Hoping to make Magic Again

[mickeymark34]

Hello Everyone,
It has been a long while since I have visited these boards. After being a cast member for almost 15 years, our store closed in 2021. I was nine months away from hitting my fifteenth anniversary. Fast forward to today: I am hopefully going to be working at another store that remained open. Several Cast Members that I worked with at my previous store are there. I am feeling absolutely blessed with this opportunity, and I am looking forward to the possibility of engaging with guests again. Hopefully I’ll have good news real soon.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Great! I left TDS after 5 years, when Children's Place bought them. I returned when Disney bought the stores back. I had to wait out my 3 years to get back to 35%, but it went fast. After 5 years I was excited to bridge my time, but unfortunately fell into a loophole and could not. But I worked 12 years in my second act, until the stores (mostly) closed up. It was totally worth it and just as much fun. Now a retiree.

(my loophole was that my first 10 weeks I was a "casual", was not made permanent until after the holidays. So I missed out, I was surprised because I had received my 5 year pin, and 5 year letter of appreciation a few weeks before I left).

 

[mickeymark34]

My hire date is 2004. I was also there during the Children’s Place era. They purchased them not too long after I started. I left to work at school, but came back and was there when Disney reacquired the stores in 2009. One of my fellow Cast Members who works at the store I’ll potentially be at says that working 3 years to bridge time isn’t in effect anymore. I guess I’ll get all my years back once I’m hired.

 

[PatMcDuck]

No it is working 5 years to try to bridge your time, I meant 3 years to regain my 'B' 35% status.

There was a situation with the Children's place years for some people. (I only got one HOOP paycheck, it was not the issue I had). They counted CP years, IF you started before CP and ended after CP. They did not count CP time if you started during CP or ended during CP. I knew people tripped up by this too, either trying to bridge or trying to retire, using CP time that fell into that situation. No idea what they are doing now.

 

[mmouse37]

I hope it works out for you!!! I loved working for TDS for 23 years but also love being retired. I can't believe next year will be 10 years I am retired. It flew by!! I left before our store closed due to a foot injury/surgery where I could not stand for shifts anymore. I made the decision to retire after I had my years in and came of retirement age. Worked before and through and after CP.

Good luck!!

MJ

 

[mickeymark34]

Well, I found out yesterday that I am officially a Cast Member again. Looking forward to starting next month.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I really enjoyed my second season at TDS. I was 5 years (left with sale to CP), returned when stores were Disney again, to another store for 2 years, then back to original mall in one of the first IP stores, until they closed us down. Welcome back! I miss it so much, but not sure I could still do it, I did shipment mostly, and my knees have not aged well.

 

[mmouse37]

Well, I found out yesterday that I am officially a Cast Member again. Looking forward to starting next month.

Congrats!!!!

MJ

 

[Belle1962]

Well, I found out yesterday that I am officially a Cast Member again. Looking forward to starting next month.

Congrats.

 

[mmouse37]

Congrats!!!

 

[meggiebeth]

I love and find it very interesting that most of the cast members here seem to be current/retired TDS cast! Best of luck with your new role!