Do Disney Store Employees get half off?

[rponseti]

I've heard that disney store employees get half off Passes, Rooms and Food at Disney World. Does anyone know if that's true? I've also heard that they get paid $9 an hour. Sounds like a pretty good deal! I was just curious?

Richie

[JonetteA]

As a TDS castmember, I gotta tell you I never knew we had it sooo good. In fact I really should go back to Disney and ask where my other 4 bucks an hour is. Hmm 1/2 off....well I don't get that either. We do get some perks, but sorry to say it is nothing like what you described. I wish, so if you hear what store is doing that let me know. I would be happy to switch shifts!

[doombuggy]

Most retail company's give discounts or some kind of benefits. While I worked at Bloomingdale's, I got a % discount on a majority of items in the store. Disney does not give the discounts that you describe in your post. While there are perks, whoever told you those things may have been mislead by someone else. If you make $9 per hour, you are either higher up or have been there for a number of years. Sorry!:)

[rponseti]

I thought this sounded a little extreme. I got this from someone who knows a manager of one of the stores. Don't know how they could be so off!! Thanks for the posts.

Richie

[txdznydude]

I spoke with two different Disney Store cast member on my recent trip. One was
from England the other from here in the states. Both told me that they do not have to
pay to get in any Disney park! They also said they get up to 60% off rooms depending
on the season. I'm trying to get my EC to get a part time job there. Not having to pay
to get in the parks, that would have saved us 600.00 off our last trip!!!!!!!!:eek:

[cindyfan]

rponseti....email on it's way....:D

[bethsg]

OK.. just as an FYI.... you get paid Min wage to work at the store...then you get yearly reviews, and perhaps a couple of percent raise... you get standard 20% discount on merchandise, that's no secret everyone in retail gets that. There are times when you can get a room discount of up to 50%, but there are limits to that, it's never guaranteed, and you can't expect to get it... There are a few other perks I would be happy to share in a personal email, but nothing that wonderful, and none of which is in writing. Any perks are subject to change at anytime. What I can tell you, is you will have to agree to in writing, is to give the store full weekend availability. You can't request off for more than a couple of days each month, and for not more than 9 days in a row. Additionally, they don't allow any requests for time off, from Nov 1st through January, as the holiday season quarter is the highest volume of the whole year in terms of sales. Now if all that seems glamorous, and the sacrifices you make in your personal life justify those benefits, then hey go for it... As someone who loves Disney and is a DVC Owner, as much as I enjoyed working at the store, it was way too much of a sacrifce to earn the benefits (forget the money). They work you very hard, and it's really a retail business establishment, and it's all about selling stuff. For those cast members who are still working at the store, I give them so much credit for what they put up with, in exchange for what they earn in benefits.

[KathiWithAnI]

what pass costs $600??? Regular disney store CMs can't get their families in the parks for free......
and thank you Beth-- you are right on the money with your post

[loribell]

While at TDS on Thursday I mentioned to the store manager that I had read ticket prices were going up on the 19th she said she better BUY hers then since she was going in May and hadn't even thought about a price increase. I guess she definitely doesn't get her families for free.

Lori

[SandraC]

The cost of our Disney HP for my family costs me 35 hours of work. As much as I think working at a DS would be fun, I don't think I could sacrifice little time off and min. wage.

I have a great schedule where I can take off pretty much as much time as I like. dh got 6 weeks vacation this year which we take about 4 weeks of and take 2 weeks of extra pay. Usually he gets 5 weeks vacation, this year his company was bought out and the transition allowed for extra PAID time off. I have a set schedule of classes (I teach fitness, yoga and art) but if I want a month off I can take it. Other instructors and I work together to help each other out with class coverage. I have the freedom to sub out classes to attend dd's school functions, I am a Chair on the PTA and volunteer fitness classes to the school. Time is too important for me. S

[Donna]

Manager level CM's get silver passes which gets their families in for free. Lead position CM's are considered management level but they do not get the management benefits. Perhaps the previous poster talked to a lead. If that is the case, only the lead would get free admission on her disney ID.
As for blackout periods, this has been extended to include october, november, december and part of january now. No traveling anywhere in those months.

[cindyfan]

Couple other things I thought I would throw in.......
Since the financial troubles they have become VERY strict about giving time off!
No more than 9 days in a row, no matter what! And like the previous post.....absolutely NO time off between Oct and Jan.....some store managers will even give you a hard time if you need to switch a shift for any reason (such as kids Christmas shows at school, or family holiday gatherings).
If you are one that usually gets annual passes.....no discount there! I figured it out last year. With a CM discount on hopper passes.......It is stilll cheaper to get an AP using DC discount if you use it for more than 9 days, than to purchase discounted CM hoppers.
Then.....you can pretty much get the AP discount on resorts.
The only thing you may really be able to save money on is if you purchase alot of "collectibles" such as WDCC or artwork. There are no discounts available to the gerneral public, except I think if you are a DVC member you can still get the discount. But that may have changed this past year too.
So if you are considering working at TDS to save money on going to WDW......think again.
It was fun working there, but DON'T do it if you think the discounts will save you alot of money, because you will be disappointed.

[mktiggerman]

Originally posted by rponseti
I've heard that disney store employees get half off Passes, Rooms and Food at Disney World. Does anyone know if that's true? I've also heard that they get paid $9 an hour. Sounds like a pretty good deal! I was just curious?

Richie

ummm.. you've been lied to. that's my 2 cents

[mktiggerman]

oh, btw- the room discount varies by month, and is based on rooms available for cast. once the rooms are out, then you pay full price. you still get reg. merch. discounts (which I won't disclose.. disney does monitor these boards and have termed CM's before)

[SandraC]

I would be more likely to get a job at Krispy Kreme for free donuts.

[skyhog]

I hope the responses to this question have erased any misconceptions about the "perks" for working for corporate America. Those mega million bonuses for Eisner absoluteltly, positively NEVER trickle down to the rank and file. I mention this not out of bitterness, because I don't work for Disney, but out of sympathy and GRATITUDE for the thousands of emplyees who slave daily at meager salaries with more spirit and enthusiasm than we could muster on our best day!!!

All too often, I hear folks complaining about employees who are stuck with enforcing /implementing corporate policies... that GREAT service and enthusiasm that greats us at WDW is bought at a price that wouldn't get most of us out of bed in the morning... now that is "CHARACTER"... no costume required..
THANKS!!!

[eye R.N.]

Couldn't have been said better!

[cindyfan]

Yes, I agree skyhog said it well. ;)
But this can be said about MANY, MANY retail establishments!
Disney is not the only retailer that gives great guest service. As a matter of fact.....TDS has slipped quite a bit IMHO.....over the last couple years. But simply because of the higher ups pushing the "sale" .
I think that the "great guest service and enthusiasm that greats us.." is truely a quality that so few have and the CMs are there simply because that is what they enjoy!!!!
They are not there for the money, or the "perks" or discounts. They still believe in guest service and even as hard as the "higher ups" try to kill it......they will still have faith that TDS will return to what it was a few years ago when GUEST SERVICE truely came FIRST!!!
Good Luck to all those CMs at TDS that have hung in there so long :D

[doombuggy]

TDS is a little competitive when it comes to pay - stating that the employees there are paid min. wage is frankly not true. It depends on the market the store is in. Granted, if you went into "The Mall" and applied at XYZ department dtore that has a starting wage of $7 per hour (far from min wage!), the TDS in the same mall probaly has a starting wage of $6 to $6.25. Please remember that the "benefits" you would receive at a department store are different than what you would receive at TDS. This is why the people who work there do so - not for the money. :)

[cindyfan]

Sorry doombuggy, I have to disagree about the minimum wage thing.
TDS is nowhere near "competitive" :(
At TDS around here, it was within 25 cents of minimum depending on "experience" of the CM.
There is not one store at the mall that pays as little as TDS! :eek:
I agree that it does differ area to area, but TDS wages are the smallest of any retailer that I've ever known in this area.
The "perks" such as the tickets or park entry are never guaranteed. And with the lack of variety in the merchandise at TDS the discount really isn't saving you much.
I am not sure of what other "benefits" you might be speaking of???
I believe that most CMs want to work there because of thier love of Disney. Then, many are disappointed when they get there and realize it is just a job that pays very little.

[Karista]

So what about resort employees? What sort of park entrance perks do they get? We are going next week with another family and she has been told by a friend (who works at one of the Epcot resorts) that he can get her family of 5 into the parks for free each day. This seems extreme to me, especially since it's a peak week and they aren't even related. I was starting to think that Disney just must be extremely generous to it's employees. I bought a 4-day hopper for my family of 5 and paid a little over $900, and this family is planning on going for 5 days for free. Are they mis-informed?

[JonetteA]

Doombuggy,

I am a TDS cast member. I will gladly tell you what I started out at last year. ...$5.25 an hr. Fabulous isn't it. When I had my yearly review, I made a 5% increase. Which btw, is better of % than I make in my full time job. I wish I started off at 6 bucks an hr. This may be true for some peeople (HI, NY, CA) but for the most part, we are all minimum wage.

[Steffi]

Karista...

I know that CMs at WDW are able to get in free, as are their guests, but I don't know if the number of guests they can bring for free is limited. My niece lives in Orlando & her boyfriend works at WDW...he has taken her to the parks for free several times...but I don't think he's ever brought in a large group of people.

If your friend IS that lucky, the CM that she knows will have to actually meet her & her family every day & accompany them at least until they get through the gates. This is sure to be somewhat of a sacrifice of the CM's time, given how long it can take to travel to & get into the parks. I sure hope she shows her gratitude. IMO, I wouldn't like to have my family's vacation plans in someone else's hands like that...I'd be worried that the person wouldn't show up, or would be late, or would just decide that it's too much trouble. But at that kind of savings, I guess it's worth it!

[cindyfan]

Karista,
It is a whole other set of rules for actual WDW CMs! :D
There are better discounts for WDW if you actually work at the parks or one of the resorts.
I think Steffi is correct about the CM has to be present to get them in. But if they work at, for example MK, they would just meet their guests at MK first thing, get them in and then their guests would hop to whichever park they wanted to go.
WDW CMs I think get much better of a discount on resort stays too. We had a former TDS CM that transferred to WDW, and he was able to get like a 70% discount for his family. He was there with them at check in. And I think it was non-peak season.

[doombuggy]

I believe certain WDW employees get a main gate pass, which can allow 3 or 4 people in with the employee. I beleve DL has this as well.

As for the wage issue, I can feel your pain JonettA and Cindy fan. Please note that when I started, I was making 50 cents more than min wage, which promptly got raised (min. wage) a month afterwards. I had 4 years experience at other retailers at the time. But then I transferred to another area that had a higher rate. The third time I transferred, the same thing happened. I don't get an automatic raise by the way. Now I have nearly 10 years of retail experience, and yet the starting wage at other places are more than what I make. The bottom line is that I work there for reasons other than money. But I would not work there for min. wage and do not. This topic is making me a bit hot, so I am going to sign off.

[DisneyFan09]

I'm so depressed after reading all of this. I have an interview tomorrow at TDS. I have been waiting for months for an opening, popping in at least once a week, getting to know all of the managers and other CM's and now finally I'm getting my chance. Do I even want it now? I wasn't necessarily looking for park discounts. I live in Iowa and discount or not I can't afford to go very often living this far away. I'm a stay at home Mom who needs some part-time income and loves everything Disney and thought what better place in the whole world (besides the world itself) to work? I can't believe that CM's are treated as shabbily as described above. What in the world is wrong with those people, how rich do the rich need to get? I'm so disillusioned about Disney, what would Walt say if he could see what has been done to his dream? I know I'm being melodramatic, but I'm just heartsick!

[EPCOTgrl1]

By all means go to the interview. Every store and management team is different. Guest will be guest but by and large they are a happy lot. Having said this if you have never worked retail before you will be in for an education.

Denise (posting under her daughters name)

[BostonTigger]

I'd have to agree with Bethsg. I worked at a Disney Store, and while I love Disney and loved the discounts I got while working there the problems associated with asking for time off was too much. I'm studying Voice Perfomance with an Opera Emphasis at a small Conservatory. With this degree, I usually will make a request for time off for about a two week period twice a school year for Opera rehearsals and performaces. And while I got the requests approved, it was tough to do so due the companies crack down of time off requests. And let's not even mention the fact that I go home to New Mexico for Christmas and I live in Boston....now that was fun asking for each year. I almost never had a problem asking for time off. In the three years I worked for the stores I called in sick three times, was never late, and would come in early if asked so I always got the time off I requested. Actually, I'll tell you who it was most hard on....my Store Manager. She had to defind the decisions to give me the time off with District Manager, which I loved her dearly for it. But with the recent crack down in time off requests and my stores closer I felt it was time to move on and get out of retail. There were other reasons, but those I listed were the maing factors for me leaving.


Steven

[JonetteA]

I think we have focused too much on the pay and benefits that are tangible. But not on the intangibles. Don't get me wrong, I love going to the store when I work. It is a great place to have fun, meet new people and get to play with the kids. I love Disney always have and always will, that is why I work at the store. To spread the magic to people who can't go to Disney World, Disneyland or on the cruise. It is the feeling of talking to people and helping them make plan for their trip.

Don't get discouraged about what the pay or benefits are, remember that you love Disney and that is why you are there.

[DisneyFan09]

Thank you JonetteA for putting things into perspective! I do love Disney and it would be a way for me to be a part of the magic. How else can someone from Iowa become a Disney Cast Member. I'm not looking to get rich or to go to WDW 10 times a year, so I don't think I should focus on the pay and discounts!

[Dagny]

Just want to throw my .02 in.... I am a former TDS CM.... I worked at TDS for 2 1/2 years and LOVED it..... our store managers were great, the Cast was great and our Regional Director was wonderful to work with. Did I get rich? Absolutely Not :D I probably spent twice as much as I earned, but I really enjoyed spreading Disney Magic to our guests. Work there because you LOVE Disney and for no other reason :)

[DisneyFan09]

Thank you for your .02 Dagny! I just got hired at TDS and I'm so excited!! I keep reminding myself that I AM A CAST MEMBER!!!!!!!! I know I won't get rich and I may never get to take advantage of the generous discounts at WDW but I don't care!!

[BostonTigger]

DisneyFan09, congrats. on becoming a Disney Cast Member. It's a great Company to work for, dispite what I may have said about asking for time off. I always felt as though I worked for a family. Since you are now a Cast Member, email webmaster pete, I think, and request for entrance into the Cast Member only area. Sometimes people can be a little negative, it comes from how the over all company treats the Disney Store, so don't let that get to you. Have fun and congrats once again.



steven

[DisneyFan09]

Thanks BostonTigger! I discussed time off issues with the manager at my interview and she says that policy varies by store and that at our store if it works out with all other cast members and there is enough coverage, that time off requests are generally granted! Even during the Christmas season. I haven't even worked a shift yet and I'm already receiving my discount and the additional % off that was being given to all CM's to celebrate TDS 15 year anniversary! I think a lot of what goes on behind the scenes depends on the store manager. Mine seems wonderful!