First Step in being a "Cast Member"

[Pirate-Emery]

Well, I'm currently filling out my application for the Disney Store in our nearby Mall as a summer occupation. (the people working there seemed to enjoy my presence)

Quite excited with the prospect of working for the Mouse.

 

[VMK_MagicalLadee]

Im going to try and work there.
Not old enough?
PFFT i say.
18?
PFFT.

 

[CapEldano2]

Well, I'm currently filling out my application for the Disney Store in our nearby Mall as a summer occupation. (the people working there seemed to enjoy my presence)

Quite excited with the prospect of working for the Mouse.

Congratulations hope you get the job. People always say that the kind cast members are only found in the parks, but I feel like all the people who work at the Disney stores are just like those in the parks

 

[HeDiedxILive]

That's awesome! If I didn't have the absolutely-perfect-for-me job I had now, that is definitely where'd I'd be applying.


Although hearing HSM songs all day long might drive me clinically insane after about three weeks...

Hope you get the job! You'll have fun!

 

[flowergirlbecca]

Although hearing HSM songs all day long might drive me clinically insane after about three weeks...

Hey, I like HSM!!
Woot Pirate hope you get the job! I would definately apply for a job like that if I could find the time!

 

[Pirate-Emery]

That's awesome! If I didn't have the absolutely-perfect-for-me job I had now, that is definitely where'd I'd be applying.


Although hearing HSM songs all day long might drive me clinically insane after about three weeks...

Hope you get the job! You'll have fun!

I've actually never heard an HSM song while in there! I just hear classics from Mulan, Little Mermaid, and Aladdin.

They do play "I'll make a man out of you" and "whole new world" a lot, but those are some of my favorite songs.


Actually, come to think of it, I don't think there is anything HSM-related in the store. Quite happy with that...

Im going to try and work there.
Not old enough?
PFFT i say.
18?
PFFT.

Well, 18, two weeks from today. So, that worked out perfectly.

Congratulations hope you get the job. People always say that the kind cast members are only found in the parks, but I feel like all the people who work at the Disney stores are just like those in the parks

Oh, absolutely! Great/friendly customer service in a Disney-related setting? Cast Member. The Disney Stores act as a local outlet of the Disneyland/World magic, imho.


Currently at home "beefing" up my application.

I actually had to go home to find the phone number for the Monterey Bay Aquarium's volunteer department. (twas my summer "occupation" last summer)

 

[HeDiedxILive]

Actually, come to think of it, I don't think there is anything HSM-related in the store. Quite happy with that...

I actually had to go home to find the phone number for the Monterey Bay Aquarium's volunteer department. (twas my summer "occupation" last summer)

EGAD! Ours has a huge video screen on which they play HSM clips constantly.



And that aquarium job sounds fun! What did you do?

 

[Pirate-Emery]

EGAD! Ours has a huge video screen on which they play HSM clips constantly.



And that aquarium job sounds fun! What did you do?

Well, Marine Biology/Environmental Science is my desired field, so I applied for the Student Guide program last summer at the aquarium.

Hey, wait... I've got a UC essay that details this!

Focus: Potential to Contribute
Rationale: UC welcomes the contributions each student brings to the campus learning community. This question seeks to determine an applicant’s academic or creative interests, and potential to contribute to the vitality of the University.

Question: Tell us about a talent, experience, contribution or personal quality you will bring to the University of California.

Last summer, I volunteered at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I soon came to realize that my job as a Student Guide was not about improving myself with this experience, but teaching others about the Aquarium. My job was to attend six stations and explain to the visitors certain aspects of the exhibits, imparting the knowledge and excitement that I myself felt toward the ocean. In the Kelp Lab, I taught excited guests about the wonder of the Decorator Crab, a creature able to take pieces of its environment and stick them to its Velcro-like shell in order to avoid predators. In the Touch Pools, I explained how a delicate creature like the Sea Cucumber manages to avoid being eaten by looking and tasting dreadful. I was able to share my excitement with the Aquarium’s guests at the Marine Mammal Cart, discussing my experience with California Sea Lions in the Galapagos Islands. I grew as a leader and passed on my excitement to a new generation of youngsters who would follow me, having grown up excited by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, just as I had. I believe my leadership and real passion for this field is something I can bring to the University of California.

 

[HeDiedxILive]

That's so fun! It's great when people get to have experience in their desired field even before college

 

[LuNaReVe]

I would love to work somewhere Disney-related =] Sadly...i'll have 2 wait.....i'm 2 young

 

[BriarRosie]

I hate to break this to you, but you won't be working for Disney.
You'll be working for The Children's Place.

I was a Disney Store cast member once upon a time, long long ago,
when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Disney sold the stores division to The Children's Place a few years ago.

 

[Pirate-Emery]

I hate to break this to you, but you won't be working for Disney.
You'll be working for The Children's Place.

I was a Disney Store cast member once upon a time, long long ago,
when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Disney sold the stores division to The Children's Place a few years ago.

Ehh, tomato tomato.

Wow, that phrase truly has no grounds in the virtual realm without the inflection in the voice.

TomAAto, TomAHto. Better? I think so.


OT, I'm looking at my Employment Application and there is a giant watermark in the middle of the paper consisting of three circles, positioned in a way to resemble a certain mouse, surrounded by another circle.

Up above, it says Disneystore North America.

Even if it was owned by Children's Place, it is still Disney enough for my taste.

 

[mking624]

I work at TDS...have been there since 2003 (when we were still owned by The Walt Disney Company). We were sold to The Children's Place in November 2004. Definite changes, mostly behind the scenes (so most guests don't even realize we're owned by TCP). Some product changes they've made have been good...some, well, not so good. I am glad they are bringing back more adult product. But the company really isn't the same since it's been owned by TCP.

That said, it still is a fun place to work. The part I hate the most, though? On call shifts. You'll get those, trust me. On call shifts are when you are "scheduled" in the sense that you have to call about 1-2 hours before the start of the shift to find out if you're needed. I hate that...makes it difficult for planning anything. Our DVD changes on Monday, I believe...so what you've been hearing will no longer be there (unless with the new DVD they kept part of it in, like the Peter Pan preorder stuff). This last DVD was about 40 minutes (yup, I tend to time it when I first hear it, because then I know how time is going once a new loop begin). We had one before the holidays that was over an hour...much better in terms of how often you were hearing the same thing. You tend to memorize the DVD pretty quickly. But the change more often then they used to...our last DVD change was in January and now we're changing it again. So it's not so bad anymore. You'll also learn new terminology...
Cast Member = employee (of course you already know this )
Guests = customer
Box Office = Cash wrap/register area
On Stage = the sales floor
Back Stage = The stock room
...and more that I'm not thinking of right now.

OT, I'm looking at my Employment Application and there is a giant watermark in the middle of the paper consisting of three circles, positioned in a way to resemble a certain mouse, surrounded by another circle.

Yup, that's the TDS logo...it's also on our costumes (uniform shirt) and the merchandise as well.

Just a few tidbits if you do get the job....
1. TDS is not affiliated with Disneyshopping.com (and therefore all items they carry are exclusive to them). The website is still owned by TWDC, whereas TDS is obviously not. Questions regarding the website get asked all the time, so I thought I'd bring that up. We also no longer accept their returns for this very reason. We do, however, accept WDW & DL returns, provided they have a receipt dated within the last 60 days (the company is strict about this policy).
2. Catalogs are no longer in print, the last run was last Spring. This also tends to get asked a lot. TDS does sent out "magalogs" (basically a small booklet highlighting a few new products we have) but it's not what the catalog actually used to be. Even when it was still in print, we stopped carrying it once we were no longer affiliated with the website.
3. If you don't already, you'll want to get to know the parks pretty well as people will ask the most random questions about them. I see you're in California, which means your TDS will sell DL tickets (I'm in Kentucky...our side of the country sells WDW tix).

Good luck to you! I really do enjoy it here!

 

[TikiKrissy]

Good Luck Pirate!
Although we've never met, from what I've read of your posts here, you seem to be perfect Disney Store material!!
I worked for TDS for three years from 1997-2000. I had the time of my life there. I really hope that you get the job, and if you do I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
By the way, I don't think call-in/on-call shifts are unique to the Disney Store. Before I went to Disney, I worked for Gap for a bunch of years. At both stores when I was parttime, I had call-in shifts. When I was fulltime, no call-ins. When I was exempt, no call-ins either (heh heh).
Hope this helps. If you have any questions about how "things used to be" at TDS, I'd be happy to try to answer!
TikiKrissy

 

[mking624]

Good Luck Pirate!
By the way, I don't think call-in/on-call shifts are unique to the Disney Store. Before I went to Disney, I worked for Gap for a bunch of years. At both stores when I was parttime, I had call-in shifts. When I was fulltime, no call-ins. When I was exempt, no call-ins either (heh heh).
Hope this helps. If you have any questions about how "things used to be" at TDS, I'd be happy to try to answer!
TikiKrissy

Nope, they're not unique, but they aren't common to retail either....most people I know who have worked retail for years or worked retail in the past never even heard of it (which is why I brought it up so that way TDS applicants know what they're getting into...I know some people would prefer not to bother with that while others may not mind). At TDS (at least since I've been employed), typically only the lead CM and the managers are full time. VERY rarely is any other CM made a full timer. We only had one exception at our store...that was our head stock person, though her actually title was not lead (she's recently stepped down to part time, though). Even she had on call shifts during her full time days...though it makes sense for full timers not to have on call shifts because if they are hourly, used on call shifts could potentially put them into overtime...something most companies aren't keen on doing. I've worked at two Disney Stores (started at one, transferred to another when we moved), and both stores had it so only managers/lead CMs didn't have on call shifts, since typically they are the only full timers anyway. I know since TCP took over, they are very particular about this...and they are very particular about regular CMs only being considered part time (you might have full time hours some weeks...i.e. the Christmas season, but your official status is part time). I'm not sure what you mean by "exempt", I've never heard of that before so that must have been before my time...unless you're referring to a Gap term.

FYI, unfortunately how "things used to be" are so very different from how things are today that it wouldn't be the most useful information to provide a new hire...except for nostalgic reasons. Even from how things used to be from when I started in 2003 to how things are today are very different. Not trying to discourage Pirate from asking you, but just thought I'd point that out so Pirate wouldn't get the information thinking it would be applied to any current employment. I do wish, as do many of my coworkers, that the company would go back to the way it used to be... it was wonderful!

 

[TikiKrissy]

Nope, they're not unique, but they aren't common to retail either....most people I know who have worked retail for years or worked retail in the past never even heard of it (which is why I brought it up so that way TDS applicants know what they're getting into...I know some people would prefer not to bother with that while others may not mind).

How interesting! It's funny that I managed to pick two of the only retail companies that do this!!? Thanks for the information!

At TDS (at least since I've been employed), typically only the lead CM and the managers are full time.

I was fortunate enough to get hired as a fulltime CM at a fairly large store. I was supposed to be a Lead but they opted to promote from within instead. I later got promoted to Stock Captain (wow, is that the correct term? I am getting mixed up now!) and then to Lead, both as fulltime positions. When I opted to decrease my hours I was sent to another (SLOOOOOW) store to work parttime, which was the beginning of my end! (That and Project Go!, if you were there for that you know what I'm talking about).

I'm not sure what you mean by "exempt"

Salaried. Not sure if it's a common term, thanks for the heads up.

FYI, unfortunately how "things used to be" are so very different from how things are today that it wouldn't be the most useful information to provide a new hire...except for nostalgic reasons.

Excellent point, Mary. You're very right. Thank you for bringing that up!

Thank you Mary, for the clarifications and further information. I've just been reading your posts the past few days and have enjoyed your outlook on things. I look forward to reading what you have to say in the future!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Good luck Pirate. Being a forner Disney Store and Disneyland cast member, I could share the good and the bad, but suffice to say, like any other job, it's a job. If you enjoy your project - all the better.

The number one thing I learned from working at the Disney Store?
I never wanted to work retail again - whether it's a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal or a book at a bookstore, retail is not for me.

Other terms: guest, customer, costume, lead

Oh - and as for the loop tape: You wont realize it, but you will know that loop by heart. And I dont mean the songs. I mean, when 1 song ends, you will already be singing the next song in your head before it even starts. And still singing them when you put your head on your pillow at night.

Good luck, I hope you get what you want!

 

[BriarRosie]

LOL! The on-call shifts were the thing that I didn't like about working at
TDS. My manager was so bad at scheduling, she had me on-call a few
times a week and rarely asked me to come in.

However, because I was on the schedule as "on call", I couldn't really
schedule...a life. I'm sure competent managers can schedule properly,
though.

I was Opening Team on my store, where I worked from October 1995 to
June of 1997. You know that line in "Toy Story 2" where Tour Guide
Barbie mentions how short-sighted manufacturers didn't make enough
Buzz Lightyear action figures? I nearly fell out of my chair, because I
lived through that holiday season nightmare! I think we sold out
of them on Black Friday!

I loved uh...singing along with the laserdisc. The holiday
songs were brutal, as those were the songs stuck in my head.

 

[milkabum]

Im going to try and work there.
Not old enough?
PFFT i say.
18?
PFFT.

Yeah, we were thinking of signing up together at Square One. BUT NO. Stupid age policy..