Anyone ever think of working in Disney after they retire?

[BrianTime]

I have had this notion for a while now....

I am on track to retire from my company when I hit 55. It seems like a really nice idea to me to move down to Orlando and work in one of the theme parks part time in Disney.

I can't help wondering if it's not half as "magical" as I think it would be. Kind of like working in a candy store

Anyone else ever have this notion?

 

[Scott H]

I can pull the pin a second time in 4 years and we will be moving to the Punta Gorda area of FL. I toy with a job at Disney on a very part time basis.

The main benefit would be park entrance. However I also wonder if the "MAGIC" would be lost. I think it may be easier to persue a career as a Walmart greeter, get the empoyee discount( if there is one), and just buy a FL resident AP.

Actually I would rather enjoy working as a Divemaster at the Living Seas. I got the creds and then some already for that line of work.

 

[yasuern]

I want to be a Main Street greeter when I retire!

 

[fkj2]

Sure, but with the economy right now, who's sure positions would be available?

I don't know that I'd move to WDW to work year-round but I certainly would entertain the option of wintertime work there after the college students return from peak summer months and they might be a bit shorthanded.

 

[Kim&Chris]

My husband and I have already decided that we'll move to the Orlando area when we retire. He has his sights set on being a Disney bus driver!

 

[RAMWDWFAN]

Yes, that's my dream too. Of course I'll have enough money in savings so the Disney money will be gravy, but my plan is to retire to the Orlando area. After practicing law, selling popcorn would be a pleasure!

 

[CarolA]

I want to drive the Safari truck! I met a woman who retired to Haines City and that is what she did. She really seemed to like it!!

 

[BrianTime]

I wonder if Disney knows how lucky they are to have people wanting to work in their parks and help make memories for others.

My cousin is retired in California and works in Disneyland part time driving the Jungle Cruise; how cool would that be!

 

[NJmouse]

Yes this is my DH's retirement plan....but he can't make up his mind on what he wants to do. One day it's selling popcorn, another it's driving the buses at the campground, then it's selling mickey ice cream and the lists goes on and on and on....LOL He has at least 15 more yrs to think of it. Maybe he will zero in on what he REALLY wants to do....just live in the park!!

 

[mrsdon]

I am a DS CM and love working for that part of the company.
So, my dream is to transfer when we retire and be able to work at any division of the company.

 

[sgtpet]

I want to drive the monorail all day long during my retirement years. Heck that is what I wanted to do when I was five years old.

 

[chrisd596]

I am currently a music teacher and really enjoy my job. However I have thought that when I retire I would like to use my skills at dealing with children and another way.... Yes I have thought working at WDW and would like to know how others who have retired have done this at WDW.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I think about it all the time. I just don't know if I can deal with the high humidity, bugs, flat land and no change of seasons all year round. I grew up in St. Petersburg and said I would never live in Florida again after moving to beautiful North Carolina. However, the older I get, the more warm weather appeals, especially after the winter we have had-not near as bad as most folks, but bad for us.

I just wonder what type of position I would fall into.

 

[KNWVIKING]

looking at it this very moment. I'm in AK,at the "Tree". Next to me is a CM, I've taken his little broom and mini dumpster on a stick thingy. I'm in training. That's all I want to do. No ambition.No responsibilty other then my little area. Have a great tan. Just learn simple phrases: "The restrooms are right over there Mam." "Yes Mam,Walt is dead" "No Mam,his heads not frozen inside the Castle".

I feel calmer already,just thinking about it.

 

[BrianTime]

That could be the downside. You could apply to work in a theme park with the dream of working in the Haunted Mansion and end up sucking exhaust fumes at the raceway

I wonder what would be the WORST theme park job?

My vote would be working in one of the restaraunts...they can be quite a zoo!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Yes, but I want to do this NOW! I think about it all the time. I even found a perfect job a few months ago, processing DVC paperwork I work do real estate closings for a living and have worked in title insurance for 15 years, so that would have been perfect for me!

As far as the "magic" being lost, I don't think so. I think the most magical thing is seeing peoples reactions when the expierence anything at WDW for the first time!!

 

[NJmouse]

You know after writing and telling you what my DH wants to do I was sitting here daydreaming of what maybe I would like to do. I think I finally decided! I want to do a special survey of benches in the shade...that's right benches. I would like to sit on benches and see what time of day would be the right time to sit on each bench. I would write down what time and day the sun hits each bench and if it would be a good bench to take a siesta on. I would do this for everyday of the year. It probably would take a long time because there are a lot of benches in every park!!! I would be considered a "PROFESSIONAL BENCH SITTER". How is that for a job? I would let Disney people know where to move the benches and where to put benches. So everyone would be sitting in the shade, not the sun. Oh the joy of it!!!

 

[DebbieB]

I wonder what would be the WORST theme park job?

Walking behind the horses with a can and broom!

I would like to work at guest services in a resort.

 

[wdwstar]

this is a great thread, i always wonder what we would do when we retired and reading these posts, i got it! dh can get a job at the golf courses, putting, driving,(slicing,hahaha) to make sure that the grass is just perfect for when the ball lands, and myself, well, i think maybe, taking naps in the resort rooms that are not reserve for ressies and letting wdw know if the beds are to soft, to hard, just right. then ill move down to the pool area and test out the pool chairs and maybe even the hot tub, we dont want any of our guests get to hot in the hot tub! yep ! thats what we are going to do

 

[bub]

Love this thread - my husband and I have discussed this as well.
I do think the magic could be dimmed a bit by working there - most of the CM jobs are probably harder than they appear, especially the ones that are outside in the summer sun. You would need to keep a smile and a positive attitude all the time - unless you were "Grumpy"! On the other hand, for those of us with Disney addictions, it might not be that hard to share our enthusiasm with others.