Do cast members have more than one "job"

[Charleston Zurg]

My wife and I were at dinner with some friends last night and we started talking about another trip to WDW. Somehow we got on the subject working at what it might be like to work at WDW. And the question came up. Do CM have more than one job. What we mean is might a Cm be singing in a show one day, next day he is Stitct at the character meal then the next day he is driving the monorail?

Just wondering thanks for any info.

 

[Tony-NJ]

I doubt any of the three you mention - I'm sure there is a lot of special training to drive a monorail. But it's possible I guess that you can be in character one day and a greeter another day. Though I'm sure you can not go from one job to another that requires training, that you are not trained for.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Simple answer is NO but, if you are trained as say a Housekeeper lets say at POP Resort and there is an O/T shift opening in Contemporary (and you're off your regular shift) you are eligible to take the hours.

 

[flipturngirl]

Simple answer is NO but, if you are trained as say a Housekeeper lets say at POP Resort and there is an O/T shift opening in Contemporary (and you're off your regular shift) you are eligible to take the hours.

Exactly! when people I know did the CP and myself for a brief amount of time.. You could work at the place you were trained in the role you were assigned. But lets say you were working Recreation (boat driver/rentals, person who cleans pool's at resorts, slide operator) and you wanted a job as a lifeguard you could cross train for that. I was in the process of doing that when I came home..

My wife and I were at dinner with some friends last night and we started talking about another trip to WDW. Somehow we got on the subject working at what it might be like to work at WDW. And the question came up. Do CM have more than one job. What we mean is might a Cm be singing in a show one day, next day he is Stitct at the character meal then the next day he is driving the monorail?

Just wondering thanks for any info.

It could have been possible for a CM to be singing in the show if it there job description was Character Performer... and be Stich the next day.. but a lot of times they hire people to be the singers who will sing ALL the time and not switch roles.

 

[Shelton123]

I'm sure it varies. Someone could be Stitch at 'Ohana one day, a waiter the next day, and then a ticket taker the day after that, but a monorail driver would be a specialized job that you would have to do some training to do. So someone probably wouldn't be Stitch one day then a monorail driver the next.

 

[sorcerormickey]

Yes and no. Some areas you are trained for only that job, but some you can move around within areas/lands. For example, you can work at Everest and Kali, a couple days at each during the week. You can work at Soarin'/Figment, again splitting your week. It just depends what area you are in. But you would not go between departments, meaning always in attractions, always merchandise, always characters, etc.

Now, the are exceptions, like what you mentioned above. If someone worked Monorails but the transferred to Characters, they can always pick up an extra shift back at monorails. You have to work in an area once every 6 months to keep your status there, and be able to pick up shifts.

 

[flipturngirl]

I'm sure it varies. Someone could be Stitch at 'Ohana one day, a waiter the next day, and then a ticket taker the day after that, but a monorail driver would be a specialized job that you would have to do some training to do. So someone probably wouldn't be Stitch one day then a monorail driver the next.

Most of the time Stitch would be Stitch or any of these characters : Daisy, Dopey, Donald, Ewok, Jiminy, Jose Carinoca, Lilo, Mickey, Minnie, Oliver, Panchito, Pinocchio, Stitch, Tito and be in a different show as them, as a character in the parks..

but they would not be a waiter the next day or a ticket taker

they are all different jobs and with the way the economy is most of the people have one job at the parks.. If they had more then one role that would mean more then one boss, manager, area coordinator etc. and not everyone knows everyone so they would not be able to work around schedules as well and call ins as well.

 

[Charleston Zurg]

Thanks for the answers everyone. I guess I could have used a better example than driving the monorail. Maybe a tram driver or something like that would have been better. So now I have one more question. How many shows is the average CM involved in. For example, would a CM be in a show say NEMO and Friends then later in the day perform in the parade in AK, then move on to a different show say Fantasmic later that night.

Thanks again. This is why I love these boards

 

[flipturngirl]

Thanks for the answers everyone. I guess I could have used a better example than driving the monorail. Maybe a tram driver or something like that would have been better. So now I have one more question. How many shows is the average CM involved in. For example, would a CM be in a show say NEMO and Friends then later in the day perform in the parade in AK, then move on to a different show say Fantasmic later that night.

Thanks again. This is why I love these boards

If I recall correctly they are in one show. . My friend worked in Costumes.. and she helped make sure the characters had the correct outfits on for each show they were in. and it was the same show daily. . but they had days off

 

[LindaG4458]

On one of our trips we went to the Hoop De Doo Review and noticed a particular performer. She was small and had a very distinctive voice. The next day we saw her in the parade at the Magic Kingdom. She was one if the walking performers who greeted the crowd. I noticed her when she spoke to the person next to me and I recognized the voice.

 

[All American]

My roommate in college was Alice in Wonderland (Super fun girl!). She also did some kind of guest relations thing where she answered guests questions confused3). The most common question was "Where is the exit?", so she and her friend she worked with made up a whole song that directed them where they need to be. So, I guess they can do double-duty.

 

[TDC Nala]

Cast members who sing and act in shows are usually Actors Equity performers (they're in the actors' union) and there are certain jobs that Equity performers are called on to do. I don't believe CMS who dress as Disney characters and do greetings and autographs are Equity performers (they're in a different union), although the ones that portray Disney characters in shows may be.

 

[Traveliz]

If you are trained in a role you can pick up shifts in that role forever as long as you work that area every so often (generally 6 mos). So let's say you were an attractions CM at Test Track and cross trained at Mission Space. After some time there you decide to try and change work areas and become a ferry/small boat driver. So now you are trained in Attractions and Transportation areas...you will now regularly be scheduled in Transportation but can continue to pick up shifts at TT and MS. This can go on and on as long as you maintain your status at the various locations.

The above is based on a real person (no longer at Disney).

My daughter has friends who have been trained in several different areas of Disney and continue to pick up shifts in those areas to keep their status current...gives them more options.

That said the whole equity thing is different than the regular CM thing. But I have seen equity actors in different roles -- for example Hoop de Doo one night and Nemo another day.

Liz

 

[mom2of2]

well as for performing multiple times/shows a day, I have a friend who works in both MK and DHS. She performs in the parade at DHS, then does character sets and finally Fant. sometimes 2 Fants on a double Fant day.

In MK she does Hoedown, Mk parade and then Spectro and some nights double Spectro.

Depends on where she's scheduled to be that day or where she's needed

 

[plutolovr]

My DD does this. She worked at Pangani Forest Trail and drove the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch in Animal Kingdom. She now works full-time at Caribbean Beach Resort front desk. There is a hotline where Disney posts jobs that need filling for the week. If there is a shift available in any of her Animal Kingdom jobs on her days off she will sometime sign up for them. She also works nights at CBR and has taken day shifts at AK. She likes the extra money.

 

[SandrA9810]

even in certain areas, you won't find people crossing roles.

Characters are generally characters. Attendants are generally attendants. But characters you can find in parades, and at like DAK, attendants will generally be the ones driving the floats.

There's very few roles that are considered global. Which means they can routinely be schedule in a different park whenever. Entertainment is one of these. Photopass used to be that way, but no longer. But a photograher can still pick up shifts in other parks.

I know some one that works attactions and got crossed trained to merchandise, without leaving her department. But she has to work at least one merch shift every six months to continue.

Every six months you can put in a transfer request or cross train request. Like if you're trained at splash, 6 months later you can ask to be crossed trained for thunder. But you have to meet certain guidelines for this.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Thanks for the answers everyone. I guess I could have used a better example than driving the monorail. Maybe a tram driver or something like that would have been better. So now I have one more question. How many shows is the average CM involved in. For example, would a CM be in a show say NEMO and Friends then later in the day perform in the parade in AK, then move on to a different show say Fantasmic later that night.

Thanks again. This is why I love these boards

It depends on the performer and the show. When I did parades in MK, the typical day was: Day Parade, HoeDown, Spectro. A lot of times the people who did the castle show would then come do Spectro. I was trained in Celebrate the Season (Castle Show) over Christmas and I would do the day parade and then the show.

Another popular one was day parade at MK followed by Fant at DHS. Or you might do Jammin' Jungle at DAK into Spectro or Fant. The non equity performers move around a lot more. Most shows have a variety of equity and non equity. The "players" in Festival of the Lion King are character performers for instance, but the singers, birds, and fire eater are equity.

Basically, equity include anybody who does live singing, stunts, acting, or a certain level of dancing. Equity may not move around as much as characters do. I know for Celebrate the Season, a lot of our equity dancers were brought in specifically for that show. Character performers can be equity subs, but it's not that common.

As for working other areas, it is possible. Fantasyland allowed me to work there when I did my entertainment programs. They simply recertified me on my rides. They even trained me a complex I had not learned, but I don't think that's normal. We also have specific times of the year when people work at other areas. These are typically management and we call it "cross" something (sorry, I'm blanking). Like you might have managers stroller parking at Small World.

The other way that you can work other areas is through the Extra Hours Hotline. There are a limited number of shifts that do not require specific training. I used to pick up a lot of shifts filling drinks at quick service locations.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

It depends on the performer and the show. When I did parades in MK, the typical day was: Day Parade, HoeDown, Spectro. A lot of times the people who did the castle show would then come do Spectro. I was trained in Celebrate the Season (Castle Show) over Christmas and I would do the day parade and then the show.

Another popular one was day parade at MK followed by Fant at DHS. Or you might do Jammin' Jungle at DAK into Spectro or Fant. The non equity performers move around a lot more. Most shows have a variety of equity and non equity. The "players" in Festival of the Lion King are character performers for instance, but the singers, birds, and fire eater are equity.

Basically, equity include anybody who does live singing, stunts, acting, or a certain level of dancing. Equity may not move around as much as characters do. I know for Celebrate the Season, a lot of our equity dancers were brought in specifically for that show. Character performers can be equity subs, but it's not that common.

As for working other areas, it is possible. Fantasyland allowed me to work there when I did my entertainment programs. They simply recertified me on my rides. They even trained me a complex I had not learned, but I don't think that's normal. We also have specific times of the year when people work at other areas. These are typically management and we call it "cross" something (sorry, I'm blanking). Like you might have managers stroller parking at Small World.

The other way that you can work other areas is through the Extra Hours Hotline. There are a limited number of shifts that do not require specific training. I used to pick up a lot of shifts filling drinks at quick service locations.

Cross-utilization or "cross u". I crossed u at Seminars when I worked in Operations (attractions).

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Cross-utilization or "cross u". I crossed u at Seminars when I worked in Operations (attractions).

Thanks! That's what I thought it was, but for some reason it didn't sound right.

Some roles can only be had as Cross U roles. I looked into the Y.E.S. (Youth Education Services) program and that is strictly a seasonal role. So if you wish to be full time, you have to be cast to another area and then Cross U into Y.E.S. for the duration of the season. That's the only role specifically that I know of that does this, but there may be others.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Thanks! That's what I thought it was, but for some reason it didn't sound right.

Some roles can only be had as Cross U roles. I looked into the Y.E.S. (Youth Education Services) program and that is strictly a seasonal role. So if you wish to be full time, you have to be cast to another area and then Cross U into Y.E.S. for the duration of the season. That's the only role specifically that I know of that does this, but there may be others.

Seminars was the same way years ago. I was an instructor for the Innovations in Action seminar but technically was full time in Operations. We had instructors from all over the company - Guest Relations, Resort Front Desk, etc... I really enjoyed teaching - it was a nice break from the parks.
I also know of several people who cross-u'd for the Christmas parade but returned to Operations after the season.

ETA: Since the OP had mentioned monorail drivers, after 23 years of working at WDW a friend of mine was laid off from his position in middle management several months ago. He returned to the company recently to drive monorail trains - an area he worked in almost 20 years ago. He was re-trained and now is full time on rails again.