What is it like to work for Disney currently? (transfer to, live)

[hgebel]

Originally Posted by mongoslade223

My time as a cast member did not in any way spoil the "magic" for me; it actually enhanced it. I enjoyed being "behind the mouse" and seeing things that the guests do not get to see. I must have driven my sweeper truck through almost every corner of that property, and had fun conversations with other cast members from different countries ( I worked backstage @ Epcot). It was an experience that I would not trade for anything in the "World"

My favorite part was going through the utilidors every day at work. I had been fascinated with them since hearing about them while watching a special on Walt Disney World that was on TV for the Magic Kingdom's 5th anniversary. I never got over the fact that I was walking through them everyday at work. I'm definitely on the "enhanced the magic" side myself. For me, the guests are the best part, but I know others that think that it would be a great job if Disney would just keep the guests out

-Harry

[mongoslade223]

Originally Posted by hgebel

My favorite part was going through the utilidors every day at work. I had been fascinated with them since hearing about them while watching a special on Walt Disney World that was on TV for the Magic Kingdom's 5th anniversary. I never got over the fact that I was walking through them everyday at work. I'm definitely on the "enhanced the magic" side myself. For me, the guests are the best part, but I know others that think that it would be a great job if Disney would just keep the guests out

-Harry

My interactions with the guests were rather limited, as I worked second shift custodial. But I never had any negative run ins with guests that I did encounter, mostly to give directions to various parts of the resort. Not to mention that I probably p***ed off many of them who followed my truck while I was sweeping the curbs

[norrodh]

I am going on an interview with Disney next week for a full-time bus driver position. I have my CDL as I was a bus driver in NJ and NC. The pay seems pretty good to start, in fact its more than they offer for the school system in NC. Does anyone know anything about the bus driver jobs. I love to drive, I'm good at it and love Disney and love talking to people especially if they were on vacation. For me I think it will be a win-win situation but if anyone has any info on these jobs, it would be appreciated!! Thanks!!

Noreen

[hgebel]

Originally Posted by norrodh

I am going on an interview with Disney next week for a full-time bus driver position. I have my CDL as I was a bus driver in NJ and NC. The pay seems pretty good to start, in fact its more than they offer for the school system in NC. Does anyone know anything about the bus driver jobs. I love to drive, I'm good at it and love Disney and love talking to people especially if they were on vacation. For me I think it will be a win-win situation but if anyone has any info on these jobs, it would be appreciated!! Thanks!!

Noreen

They have the best union under the STCU contract, Teamsters Local 385. The Teamsters also cover character actors, Ranch Operations, and some (?all?) of the people who work in Textile Services. They had a schedule bid in November, so I imagine the next one will probably be in May. Their pay is currently from $10.55 - $15.70, with a 4% raise every October. Until the schedule bid you will probably be randomly put into an open bid line. Buses are a twenty-four hour a day operation, there is a 0.60 night differential. There are a lot of different routes; there are the resort to park routes, resort to Downtown Disney routes, some of the really big resorts have internal routes (the Campground springs immediately to mind, it has three internal bus routes), there are also cast member routes. They have something around 250 buses, the number 235 sticks in my mind.

-Harry

[norrodh]

Wow, Harry, Thank you so much for your response! Sounds even better than I thought!!! I really hope I get the job now!! I hope my experience will amount to something!! Thanks again for the info!

Noreen

[hgebel]

Originally Posted by norrodh

Wow, Harry, Thank you so much for your response! Sounds even better than I thought!!! I really hope I get the job now!! I hope my experience will amount to something!! Thanks again for the info!

Noreen

Glad to help, I'm sure your experience will definitely be considered for whether to hire you. Just keep in mind that once you start your experience won't get you any higher on the seniority list or more money. Actually, I might be wrong about the money, there are a handful of positions where experience gets a higher starting pay. However, I think they are all in Food & Beverage. The contract doesn't say anything about an experience premium for bus drivers, but it could be in a side letter and since I'm in a different union I can't see the Teamsters side letters. In any case, Casting knows about any side letters and I'm sure whatever starting rate they told you will be the correct one.

Dress nicely, when I went for my interview in 2007 I was the only guy there with a tie, so being dressed right can make you stand out. On the other hand, when I went there Disney hired just about anybody who walked in the door; now that that's not the case a lot more people are probably taking their interview seriously. But that's even more reason to make a good impression.

I drove to Casting the day before my interview so I would be sure I knew were it was so I could get to the interview on time. Also, if you get hired, don't be even a minute late for Traditions class, they took that seriously even in 2007, I'm sure they take it even more seriously now. Again, drive to Disney University the day before Traditions so you know for sure how to get there on time.

The union rep at Traditions will not mention that union membership is optional, they'll just give you a card to sign. You don't have to join the union in Florida! I say join it, a lot of people on this board will say the opposite; make your own decision, don't go by what we say. But here's my sales pitch: Most of the unions at WDW suck, but that's because so many of the cast members aren't in them; if more people were in them (and more of the people who were in them participated in decision making) they would be a lot better. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Also, the Teamsters are probably the only union in the STCU that doesn't suck. So there you go.

PM me if you want a copy of the union contract. Or you can get it from the Unite Here web site (the STCU unions all have the same contract). You're covered by the contract (and represented by the union) whether you join the union or not.

-Harry

[norrodh]

Thanks, I'm from New jersey even though we are moving from NC and my husband was in Teamsters in NJ with UPS. We wanted to get away from the rat race and since UPS couldnt get him into a position in NC, he took a non-union job with another company. We were not totally pro union but after his experience in NC, we now believe in unions!!! They hired him in this small stainless steel company and 2 weeks later they started laying off. My husband was so pissed that they even hired him cus they had to know they were going to start laying off. Anyway, we are really happy to hear Disney is unionized!! Also my husband is going for a Maintenance Mechanic job with Disney, do you know anything about that union? Is it teamsters?? Thank you for taking the time to tell me all this info. Its appreciated!!
We are excited for this new opportunity!

Noreen

[DavieJ89]

Originally Posted by mongoslade223

My interactions with the guests were rather limited, as I worked second shift custodial. But I never had any negative run ins with guests that I did encounter, mostly to give directions to various parts of the resort. Not to mention that I probably p***ed off many of them who followed my truck while I was sweeping the curbs

i had so many bad encounters with disney guests i can never work there again

those people were downright abusive to me

[hgebel]

Originally Posted by norrodh

Thanks, I'm from New jersey even though we are moving from NC and my husband was in Teamsters in NJ with UPS. We wanted to get away from the rat race and since UPS couldnt get him into a position in NC, he took a non-union job with another company. We were not totally pro union but after his experience in NC, we now believe in unions!!! They hired him in this small stainless steel company and 2 weeks later they started laying off. My husband was so pissed that they even hired him cus they had to know they were going to start laying off. Anyway, we are really happy to hear Disney is unionized!! Also my husband is going for a Maintenance Mechanic job with Disney, do you know anything about that union? Is it teamsters?? Thank you for taking the time to tell me all this info. Its appreciated!!
We are excited for this new opportunity!

Noreen

Keep in mind, the unions in Florida will not be like the ones in New Jersey because of Florida being a right-to-work state. You have to accept that and work with what is available. Coming from New Jersey, it will seem to you that they are often in bed with the company. Well, to a certain large extent they are; since they can't realistically threaten to strike they have no choice but to play ball by the company's rules. But even with that, they are still a vast improvement over working for a non-union company. I've been a conservative my whole life and as a young man despised unions with every fiber of my being. My first job experience (at the SuperFresh in Dover, Delaware at the age of 14) was a disaster that could be attributed directly to the union there (UFCW, which ended up being my first union at Disney). However, a lifetime of working for non-union jobs slowly wore down and then completely eradicated my anti-unionism. Having said all that, the Teamsters are definitely the strongest of the STCU unions.

I believe the maintenance mechanics are in United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 1820. Don't know for sure, but the UBC runs the maintenance mechanics apprenticeship program at WDW, so I assume they represent maintenance mechanics. They aren't involved with the STCU at all, so I know just about nothing about them. My impression is that the skilled trade unions are stronger than the STCU unions, but I may only have that impression because they make more money. But they are going to make more money regardless because of the types of jobs they represent.

-Harry

PS Just occurred to me you probably don't know what STCU stands for. It's a coalition of the unions at Disney that includes the Teamsters, Unite Here, the TCU, the UCFW, and IATSE. All the unions share the same contract. The STCU represents about 27,000 workers at Walt Disney World.

[norrodh]

Harry,

Thank you so much for all your help and direction. We do understand that the unions are not as strong as they are in NJ. A little disappointing but better than not having anything to protect your job. I'm very excited for the info you gave me cus it gives us more confidence in pursuing the disney jobs. The way some people talk, it seems like they pay nothing but for more skilled jobs, they pay pretty good considering. Nothing will pay as much as NJ but then again the cost of living is so high and to tell you the truth we just hate the cold anymore and could not deal with all that snow they are having this year. I feel bad my husband gave up his job with UPS to be down in NC with the rest of his family and then to get dumped by a measly paying job and they also put down his skills so much. He never felt so disrespected as he did working for that low life place! He is also going to try to get back into UPS if Disney doesnt work out but at least in Orlando he has more options! Plus we love, love Disney so it will be fun to work for them! My inlaws also live down there so at least we have some family!! Listen, thanks again so much for your info, its soooo much appreciated!! I will let you know how I make out on Thursday!! Take care!

Noreen