Hours and Extra Shifts

[YesIStillLoveDisney]

I don't know about anyone else but the time and money organizer on the CP website worries me more than anything else. If I only get 30 hours every week for the entire time I am there, I will be in trouble. I would appreciate everybody's advice but specifically people who are in Disney now since they have a better idea how the economy is affecting hours. I am doing Fall Advantage so I am hoping that I will be getting more hours during the summer but I am in transportation so I am not sure how many hours I may be getting since it seems like a smaller division. Also, is it easy to pick up shifts? DO those shifts have to be specific to what your job is or do they train you to do another job, whether in or out of your department, attractions, merch, ect., if you need extra hours?

 

[chevyrules05]

I don't know about anyone else but the time and money organizer on the CP website worries me more than anything else. If I only get 30 hours every week for the entire time I am there, I will be in trouble. I would appreciate everybody's advice but specifically people who are in Disney now since they have a better idea how the economy is affecting hours. I am doing Fall Advantage so I am hoping that I will be getting more hours during the summer but I am in transportation so I am not sure how many hours I may be getting since it seems like a smaller division. Also, is it easy to pick up shifts? DO those shifts have to be specific to what your job is or do they train you to do another job, whether in or out of your department, attractions, merch, ect., if you need extra hours?

Idk about extra hours but the economy isn't hurting disney not that bad they have been full to capacity the past 3 weeks and will be ALL summer and the transportation you might work 2 hours before the park opens and 2 hours after the park closes or even later, I am not sure what the transportation role consist of

 

[DisSisters]

Hi! One of my roommates during the Fall 08 Cp was in transportation. She drove the monorail and loved it. I don't think she ever had finacial problems because she worked a good amount of hours each week. I remember during the holidays she worked crazy hours and got paid a lot of overtime pay!

 

[jen22va]

I don't know about anyone else but the time and money organizer on the CP website worries me more than anything else. If I only get 30 hours every week for the entire time I am there, I will be in trouble. I would appreciate everybody's advice but specifically people who are in Disney now since they have a better idea how the economy is affecting hours. I am doing Fall Advantage so I am hoping that I will be getting more hours during the summer but I am in transportation so I am not sure how many hours I may be getting since it seems like a smaller division. Also, is it easy to pick up shifts? DO those shifts have to be specific to what your job is or do they train you to do another job, whether in or out of your department, attractions, merch, ect., if you need extra hours?

Hello! First of all, congrats on being accepted into the program! It will be one of the best experiences of your life if you let it. I miss it every single day so take advantage of it while you are there. I will say however, that I was a big idealist about the money I would be making before I went down to Florida. I had been reading about all these people who pick up overtime and can pick up shifts on the Extra Hours Hotline and I thought I would be able to get over 40 hours every week. This is not what happened at all and I struggled with money the entire time I was in FL.

BUT, let me give you some background on my situation.. when I went down to FL I was 23, had several credit card bills, a cell phone bill, and insurance to pay on my own (I do not suggest having these extras when you go down.. a cell phone bill is definitely doable but all the other will def hurt you). I also worked at DAK in Attractions which has the least amount of hours to give because of the shorter hours of the park. And as I'm sure is still occuring, there were a ridiculous amount of CP's at Everest and other attractions and everyone must have at least 30 hours per the CP contract so you usually didn't get more than 35 hours a week, except during peak times which even then you would only get around 40, maybe a little over.

So back to your questions... Transportation is a good role to have because as someone said there are lots of hours to give out seeing as how most transportation cast members work before parks open, while parks are open, and after the parks close. So you will probably, even during slower times, have a good amount of hours but still remember that they are only required to give you 30 a week. Since it will be summer, obviously the hours will be longer and it will be busier, so I would say you would probably have over 30 every week. It is possible to pick up shifts but you can't count on it every week and if you're close to 40 hours, you more than likely won't be able to because they are careful with how many overtime hours they are using. Sorry for the really long post but I hope this helps!

 

[christiemarsh88]

Also, is it easy to pick up shifts? DO those shifts have to be specific to what your job is or do they train you to do another job, whether in or out of your department, attractions, merch, ect., if you need extra hours?

You can only work shifts in your specific role. So transportation people can only do the transportation jobs they've been trained for. They won't train you to do merchandise, etc. But hopefully you'll be able to pick up plenty of hours in your role! And they will make sure that you have at least 30 hours in your role. If you're under 30 hours, they put you on "grid hours"...meaning they basically pay you to sit backstage, just in case they need you, to make up for those extra hours.

I wouldn't let it get to you...I'm sure everything will work out! And, hey, at least you won't have to worry about rent...Disney will make SURE you get enough money for that. lol.

 

[Goofster18]

I understand not being able for a transportation to do merch, but is it possible that, like for a special event or around the holidays or such, a character attendant or some cast member would get assigned to maybe give out candy around Halloween, or to do some crowd control? Like besides working for a character would there be other generic things that Cast Members can do? I remember a posting with a man in a Halloween costume (not costume, a Disney 'uniform' costume) and he was holding a sign on Main Street, U.S.A. and I'm assuming that wasn't his only role. So things like that? I would love to be able to hand out candy or work the parade or things like that. Anyone know? Also, if I get put in Magic Kingdom, can you be an attendant for the show that opens on the train station roof area? and can you stand on the street and high-five people with Mickey hands? Cause I love doing that in the parks as I go in as a visitor, so I didn't know if we could do that even if we weren't merch? Thanks!!
Have a Magical Day!!!
Goofster18

 

[Joanna71985]

You can only work shifts in your specific role. So transportation people can only do the transportation jobs they've been trained for. They won't train you to do merchandise, etc. But hopefully you'll be able to pick up plenty of hours in your role! And they will make sure that you have at least 30 hours in your role. If you're under 30 hours, they put you on "grid hours"...meaning they basically pay you to sit backstage, just in case they need you, to make up for those extra hours.

I wouldn't let it get to you...I'm sure everything will work out! And, hey, at least you won't have to worry about rent...Disney will make SURE you get enough money for that. lol.

That's not true. You can pick up extra hour shifts in other roles, as long as they don't require special training.

I understand not being able for a transportation to do merch, but is it possible that, like for a special event or around the holidays or such, a character attendant or some cast member would get assigned to maybe give out candy around Halloween, or to do some crowd control? Like besides working for a character would there be other generic things that Cast Members can do? I remember a posting with a man in a Halloween costume (not costume, a Disney 'uniform' costume) and he was holding a sign on Main Street, U.S.A. and I'm assuming that wasn't his only role. So things like that? I would love to be able to hand out candy or work the parade or things like that. Anyone know? Also, if I get put in Magic Kingdom, can you be an attendant for the show that opens on the train station roof area? and can you stand on the street and high-five people with Mickey hands? Cause I love doing that in the parks as I go in as a visitor, so I didn't know if we could do that even if we weren't merch? Thanks!!
Have a Magical Day!!!
Goofster18

No. Character attendants don't get scheduled crowd control. For the parties, the PAC, crowd control, and candy shifts go to Ops cast members.

No. Character attendants don't work the opening show.

 

[Goofster18]

damn, do we do anything but help a character?! Don't get the wrong idea, I'm all for my role, I love it and am really excited, but I just got the idea we might do more than just take a character in and out, like cover more parks or other remedial tasks or such. Well, I'll see when I get down there. Do we get our work schedule before we would sign up for classes? I'm not that interested in any classes and can't get any credit, plus I was planning on doing any overtime I could. But seeing as everything seems to be for other roles (overtime seems to be mostly attractions, custodial, QSFB, etc.) then the main thing is I don't want to take a class that restricts my work hours because I need all I can. So any thoughts?!
Have a Magical Day!!!
Goofster18

 

[Joanna71985]

damn, do we do anything but help a character?! Don't get the wrong idea, I'm all for my role, I love it and am really excited, but I just got the idea we might do more than just take a character in and out, like cover more parks or other remedial tasks or such. Well, I'll see when I get down there. Do we get our work schedule before we would sign up for classes? I'm not that interested in any classes and can't get any credit, plus I was planning on doing any overtime I could. But seeing as everything seems to be for other roles (overtime seems to be mostly attractions, custodial, QSFB, etc.) then the main thing is I don't want to take a class that restricts my work hours because I need all I can. So any thoughts?!
Have a Magical Day!!!
Goofster18

Nope, that's pretty much it for the most part. Even at the parties, attendants are just working with the characters.

No. You sign up for classes before training starts. It's up to you though. I haven't taken any classes since my first CP (then, the class was on days I worked, so it didn't make much of a difference). But I plan on taking a couple this time around.

 

[piratechick]

You can only work shifts in your specific role. So transportation people can only do the transportation jobs they've been trained for. They won't train you to do merchandise, etc. But hopefully you'll be able to pick up plenty of hours in your role! And they will make sure that you have at least 30 hours in your role. If you're under 30 hours, they put you on "grid hours"...meaning they basically pay you to sit backstage, just in case they need you, to make up for those extra hours.

I wouldn't let it get to you...I'm sure everything will work out! And, hey, at least you won't have to worry about rent...Disney will make SURE you get enough money for that. lol.

You can pick up any role that doesn't require special training. I worked in QSFB my last program and picked up extra hours in Attractions, Merchandise, and even Hospitality. There are always extra shifts on the Hub to choose from. I was also able to pick up a shift for MNSSHP on the hub. That was a lot of fun and the costume was cute.

 

[Goofster18]

I'm glad that there sounds like other options and stuff to do. I will definitely love my job and I'm soooo excited, but I want to get a feel for living and working at Disney, different areas and what happens, how things work, be flexible. It just seemed like we were stuck and that there wasn't a lot to pick from in terms of picking up shifts if you were an attendant. But cools!!!
Have a Magical Day!!!
Goofster18

 

[JonnyJ18]

i was wondering if any one knew if there were alot of hours in bell service dispatch or not seeing how i have a bunch of bills and will need at least 40 hours a week. i saw that you can pick up shifts in other roles that dont require specialized trainings but some people say no and some say you can. I was wondering if i could sign up to take the lifeguard test when i get down there just in case i want to pick up hours there cause ive been lifeguarding at the beach for about 6 years now so i have a background(im goin in the fall and i applied alittle late to get that role is what my recruiter said, kinda bummed cause i love lifeguarding) So basically can i get certified by disney to be a lifeguard to pick up shifts there.

 

[glendalais]

i was wondering if any one knew if there were alot of hours in bell service dispatch or not seeing how i have a bunch of bills and will need at least 40 hours a week. i saw that you can pick up shifts in other roles that dont require specialized trainings but some people say no and some say you can. I was wondering if i could sign up to take the lifeguard test when i get down there just in case i want to pick up hours there cause ive been lifeguarding at the beach for about 6 years now so i have a background(im goin in the fall and i applied alittle late to get that role is what my recruiter said, kinda bummed cause i love lifeguarding) So basically can i get certified by disney to be a lifeguard to pick up shifts there.

Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members may pick up shifts on the Extra Hours Hotline which they are either trained for, or which don't require training.

As is the case with all roles at the Resort Hotels, Cast Members in the Bell Services Dispatcher role will be scheduled according to Hotel Occupancy. All Disney College Programme Participants are guranteed their 30 Hours, though.

Unless you have been hired into a Lifeguard role, you will be unable to be trained as a Lifeguard, nor will you be able to take the Lifeguard Test. While it is possible for Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members to be trained in roles outside their statused classification, this generally does not apply to Disney College Programme Participants.

 

[JonnyJ18]

thanks for the info...by any chance you know what roles dont require special training....i havent had such a low payin job since i was about 16...so im goin to need 40 hours to have a little extra money a week...30 hours will most likely leave me with enough money for bills and food

 

[Joanna71985]

thanks for the info...by any chance you know what roles dont require special training....i havent had such a low payin job since i was about 16...so im goin to need 40 hours to have a little extra money a week...30 hours will most likely leave me with enough money for bills and food

Merchandise sometimes does, QSFB does, special events (that I can think of off the top of my head).