Disneyland CP anyone?

[Elenadc]

I was wondering if there's anyone else here doing or applying for the Disneyland CP. There's so much less information about it out there compared to the WDWCP.

Anyways, I had my interview on March 27th, and I'm still waiting to hear. I am really hoping to get Entertainment Costuming.

So, if you're out there Disneyland CP people, come say "hi"!

 

[glendalais]

The DLR CP works, in a word, poorly. It was sorta forced upon us by Florida, without that much thought given to whether or not it would be appropriate in our Operating Environment.

We've been able to fix it up a bit recently, but there are still a lot of issues.

Unlike WDW, our CP Participants are statused Casual Regular (Part Time) and receive all the benefits that are extended to other CR Cast Members.

Depending on the role (basically everything on the roles list except Dining Reservation Agent, Disney Desk Representative, Front Desk, Guest Relations, Guest Research, Photo Imaging and Reservation Sales Assistant), you'll be required to enrol in the Labour Union and have their dues deducted from your paycheque.

A side note on this, if you are hired into any of the Union Roles at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort, the Labour Union that covers those roles is currently undergoing a labour dispute with Management which might lead to a Strike in the near future. As a Union Member, even though you're on the College Program, you will be expected to strike and join the picket line.

All of your shifts, regardless of role will be in the evening and afternoon, with CP Classes in the morning. This was negotiated at the last Park Operations contract in order to ensure that regular-status Cast Members are able to have first go at morning and afternoon shifts.

Unlike WDW, we don't guarantee 30 hours for our CPers. CPers here have artificially high seniority, which allows them to mostly pick up enough hours to pay the rent. However, with the economy as it is....

We've had huge problems with CP Housing, and I'm not certain that it will continue to be offered in the future.

And last, but certainly not least, it's just safe to assume that none of the regular-status Cast Members will like you. Even with the recent changes negotiated to the College Program (though it did fall short of what we were demanding, which was wholesale abolition of the CP), relations between CPers and regular-status Cast Members have basically reached their lowest point ever, and are continuing to plummet. It's gotten pretty bad in some areas (*cough*Main Entrance/Stores/Attractions/Backstage Roles*cough*).

 

[chevyrules05]

unions are stupid, I am glad I am doing the CP at WDW FL

 

[Toffy]

I want to do the DLR CP sooooooo bad because I'm from SoCal... it's my home, and I'm totally willing to put up with regular CMs who give me crud, and willing to barely work off enough money to pay the rent and eat food (although I won't be living at the Disney place... me and my friend, assuming we get in, are going to move in together somewhere nearby). I've also got several friends who are regular CMs, so I'll have support there if everyone else is on my case haha.

All that aside, I do have a few questions... Is it at all possible to apply for the CP at DLR and WDW at the same time, so if I don't get one I can do the other? Similarly, can the same thing be done with the college program and the career start program? And also glendalias, any tips you might have for me and my friend as to how to succeed in getting in at DLR CP, now that I've proclaimed I'm willing to go through hell and back to get there haha

 

[MiaTurner]

Make sure you bring lots of extra money. Yes, they give you enough to make RENT. But you still need to eat.

I've never once made rent without the help of my savings account. EVER. And that's with my only other expense being $20 for TWO WEEKS worth of groceries.

If smoking/drinking/partying isn't your thing, I'd seriously consider finding housing of your own. It's cheaper, too.

And finally, learn to ignore your fellow cast members, or heck, even have a few responses to their negativity stored away. Every day someone would say "stop taking our hours" and I'd simply respond "take it up with the mouse".

So, yea. Not trying to be totally negative here, just trying to point out how to deal with the major problems. Despite it all, it's been fun.

 

[Toffy]

Thank you so much! Yeah we're looking into places other than Disney's housing, not exactly a party people ourselves...

So since almost all the regular CMs are against you, what have you found to be the best way to make friends while on the program?

 

[MiaTurner]

You bet! I can't really say my advice on making friends is fool-proof; I liked to do just about everything on my own and I'm very shy. But I found the best way to make friends was through my roomies and on the elevator If you're waiting for it or are on it with someone you know is on the program or has a DL nametag on, ask em where they work at or make small talk like that.

If your roomies ask if you wanna go somewhere with them, give it a shot if you're not busy. I met a lot of great people who I found because they worked in my roomie's dept. The four of us also decided to plan a trip to walk the parks, and we all asked everyone we knew to go which resulted in a giant trip and meeting lots of people. Word got out fast!

And finally, go to EVERYTHING Disney puts out there. I almost didn't go to orientation because I wasn't feeling well, but I'm glad I did. I met a lot of really great friends there.

 

[mylesglover]

glendoris do you currently work for disney...like right now?

 

[glendalais]

glendoris do you currently work for disney...like right now?

Yes, I'm an Attraction Host in Tomorrowland Attractions at Disneyland Park.

 

[Toffy]

Hey so I'm wondering, when is the latest check in date for Spring? I know you need to be 18 to be in the program, and I don't turn 18 until the 28th of January... I'm I gonna make it?

 

[Hoho5000]

I'm applying for the DLR CS. Is the situation similar to the CP? I don't imagine that there a lot of people doing CS at DLR, and if so, do any of the regular CMs even know about them?

On a side note, I would actually prefer to work in the afternoon and at night, as I am not a morning person at all, and if worked outside, I wouldn't have to wear sunglasses as much.

 

[glendalais]

I'm applying for the DLR CS. Is the situation similar to the CP? I don't imagine that there a lot of people doing CS at DLR, and if so, do any of the regular CMs even know about them?

On a side note, I would actually prefer to work in the afternoon and at night, as I am not a morning person at all, and if worked outside, I wouldn't have to wear sunglasses as much.

In my two years with the Disneyland Resort, I have never seen a Disney's CareerStart Program Participant. And that's across two roles, and god knows how many locations.

I'm not saying that they don't exist. It's just that they're not as visible as their Disney's College Program counterparts.

 

[jewjubean]

unions are stupid, I am glad I am doing the CP at WDW FL

This shows how IMMATURE you are. These unions are the reason these people have good paying JOBS and HEALTH care they deserve.

In the long run we are just college kids doing a internship. Most of the CP's just do the internship for 6 months to a year and leave. Wouldnt you be mad if some "kid" got bumped up the ladder and got a better position than you, and you've been there for 4-5 years?? I know I would. Not that being mean to a CP is right, but welcome to the real world. Not everything is pixie dust.

 

[dopeyrunner]

I don't think anyone is immature for saying unions are bad. I have worked and belong to Unions before. I don't agree with them for the most part.

To most, unions are the good guys, fighting for fair wages and just treatment. Opposing these principles are big, greedy businesses eager to abuse workers, firing them willy-nilly, paying them less than they are worth, and ruthlessly busting their earnest attempts at organizing.

The problem with the simplistic portrayal of good workers vs. evil businesses is not necessarily with its depiction of employers of course they are greedy but with its glorification of employees. Workers who form unions are self-interested in the same way businesses are.
Unions, just like firms, are happy to promote their own interests, even at the expense of others.They represent all workers with one voice, when in fact different workers have competing interests.They negotiate collective contracts, which generally fail to provide incentives for harder and better work.Unions provide unfair protection for below-average workers, and unnecessary protection for good ones. Many union contracts, for example, make it difficult to fire workers making it harder to get rid of inefficient workers. Which makes sense cause the last time I was at Disneyland in October and November almost all the cast members seemed to be hating life and were rude beyond what I have even experienced at the likes of Six Flags and Knott's. That's just my opinion and I am not ment to offend anyone but everyone is entilted to there own opinion. So please stop calling people immature when they express themselves.

 

[Toffy]

Which makes sense cause the last time I was at Disneyland in October and November almost all the cast members seemed to be hating life and were rude beyond what I have even experienced at the likes of Six Flags and Knott's.

I'm sorry to hear that! See for me, that's what I've experianced constantly at WDW and NEVER at DLR...

 

[DLR CP Mom]

I'm sure the experience varies greatly for each individual, but my daughter is certainly having a more positive experience during her college program than is being shown here...

Neither she, nor any of her new friends in the program have ever been scheduled for less than 30 hours a week. They can request more hours, but they are having too much fun to want to work more! Only when she has called in sick, and has worked less hours, has her money been tight for the week. She has been there for 4 months, had $200.00 in her savings account, and she has NEVER called home to ask for money...

She has been practically BEGGING scheduling to put her on evening work shifts, but they keep putting her on mornings. All of her friends and roomates also work mornings, more often than evenings.

She doesn't seem to think that "regular" cast members are "mean" or "unfriendly" to the College Program people, any more so than they are with anyone else. She has noticed, however, that "regular" Disneyland cast members are grumpy, rude to guests, hate their jobs, and gripe about everything. She has been amazed that they have all lost sight of the "magic" of the place..... Maybe that's why they bring the College Program kids in, to have some friendliness and enthusiasm in the parks?

 

[Toffy]

^That post was like an amazing, joyful breath of fresh air, and has brought back hope and excitement for this... bless you and thank you so much I'm so glad your daughter is having fun!!! What position is she???

 

[glendalais]

She doesn't seem to think that "regular" cast members are "mean" or "unfriendly" to the College Program people, any more so than they are with anyone else. She has noticed, however, that "regular" Disneyland cast members are grumpy, rude to guests, hate their jobs, and gripe about everything. She has been amazed that they have all lost sight of the "magic" of the place..... Maybe that's why they bring the College Program kids in, to have some friendliness and enthusiasm in the parks?

No, DLR brings in CPers for the same reason that WDW does: to have relatively cheap labour that doesn't for the most part complain, with a bit of PR "look at the good we do for America's youth" spin thrown in. And in the DLRs case, there's also a very healthy dose of "Florida does it, and so will you, whether you like it or not!".

Honestly, I have no gripes with the Disney College Program. I'm heading off to WDW in a month to do one myself, so I would be very much a hypocrite if I did. It certainly does has a side effect of allowing University students to build a career in one of the nation's leading entertainment companies.

However, I can't continue to stand by while people continue to hurl ridiculous generalizations around. To believe people here, you'd think the entire non-CP Cast of the Disneyland Resort are all cynical, sadistic, evil people who greet our Guests by openly insulting them.

I know for a fact that there are a very large number of regular-status Cast Members here at the DLR who do their jobs quite well and work to ensure that our Guests have a magical visit with the Legendary Guest Service that Guests have come to expect from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts over the last 55 years. And they do it quite well, if I might say so myself.

Are there those bad CMs who really shouldn't be there? Of course there are. But I assure you that WDW has just as many, if not many times more given their size.

 

[dopeyrunner]

I just back from DLR. I will still keep the comment that there seems to be far more disgruntled CM there then WDW. While I did come into contact with CM's that were more than helpful, happy and seemed to like there job it didn't outweight the others. I believe since DLR is more condensed then WDW you just see more in a short amount of time then you would in FL.
But you know I still go back I just try and not let it affect my trip.

 

[DLR CP Mom]

In my opinion, Disneyland Cast members are still friendlier and more helpful than any I have ever encountered at DisneyWorld...* I do think that Disneyland employees are not as friendly as they used to be in the past, but I think that is more a reflection of our ruder, overcrowded society.* I feel Disneyland cast members still provide better customer service than I see at other theme parks...I only mentioned this because I think it applies to future College Program participants.* I think certain posts make it out like cast memebers are out to get the College Program participants, and maybe some are.* My daughter is just not having that experience.I am concerned that a negative picture is being painted of the College Program at Disneyland.* I am not sure why, because in the experience of my family, it is completely unfounded.* Maybe things will change in the future as employment in this country becomes even more uncertain, but for now, the Disney College Program at Anaheim is a great place to be!