CM hourly wages...listed

[C.Ann]

Unless you have a ton of seniority you dont get the holidays off.

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Are they required to pay holiday pay at a higher rate?

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Growing up in Orlando, I had lots and lots of friends who worked at WDW during hs and college. Very few remained even as "managers" after college simply because the pay was so low. Still, all enjoyed their time there and found the experience invaluable. Saying you worked at Disney looks wonderful on your resume.

 

[mill4023]

I don't see anything wrong with those wages at all.
Most of those positions require no special skills or training, so I would expect them to be minimum wage positions. Nobody is forced to work for Disney, but obviously a lot of people think the pay and benefits are good enough that they CHOOSE to work there. Disney is a business, and like any business, they are only going to pay as much as they need to in order to attract the people they want.

Leota, if you are ashamed to be a Disney stockholder, you should be ashamed to hold the stock of ANY company because they all operate the same way. No company is going to pay much more than minimum wage for positions that require no skills or training and are good enough jobs that lots of people want them. Sure, it would be great if Disney doubled everyone's salary, but if they did, they'd have to raise the prices so much that nobody could afford to visit and then they obviously wouldn't be able to afford to employ all those people.

 

[marriedmarylander]

I don't see anything wrong with those wages at all.
Most of those positions require no special skills or training, so I would expect them to be minimum wage positions. Nobody is forced to work for Disney, but obviously a lot of people think the pay and benefits are good enough that they CHOOSE to work there. Disney is a business, and like any business, they are only going to pay as much as they need to in order to attract the people they want.

Leota, if you are ashamed to be a Disney stockholder, you should be ashamed to hold the stock of ANY company because they all operate the same way. No company is going to pay much more than minimum wage for positions that require no skills or training and are good enough jobs that lots of people want them. Sure, it would be great if Disney doubled everyone's salary, but if they did, they'd have to raise the prices so much that nobody could afford to visit and then they obviously wouldn't be able to afford to employ all those people.

I agree... and a lot of other companies outsourse now to other countries where they can pay them much lower than US workers. I've called customer service for some companies before and end up with someone in India.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'd be interested in knowing what site the OP saw these wages on. Remember, these figures didn't come direct from Disney. If they're true, they are extremely low. And if they're true, California pays much more or DS is really lucky! He's working at DL for the summer, college Entertainment internship, and he's getting much more than that (although they take out for his apartment). I kind of hope those figures aren't right-they're so low! But I'd take them in a heartbeat!

 

[PneumaticTransit]

I've worked for Disney for 5 years, my last raise was a little higher % than the cost increase in benefits... not to mention the phone, water, and power bills. After taxes and benefits, I get about $4 more a week than last year so I don't really consider that working my way to a more comfortable financial position

A lot of people work at Disney for health insurance and take a second part time job to help pay the bills. Also, there are a lot of people who retired early from their careers (CPAs, architects, military, etc...) and work at Disney for the benefits and to cover bills until they can start collecting their retirement.

 

[ton80]

this is hardly slave labor considering that the cost of living in florida is a
lot cheaper than most parts of the country. also seems as if a lot of old
timers that are retired and enjoy working with children making there vacation
special work at the parks. I am sure a lot of these people have Stock in
disney as an incentive !...


Dix landings 9/98
As Sports 9/99
off site 5/01
Bwv 11/04
AKL 03/05
SSR 11/05

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Characters: $6.95,

Wow...
I love Disney and have my whole life, I also love children- but there's no way on earth you'd get in me in a hot suit all day dealing with families/children/etc. for that amount of money. That's ridiculous... well hopefully that starting pay is bumped up rather quickly. I sure hope so- otherwise I bet they have a lot of turnaround on character positions. (I'm also assuming this is for characters, not face characters.. surely those are paid more because not just ANYONE can play the face characters. So that's why I assume the costume, heat, etc.)

 

[KarenP99]

Those wages may look low, but I think (as an employer) they look fair. You have to consider that these are Union negotiated wage contracts, and there are added benefits to that.

Being that I have always worked for non-union companies, it amazed me how serious the union stuff is.

For example, if my shift ended at 3PM, I was granted 20 minutes "walk" time to get back to costuming & changed...In my "real" jobs, if your shift ends at three, you leave your post at three.

There had to be x amount of hours between shifts, or your next shift was double time (or something like that...it's been 9 years).

So I really feel that the employees never got screwed....it was always Disney that had to anti up and pay the extra wages. The rules were enforced by the union reps and the CM's best interests were protected.

Then there are the benefits of park tickets, discounted merchandise & food. Great Christmas parties, and even bigger discounts as holiday bonuses. Besides they do your laundry for you...so that is a HUGE savings on clothes expenses!

I'm sorry...but if your choices are to bag groceries, or pump gas for that kind of money in Orlando...I would prefer to work at Disney!

Besides the fact that there are close to 50K CM's in Orlando alone...giving everyone an extra $1 per hour would have serious ramifications on all of us!

Karen

 

[jgalecpa]

If the wages were so bad, people would not be applying for these positions.

In droves.

 

[java]

I did the College Program and got paid those wages and I can tell you, it is not easy living off 6.95/hr. I was just a college kid blowing money and I can imagine trying to feed a family off wages like that. I agree they really need to up their standards, however when you get to thinking about all of the people they employ, it would be a significant amount of money for them to do this. Even the professional people don't get a paid a whole lot from what I understood.

You are the cutest Wendy!!

 

[Deafmedic]

That is terrible! Our local Taco Bell is advertising a starting pay of $8/hour for summer work for high school kids.

 

[WDSearcher]

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Are they required to pay holiday pay at a higher rate?

Not sure if it's required, but they do. Time and a half for overtime; double time for holidays. In my old department, people used to fight to work holidays, for the doubletime (and the fact that most of management was absent, making for a much more relaxed work day! )

 

[WDSearcher]

That is terrible! Our local Taco Bell is advertising a starting pay of $8/hour for summer work for high school kids.

That's because they obviously can't get the number of workers they need at lower rates. Disney can. Supply and Demand.

 

[crazee4mickey]

Wow!! I thought they would be paid more than this--I've always wanted to be Mickey Mouse more for the thrill than the money but for what CM's have to deal with, they should be paid more.

 

[jarestel]

So I guess the next time someone is tempted to post about CMs who didn't seem to produce that ole Disney magic on demand or CMs who don't give a hoot about a guest's vacation experience, it would be best to remember that these folks are considered to be non-skilled, minimum wage earners for purposes of determining pay. So if they're non-skilled for wage purposes, it's not fair to turn it around at the guest level and expect all kinds of "magic" producing skills from them just so we can enjoy our vacations of make believe at "the happiest place on earth".

 

[WDSearcher]

Regardless of what you're being paid, you take the job KNOWING what the pay level is. And if you take the job, you should do it to the best of your ability. No one forced it on you .... you were the one who said, "Yes." At least, that's what I was taught.

Low pay rates don't permit you to be less of an employee than you would be at a higher rate, IMO.

 

[C.Ann]

Regardless of what you're being paid, you take the job KNOWING what the pay level is. And if you take the job, you should do it to the best of your ability. No one forced it on you .... you were the one who said, "Yes." At least, that's what I was taught.

Low pay rates don't permit you to be less of an employee than you would be at a higher rate, IMO.

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I agree.. And thanks for the additional info.. I'm seriously considering some PT seasonal work at Disney when I'm staying with my sister next winter.. Is it best to inquire ahead of time - or just wait till I'm there?

Thanks!

 

[canucktyke]

The wage for a server (sit-down-service) at WDW is only $2 or $3 per hour. Those people really need the tips that we leave. Please be considerate.

 

[jarestel]

Low pay rates don't permit you to be less of an employee than you would be at a higher rate, IMO.

Right you are, in a perfect world. But unfortunately in the real world, people accept jobs because they need the money. I remember when the Disney Co, was commonly acknowledged to be a model employer, but you don't hear that much anymore.

But if an employer wants to pay minimal wages, the "best of the best" will usually end up going elsewhere and the employer is left with what they probably deserve... Unmotivated employees who are collecting paychecks.