Cast Members! What's it like??

[sistertrip]

Wasn't sure which board to stick this on, so here it is.

I've always wondered what it would be like to work in WDW, so I'd love to hear from any current or past Cast Members.

Is it fun to work in WDW? Do you get "caught up" in the magic, or do you get sick of it all? How does the company treat the Cast Members?

I'd love to hear anything at all from Cast Members (stories, opinions, etc.). Please include what you do or did in WDW.

Thanks!

 

[tikkipoo]

Good question, I'd like to know as well. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has fantasies about living at DW.

 

[CathrynRose]

Me too - very good question!

 

[TiggerificTigger]

I am not a CM, but my DH did the college program several years ago. Although he spent the time acting like most college students, he still had a great time. He still carries his pass with him in his wallet!

 

[nalabell]

I worked for WDW many years ago when I was in college. I loved it!!!. I felt the company really lets the CM do what is needed to make a guest happy. I was given free reign to do whatever I wanted to make a Disney moment for a guest. (and it felt great when you could) In fact the CM's where given special citations when this happened. However, I did feel it would be very hard to make a career working at WDW. Imagine working in a place that needs you to work during all the holidays and weekends. ( I know I like to be home with my family during X-mas, 4th of July, Thanksgiving) Also, the pay is not the best. It would have taken me about five to ten years to have really been in a place to do something that I wanted to do. I hope maybe someday I will return to work for them, maybe after I retire I can be a greeter at one of the hotels. In all It was one of the best times in all of my life and I will always enjoy the memories that I have.

 

[Feralpeg]

I just returned from the post office near WDW property. I stood in line with one of the CP kids. She told me she works at Tomorrowland Speedway at MK. They are now on mandatory six day weeks. When she is off, she has to run errands and try to catch up on things like laundry and pay bills. I ask her if the exhaust smell bothered her from the little cars. She said she didn't notice them that much while at work, but when she gets back to the apartment, she can't stop coughing.

She said she wasn't looking forward to 4th of July. They would be open until 3am and then she'd have to be back at work the next day for regular opening. Not much sleep time.

Most of the kids I've talked to on the CP like their jobs, but they don't have much time to actually enjoy WDW.

 

[orljustin]

Among other places, I worked at GMR. Sure, at times you stand around trying to figure out how many miles of wasted life you've spent on the vehicles doing shows, but at other times, it's a lot of fun interacting with people. It's also fun being behind the magic, especially when it comes to previewing or seeing things work. It's also not fun to get $6-7/hour.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Not a CM, but on some days (as in, today ), I fantasize about giving it all up to go down there and be a servant in the Haunted Mansion.

 

[sabrinadv1]

Yeah pirate me to except I wanna work on the Winnie the Pooh Ride. I stay at home with three little boys and sometimes it just gets the best of me. Then I realize there are alot more little boys down there lol.

 

[JRawkSteady]

How does the company treat CMs...? Well, it depends on what your position is.

I used to work over at Disney-MGM Studios for Star Tours and Fantasmic! As college program, you only get $6 an hour, but if you're full time you're paycheck varies depending on who you are.

I think Star Tours was amazing to work at! I have always been in love with the movies, so bringing a lot of that "useless knowledge" to life made people's lives a bit more magical. Also, my co-CMs were wonderful people! We all would go out (including the managers) after work and just hang out! It was one big family! Thi swas definitely one of the best experiences I have ever had.

In NY, the World of Disney is suppsed to be the parks brought to NY. It's not. Besides my DGf, the management there is horrible. They don't care about "magic" or anything else. They don't want it to feel like the parks, they want it to feel like Virgin Megastore. It's very un-magical there...epecially the store manager. She's just a witch with a capital B.

Now I work for Disney Theatrical in NYC. It's a whole different experience, but I don't think this is the info you are looking for, so I won't go into detail about my current position.

 

[ryanmilla]

Actually, JRawkSteady, I think it would be interesting to hear about the Disney Theatrical position. Do you still get the feeling you are working for Disney or does it become another corporate entity feeling or in your case a broadway theater feeling as opposed to Disney?

I also think it would be interesting to hear from some of the CMs who work "behind the magic" at WDW. I'm in IT myself and have often looked for some of the IT work down at WDW. I've wondered if it would feel like any other IT shop or if you would get the feeling of working for WDW.

 

[exwdwcm]

I was also on the college program (10 years ago, dang i am old now!).....anyways- it was fall 96, right during the 25th anniversary celebration and terrible pink castle cake!

I loved being a CM. don't get me wrong, i worked my tail off, probably harder than any other job and that's saying alot considering I cleaned toliets at a day care in high school! I was there from August-January, during the holidays. I was assigned to work in food service, since i had waitressing experience. I was a senior in college as well, older than most of the college programmers. The whole experience was great. Again, the pay wasn't great and after taking out the rent from our checks, it was hardly anything.

The job was hard- I was stationed at Hollywood and Vine. We served breakfast and lunch ONLY, cafeteria style. No character meal, no buffet. I had a horrible costume to wear, complete with hairnet and Mel's diner type apron etc. My managers were great. Traditions was awesome- the training program all new CMs attend. Having access to the parks all the time was amazing. I would be able to explore the backstage areas of all the parks and always had the inside scoop. I loved that part.

But the job itself was hard work. I served food like a cafeteria lady to guests that couldn't speak english, so I had to redo their plates several times til we got it right. I had to bus tables, wash silverware and load heavy trays of food into fridges. It was not exactly glamorous. Then i finally got to be cashier for a bit, that was better. Guests always complained about the prices. Working the holidays was crazy- tons of overtime and huge crowds. I would work 40 hours normally, but about 60-70 during the holidays. no rest for the CMs!

I also had magical moments like when I got to be the greeter. BAsically we would have too many CM's on shift and someone would just greet at the door. We had an autograph book and would ask kids to sign it. I would tell them Mickey knew they were here and asked me to get their autograph. I loved doing that and making someone's day. It was magical to me too.

Working there, I was afraid would make me 'lose' some of the magic and appeal, but it didn't. Even after I saw Cinderella smoking a cig backstage! Two of my roommates were 'friends' with Pluto and Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story parade. They had awesome jobs. But I wouldn't trade my time there for anything. Seeing the inside workings was amazing and it truly is a company that values its guests. Our mgrs gave us free reign to make sure our guests were happy, whatever it took. That was magic to me.

I wish I could have stayed and attempted to get a salaried position in marketing (my major), but competition for salaried professional positions is just unbelieveable. I gave up on that dream and have since settled working in PR/mktg for a major defense contractor, ensuring or troops have night vision equipment. far from the mouse, but at least I get to go back and visit.

 

[orljustin]

I think Star Tours was amazing to work at!

Especially when the lightning strikes in the area, and the whole tower lights up light a Christmas tree.

 

[graygables]

My DD did her CP last year, loved it so much, she quit school and moved back. You'll find her most days at the Confectionary on Main Street! She doesn't think she'll ever tire of the magic, and I don't think she will, either. She loves it. In our family, we measure success by the happiness you have, not by the money in your bank account and by that measure, she is one of the most successful people I know!

 

[JRawkSteady]

Actually, JRawkSteady, I think it would be interesting to hear about the Disney Theatrical position. Do you still get the feeling you are working for Disney or does it become another corporate entity feeling or in your case a broadway theater feeling as opposed to Disney?

It does start feeling very corporate...But it definitely changes depending upon what's going on. When we have our office meetings, and they begin discussing what's new for the theatres, (and of course people start bringing up films and the parks) the whole "Disney" feeling comes back again. Every time I pass by the set designers or enter one of our theatres, I feel like I am whisked away into this wonderful place! It's odd, because when I enter theatres like the Gershwin(where Wicked currently is playing) I don't get this magical feeling. That's the wonderful thing about Disney is that theming is everything...and that's a huge part of the theatre industry too. My favorite thing is when I get the phone call from someone who I can tell is just in awe when they speak about Disney. I tell you, I can spend hours talking about rumors, refurbs, and new attractions...plus I've made some great friends from outside the company this way as well.

The only thing that makes this job a lot more corporate is my direct supervisor. He's one of those... I dunno... He doesn't believe in "magic," nor does he really enjoy Disney all that much. In fact, I think he's just here to make money. He cares more about making money for the company than making magic for the guests...and that's not my line of thinking. So I get "scolded" sometimes for spending too much time on the phone with a client, but mark my words...these clients will keep coming back. Long time relationships are a lot more sturdy than teh one-time instant gratification... .. anyway, I love it here. The pay is great, I get great benefits.. but nothing can beat working in the parks..