DCP hours/role

[Joeywarhorse]

All right all you DCP experts, I have a question:

What merchandising role(s) will get the most normal work hours? (Yes I know many of you like the 3am shifts and would consider that normal)

I consider normal hours as day job hours (9am-5pm or something similar).

Thanks in advance for your insight!

 

[TrueDisney]

All right all you DCP experts, I have a question:

What merchandising role(s) will get the most normal work hours? (Yes I know many of you like the 3am shifts and would consider that normal)

I consider normal hours as day job hours (9am-5pm or something similar).

Thanks in advance for your insight!

Someone who has done the program could give you better information. However, from what I understand if you're in the DCP you don't get many "normal" hours.

 

[::Snow_White::]

For my training this week at hollywood studios backlot merch my hours range from 7/8am to 5/6pm at night. However this Saturday I will be there 2:30-11pm. I anticipate my hours looking very much like Saturday's, working 2/3/4 to close (and EMH is to 12am on Monday's). DCPers get many nightshifts so the answer to that is probably somewhere at Animal Kingdom where the park closes around 7pm each night.

 

[eadavis]

All right all you DCP experts, I have a question:

What merchandising role(s) will get the most normal work hours? (Yes I know many of you like the 3am shifts and would consider that normal)

I consider normal hours as day job hours (9am-5pm or something similar).

Thanks in advance for your insight!

The location that would give you the most "normal" hours would be at Animal Kingdom as this park usually closes between 5pm-8pm depending on the month. Don't expect to have a 9-5 schedule, except of course if you choose AM housekeeping which is 8-4:30 every day.

 

[bom_noite]

All right all you DCP experts, I have a question:

What merchandising role(s) will get the most normal work hours? (Yes I know many of you like the 3am shifts and would consider that normal)

I consider normal hours as day job hours (9am-5pm or something similar).

Thanks in advance for your insight!

My son worked Epcot Merchandise, and, he always worked evening shifts. He said the Full Time folks wanted the "normal hours".

I really think it depends upon where you are deployed though.

 

[Pancakes]

The most "regular" would probably be Animal Kingdom

-or-

The resorts will give you the most consistent hours. May not be 9-5 all the time, because CPs usually do get closing shifts, but for my first program I was merch at the poly, and I was usually always 3:30-midnight. I loved the consistency of never working past midnight.

Are you merchandise? If you want a 9-5 job, I would look into the recreation role. For the marina, in off season the marina hours are 9-5:30 so you'd get out at 6:30 if you were the closer. The summer hours are extended, but getting out at 8:30 is a lot better than midnight or 3am.

 

[surferdude]

All right all you DCP experts, I have a question:

What merchandising role(s) will get the most normal work hours? (Yes I know many of you like the 3am shifts and would consider that normal)

I consider normal hours as day job hours (9am-5pm or something similar).

Thanks in advance for your insight!

First day of work, my coworkers told me CP stands for "Close Park", since CP's are basically last in line when it comes to desired hours. That being said, as others have mentioned Animal Kingdom has the best hours that your talking about since it closes so much earlier than any other park.

 

[bom_noite]

All right all you DCP experts, I have a question:

What merchandising role(s) will get the most normal work hours? (Yes I know many of you like the 3am shifts and would consider that normal)

I consider normal hours as day job hours (9am-5pm or something similar).

Thanks in advance for your insight!

Keep in mind - they are not there for you, you are there for them. If that is not what you are expecting, then, maybe not the right connection. But, that is probably true of any job you seek.

 

[Joeywarhorse]

I have no idea what you just said.

 

[eadavis]

I have no idea what you just said.

Many roles within the College Program are less than glamorous and have inconsistent scheduling. If you are looking for a 9-5...you will be hard pressed to find it here. About 90% of the roles within the Company are NOT 9-5...

 

[Joeywarhorse]

Thanks for the translation. . . . I think. . . .

 

[wilkeliza]

All right all you DCP experts, I have a question:

What merchandising role(s) will get the most normal work hours? (Yes I know many of you like the 3am shifts and would consider that normal)

I consider normal hours as day job hours (9am-5pm or something similar).

Thanks in advance for your insight!

Simple answer none. Even if you get assigned somewhere with semi normal hours (AK is the only area) they can and most likely will move you through out your program. Merchandise is a global training so if your home assignment is say Africa AK you may end up being sent to HS muppets or even Main Street MK one day or for weeks at a time if AK doesn't need you and HS and MK do.

 

[Joeywarhorse]

Thanks wilkeliza. Is it common to work merch in parks, resorts, Downtown Disney, etc.? Or, do they keep you in one kind of place?

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks wilkeliza. Is it common to work merch in parks, resorts, Downtown Disney, etc.? Or, do they keep you in one kind of place?

You will get a home assignment which will be a specific section of either a park, hotel, or DTD store. 90% of your program will probably be there however during busy seasons and even by need some CPs are assigned to temporary assignments to help places out

Merchandise probably has the least stable schedule because is a park opens early you are there before that an some people will be there several hours after closing to help fix the displays and such.

Unfortunately the only way to get a set schedule is to be full time and be apart of the bid. Everyone else just gets what they are assigned.

One day you may have a 9-5 and the next a 4-11 or sometimes there are even over nights such as races and special events.

 

[Joeywarhorse]

Thanks again. You're very helpful. Can you explain what the bid is for full-timers?

 

[eadavis]

Thanks again. You're very helpful. Can you explain what the bid is for full-timers?

Merchandise falls under the STCU Union Contract. Full-time hourly Cast Members are not required to join the union, but are still under its protection. Part of this is a schedule bid that occurs every 6 months. Each location bids at different times. The schedule bid is when you give your preferred days off and time-of-day preference. The requests are processed based on Seniority. Each cast member in a Host/Hostess role is given a Union Seniority date. Those with the most, get to choose first. time of day is not usually factored, just days off. But that can depend on the location.

The Union Contract can be found on the HUB. You can search under "STCU Contract"

 

[wilkeliza]

Merchandise falls under the STCU Union Contract. Full-time hourly Cast Members are not required to join the union, but are still under its protection. Part of this is a schedule bid that occurs every 6 months. Each location bids at different times. The schedule bid is when you give your preferred days off and time-of-day preference. The requests are processed based on Seniority. Each cast member in a Host/Hostess role is given a Union Seniority date. Those with the most, get to choose first. time of day is not usually factored, just days off. But that can depend on the location.

The Union Contract can be found on the HUB. You can search under "STCU Contract"

With my attraction and from what I hear merchandise as well when the bids come out they bid for days off and time worked so my closest full time friends have the 7-3 shift M-F and they got that through a bid. In the most recent bid that just happened they moved down to 10-6 bid but I believe still M-F. I think since Disney has time slots you can bid times as well as days off.

The bid was explained pretty well above so I won't explain it again but the FT schedules are the reasons why CPs typically close and are typically the people who are scheduled long shifts or double back (two shifts less than 8 hours apart). With out a car the long shifts and double back can be brutal. I'm glad I only had a few long shifts that were over 10 hours but during Food and Wine it was regular to work 9-10 hours a day.

 

[Joeywarhorse]

I'm assuming that CPs don't qualify for any union benefits or things like overtime pay, holiday pay, etc.?

Is this correct? And, are there ever any time that CPs would get more than just base pay?

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm assuming that CPs don't qualify for any union benefits or things like overtime pay, holiday pay, etc.?

Is this correct? And, are there ever any time that CPs would get more than just base pay?

You get over time, double back and I even think 3rd shift plus some roles do qualify for premium. CPs do not qualify for holiday pay.

Over time is nice because it is anything over 8 paid hours (so 9 scheduled hours) and/or anything over 40 paid hours.

 

[eadavis]

I'm assuming that CPs don't qualify for any union benefits or things like overtime pay, holiday pay, etc.?

Is this correct? And, are there ever any time that CPs would get more than just base pay?

CP's (In WDW, not DLR) are in a very gray area when it comes to the STCU, CP's cannot join the Union and are not entitled to it's protection, similar to Seasonal Cast Members. However, they are held to the same rules.

Union Benefits
None, if you are in a situation where you are about to receive a reprimand, you are not entitled to a Shop Steward, however one cannot be denied to you if you request one. You cannot grieve any discipline either.

Overtime/Double Back/Holidays
-When it comes to OT, any time worked over 8 hours in a day will be paid time and a half. Any time worked over 14 hours in a day will be paid double time.
-If your shifts are less than 8 hours apart, time worked will be double time.
-Just know, that double time is rarely given out and every effort will be given to prevent it. However, Christmas Time in the parks seems to be the exception, they will take whoever than can get.
-Holiday pay is Time and a Half and is currently given only on New Years, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Wage-Rates:
CP's are 99% given the Base Wage-Rate (Found in Union Contract). The only times (that I know of) that a CP would receive more than base would be for special assignments. In one of my previous locations, we had a very promising CP which we made a Trainer. He received the training premium on days he trained New-Hires. Also, within entertainment, depending on the time of year, there are opportunities where you can receive higher pay by participating. A close friend performed in the Christmas Day Parade with Mariah Carey in addition to the Celebrate the Season Castle Show, receiving a premium. Within Vacation Planning, those that work in Will-Call receive a $0.50 premium, but are not eligible for the sales incentive program. There are probably other opportunities, talk to your leader to see what extra opportunties there are within your location to expand your job role.

I recommend that you look up the contract and read it, there is very important information inside.

Your leader is also a great resource as they are expected to have it near-memorized.