cp vs. pi

[klmcken]

could anyone tell me what the pros/cons would be of doing the cp vs. pi? i was just curious...

 

[Lukas87]

could anyone tell me what the pros/cons would be of doing the cp vs. pi? i was just curious...

For many of the PIs you have to do the CP first. It is either a requirement, or highly advantageous for selection (and PIs are very competitive).

For the PI you are generally in a better position with higher pay.

 

[Berlioz70]

CP- you get to experience front-line work. This is very important if you want to move up within the company, the vast majority of managers start doing front-line. You also get experience assisting Guests, creating magical moments, and practicing guest recovery. Also, there is typically more advancement opportunities in front-line world. CM - Trainer - Coordinator - Manager.

PI - you get to experience backstage work. For my particular role I had a cubical in Team Disney. You will get a much larger picture of the company and discover how departments work together and all the little details I did not see during the CP. However, since most start in front-line and move to a professional job, the advancement opportunities are a little more difficult (depending on the area).

I did both programs back to back. I was offered to stay in my PI role (turned to TA) or to accept a job back in front line. Since I personally am looking to get into management, I knew there were no options in my PI area, so I took front line (and a pay cut) and returned to the park. I've already received trainer and am applying shortly to move into coordinator.

I do hope to get back into the professional world again, but since Disney lives on the front line people they typically look for those who have given their service to Disney.

Others may have completely different opinions - this is just what I ran into (based on my specific PI).

 

[americangeiko]

Pretty much what everyone else has said, but just want to add that:

1) If you want to do a PI, CP is almost manditory. (They often won't look at your application if you haven't done a CP, there's a few exceptions, but those are for highly-technical positions at Epcot's Sea Pavilion and Animal Kingdom's Veterinary Hospital.)

2) Not all PI's have the "no openings" problem. Technical positions like Stage Technician, Guest Relations, and similar positions have openings for PI's after they've completed the internship. The issue comes in with highly coveted roles in Imagineering, Management, etc

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I also did both programs back to back.

For my CP, i worked as a fairy godmother in training at BBB MK from Jan-May 2008 and in March I applied for a PI at AK as an education presenter and got it and worked with them June-Jan 2008/09 and afterwards I was turned seasonal with AK to work the rest of Jan before the new interns had started and then went back to BBB and picked up shifts weekly from Jan 09 to May 09 (then got a teaching position in Ohio)

But...I thought that to do a PI you HAD to do a CP and thought that was in my favor but when I met all of the PIs at AK in my group of 20 interns, I found that only 4 of 20 had done a CP before and it was not back to back so for some you do not need to be a CP first. For some jobs where there is only one position it helps but for mine it didn't matter. A roomie on my CP worked merch in MK and got a merch mang. internship at DTD and her merch experience at MK prior def. helped her!!

At BBB I pretty much knew I would work 2-4 12 hour days a week but my days off (thurs fri) usually stayed the same. I was lucky and always got my 4 days off in a row schedule requests but I called off only twice the whole program and had a good record card so I'm sure that helped.

With my PI at AK it was 8-515 and I was off sun and mon and we got to pick what 2 days off we wanted and all the people i worked with were really nice about switching for a 4 day weekend. I felt I was closer with the PIs than with the CPs but liked my CP job better.

You also get paid more on a PI!!