fun? Do you meet interesting people?" All kinds of things.
Also, both times I worked in the park, I walked into an interview. Literally, I went in the first time, asked how to apply, and they said "Don't bother - can you interview immediately?" while I saw them sitting other people down at computers and putting them through the long application process. Disney HR has been hiring and letting people go for a long, long time, and they know exactly what to look for, I would imagine. I would also imagine that they know who is going to be successful where right off the bat, having such a large sample group to work with. Probably not a coincidence that my first interviwer had a B.A. in Sociology, either.
I can offer some insights into the Disney corporate mindset from my time at the Anaheim park, however.
1. If you aren't upbeat, bubbly, outgoing, and all around "fun", just don't apply. You'll be miserable having to be upbeat all the damn time, every minute of every day. And if you think it's just onstage, you're dead wrong. Trust me when I say management notices the people who are genuinely upbeat (IE even offstage/backstage) and those who are faking it. Those that "make it" (I was getting promoted before I found a better offer from another employer) are just naturally like that. You should apply at Disney because of your personality, not in spite of it.
2. The hours are going to suck. One day, you'll be closing, the next, opening, the next three days in a row, off. It's hectic and hard to manage. In return, however, you get into any Disney park for free, and 16 times a year you can take three friends with you. I was giving mine away, near the end of each year, to be honest. However, it's hard to enjoy the park when you're constantly there - forget weekends, holidays, birthdays, vacations. You will be working. Also, bear in mind that shift trade or day off requests are just that - A REQUEST. There is always a (high) chance that they will say "no", with no reason given, and slap you with points if you decide not to show up anyway.
3. The pay starts out crappy. How many companies on EITHER coast do you know of that will hire an unknown and start them off at 50k a year? If you know of one, tell me, cos I have a small stadium worth of clients that would love to line up and apply. If you want higher wages, look at some of the more essential positions - security, park ops, custodial (yes, custodial is essential), or entertainment (anything minus parades). Foods, Attractions, Ticketing - these are high turnover positions that require little training or skill. Don't argue about it, that's not my opinion, this is how Disney views the jobs.
4. I don't know how it is in Florida, but parking and park logistics are something of a nightmare. Deal with it. It's a theme park. In the case of Anaheim, the workforce has nearly quadrupled while the square footage of the park itself hasn't changed very much. If anything, it's less - every time they add a ride or a restaurant, we lose "backstage" sq footage. However, I'll point again to the "perks" of working there. If you can balance those out, apply. If not, don't.
5. The point system is atrocious and rewards bad behaviour. You get the same amount of points for being 5 minutes late as you do for being 4 hours late. I heard about locations that were just terrible with people calling out, not showing up, and basically exploiting the "point system". This was a year ago, though, so perhaps it has changed now. Also, not letting people clock in when they get in the park (you have to clock in at your location) is silly as well. I can't even recall how many times I was "in the park", yet I was late because I had to stop and help a guest find something or talk with a lost child while we waited for security. Fortunately, management understands the point system is a crock and the park logistics are horrible and will be forgiving, but that will frustrate some people that are used to just "showing up to work" 5-10 minutes beforehand with little prep.
Major Perks
Once again, your mileage on these may vary, but I "grew up" in the Anaheim park, having held a pass for most of my time in high school, so for me, working there was wonderful. Other people, espescially in Florida, may not have the same feeling.
1. Unlimited park access. Speaks for itself, really. Bored on a Friday? You can either sit at home and flip through TV...or go to Disneyland / Disney World. For free.
2. Discounts on EVERYTHING. I mean it. I looked at buying a car through Disney's Red Book program with a significant fleet discount, I got a discount on my apartment through connections they have with local rental agencies, almost every restaurant in the county gives discounts to Disney employees, and you get a pretty nice discount on Disney goods and services as well. Travel, also, I believe, there are some discounts there. You can get reduced prices on tickets to most major theme parks including Disneyland itself. Once a year, the park has a huge 50% off sale for Cast Member gift shopping, as well, which is nice. That applies to the Hollister, Volcom, and PacSun (?) gear they have in some of the stores as well.
3. 16 Friends and Family visits per year. You can take three friends, family members, or hell, strangers you meet in a coffee shop across the street, no questions asked, sixteen times a year. Management can take an unlimited number of people an unlmiited number of times, but I think if you get upwards of 50ish they start to ask questions.
4. Cast Member events. I can't even relate how amazing it was to do walkthroughs of Pirates of the Carribean and Haunted Mansion, or to eat at the Blue Bayou and New Orleans Square after the park was closed. Cast Events MAKE the job, honestly. Once again, though, if you aren't a "Disney lover", that might not be a selling point for you.
5. TONS of Cast Activities. If you're at all social, you'll be able to quickly build up a social network. Our location alone had a kayaking group, a softball team, a volleyball team, and a singing group. Not to mention the sheer amount of people you meet on a daily basis - every location is like it's own little business. My location had over 200 people employed there, and we had people rotate in from other foods locations from time to time. Like I said, if you're social, no better place to be.
6. Disney DOES care a bit more about it's employees than any other company I've worked for. Not overwhelmingly, but a bit. The 20 minute paid walk time (not state-mandated, by the way), the carpool-reward system ($1 per day, every day you carpool. Simple.) Free athletic and counseling services on park grounds, a generous sick-leave system (if you call in one day, you get 3 points, but you get the next two days also with no points. If you bring in a Doctor's note, most managers will lower the points or give you a "pass" on your next late, your mileage may vary though). Baby bonding time over and above the state-mandated time, a clear cut management path (emerging leaders) a clear cut self-education program (Disney U), paid training days through the life of your career (TDA here on the West Coast, I dunno where it's at in Florida). There's a whole host of "little things" that the normal minimum-wage employee just does not get. Sure, you could go work for The Buckle or Hardee's for about the same pay and possibly more hours, but...really?
I know this is a long, rambling post from someone on the opposite coast, but I was seeing so much Disney-bashing that I had to step in and give what I feel is a somewhat unbiased opinion - I think I've laid out pretty clearly that there are good and bad aspects to Disney as an employer.
Wow, Nirvana Guy, you are seriously speaking out of line.. This is an excellent company, and I feel like you have bashed it without any knowledge of what you are talking about.
I work for Disney as well, and most of what you said is not true.. Every job is going to suck, because it is just that, A JOB! However, with Disney you at least get to have fun; Laughing, Dancing, Talking with guests and playing with children, those are the things I do every day! I work with a few people who hate their job, they just stand there, expecting to do NOTHING and get paid for it! You do have to work, but it's so much better than working for a fast food chain or whatever.
1. The pay - Of course you're getting paid minimum wage, you probably work a job that is entry level and you don't do anything! If you were to put your mind to it and sweat a little you would advance and get better paying jobs! Trust me, if I can advance in 3 months, anyone can advance over time!! Plus, there are about 6 managers in each area, its not hard to become a manager.
2. Recommendations - When you have Disney on your resume employers drool over you, they know that Disney spent a full week (or two) training you to the fullest of there abilities, and if you weren't proficient in your job, they trained you more, and made sure you were able to do a great job! Universal Studios will hire a Disney employee over anyone else. (I have a friend who works in there HR department, and he hires only Disney employees, even if they are in bad standing with Disney)
3. Illegal workers - There are NO illegal immigrants working for Disney, if you honestly work for Disney, then you would remember that it took an entire 8 hour day to make sure you were an American citizen. Remember that 8 hour day where they did a background check, a credit check, and even took your fingerprints?! Also, most of the foreign workers you see are here on the International College Program, doing internships for a short period of time, and then going home. The one time someone made a joke about one of my fellow employees being an illegal worker, he went home that day, and did not come back until they made sure it was false.
4. Job Market - The job market in Orlando has very little tourism positions available, seeing as how Universal and Disney are almost 20 miles form the city. When you get to the areas of Disney there are plenty of tourism related jobs, and why not? Isn't it tourists who come to Disney? but you will see the same tourism infested job markets anywhere popular to travel. You think New York city, Chicago, LA, or any other major tourist stop isn't like this? Also, I can tell you don't get off property much, maybe a cp? because you would know that if you travel more than 10 miles from Disney property, there is nothing touristy about those towns.
5. Management - If your manager is verbally abusing you, then report him, he will be reprimanded, or even fired. Disney has very strict policies on these things, and does not stand for it. Due to the companies size, you always have the option to transfer, advance to a higher role, or multiple other things that will get you away from one particular person. However, you do have to have less than 5 call ins to transfer, Is that something you would even qualify for? sounds like you have enough issues at work already.
6. Time off - You say you have no days off, but you basically pick when you want to work. You tell your managers when you are available and they schedule you around those hours. Plus, if you ever want a day off or to work at a different time you can always give your shift away or trade shifts with someone. When you walk into the break room at any work location you will see a shift trade board, and there are thousands of people who want to pick of shifts, and thousands more looking to give them away, so you never have too many or too little hours.
7. Benefits - Sick days deducted from pay? not a chance. If you are hourly, you don't get paid. If you are salary, you do. End of story, don't complain because you didn't get paid when you called in and didn't work. Full time employees get 80 hours of paid time off each year, that's two full weeks. Health insurance is available to any full time worker, just like any other job. If you are part time, you have the opportunity to "buy in" to the health care as well. Disney has a full Health Clinic and pharmacy on site, so you don't even have to go anywhere else, they will even pick you up and drop you off from your work location. I fractured my wrist at work, and within a few hours I was at the clinic, got X-rays, got my pain meds and brace, and was home in bed, with a full days pay. Pretty nice, huh?
8. Park Tickets - Oh, and those Complimentary Park Tickets, you claim you don't get, is one of the biggest jokes I have ever heard. Disney gives more comped park tickets than Universal (by far). You know that ID you have that has your picture on it? That is free admission to any Disney theme park in the world, 24/7, no questions asked. Oh, and that Blue ID you have, you know, the one that says "Main Entrance Pass"? That is the one that has all your tickets for friends and family. You can bring 4 people per day, and how many days you get depends on your job title (the lowest if 6, that's a total of 24. Full time gets 15, that's a total of 60 free tickets per year!!! Universal gives 3 tickets per quarter, no matter your job title, that's a grand total of 12 tickets per year.) Plus each year they give out a Holiday Booklet, as a Christmas present to employees, that has 4 more park tickets, 4 Disney Quest tickets, 8 mini golf tickets, and 4 water park tickets. It also includes %50 off of food, and merchandise, plus numerous other benefits! You should have also received an actual gift from the company as well, This year we got a Christmas tree ornament, and a Cast only copy of Toy Story 3!
So if you honestly think this is the worst company in the world, go work at a few more companies and let me know how you feel then. Also, you say Disney is enslaving people, you have the option to quit at any point, so go ahead, walk out. If you don't want to do anything to better your career, then you will sit with the same pay, and the same crap job forever. So until you can learn to be a positive, functional, improvement in the workplace, don't go around bashing companies that are actually very good to their staff.
All the things you said about pay, health insurance, benefits, paid time off and sick days are irrelevant. A company with this stature, that is this large, cannot break any laws without someone breathing down there necks. They follow every law to a T, and do not/cannot slip away from those. These are the things you will find at any employer across the USA.
Sorry you do not enjoy your job with Disney, but don't take it out on a good standing, loyal company.
Nobody puts anyones arms up their backs to go work for Disney. Disney is a huge corporation and yet still has lots of integrity and good ethics. If you want to work for Disney and climb the ladder on the backs of co workers then Disney is NOT for you. If you want to slack off and get paid for twiddling your thumbs then Disney is NOT for you. If you have problems with any kind of minority group or are in any way "phobic" about other people then Disney is NOT for you. If you think that the World owes you a living then Disney is NOT for you.
Disney expects its employees to be punctual for work. To be willing to work hard and be respectful at all times. To be willing to deal with the public in a manner that they themselves would like to be treated at Disney.
Disney has good ethics and wants visitors at Disney to enjoy their visit or stay and return again.
My wife works for Disney and enjoys every minute of her job there. She has worked for other companies and knows the difference between a good and bad employer. Too many people join Disney thinking they will be paid big bucks to just stroll around the parks... if that is you then go get a job somewhere else. Disney does NOT just employ anyone and more are turned down than employed so don't go thinking that it is the dustbin for unemployed people in Florida...it isn't.
There are many adavantages to working for Disney. They have extremely good and affordable health care for full time staff. You can get discounts for many more things than just Disney products. If you need to change your hours or shifts you can quite easily by swopping with other cast members. etc etc etc.
Disney is a great place to work for. If you want a free ride..... don't work for Disney. If you want a job with great prospects and chances of advancement (eg.. you can go from janitor to much higher positions. Many do ) then Disney is for you. If you want to start at Disney as the CEO then go elsewhere. You start at the bottom and work up. Isn't that the American way or has America become a Country of self important unemployed people?
Knock Disney all you want but they have that company running like a well tuned machine and it works well for employee and visitor alike..... it wouldn't be as huge or employ as many people as it does or be as succesful if it didn't.
Wow, Nirvana Guy, you are seriously speaking out of line.. This is an excellent company, and I feel like you have bashed it without any knowledge of what you are talking about.
I work for Disney as well, and most of what you said is not true.. Every job is going to suck, because it is just that, A JOB! However, with Disney you at least get to have fun; Laughing, Dancing, Talking with guests and playing with children, those are the things I do every day! I work with a few people who hate their job, they just stand there, expecting to do NOTHING and get paid for it! You do have to work, but it's so much better than working for a fast food chain or whatever.
1. The pay - Of course you're getting paid minimum wage, you probably work a job that is entry level and you don't do anything! If you were to put your mind to it and sweat a little you would advance and get better paying jobs! Trust me, if I can advance in 3 months, anyone can advance over time!! Plus, there are about 6 managers in each area, its not hard to become a manager.
2. Recommendations - When you have Disney on your resume employers drool over you, they know that Disney spent a full week (or two) training you to the fullest of there abilities, and if you weren't proficient in your job, they trained you more, and made sure you were able to do a great job! Universal Studios will hire a Disney employee over anyone else. (I have a friend who works in there HR department, and he hires only Disney employees, even if they are in bad standing with Disney)
3. Illegal workers - There are NO illegal immigrants working for Disney, if you honestly work for Disney, then you would remember that it took an entire 8 hour day to make sure you were an American citizen. Remember that 8 hour day where they did a background check, a credit check, and even took your fingerprints?! Also, most of the foreign workers you see are here on the International College Program, doing internships for a short period of time, and then going home. The one time someone made a joke about one of my fellow employees being an illegal worker, he went home that day, and did not come back until they made sure it was false.
4. Job Market - The job market in Orlando has very little tourism positions available, seeing as how Universal and Disney are almost 20 miles form the city. When you get to the areas of Disney there are plenty of tourism related jobs, and why not? Isn't it tourists who come to Disney? but you will see the same tourism infested job markets anywhere popular to travel. You think New York city, Chicago, LA, or any other major tourist stop isn't like this? Also, I can tell you don't get off property much, maybe a cp? because you would know that if you travel more than 10 miles from Disney property, there is nothing touristy about those towns.
5. Management - If your manager is verbally abusing you, then report him, he will be reprimanded, or even fired. Disney has very strict policies on these things, and does not stand for it. Due to the companies size, you always have the option to transfer, advance to a higher role, or multiple other things that will get you away from one particular person. However, you do have to have less than 5 call ins to transfer, Is that something you would even qualify for? sounds like you have enough issues at work already.
6. Time off - You say you have no days off, but you basically pick when you want to work. You tell your managers when you are available and they schedule you around those hours. Plus, if you ever want a day off or to work at a different time you can always give your shift away or trade shifts with someone. When you walk into the break room at any work location you will see a shift trade board, and there are thousands of people who want to pick of shifts, and thousands more looking to give them away, so you never have too many or too little hours.
7. Benefits - Sick days deducted from pay? not a chance. If you are hourly, you don't get paid. If you are salary, you do. End of story, don't complain because you didn't get paid when you called in and didn't work. Full time employees get 80 hours of paid time off each year, that's two full weeks. Health insurance is available to any full time worker, just like any other job. If you are part time, you have the opportunity to "buy in" to the health care as well. Disney has a full Health Clinic and pharmacy on site, so you don't even have to go anywhere else, they will even pick you up and drop you off from your work location. I fractured my wrist at work, and within a few hours I was at the clinic, got X-rays, got my pain meds and brace, and was home in bed, with a full days pay. Pretty nice, huh?
8. Park Tickets - Oh, and those Complimentary Park Tickets, you claim you don't get, is one of the biggest jokes I have ever heard. Disney gives more comped park tickets than Universal (by far). You know that ID you have that has your picture on it? That is free admission to any Disney theme park in the world, 24/7, no questions asked. Oh, and that Blue ID you have, you know, the one that says "Main Entrance Pass"? That is the one that has all your tickets for friends and family. You can bring 4 people per day, and how many days you get depends on your job title (the lowest if 6, that's a total of 24. Full time gets 15, that's a total of 60 free tickets per year!!! Universal gives 3 tickets per quarter, no matter your job title, that's a grand total of 12 tickets per year.) Plus each year they give out a Holiday Booklet, as a Christmas present to employees, that has 4 more park tickets, 4 Disney Quest tickets, 8 mini golf tickets, and 4 water park tickets. It also includes %50 off of food, and merchandise, plus numerous other benefits! You should have also received an actual gift from the company as well, This year we got a Christmas tree ornament, and a Cast only copy of Toy Story 3!
So if you honestly think this is the worst company in the world, go work at a few more companies and let me know how you feel then. Also, you say Disney is enslaving people, you have the option to quit at any point, so go ahead, walk out. If you don't want to do anything to better your career, then you will sit with the same pay, and the same crap job forever. So until you can learn to be a positive, functional, improvement in the workplace, don't go around bashing companies that are actually very good to their staff.
All the things you said about pay, health insurance, benefits, paid time off and sick days are irrelevant. A company with this stature, that is this large, cannot break any laws without someone breathing down there necks. They follow every law to a T, and do not/cannot slip away from those. These are the things you will find at any employer across the USA.
Sorry you do not enjoy your job with Disney, but don't take it out on a good standing, loyal company.
1. Not true. I was told this and heard this as well but now I have learned that, at least in Florida, employers don't care.
2. Also not true. Every area I have worked in has had at least one, mostly 2 to 3, managers that are "verbally abusive" and just plain rude. Not to mention that they will most likely not be out of college yet, younger than you, and telling you what to do like they have worked in the area all of their life. We once had a situation in my area where a CM was pushed by a guest and knocked down because the guest wanted to use a Fastpass from days earlier and the CM explained that the pass was only good for the day it was issued. After the CM was knocked down we called a manager and the manager back door-ed the guests onto the ride. We couldn't believe the lack of respect and safety that was going on. We told the area manager, nothing. We told the head of attractions for the park, nothing.
3. Again not true. If you are full time you bid for your days off. So if you are low on the list you rarely get the days off you want. You get what is left. I worked in an area for over 3 years and never had a choice of my days off because I only went from number 73 to 69 on the list and that was because people left and were never replaced. Also if you get a 4 day bid you can only trade shifts with other 4 day bidders which is impossible because it would put them into overtime. Other full timers, part timers, and CPs cannot take the shift because it would be strait time for overtime. Also those two weeks of vacation also need to be approved by management and scheduling. Usually you have to bid for your vacation months and months ahead of time and is also based on seniority.
4. 8 mini golf tickets?! I have gotten the Christmas packet for the last 5 years and have never gotten 8 tix. I would have remembered that because I love Winter Summerland!
Overall I think Disney is a stable place to work if not anything else. It is true the pay stinks and there are many bad aspects, as I have stated above, but there are great insurance benefits and you do make lasting friendships with the people you work with but maybe that is a product of being with them 5-6 days a week (yes 6 days on full time), 40-60 hours a week (yes 60 hours especially during busy times and while in a hiring freeze). You do have to like what you are doing though and the people you will be around. And yes it is fun to get to experience everything the parks have to offer.
3. Again not true. If you are full time you bid for your days off. So if you are low on the list you rarely get the days off you want. You get what is left. I worked in an area for over 3 years and never had a choice of my days off because I only went from number 73 to 69 on the list and that was because people left and were never replaced. Also if you get a 4 day bid you can only trade shifts with other 4 day bidders which is impossible because it would put them into overtime. Other full timers, part timers, and CPs cannot take the shift because it would be strait time for overtime. Also those two weeks of vacation also need to be approved by management and scheduling. Usually you have to bid for your vacation months and months ahead of time and is also based on seniority.
It depends on if your department is scheduling people 40 hours; I have a four day (ie 10 hour a day) bid, but my department (front desk) usually schedules full-timers on five day bids and CPs for 32 hours (four days), so CPs can swap a 10 hour shift with you because CPs don't get paid overtime for over eight, and that would only put them to 34 so they wouldn't get OT for going over 40 in a week. Seasonal also doesn't get paid OT for going over 8 and can pick up or swap a ten hour shift. Since Lilo went in (two months) they have been scheduling people for 40 hours, so maybe our 32 hour days are done and CPs won't be able to switch for 10 hour shifts any more, but seasonal will still be able to.
It depends on if your department is scheduling people 40 hours; I have a four day (ie 10 hour a day) bid, but my department (front desk) usually schedules full-timers on five day bids and CPs for 32 hours (four days), so CPs can swap a 10 hour shift with you because CPs don't get paid overtime for over eight, and that would only put them to 34 so they wouldn't get OT for going over 40 in a week. Seasonal also doesn't get paid OT for going over 8 and can pick up or swap a ten hour shift. Since Lilo went in (two months) they have been scheduling people for 40 hours, so maybe our 32 hour days are done and CPs won't be able to switch for 10 hour shifts any more, but seasonal will still be able to.
-Harry
I am seasonal right now and could not pick up a 10 hour shift for a 4 day co worker because it would be overtime for me said management and scheduling.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We couldn't believe the lack of respect and safety that was going on. We told the area manager, nothing. We told the head of attractions for the park, nothing. 
