How many CP's/PI's make a career out of Disney?

[sneekypeeks]

I know it is almost every CP'er and PI's dream to go full time at Disney. I was wondering if there were any numbers to suggest how many actually achieve that goal. I am a business management major and while I am not a Disney Fanatic, I appreciate the company from a business standpoint. No other company has achieved what Disney has and I would love to work and grow with them.

Any of the Veterans have any numbers or know where I could go to find this out? And any person who has made this dream happen have any tips? I figure I shall network and work my ever loving **** off. I am hoping that will be enough.

 

[fall08CP]

A decent amount. I swear, you either get hooked on Disney or turned off completely. Of my five roomies on my first program, only one (she dropped out during the program) isn't going back after graduation. It's hard to make a career out of it, honestly, but networking and working hard really helps. I'm also a campus rep so I have a lot of connections. I've done two program so I have references from two different areas. I'm applying for fall 2010 PI when they are released in the spring... keeping my fingers crossed. They have organized networking events, but it's hard to work your schedule around them. However, if there is a subject that really interests you, your managers will typically work with you to either attend the session or schedule a job shadow.

 

[secondstarlight]

That's great to hear. I've read several posts about how helpful managers are and of the many "shadow days" possibilities. If anyone is fortunate enough to obtain an internship, they should definitely take advantage of those opportunities!

 

[dkmulder]

Unfortunately, one of the panelists from the PI I just interviewed for said there really would not be any opportunity to be hired in when the PI was over, so don't go into it with hopes that there will be. I didn't even ask, they just wanted to make sure I was aware of this beforehand. However, that is just this particular PI. But, I've also heard the hiring freeze hasn't been lifted yet - so who knows.

 

[secondstarlight]

Well hopefully the hiring freeze will lift soon...

 

[glendalais]

Contrary to popular belief, there isn't a hiring freeze, per se, at the Walt Disney World Resort.

We are currently hiring Full Time, Casual Regular and Casual Temporary positions for both Frontline and Backstage roles, Hourly and Salaried.

It's just that available roles are currently very limited and not available in all areas.

To view available Hourly Guest Service Roles, please visit http://www.waltdisneyworld.jobs/. For Professional positions, both Hourly and Salaried, please visit http://www.disneycareers.com/.

 

[secondstarlight]

This is great news. Thanks for the clarification!

 

[kmg148]

Still, it is very difficult to find full time employment. I actually do not know of one CP or PI who was able to get hired after a program. Usually the opportunities are taken by those who have been part time or full time for at least six months (sometimes they restrict it to only those people as well).

 

[Soarin08]

All of my managers at SSR did on my CP last year. I plan on doing the same.

 

[americangeiko]

Word is that 90% participants in the DLR CP move into a CR position after their program. That's not full time, but it's better than nothing, and you can always transfer to WDW if the opportunity arrises

 

[Soarin08]

I actually am seasonal now but decided to do another CP for the housing. By the time my first CP ended, I was what the real world outside WDW would call an "assistant manager." I had even started training people and getting paid for it. My supervisor told me he would help me advance in Disney, all I had to do was meet with him whenever I was ready.

 

[Joanna71985]

I really hope I can go FT after my CP ends. It's all I ever wanted (to work FT at Disney).

 

[crimsontide27]

It really depends on what you want to do with a career at Disney and can you afford it.

Hourly roles just barely pay above minimum wage and the cost of living down here is very high versus the wages most people are paid.

Our 2 bedroom condo cost 1300 a month and we had 4 people living there, so it wasnt too bad with 4 people paying. If you are only living by yourself or 1 other, its very hard to make ends meet.

The management salary was $615 a week and it was working 2 weeks at 48 hours and 2 weeks at 60 hours a week. You would work 12 hour shifts and work 4 days 1 week and 5 days the next week. At the end of the day after taxes and everything would have come out of my check, I would only be making around $430ish per week for a 48 and 60 hour work week. I couldnt justify having a $50,000 degree and accepting what amounts to be a less than minimum wage job. Your mileage may vary.

I couldnt afford to make a career of Disney at that rate. Each one of my managers had been in the same role and pay bracket for at least 5+ years, so there really wasnt much room for movement up the Disney ladder for most people.

All depends on what you do. Everyone will have a different story and a different set of circumstances surrounding them.

 

[Berlioz70]

I actually do not know of one CP or PI who was able to get hired after a program.

I was. I was offered a full time TA (temporary assignment) to continue my work with my PI office, but funding was questionable following September. So I opted instead to join the Pirates League opening team (full time) and left my PI 3 weeks early for this opportunity.

Opening teams are great because in our case seniority was not considered. There were 11 of us that were hired "brand new," aka from PIs or CPs. So keep your eyes peeled for opening team opportunities!!!

 

[graygables]

The management salary was $615 a week and it was working 2 weeks at 48 hours and 2 weeks at 60 hours a week. You would work 12 hour shifts and work 4 days 1 week and 5 days the next week. wasnt much room for movement up the Disney ladder for most people.

All depends on what you do. Everyone will have a different story and a different set of circumstances surrounding them.

Each role is different. I'm a MI right now and I have a steady schedule of 48 hours per week. Granted, it is sometimes a bit more than that with meetings and having to stay until a job is done, but my hours are not at all bad IMO. I make enough to pay my bills and support my 2 children who still live with me on my own. My oldest DD lives with me and pays a small amount of rent in our very nice 4 bedroom house, but if she weren't here, I'd still be OK with my paycheck.

 

[dopeyrunner]

I am currently in a Recreation Line of Business PI and they apparently have made some sort of aggrement with the college program office that they will take interns and won't turn the position that I am in FT. Which I wasn't told till after I had said yes.Not like it made a huge difference but since I was told I have made networking a priority.
Right now I have like a month to go before it's over and am trying to find a new place with the Disney company. Yes, I am trying to stay here but to be honest there isn't much going on backhome as far a job is concerned. The hiring market there sucks too. Disney isn't the only place that I am looking for a job though, but it does have hourly positions open while I look for something in O &T or higher.
I would just make sure to keep your options open you may have to turn into an hourly cast member and keep applying for a salaried position till something opens.