07-24-2009, 01:28 AM
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 278
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The Roles:
Since there are a new batch of hopefuls getting ready to apply, I thought it'd be a good idea to post a thread about the roles and a little bit about them. I went through all of my older posts and all of the thousand of questions I have asked about them and copied and pasted them together. If anyone has more to share, please post and share more insight. Here is a link to the old roles thread, in case you want to see who has posted the info before and want to contact them directly. Some info though is from older threads but a good bulk is from that thread. (http://www.disboards.com/showthread....7#post30805437) I don't have all the roles but I have a good portion of them so far. I have Full Service and Quick Service, BBB, Vacation Planner, Costuming, Merch., Attractions, Character Attendant. I have more info on some than others, so hopefully those who have done the roles can add to it.
Here we go:  Full Service and Quick Service: Full-service is the sit down restaurants (where the person brings stuff to the table). You are a HOST not a SERVER. Counter service (QSFB) is the carts and the fast-food type restaurants. For QSFB, you could either be in QSR (quick-service restaurants) or ODF (outdoor foods). QSR is restaurants like Casey's, Cosmic Rays, Pizza Planet, ect. ODF is the carts, stands, snack windows, ect. Hours weren't too bad. On average, shifts were around 7-8 hours. However, I usually had later shifts (though I did get a few opening/mid shifts). I was trained to work both in the front (in the restaurant) and in the back (in the kitchen). I also had cash training. BBB: We spent 85% of the 8 hour day in the tunnel offices working on the hair styles. I'm sooo frustrated bc as you know, its disney and they have to be PERFECT!!! The "princess" could careless I'm sure but that is not up to disney standards. We are given knotty doll heads to work on and they are sooo hard. I got to bring mine home to practice. For the first 2 or 3 hours, I just watched my trainer and then slowly applied makeup and nail polish. After my 2nd break, I was pretty much on "stage" and started with hair styles. My trainer was next to me the whole time. I have been working on the princesses in the boutique with my trainer beside me at all times to help me out. Today I did a 1/2 hr of podium training which was right at 5pm and was STRESSFUL. For me the worst one is fairtale. The reason its the hardest is bc you have to have the ponytail PERFECT, the bun PERFECT, and depending on the hair length it can be challenging. The other two are not bad at all. Pop can be hard bc of the twists but I think I have almost 100% mastered those so that one is easy for me now The most popular varies from day to day, sometimes its Diva and sometimes it's Fairytale. (*This was all taken from this thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1581326&page=37. The poster, Tinkerbellluvr7, wrote a rather long thread about her experience as a BBB. If you want/need more info check out her thread..it's really helpful.) Vacation Planner: you pretty much sell tickets to the park, and other related things... obviously, you need POS experience (point of sale), and money handling as well..it's a nice job actually, air conditioned and pretty much good hours.To put it in perspective, think of the box office, like in the movie theaters, that is essentially what is mostly you will be doing. I asked my interviewer at the time what it entails and she said it would be sitting in the both at the front gates and selling the tickets. The booths are not individual - there are spots for at least two people in each booth. For example, at MK there are six to a booth. For security reasons, they don't want people working alone like that. Responsibilities may include: Selling ticket media to Guests Strong knowledge of the Walt Disney World Resort and its ticket media Learning computer-based ticketing systems Handling large amounts of cash Assisting Guests with selecting ticket packages Stocking ticket booths with guidebooks, pamphlets, and other supplies Assisting with audience control, including during parades Standing for extended periods, working outdoors Costuming: Entertainment costuming works on parades BUT also does laundry. There are crazy hours, 12 hour shifts, and if they are rehearsing something new, sometimes overnights.... That's not all you do, if you work a parade/ stage show you help with issuing costumes, help with costume changes and such. Merchandise: What surprised me was how much we had to know for the area as we can work carts, the Chester & Hester's shop, the midway games, or the Dino Institute. We also work stock for merch and some food items (fudge, cupcakes, caramel apples, drink carts). In addition to the basic Matra/merchantainment, there are spiels to learn for the 5 games and the photo preview/ordering/printing process. I've also been trained in the Money Room which has 2 sides, Chester & Hester's and Games (which is a unique position at WDW). SO much information and a lot of different options. Our area has 3 costumes, one for the Institute, one for Dinorama, and one for stocking, so it's good to pay close attention to your schedule. As far as schedules go, AK is pretty awesome in that the park keeps fairly regular hours. Africa closes at 5pm, no matter what. Dinoland keeps with EMH, so Wed evenings can sometimes be later, plus there are conventions that may have late hours. If I'm scheduled in Money Room, I'll be there 1.5-2 hours after park closing, so I have one night next week where I'm not off until 11pm, but that is very rare. I'm usually home by 7-730pm. Because of the shorter hours, though, it's harder to get a full 40, much less any overtime. I've been closer to 30. I mostly worked in Fantasyland, but also spent 2 weeks each in Adventureland and Liberty Square. I just about always closed. So I usually started around 3-5pm and worked until park close (which could range from 10pm until 3am, depending on the time of year and if there was an Extra Magic Hours that evening). I usually worked the registers and assisted the guests (but I also stocked once in awhile). The costume in Fantasyland was pretty bad (green bottom and a white top with a floral design). Attractions: Most people are mistaken that Attractions are rides. I worked at Innoventions. Its not a ride lol despite what guests think. I gave presentations all day at various venues in both east and west Innoventions, and at Mission: Space (at the game after the ride). It was an incredible experience. And it was so unique because so many other CPs were working rides. I felt special It was hard: training, depending on the venue, took anywhere from 3 days to 7. There is a TON of information to learn, and the actual scripts themselves. Those ranged from 4 pages to 20. But the CMs were sooooo nice, and incredible. We were just like a family. We often hung out with the FT people, some of whom were old enough to be our parents or even grandparents (my one set of grandparents are pretty young lol) We worked about 34 hours a week (on average) during the CP. Some weeks, I did work a LOT, but I regularly had the same days off, and I had a pretty good schedule. Character Attendant: As a CA, you could work in any of the 4 theme parks (and sometimes, you could work in a resort. That's pretty rare for CPs though). CAs assist their character(s), keep the queue line orderly, answer questions for guests, help take pictures for guests, stuff like that. Hours are not bad at all. For the most part, characters are done by 6-6:30pm (the exceptions are character dinners, Toontown, UK at Epcot for a few). So my hours usually were starting around 8:30-10am and going to around 5pm or so. I loved the hours. There wasn't too much walking involved (other then walking to the breakroom and back). For the most part, you stay in the one spot. For the most part, the characters do not wander around (they stay in their set spot). For the most part, you are with one character for the entire shift (unless you are a breaker- then you could be with several characters over the length of the shift). Also, you stay in that one spot for the shift. And yes, it is possible for a location to have 2 attendants (I have worked in some). However, usually it is 1 attendant per character(s). Last edited by ashliejere; 08-15-2009 at 12:37 AM. |
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07-24-2009, 11:40 AM
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#2 |
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Disney Dreamer
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: State College, Pennsylvania
Posts: 39
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Thanks! This was incredibly helpful and insightful (and helped me to rethink some of my choices . . . )
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07-25-2009, 01:47 AM
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#3 |
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Yes I AM a Disney Princess Thanks For Asking.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 175
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you might want to add for FSFB you are a HOST not a SERVER. people get that confused.
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  *WDWCP*August 19*2009*FSFB* |
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08-14-2009, 09:10 PM
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#4 |
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Dreaming Is Believing!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 89
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This is so helpful!!
Do any veteran CP-ers have any other thoughts on their roles? I'm still unsure how my top three is gonna play out and I'd love to hear first hand what people thought about their roles! Thank you! Oh, and....FOUR DAYS!
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Any wish is possible...all it takes is a little courage to set it free!  |
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08-14-2009, 09:10 PM
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#5 |
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Dreaming Is Believing!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 89
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Woops sorry double post!!
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Any wish is possible...all it takes is a little courage to set it free! Last edited by DOasDREAMERSdo; 08-14-2009 at 09:11 PM. Reason: My bad! |
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08-14-2009, 10:12 PM
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#6 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 153
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for character attendant, and this might be a stupid question i'm just having trouble interpereting it exactly, do you actually work in all 4 parks? or do you normally stick to being an attendant in one park?
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08-14-2009, 10:53 PM
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#7 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 205
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In response to the character attendant question, apparently we used to be at all 4 parks but now we are based at one park. So I'm based at EPCOT and they will only schedule me there. However, in training we train and tour all 4 parks and are able to pick up shifts at all 4 parks.
Have a Magical Day!!! Goofster18 |
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08-14-2009, 11:16 PM
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#8 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 153
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Goofster18-
Thanks, that was extremely helpful! I was kind of hoping it was at all 4 parks but either way is cool i guess! Did you get any say in which park you got stationed at? |
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08-14-2009, 11:21 PM
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#9 |
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CP Spring 2010?
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 198
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I was looking at the DLR program, and their roles sounded so weird! I was like "I can't believe this is all in *one* role and it's all that you do!" I'm still deciding on my top three. Possibly Attractions, Merchandise, and Hospitality. Or FSFB. I dunno.
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08-14-2009, 11:39 PM
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#10 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 153
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lol the dlr roles are kind of funny although guest researcher sounds really interesting!
i keep changing my top 3 but i think i've settled with attractions, character attendant and hospitality in no order. i cant really decide, i wish i could do them all or something lol they all appeal to me so much. and i think i'll also be checking concierge fsfb merchandise i hope 6 is enough... like i'd be happy with any role but i dont want the possibility of getting a role i'm not REALLY happy with as many people have been saying. so i just put down the ones i know that i wouldnt be even slightly bummed about. |
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08-14-2009, 11:43 PM
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#11 | |
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CP Spring 2010?
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 198
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Quote:
There is a role hopper role, but it includes Custodial. The problem with the "hopper" roles is that I'd be worried I'd be stuck the majority of the time in one role instead of the others. |
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08-15-2009, 12:01 AM
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#12 | |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 153
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Quote:
and i considered the hopper role but i have the same fear. I dont want to be stuck doing qsfb and custodial the entire time. and the attractions would probably be the easily ran ones i'm assuming like the dumbo ride and whatnot either that or crowd control for parades and fireworks. but thats just my guess lol i have no facts supporting what i just said. |
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08-15-2009, 12:24 AM
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#13 |
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CP Spring 2010?
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 198
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I'm checking:
Attractions Merchandise Hospitality Concierge FSFB Vacation Planner Main Entrance Operations Character Attendant I think I would say that I would do QSFB if they ask. I'm hoping they only start asking when they don't have enough people to fill the role or have filled up all the other roles. I'm hoping to apply the first day the applications are available, so I'm really hoping this isn't a problem. It was good for me to finally write them down in a list like that. It started giving me a really good idea of exactly what I want to check off. |
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08-15-2009, 07:55 AM
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#15 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 106
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That is a LONG list of blogs! Thank you for compiling it; it must have taken a while. I'm going to start reading right now
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