CP Job Descriptions Thread

[Joanna71985]

Is there a costuming place at each park? Will your schedule just say "Camp Minnie Mickey, AK"... stuff like that?

Yes. Each park has their own costuming place. MK is back at the CM parking, Epcot and DHS are in the park, but AK is totally in a different spot. Thank goodness attendants get their costumes with performers. Yes. That is what it says.

How often would you say you got a break and usually for how long? Do you go back and forth between meet and greets, restaurants and shows in one day or do they have different CMs for each location?

Breaks usually were 20 minutes long. Usually there were 2 per shift.

No. There are different CMs per shift. You stay in your area all day (unless you are pulled).

So besides working the line, what do you do for the characters? Help them down stairs and stuff? I don't quite understand this...

P.S. Character attendant sounds really fun.

You keep an eye on them, give them a pen if they need it, help them out with holding an item if they can't hold and sign at the same time, stuff like that. They may also need some help backstage.

Oh it is!!

Do you have to 1)carry the trashbags somewhere or 2)roll the trash cans (like trashbins outside of your house) or do you 3)have a cart to put them on or what? and I remember hearing something about trash vacuum tubes, do you put the trash in there or a dumpster?

Thanks for all your help!

You have a bin for putting the garbage bags in. The tubes are only at MK.

You're welcome.

 

[americangeiko]

Day in the Life of a BBB Hostess (or Fairy Godmother in Training):

(Let me say that I worked the CC Boutique when it first opened, and the DTD & CC Boutique have some differences in operation. I also know that rules & regulations were still being ironed-out while I was there so some of this info might be obsolete by now.)

You know your schedule about 2 wks out, but as with all roles you're encouraged to check and make certain that your schedule is correct on the Portal. (I had a few times mine changed at the last minute, and if I hadn't had a print out of the old one, I would've gotten points taken off for tardiness.)

You'll arrive at MK, take the bus in, go through the Corridor, clock-in, and either go to the locker room (to stowe your purse, etc), or straight to the Boutique which is up 3 flights of stairs. Once you enter the stock room, you'll read any "notices" on the back of the door to the boutique. This can be changes in policy, shortage of princess gowns, etc. Your schedule (there's a spare in the stockroom) will either list you as "Podium" or "Chair" for the day. This rotates out for everyone, but you'll predominantely be working a 'chair'.

The 'Chair' position is where you'll be styling hair, and doing make-up. Depending on how many FGITs are available you'll either be doing hair and make-up by yourself, or with a helper FGIT. During this entire time you're expected to do all the above AND interact with the 'princess' and her guests. There will also be a roaming photopass photographer who'll be taking pictures of the whole transformation. The whole process takes about a 1/2 hour.

After you're finished, you'll escort your 'princess' (all boutique patrons are 'princesses' unless they're boys), to the check-out, and wash your hands. The helper FGIT will take your chair, clean it, and take another 'princess'. When you come back you'll go to the nearest chair that hasn't had make-up done, and assist them. And continue the cycle. If you work and open to a close, you could be doing as many as 22 'princesses'. The whole boutique does about 224 girls a day. We, like Cinderella's Royal Table across the Breezeway, are BOOKED 180 days in advance.

The 'Podium' position has one main spot, and 2+ helper positions. The main spot will have you greeting incoming 'princesses', verifying their reservation, and checking them in. We do not do bookings, or cancellations for any day other than that day, at the boutique. It's all handled via the hotline. They'll generally be handed a pager, and then asked to take a seat. The pagers only work around the castle, so the waiting area generally fills up quick. Occasionally we'll take 'walk-ins', but those slots generally fill up within the first hour the boutique opens. This is very problematic as you'll find a lot of guests don't understand the reservation system, and will show up trying to get their kids in at 3pm, only to find out that we're booked solid for the rest of the day. I've had a few people blow up on me because of this.

Side Note: This position is *very* hectic, and managers will often regulate who gets this role as many FGITs can't do it, or don't want to.

The 2 helpers will be responsible for walking 'princesses' to their FGIT who'll be doing their makeover. And for helping 'princesses' pick out their gown and get changed into it. The helpers are also supposed to assist with the main podium position as needed, and will often have to procure from other shops princess gowns, wands, crowns, etc as we frequently run out. You'll also need to monitor that people who aren't with a 'princess' don't wander about the boutique (there's a rope between the entry way and the boutique), as space is incredibly limited in there! There's also the issue of people taking pictures of other people's kids. It's not allowed without the parent's permission, and we do have the right to request any guest to delete the photo that they've taken, and to leave the boutique if necessary.

There's about 4 different shifts: an 'opening' (either 7 or 8am) or 'closing' (1-2pm till close), mid-day (come in for about 6 hrs sometime during the day), or 'all day' (7-8am till close). You won't have control over your schedule, and if it's a holiday weekend, or a busy weekend you *will* be working 40+ hrs. You can't work shifts at another BBB, but picking up shifts in your area was never a problem when I was there. You will have to stock your 'cart' (supply station) before opening and after closing, and as needed throughout the day, but the cashiers generally do the heavy stocking. There is some cleaning involved as there's nobody that comes in to really clean the boutique, but it's nothing more than cleaning your mirror, chair, etc. You'll also be able to pick up your tips (we're on tip share) at the end of your shift, or before the beginning of your shift. Generally there's also a meeting in the morning, or after close, that will discuss any issues that's come up that day.

All your co-workers will be female, and there'll often be visiting management from throughout the park and company who'll drop in from time to time. Face Characters, like the Fairy Godmother, will occasionally come in if it isn't busy, and do a 5-10 min photo op with the 'princesses' in the room. Anastasia, Drusilla, and Lady Tremaine are banned from the boutique, but Prince Charming will occasionally pop in, if the Fairy Godmother is unavailable.

There's no seasonal option for this position as the hair stylist training requires you to be in the boutique atleast every 2 months to keep up with the skills you've learned. You will have the opportunity to see the Castle Suite as all Castle workers do. Opportunities to go FT after your CP are an option, and considering the waiting list to go FT in the BBB, I'd recommend offering to take the position at the beginning of your CP if you want it. (Aka, let them know you're interested ASAP as you can always transfer in 6 months.)

To be honest, I hated the position the first 2 weeks I was there because I had a difficult time in training. After wards, I grew to love the role, and I still keep contact with many of the FGITs from my CP-both the FTs, PTs, and the CPs.

If there's anything I didn't answer (I'll be surprised), reply and I'll fill in the blanks.

 

[Scully12]

I was in attraction at the Great Movie Ride for my program. We had to learn a 50 page spiel, learn blocking for the spiel, learn how to operate a vehicle, learn how to speak and operate at the same time, load, unload, great guests, give directions, basic clean up of attraction area, open the ride, close the ride, how to evacuate the ride, chemical safety, fire safety, deal with guest situations(stupid guests), and basic guest service and recovery...


I worked an average of 45 hours a week, sometimes as many as 70 hours in one week. I had many 12 hours days, coming in as early as 7:30 in the morning and leaving as late as 2am.

the positions were(in the rotation order):
Odd Rotation
1st set "A" and 1st set "B" (This is driving the vehicle and spieling position)
Front Usher (outside greeting)
3rd set "A" and 3rd set "B"
Head Usher(greeting inside, and monitoring handicap line)
5th set "A" and 5th set "B"
ADB (vehicle load and send off)

Even Rotation
2nd Set "A" and 2nd set "B"
Casting director(in charge of opening doors to begin loading)
4th Set "A" and 4th Set "B"
Valet(stroller parking outside)
ADA (vehicle load)

There are a few extra positions thrown in if we have a lot of people working that day. Basically you come into work and sign in. Once you sign in you click a button and get an assignment. The computer assigns you one of these and you go where you're supposed to. You send whoever is already there back for their break or for them to sign out and go home. You then are a part of that rotation until someone comes to give you a break or bump you out. If you're lucky you will get an assignment called Magical Moment or Take Five. These mean you are "supposed" to talk to guests and backdoor them onto the ride or something like that....most of the time we would just sit there for the 15 minutes on the break room before we had to sign back in

THe most fun times were evacuations. If the ride had"technical problems" we would have to evac the guests, many times while they're in the middle of the track on the ride. We'd have to shut the ride down for a little while so we got a break. The GMR building is also considered a shelter for severe weather and the likes so if its bad enough we shut down ride operation and let people just sit around. Also giving us a break!

We were supposed to get breaks every 2 hours. For ever two hours of work you get a 15 minute break and after 6 hours you get a half hour. So for a 6 hour shift you would get two 15 minute breaks, but for a 6.5 hour shift you'd get one 15 and one 30. For, say, a 12 hour shift you would be scheduled for four 15s and a 30.

We wore black polyester mom pants (high waisted, pleated fronts, wiiiide hip area, narrows at ankles...BAD), Red polyester, double layer shirts that do not breath in Florida weather designed to look chinese-ish (the chinese button hooks were forever unpopping, a red hat to be worn outside, and a long sleeved gray polyester jacket only worn inside on the dock area. We wore black shoes and a black belt with gold buckle to complete the look

It was fun while it lasted...But I would not want to work there full time. I don't now how people can stand it for years at a time.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I was selected for Housekeeping for Spring 09, which might turn out to be a mistake, I am still waiting for response from my recruiter, but I was just wondering if anyone on here had ever done it? I know what the job entails, that's common sense, but I just wanted to see if anyone had done the role and what they thought of it. Thanks!

I've mostly heard negative opinions on housekeeping. Obviously it's a physical job, though that's not something that bothers a lot of people. My biggest concern for CPs doing housekeeping is the fact that there are not a lot of you. I think it would be hard to make friends when the rest of your fellow CMs are middle aged women.

 

[Ashley022489]

I've mostly heard negative opinions on housekeeping. Obviously it's a physical job, though that's not something that bothers a lot of people. My biggest concern for CPs doing housekeeping is the fact that there are not a lot of you. I think it would be hard to make friends when the rest of your fellow CMs are middle aged women.

Thanks for the response! Turns out that there was a mistake with my acceptance letter and I was actually chosen for Hospitality, not Housekeeping.I'm sure that I would have been able to handle Housekeeping since I have done it before but I know that I am going to enjoy my program much more now that I am actually going to be in a role that I am interested in and that has more CPers.

 

[Climber656]

I was in attraction at the Great Movie Ride for my program. We had to learn a 50 page spiel, learn blocking for the spiel, learn how to operate a vehicle, learn how to speak and operate at the same time, load, unload, great guests, give directions, basic clean up of attraction area, open the ride, close the ride, how to evacuate the ride, chemical safety, fire safety, deal with guest situations(stupid guests), and basic guest service and recovery...


I worked an average of 45 hours a week, sometimes as many as 70 hours in one week. I had many 12 hours days, coming in as early as 7:30 in the morning and leaving as late as 2am.

the positions were(in the rotation order):
Odd Rotation
1st set "A" and 1st set "B" (This is driving the vehicle and spieling position)
Front Usher (outside greeting)
3rd set "A" and 3rd set "B"
Head Usher(greeting inside, and monitoring handicap line)
5th set "A" and 5th set "B"
ADB (vehicle load and send off)

Even Rotation
2nd Set "A" and 2nd set "B"
Casting director(in charge of opening doors to begin loading)
4th Set "A" and 4th Set "B"
Valet(stroller parking outside)
ADA (vehicle load)

There are a few extra positions thrown in if we have a lot of people working that day. Basically you come into work and sign in. Once you sign in you click a button and get an assignment. The computer assigns you one of these and you go where you're supposed to. You send whoever is already there back for their break or for them to sign out and go home. You then are a part of that rotation until someone comes to give you a break or bump you out. If you're lucky you will get an assignment called Magical Moment or Take Five. These mean you are "supposed" to talk to guests and backdoor them onto the ride or something like that....most of the time we would just sit there for the 15 minutes on the break room before we had to sign back in

THe most fun times were evacuations. If the ride had"technical problems" we would have to evac the guests, many times while they're in the middle of the track on the ride. We'd have to shut the ride down for a little while so we got a break. The GMR building is also considered a shelter for severe weather and the likes so if its bad enough we shut down ride operation and let people just sit around. Also giving us a break!

We were supposed to get breaks every 2 hours. For ever two hours of work you get a 15 minute break and after 6 hours you get a half hour. So for a 6 hour shift you would get two 15 minute breaks, but for a 6.5 hour shift you'd get one 15 and one 30. For, say, a 12 hour shift you would be scheduled for four 15s and a 30.

We wore black polyester mom pants (high waisted, pleated fronts, wiiiide hip area, narrows at ankles...BAD), Red polyester, double layer shirts that do not breath in Florida weather designed to look chinese-ish (the chinese button hooks were forever unpopping, a red hat to be worn outside, and a long sleeved gray polyester jacket only worn inside on the dock area. We wore black shoes and a black belt with gold buckle to complete the look

It was fun while it lasted...But I would not want to work there full time. I don't now how people can stand it for years at a time.

Was the spiel hard to learn? I am pretty sure I am either getting my position in either Hospitality or Attractions. And if it is Attractions, My interviewer seemed very interested in my ability to do a spiel ride. I told her I would be very comfortable doing this and would love to. I am just interested in the spiel mostly and if this is a good job.

 

[Scully12]

Was the spiel hard to learn? I am pretty sure I am either getting my position in either Hospitality or Attractions. And if it is Attractions, My interviewer seemed very interested in my ability to do a spiel ride. I told her I would be very comfortable doing this and would love to. I am just interested in the spiel mostly and if this is a good job.

It was really easy for me. I did theater all through high school so I was used to memorizing. You only get 2 maybe 3 days t learn it while you also have a million different things going through your head about vehicles, and block points, and shift points, and driving and other position so you have to be a fast learner.

 

[Climber656]

It was really easy for me. I did theater all through high school so I was used to memorizing. You only get 2 maybe 3 days t learn it while you also have a million different things going through your head about vehicles, and block points, and shift points, and driving and other position so you have to be a fast learner.

I did theater too! I was principle sound designer and coordinator for 3 years. I did 13 shows while! I was also a marching band kid, so memorizing is not hard at all for me! I am kinda excited about it! I hope I get either GMR or another spiel ride. I am kinda thinking I will get hospitality though...

 

[Ylushi]

Hopefully I will only have a very, VERY small thing to memorize. Even with marching band I am a horrible memorizer. Course I didn't like marching band so that could have contributed to it haha.

 

[Joanna71985]

Hopefully I will only have a very, VERY small thing to memorize. Even with marching band I am a horrible memorizer. Course I didn't like marching band so that could have contributed to it haha.

Don't worry. There are only a few roles with a big script to memorize (GMR, JC, and KS are the big ones. There may be a couple more that I'm missing).

 

[Sorahana]

I'm posting again since the last time I posted here was DURING my CP. Now I can properly reflect since it's after my CP.

I work at Expedition:Everest in Animal Kingdom. I was in Attractions. While I was there I got stressed out and was miserable. I was not used to all the hours at first, but then I got used to it. For the most part I had a lot of fun working there. I liked being able to spiel to guests when they got off the ride or were in line(short and sweet, didn't have to memorize, and you could ad-lib in them as long as you said the basics of it and you stayed "in character"), I liked talking to kids who were afraid to ride and in most cases they went on and LOVED IT, and I loved doing "magical moments" for guests. I miss it so much =(.

Technicality wise, you have to put people into rows on the train, collect fastpasses, supervise the fastpass machines, measure kids, check trains for lost and found, check lapbars, and several other jobs. It was fun .

 

[orangekid13]

I don't remember what KS stands for...

 

[Joanna71985]

I don't remember what KS stands for...

Kilimanjaro Safari

 

[Scully12]

Don't worry. There are only a few roles with a big script to memorize (GMR, JC, and KS are the big ones. There may be a couple more that I'm missing).

Inoventions has a script. More so than GMR. And for all those wishing for GMR...it's a looooot of work. It was extremely stressful and a lot of times I dreaded going into work. Just be prepared.

 

[ozzierocks]

Hey, I wanted to see if anyone had a day in the life experience of QSFB.

Either outside carts or inside restaurants. also is it a tipped role?

 

[Joanna71985]

Hey, I wanted to see if anyone had a day in the life experience of QSFB.

Either outside carts or inside restaurants. also is it a tipped role?

I do. I did QSFB last summer, at Casey's Corner. There were 2 different places to work there- BoH (Back of House) and FoH (Front of House). The BoH is the kitchen. If you are back there you are prepping the food, working the friers, putting stuff together, cleaning, ect. The FoH is the actual restaurant (where the guests are). If you are in the FoH you are working the registers, filling orders, stocking the areas, cleaning the condiment areas, ect. It was extremely fast-paced. But I loved the people I worked with.

QSFB is not a tipped position.

 

[fall08CP]

Ah, ok. Well, for my two:
Character Attendant
Character Attendant is a pretty simple role. You know your schedule 2 weeks in advance (though it can change). The schedule tells you which park and character you will be working with (though you may not always know the exact character, as some spots have more then one). Unlike other roles where they can bring home 5 costumes at a time, character attendants can't. This means you have to go to costuming everytime.

I'm wondering if this has changed because I've seen tons of CPs in Character attendant costumes on the bus lately. I didn't notice it over the summer but more recently I've seen it quite frequently.

 

[fall08CP]

Thanks for the response! Turns out that there was a mistake with my acceptance letter and I was actually chosen for Hospitality, not Housekeeping.I'm sure that I would have been able to handle Housekeeping since I have done it before but I know that I am going to enjoy my program much more now that I am actually going to be in a role that I am interested in and that has more CPers.

Depending on where you work there might not be a lot of CPs even in hospitality. I work at a deluxe and there are only 2 American CPs chosen. A lot of the staff is full time and been there for years. The values are different- lots of CPs, but DVC/Deluxe are more competitive (in the sense that few people get put there). Hopefully you'll love it though. The hours are insane but it's indoors and the FT people are fabulous.

 

[Joanna71985]

I'm wondering if this has changed because I've seen tons of CPs in Character attendant costumes on the bus lately. I didn't notice it over the summer but more recently I've seen it quite frequently.

Unless it changed since Aug (when I last worked), they shouldn't have been. That's why character attendants get such a long walk time (to get changed and return everything to costuming).