Cast Member Question - Part Time/Seasonal

[superdiz]

My husband and I are moving to Orlando for me to go to nursing school. He wants to work part time at Disney for some extra money while I'm in school. My question is - will he be able to get into the parks for free on his off time automatically? He's not sure he's going to be part time or seasonal. What is the difference? How long is training before you can become either because he will also have a full time day job.

If I don't get a part time job there (for $ reasons) - should I get an annual pass for myself or should he be able to get me in with him since I would only be going with him?

I know I know - I should be worried about my studies but I mean come on we will be living half hour from our favorite vacation spot - we'll need to go at least once a month!

Thanks for your help!

 

[Feralpeg]

My sister is a fulltime CM. Even fulltime CMs have blackout periods when they cannot use their maingate pass to enter the park. For instance, the period around Christmas is blacked out and she cannot use her pass to enter the parks.

I don't remember how long it took before she got her pass. It didn't seem real long (maybe 3 months). There is a set number of people who can enter on a maingate pass. The CM must be with you to get in. It seems like they can take a set number of people in on a maingate pass up to 12 times a year. I'm not sure of the number without asking her.

They also get other passes. I think she gets three a year. They are a one person, one park ticket. The CM doesn't need to be with the person to use this pass.

Training doesn't last very long. Her training was only a couple of days at Disney University. After that, you work with someone on your new job. You go through a period where you are "earning your ears".

Part time people work all year long but do not get the same benefits as full time people. Seasonal people are brought on at different times of year when they are needed. Even though a person is part time, that doesn't mean that you will not be assigned the same hours as a full time person. They don't count your hours by week. They count total hours throughout the course of a year. As long as you don't go over the number of hours for part time in a year, you stay part time. During busy times of year, part time people will be expected to work a 40 hour week. During slow periods, they will cut back the hours of part time people to keep them under the full time hours limit. If your husband can only work a set number of hours a week, he needs to make it very clear when he is hired how many hours he can work and what the scheduled hours will be. People hire on thinking they can dictate what hours they will work and end up quiting because Disney assigns them different hours and they can't work the scheduled hours.

 

[Feralpeg]

I talked to my sister. She said that she believes part time people may take up to 3 people into a park with them up to 6 times a year.

She also said that she was told when she first started as a part time person (she's now full time) that you must be able to work two full days a week. You can't just work a few hours a few nights a week. I hope this helps.

 

[LadyyRedd]

Also, for seasonal, you have to give them 30 days up front (meaning you have to be available for work and training for 30 days straight). It might be 60. I can't remember exactly.

Kimya

 

[OrlandoMike]

Seasonal means you only work about one day a month, no main gate pass.

PT means you work about one day a week, and yes you get a main gate pass, I'm pretty sure they are giving these out right after you complete your training now days, not 100% sure though.

I wouldn't get a season pass, even if he doesn't get a main gate pass right away, he will meet friends soon who will have one and might be able to help.

Welcome to Central Florida! (And to the Disney family it that happens)

 

[MiniGirl]

I am a seasonal employee. I just started in Feb. As a seasonal employee (CT), I had to be available for 2 days a week for 2 months. Now, I simply e-mail them and let scheduling know when I want to work. If I am needed, I am added to the schedule. If I'm not needed, I stay home. One woman I trained with actually lives in South Caolina (maybe North. I forget now.) Anyway, she was hired as a seasonal employee, too. She has family in the Orlando area, and figures whenever they are in town visiting, she work a day or two. I also work with many snowbirds (who are all leaving but will return in the fall) and soon the seasonal employees who work full time with the local schools will be starting up again.

As far as passes go, I received my maingate pass very quickly -- within the first month. I am allowed to bring up to 3 people into the park 6 times a year. My ID serves as my pass, and I can use it as often as I like -- except during the blackout periods. The blackout periods aren't for very long though. I still bought seasonal passes for my dh and dds because we go more than 6 days a year.

I honestly couldn't tell you about part-time and/or full time. I know their schedules are far less flexible than mine, but they are also getting more hours and benefits (as they should). However, I also know some CTs getting over 30 hours/week.

 

[captainDave]

My husband and I are moving to Orlando for me to go to nursing school. He wants to work part time at Disney for some extra money while I'm in school. My question is - will he be able to get into the parks for free on his off time automatically? He's not sure he's going to be part time or seasonal. What is the difference? How long is training before you can become either because he will also have a full time day job.

If I don't get a part time job there (for $ reasons) - should I get an annual pass for myself or should he be able to get me in with him since I would only be going with him?

I know I know - I should be worried about my studies but I mean come on we will be living half hour from our favorite vacation spot - we'll need to go at least once a month!

Thanks for your help!

Ok, let's clear the admission questions up since a bunch of people are confusing things. Assuming he does get statused as PT or CT

1. Will he be able to get into the parks for free?
Yes. Pretty much can get in anytime with just his id. Not special events obviously, and I think I remember the rare occasion like July 4th, when you weren't allowed in the front gate with an id, and I even think I remember them checking schedules backstage.

2. If he is PT, he will get a maingate that allows 16 entry days for up to 3 additional people in a year. You should probably get an AP. The CT maingate is good for 6 entries. CT (seasonal) only needs to work 1 day a year, but I'm guessing different departments may want more than that.

3. He will also occasionally get some one day park hoppers as "thank you"s from Disney. Will get 1+the number of admissions on the maingate.

 

[Micca]

I can tell you that DD is seasonal, although at one time she was FT. She only needs to work one time per year to maintain her seasonal status. She does not live anywhere near Fla, but anytime she wants to work, she lets them know when she will be there, and they schedule her. We get the CM discount on the resort, some dining, but I don't know about passes for sure.
Seems like she can get in anytime, but she isn't there during super heavy times.

 

[superdiz]

Thanks for the replies everyone! So to clear things up - even if he is CT (Seasonal) HE will have a maingate pass. I should probably get an Annual Pass and we can use those 6 times/year for family/friends that come to visit us. Would you say that was the best way to sum it up?

 

[MiniGirl]

That's what we did -- except we have seasonal passes. The blackout dates don't bother us.

 

[superdiz]

Thank you!

 

[Feralpeg]

Ok, let's clear the admission questions up since a bunch of people are confusing things. Assuming he does get statused as PT or CT

1. Will he be able to get into the parks for free?
Yes. Pretty much can get in anytime with just his id. Not special events obviously, and I think I remember the rare occasion like July 4th, when you weren't allowed in the front gate with an id, and I even think I remember them checking schedules backstage.

2. If he is PT, he will get a maingate that allows 16 entry days for up to 3 additional people in a year. You should probably get an AP. The CT maingate is good for 6 entries. CT (seasonal) only needs to work 1 day a year, but I'm guessing different departments may want more than that.

3. He will also occasionally get some one day park hoppers as "thank you"s from Disney. Will get 1+the number of admissions on the maingate.

My sister was not allowed entry with her maingate pass the week of Christmas this past year. The blackout times seem to be around the holidays.