For Those Who Have Done/Are In The CP

[dizprincess717]

I have a huge and very important question.

My fiance left for the Marines on November 27. He gets 10 days leave from February 24 - March 5. If I explain to my managers that these 10 days are the only ten days out of the whole next year that I will get to see him will they let me go home for a portion of the 10 days? Let's face it, I'm not expecting them to give me 10 days off, but considering the fact that he's a Marine, he's off in God-knows-where, he's my fiance, I won't be seeing him for an entire year that should be reason enough to take a personal leave or something among those lines. It's not like I'm saying I want X amount of days off because I'm tired of working. I'd even tell my manager I'll pick up extra shifts before I go, after I come home, and during Easter. It's just that this is very important for me to get to see him while he's home.

Anybody know if that's reason enough to want to go home for a while?

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I don't know for sure about military members, but I had friends who were on the college program that had some family emergencies come up, and the managers were flexible with them. I'd imagine that they'd do the same for you, but I have no way of knowing for sure.

 

[TSR6]

If you want the days off, you need to go to your scheduler and put in the paperwork ASAP! I'd do it the first week down there if possible.

Depending on your location, it may be better to even take the paper work directly to your scheduler and chat with them. I know I have done that with my scheduler, and we have comprimised days off ( bumping a period of time off forward, or back a day - or putting me at a location that i can easily give the shift to a part time CM ).

There is no way of knowing for sure, but good luck!

 

[IamCourtney]

There can't be any guarantees, but it can almost absolutely be worked out. It kind of depends on your work location, but most of the managers are really nice about stuff like this.

I was super lucky and got the most amazing manager on all of property, but he moved to Club Ops at PI...so now he's just a good friend. He helped me out a lot. My dad wanted me to come home for just a couple days about a month after I arrived, and Adam worked it out so I could have the days (the schedule said I had the days off, but then it changed and I didn't...but Adam saved the day and the $400 plane ticket). Then in Sept, I wanted to go home for my 21st birthday, and Adam came through again! He told me in June to book my plane ticket and he would take care of the rest. I work in Pop Century housekeeping. My best friend here works on Main Street in Magic Kingdom and his manager worked it out so he could go to home with me for my birthday, then a week later he went to his home in MO. Both our families are here this week, and neither of us have to work!

Really, the best thing is to know what days you want, go to your scheduler and let your leaders know that you've requested the days. Then when it gets a little closer, if you haven't been approved or heard anything, talk to them and see what they can do! They're almost all really great, and its better if it isn't the busiest time of the year. We were lucky getting Christmas time off.

Anyway, I may know some of your leaders already...even though you don't know where you'll be. You should really be ok.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Having just come out of the military, I am partial. But, I would be very surprised if they DIDN'T let you go. With the current state of the world affairs, they should be understanding and willing to work with you. Go in there with a fairly clear idea of what it is you want and how they will get what they need from you. It will definitely help if you remind them that he is likely going to be deployed the the sandbox... for Marines, it's a minimum of a year it seems. If they give you a hard time, remind them just how long a year is, that he is doing this as a service to the country (wheher they believe we should be there or not), and its a selfless profession.

Might I suggest getting married before he leaves... even in a courthouse... and having the big wedding later? That's what we've done. It's nice to have the security in the papers for the military. PM me if you need anything... ever. Been there, done that, don't want to go back, but ready and willing to help.

 

[IamCourtney]

Again, they will most likely be willing to help you out, if you give them a reason to want to help you. You can't go in there like you deserve to go home BECAUSE he's in the military. YOU are signing a contract with the company that does not guarantee you any time off. The contract does not say "unless you're engaged to someone in the military". Yes, his profession is honorable, and yes, you love him, he loves you, you're getting married, its a very big deal to see him during that time...but this isn't a romantic love story. The company won't be making money off of you going home. If they gave special priveleges to everyone that had some sort of military tie...they wouldn't have CPs around.

Be honest early on and up front and they almost surely will help you out. Don't act like you deserve it...they don't HAVE to help you.

 

[dizprincess717]

To IamCourtney ... Yes, I understand that I signed that contract. Just as my fiance signed an OATH to serve our country. Not you, not me, but he is serving our country selflessly. Therefore, that's a pretty good reason to be wanting time off.

And secondly, I'm not going to a courthouse to get married because 1) I want our military wedding where we first met, at a VFW bar which is the only VFW to have an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet, and 2) he's gone. He left November 27 with just a week's notice. Just like Disney World can't be certain about when you work, neither is the military.

Not to put down any other branch, but he is a Marine. He is a grunt. In other words, he is on the front line day in and day out. But the worst part? I have NO IDEA where he is. You see, he can't tell me. He might not even be in Iraq. All I know is that he's with a few other men and his rifle. And he will be there for a whole year, with only 10 days home with the people he loves.

I'm not saying I deserve to go home. I'm saying that my reason is pretty darn good for wanting to go home. And I'm not going to wait til the last minute, either. Besides, his dates to come home may still get pushed back.

This is the single most difficult thing I've ever had to go through, and I really hope that nobody else has to feel what I feel right now... Not knowing where the person that you are going to spend the rest of your life with is or what he's doing.

 

[applepwnz]

disprincess, well at least you can have faith that if he's a marine, that A. He's doing something that's VERY important, and making the world a safer place for all of us, and B. he and the men he's with are some of the most elite in the world, I would think that Disney would be very supportive of you asking for some time off, and honestly if they weren't, I don't think that I could ever respect Disney again. best of luck to you and your fiance!

 

[IamCourtney]

Ok, guys, really...its all honorable work. I never once said it wasn't. If you look at what I said I clearly say that your managers most likely WILL be willing to help you, BUT you can't show up expecting the time off JUST BECAUSE he's a marine. Yes, I think you should get time off, no I don't think the company will be mean about it. But you have to consider that you are signing a contract with a company that is in business to serve its guests. Disney is one of the biggest contributors to all things happening for every American overseas (military or not) and Disney is the largest contributor to MARINES Toys for Tots. My family and I donated over $400 in toys to Toys for Tots and I was the cast member at my work location to hand off all the donated toys to the Marine that picked them up. I understand what you are going through (you aren't the only one with loved ones elsewhere, and a VERY good friend of mine from the program was deployed while he was on the program--I don't know how it all works, I just know he had to leave and only had one day to say good bye).

It is important for you to see him when he is here, and I never once said it wasn't, but take the advice that I and all the others have said...go as soon as you can and they will most likely work with you. You can't stop living your like just because he's not here...so just come down, enjoy your program, and things will most likely work out. I will be in management when you get down here. Not in your department or location, but I can help you look for the right people to talk to if you need any help. I might know someone in your work location...expecially if you're in merchandise or resorts.