Ahh so there's nothing I can really do now?
Is being on the register all the time boring?
Can you tell me a bit more about your experience in merch? (or link me to somewhere if you've already written about it in depth) I didn't do any research for the role and now that I have it I have no idea what I'm getting in to! I wanna hear the good and the bad, and tips if you have any.
Yep. There is nothing to do before you accept your offer. If you need accommodations and get them documented Disney is very good about finding locations that can accommodate you. Someone from HR will call you about 2-3 weeks before you program to discuss where they are placing you and you can ask questions related to your needs.
Also it's not that register is boring, its more of that it was nice to have a break from it. Other CPs would be scheduled some floor stock and some register shifts each week.
I did Merchandise on my Alumni Program. Merch is high guest interaction and you can be located at any of the Parks, Waterparks, Downtown Disney or Resorts. You may be working at one large store, such as MouseGears at Epcot or an area that has multiple locations such as Tower of Terror Gifts, Rock N Roller Coaster Gifts, Assorted Carts, and Fantasmic Carts. You also might work in an area that does food prep, and get to make goodies like candy apples. Also My location and a few others do the stitching of names on the ear hats, I really liked doing those!
The hours will vary, and you may work even after the park is closed or before they open. Epcot closed at 9 but Mousegear stayed open until all the guests had left the store. Then you need to clean up and organize the store. So I wouldn't leave until midnight. You can also pick up hours at any other merchandise location because the training is the same, so if you are interested in working overtime for extra money it is much easier than in other roles.
Because the training is universal you are more likely to be deployed to another location. I was deployed one week to Downtown Disney and another time to Hollywood Studios People from my location got to do Flower and Garden and Star Wars weekend so that was cool.
You get to interact with a lot of guests, and lots of locations have a position called "Merchantainment" you basically just walk around with stuff and talk to guests. Like you might carry around a stuffed mickey and talk with him to guests. We gave out stickers, had a bubble wand to play with and remote control "lightening McQueen" cars.
Some negatives would be trying to assist guests who don't speak English. This can get very confusing when they are trying to ask for a certain item or you are trying to ask them if they want shipping to their resort. Although this happens in every role, Disney does give you tools to use (Like a card explaining the shipping information in several languages) Other things would be that outside the US tax is included in prices, so a lot of people from other countries get confused when they see the price at the end.
Let me know if you have other questions!
