Going seasonal?

[Yes,IStillLoveDisney]

I have heard of many CPers going seasonal after their program in order to keep their Disney benefits. What do you get to keep exactly? Free park ticket or just discounts of merch. and dining? Also, where do seasonal staff typically stay for the short time they are in Florida? It seems like staying in a hotel or something would cost more than you make and the discounts wouldn't really be worth it.

[CTKris10]

You get to keep all your discounts- hotel, merch, food, complimentary park entry, etc. You also get a new Main Gate pass issued to you at the beginning of the year. However, you are responsible for finding your own housing while down there. Most people stay on Disney property and take advantage of the transportation. It depends how often you plan on going down as to whether or not it is worth it. Some roles only require you to work a few shifts a year, while others require more hours. Hope this helps!

[_frazzle]

Anyone know how many shifts/hours you must work in order to be seasonal in merchandise? Also, will they issue you a new ID? What happens if you fail to work the required amount of hours in the given time period?

[Sccrmnky2005]

disney doesn't seem to be letting anoyone go seasonal because of the economy no one can get hours so they aren't letting anyone go seasonal right now. FT and PT are having a hard time with hours so seasonal is very limited.

[fall08CP]

I thought seasonal = at least 40 hours in a year, but I don't know for sure.

[tink8685]

I've been seasonal now for almost two years since i finished my CP in 2007. You technically are supposed to put in 40 hours as a seasonal cast member, however that's really up to your manager. At the end of the year they get a list of all the CT's (casual temporary) cast members and basically check off who stays and who goes. So I would talk to your managers.

Also, as far as benefits go...you do still get a maingate pass; however, you won't get your maingate mailed to you until two weeks after you work your first shift.

[DisSisters]

I don't know if this has changed for all departments but over my spring break I worked my seasonal hours. My manager told me that the requirements for seasonal changed, instead of forty hours it was only eight.

[tink8685]

I don't know if this has changed for all departments but over my spring break I worked my seasonal hours. My manager told me that the requirements for seasonal changed, instead of forty hours it was only eight.

That is sort of true...like I said before it's basically up to your managers discretion. Technically it is supposed to be 40 hours, but most people I talk to have only had to work 8

[_frazzle]

Who do I talk to about going seasonal?

[Scully12]

We were told we had to work one shift every 6 months in order to keep seasonal status/ride proficiencies

[derekparker08]

I'm pretty sure that I would want to go seasonal! That would be awesome!

[Berlioz70]

How many maingate entrances are there for seasonal CMs? If a student just finished the CP in May and then went seasonal, would they get a new maingate with 6 more passes, with 12 passes or would they have to wait for the new year?

[jen22va]

How many maingate entrances are there for seasonal CMs? If a student just finished the CP in May and then went seasonal, would they get a new maingate with 6 more passes, with 12 passes or would they have to wait for the new year?

Someone can correct me if this is wrong but I'm pretty sure you only get the 6 days of maingate per year. So if your CP ends in May, you won't get any more maingates till the beginning of the next year. Luckily for me, I did the Fall CP so I used all 6 maingates during my CP and then I got 6 more this past January for 2009 when I became seasonal. :)

[rachaelfig]

Is Maingate the pass for you or the pass for the people you want to bring into the park with you?

[Berlioz70]

Ah, interesting. FT and I believe PT get 12 for the year, I just assumed we only got 6 because we were only there half the year. Thanks for the info.

The main gate is the pass CMs use to get family/friends in for free.

[glendalais]

How many maingate entrances are there for seasonal CMs? If a student just finished the CP in May and then went seasonal, would they get a new maingate with 6 more passes, with 12 passes or would they have to wait for the new year?

I think they would keep the same Main Gate since they both have the same entitlements (6 Entries) each, and you're just switching statuses, as opposed to rehiring.

If you converted upwards to a FT/CR role, you might get a new one.

Main Entrance Pass entitlements differ by resort and by status, as follows:

Walt Disney World Resort Full Time/Casual Regular: 12 Admissions/year
Walt Disney World Resort Casual Temporary (including College/Career Start Programme): 6 Admissions/year
Disneyland Resort (All Statuses): 16 Admissions/year

[Disneygirl86]

I was a CP for Fall 08 and noticed when I left - on my report card - it listed me as a "Casual Limited NE". Is this the same as seasonal?

I was a Vacation Planner and heard that I probably couldn't be seasonal as a VP (too much info I'd have to be updated on), but I could be a Greeter or some other role. Does anyone have any experience on that?

[glendalais]

I was a CP for Fall 08 and noticed when I left - on my report card - it listed me as a "Casual Limited NE". Is this the same as seasonal?

It is.

Basically, Casual Limited is internal TWDC HR-speak for what we in Parks & Resorts call Casual Temporary.

[Disneygirl86]

Cool!! I'm planning to go to WDW for a couple of weeks in May so maybe I can work so I can get in free! Do you know how to go about listing availability etc?

[glendalais]

Cool!! I'm planning to go to WDW for a couple of weeks in May so maybe I can work so I can get in free! Do you know how to go about listing availability etc?

For WDW, I have no clue. Here at the DLR, CTs can only work during School Breaks/Peak Seasons, and we let them know via the Post when to start expecting shifts. I believe WDW operates differently from us in that regard, though.

Try contacting your Management team or Labor Operations via E-Mail, they should be able to tell you more.

[jen22va]

Cool!! I'm planning to go to WDW for a couple of weeks in May so maybe I can work so I can get in free! Do you know how to go about listing availability etc?

You need to email one of your old managers at your location with when you're coming and what days you are available to work. They will get you placed on the schedule and after you are on the schedule for at least one day, they will have to send a memo to access control (at Disney University building) that you are coming in to work. Access Control HAS to get this memo from one of your managers in order to make you a new red seasonal work id (instead of your old white one, which if you didn't turn in, you will have to exchange it for your red one). You then have to go to Access Control when you get down there to take a picture and get your new id (they make it right there on the spot, takes like 5 minutes if it's not busy when you go). You can't work (or get into the parks for free!!) without the new id because your old one has expired. Hope this helps! :)

[MaryPoppins86]

just curious but where do people generally stay when they go seasonal? like a hotel (offsite or on site)? or would you recommend someplace else. is it possible to it without a car?

[jen22va]

just curious but where do people generally stay when they go seasonal? like a hotel (offsite or on site)? or would you recommend someplace else. is it possible to it without a car?

I just went back down a few weeks ago for "spring break" to work a couple days and I stayed at my old roommate's new apt who decided to stay in orlando after our cp was over. You can stay at a hotel but if you do, you'll probably need a car. I flew down and my old roommate drove me to work and whatnot so it worked out well. You'll meet so many people on your cp, including full-timers, so make some good friendships and if you go seasonal, you have options for places to stay when you go back down. :)

[MaryPoppins86]

I just went back down a few weeks ago for "spring break" to work a couple days and I stayed at my old roommate's new apt who decided to stay in orlando after our cp was over. You can stay at a hotel but if you do, you'll probably need a car. I flew down and my old roommate drove me to work and whatnot so it worked out well. You'll meet so many people on your cp, including full-timers, so make some good friendships and if you go seasonal, you have options for places to stay when you go back down. :)

ooooo, that's awesome. i'll deffinitely try and do that whenever i get into the program. if the ride situation doesn't work out maybe i could rent a car. thanks for the tip.

[Disneygirl86]

Hello! I am now currently seasonal and worked a 7 hour shift on May 22nd. I had read that you typically get the maingate 2 weeks after your first shift, but I have still yet to receive it. Do I need to call someone or do something on the hub to request one?

[glendalais]

Hello! I am now currently seasonal and worked a 7 hour shift on May 22nd. I had read that you typically get the maingate 2 weeks after your first shift, but I have still yet to receive it. Do I need to call someone or do something on the hub to request one?

It all depends on your Management team and how quickly they send the request to Ticketing.

You can contact Ticketing through the Complimentary Admissions module on The Hub, located under the Disney Difference tab.

[MrsCobra407]

A note on Main Entrance Passes. Seasonal Cast Members MUST work a shift with a CT, Seasonal status BEFORE they are issued a Seasonal Main Entrance Pass good for 6 entrances. Once you work, it is a two week waiting period before you're eligible for your main entrance pass. After you work that initial shift, you'll have your MEP mailed to your house 2 weeks later. That is an HR policy. So basically you aren't able to come down for a week, work a shift while vacationing with family and hope to have a pass given to you while you're there. Once you go from FT/CR to CT your old main entrance pass is automatically voided and no good until you work a CT shift.

Policies have also changed, and if you do not work in the calendar year, you do not receive a main entrance pass. They used to send you a new one in Jan, for the new year. That is a thing of the past. :(

Used to work at the main entrance pass desk. I dealt with this every single day.

[1955girl]

Wait! If DD goes seasonal in Aug, then she keeps the same main gate pass and only has whatever is left on that? We were planning on coming in the fall, and she only has two days left on it! If she goes FT ( which she is hoping) does she get another Main Gate pass right away, or does she have to wait for that one? Her program started this past Jan, and is up in Aug

[Berlioz70]

If she is able to go FT, she'll get a new pass which will be bumped up to 12 entrances (I got it within a week of transferring to FT). However, any used dates from earlier in the year will be transferred to the new pass. So if she has already used four, her new pass will have 8 remaining days.

Seasonal only get 6 days (like the CP), so she will not get a new pass and will continue to only have 2 days open.

We are hiring some FT in housekeeping, foods, and third shift custodial, so she should be able to go FT in one of those areas.

[1955girl]

Thanks for the info. She's actually in costuming. Hoping something will open up there!

[Disneygirl86]

nvm