I know that many of you don't like hearing the truth and I am sorry for that. But once again, here's the truth about
Disney Store transfers.
Disney does not like to take-in transfers from closing stores. They feel that many of these castmembers are set in ways that the company no longer embraces. Some of you who feel close to your managers and district managers might be surprised to know what they say about you behind your back. Typically, Disney handles closing CM's in these ways.
1. Tell them that there aren't any openings at the surrounding stores, while telling the surrounding stores not to hire these people.
2. Suggest that there may be openings in a store that is too far for the CM to travel to.
3. Don't give them an answer at all, making them wait until the the store closes before telling them #1 or #2.
I know, I know. This doesn't sound like Disney. But it is. When the Pleasanton, CA store closed in 2001 (lease issues), we were given a list of CM's from that store who we could consider. There were 2 people on the list. Everyone else was considered a "dinosaur" because they had worked in that store for nearly 10 years and were no longer considered in "the Disney way."
Three of those "dinosaur" CM's came to my store in San Francisco (40 miles away) asking for jobs. While 2 of them clearly met the "dinosaur" image, one of them did not. I fought to bring her on my team and was successful. Eventually I promoted her to lead. This woman spent nearly 10 years as a part-time castmember without even a promotion. That was an incredible achievement in patience.
My advice to CM's of closing stores is to get out early. Don't go down with the ship. If your store is not closing in the next few weeks, but it is in liquidation, why stay? You are only delaying the inevitible. If you leave now (with dignity) you can still have Disney on your resume. If your life will not be the same because you must work for Disney, move to California or Florida and try going to work for the parks. You will not be penalized because you left TDS...
In fact, you might find it easier to get into the parks AFTER you have separated from TDS. You can't deny that TDS has always been like a step child where Disney was concerned. This goes back to way before TCP had the stores. Unless you were near the top of the ladder at TDS "home base", you had a better chance of winning a lottery than getting a transfer.
Lastly. When the next round of closures is announced, don't sign any documents promising to stay until the store closes. You haven't had a contract with Disney before. So why have one when you are going to lose your job? The company will want to ensure that they have enough employees to get through the closure. Why deal with all of the drama, sadness and misery of a store closure. You have sure read about it enough here. Make the company spend money hiring employees to get through the closure. There's nothing wrong with looking out for #1. (And I mean YOU, not TDS)
