How much do you think face characters earn annually?

[mamaLori05]

You know, having lived in NJ, now living in Florida for the past 10 years, I have to say, this simply isn't true and this rumor needs to die! Yes, we have no state income tax-big deal. They tax everything else to make up for it! Everything else costs the same or more here -clothing, food, gas, housing, etc. In fact, last time I was in NJ (November) I was surprised to find gas running over .20 cents a gallon less and someone even pumps it for you! Besides, no one could live on $7-8 an hour. My first job in Florida, with a 4 year college degree, paid $10.60 an hour, around $21,000 gross. That was barely liveable, and certainly wouldn't be a liveable wage here in Orlando. Most CM's that I know who aren't college students, etc. either work 2+ jobs or work tons of hours at Disney because they've been there long enough to get them, and build their salary that way.

Florida isn't cheaper to live, do not kid yourself.

Oh, I totally agree with you that no one could live off of $7-$8 an hour no matter where they live, but I'm also pretty positive that housing IS cheaper down there. Up here in Wisconsin a quarter acre lot is running about $100,000 just for the lot! If you want to put a house on it....well, a 1700 square foot ranch will cost you about $300,000. Now, I will agree with you that everything else probably costs the same.

As to how much the characters get paid...that's horrible!!! They do such an awesome job and soooo make Disney what it is. I would have thought it was a high paying job. That's too bad. They really should get paid more.

 

[ebcr20]

Had a girlfriend in college intern at WDW for the summer - they moved them around in different positions from ride operators to head characters. I'm sure it was minimum wage but I believe they had extremely, if not included, room & board. She had the time of her life regardless of how much she made - wouldn't you in that situation? I remember her stories - the late staff nights in the parks; on the rides, etc. Perfect summer job to me - student, no cares, just to know the inner workings of the most magical place ever!

 

[teresajoy]

You know, having lived in NJ, now living in Florida for the past 10 years, I have to say, this simply isn't true and this rumor needs to die! Yes, we have no state income tax-big deal. They tax everything else to make up for it! Everything else costs the same or more here -clothing, food, gas, housing, etc. In fact, last time I was in NJ (November) I was surprised to find gas running over .20 cents a gallon less and someone even pumps it for you! Besides, no one could live on $7-8 an hour.

Florida isn't cheaper to live, do not kid yourself.

My brother raises a family of 4 on $8 an hour (before they take out income tax) and gas is always cheaper in Florida than it is where I live. Not trying to argue, just wanted to let you know.

ETA: And, my SIL doesn't work.

 

[Disney1976]

My brother raises a family of 4 on $8 an hour (before they take out income tax) and gas is always cheaper in Florida than it is where I live. Not trying to argue, just wanted to let you know.

ETA: And, my SIL doesn't work.

There's a lot more to living expenses besides gasoline costs, though. My point is, I've traveled around this country, food, housing, clothing, etc. are all comparable, if not exact, but I think that part of the reason employers in general in Florida can pay less is this thinking from people that "Florida costs less." Not true true, not true yesterday, won't be true tomorrow.

 

[Disney1976]

It amazing with a place like WDW that they pay their employees so little, but people still want to work there. How do people get by on making so little?

Every CM I've ever talked to about their job told me they either a) work a lot of hours (one told me they work 70-80 a week at Disney) or b) work a second and sometimes third job.

That being said, there are a lot of CM's who are retired, semi-retired or college students too, so they're just working for the fun, the experience or to supplement retirement income, etc.

For those trying to earn a living not in an upper level position, options a or b above seem the norm.

 

[Disney1976]

What about the Employee Benefits they give:

Health Plan
Dental Plan
Life Insurance
Vacation Days
Sick Days
Complimentary Theme Park Passports
Educational Reimbursement
Learning and Development Opportunities
The Walt Disney Company Foundation Scholarship Program
Employee Stock Purchase Program
Disney TEAM Discounts, including Disney products and merchandise
Credit Unions
Educational Matching Gifts Program
Disney VoluntEARS
Service Awards
Personal Assistant Network
Employee & Cast Member Contests
Childcare Centers in Burbank and Orlando
Employee Stores in Several Locations

Well, those are great benefits, but I had benefits similar to this when I worked for the State of Florida, and my argument to this is the same as it was then - benefits don't pay your rent, put food on your table, or make sure your lights stay on. They don't pay for your car or car insurance, or make sure you can afford the gas in your car to get to work. Look at this list -yes, a health and dental plan is nice, but what happens if you never get sick or need to go to the dentist (plus, I'm sure Disney's not paying 100% of the cost meaning it's coming out of their paycheck). Credit unions are nice, if you have money to put in them. Service awards are nice, but don't come with a bonus check. Employee stock purchase is a nice benefit too, but how many of them honestly can afford that on $8 an hour?

 

[Disney1976]

Oh, I totally agree with you that no one could live off of $7-$8 an hour no matter where they live, but I'm also pretty positive that housing IS cheaper down there. Up here in Wisconsin a quarter acre lot is running about $100,000 just for the lot! If you want to put a house on it....well, a 1700 square foot ranch will cost you about $300,000. Now, I will agree with you that everything else probably costs the same.

As to how much the characters get paid...that's horrible!!! They do such an awesome job and soooo make Disney what it is. I would have thought it was a high paying job. That's too bad. They really should get paid more.

I think it depends on where you're looking at housing. Orlando doesn't really have acres of property to sell to compare it to, but I can tell you that waterfront property in Florida will easily match that cost, tacked on to the price of the house. Now, let's just assume most cast members rent where they live. In Orlando, unless you want to live in a rat hole in the worst part of town, a one bedroom apartment will run you about $800 a month. After you add in electric, water/sewer, basic cable, telephone, car payment, car insurance, phone bill, and food, well, I let's just say I don't know how they can come to work and put a smile on their faces.

 

[mamaLori05]

I think it depends on where you're looking at housing. Orlando doesn't really have acres of property to sell to compare it to, but I can tell you that waterfront property in Florida will easily match that cost, tacked on to the price of the house. Now, let's just assume most cast members rent where they live. In Orlando, unless you want to live in a rat hole in the worst part of town, a one bedroom apartment will run you about $800 a month. After you add in electric, water/sewer, basic cable, telephone, car payment, car insurance, phone bill, and food, well, I let's just say I don't know how they can come to work and put a smile on their faces.

I'm not talking lake front property...if you want lake front property here, you are easily talking in the millions...and over 1 million probably closer to 2!!!! The $300,000 1700 square foot houses are out in the sticks!!!! At least a half an hour to 45 minutes from anything. 15-20 minutes to the closest grocery store or even gas station!!! An $800 per month apartment gets you a studio downtown in a not so very safe location.

I also know that near orlando there are newer subdivisions where they are selling off lots to build your houses on, and it is definatly not as pricey as up here. My aunt currently lives near New Orleans, and she was looking at subdivisions to build in Florida because she couldn't afford to live up here. She has tried for several years to find a house near us similar to what she has now, and she just can't..not any where near the size and cost as what she currently has. She can however afford a decent sized house in Florida.

 

[Disney1976]

I'm not talking lake front property...if you want lake front property here, you are easily talking in the millions...and over 1 million probably closer to 2!!!! The $300,000 1700 square foot houses are out in the sticks!!!! At least a half an hour to 45 minutes from anything. 15-20 minutes to the closest grocery store or even gas station!!! An $800 per month apartment gets you a studio downtown in a not so very safe location.

I also know that near orlando there are newer subdivisions where they are selling off lots to build your houses on, and it is definatly not as pricey as up here. My aunt currently lives near New Orleans, and she was looking at subdivisions to build in Florida because she couldn't afford to live up here. She has tried for several years to find a house near us similar to what she has now, and she just can't..not any where near the size and cost as what she currently has. She can however afford a decent sized house in Florida.

Well, you can't quote me on the prices for waterfront property here -all I know is I can't afford it. Do we have houses that are lakefront in Orlando that sell for millions? Sure, I've seen them, even been in a couple (my friend was a realtor and showed me how that side lives, hehehe). But even assuming housing in Florida is cheaper (and really, I think that depends on where you go and what you are looking for) that still doesn't change the fact that salaries here are so low that making the payments and dealing with other living expenses are very difficult when average salaries are so low. Unfortunately, this is a trend here, because there is a misconception that Florida is somehow cheaper. Thus, if you're making $10 an hour, somehow, you're viewed as being "well paid." So.. when gas is $4.00 a gallon and milk is $4.25 a gallon, that $10 an hour doesn't go far! But Florida is cheaper, right? And, anyone looking into housing in Florida should really look into what property taxes are like here and homeowner's insurance costs are. If we get more hurricanes like 2004 this year, we could be in serious trouble, too!. Amendment 1 that just passed did us in too! I wouldn't move here without knowing a little bit about how Florida residents are going to pay the price for that little amendment for years to come.

As for apartment costs, I was generalizing -the truth is, I've lived in 3 different parts of Orlando and never paid under $1,000. I'm moving to another part of Orlando next week and my rent for a 696 sq. foot one bedroom is $1,300 a month. Now, I can afford to pay that, given my career. There's many who can't. I'm certain that my next door neigbor isn't going to be the guy from FOTLK at AK.

 

[PelletierBears]

I was also surprised to learn the average wage for a worker at Disney but when you factor in how many employees they have it's understandable really and let's face it, many of the jobs are entry level service positions that will look great on a resume but are not long term positions. As much as I'd love to be around Dole Whips all day even that would get boring after a few months...sad but true The face characters I'll grant you I would expect to make more. In regard to the cost of living in FL, my in laws have lived outside daytona beach for 15 years and housing in their area (developed - not the boonies) is definately, absolutely cheaper than in the Northeast US. I do agree that food, clothing, gas etc is the same so in the end not sure how anyone lives on $8 an hour....roommates i guess

 

[snickerboo]

Yikes! When I said they got paid peanuts I thought it was more than that! I definitely think, with all Disney makes, the face characters should make more. After all, for many of the little girls, seeing the 'real live princesses' is the Disney experience. And they not only have to look like them but talk like them and do the signature (which I didn't realize until we came home from our trip and I realized the autograph dd got was exactly the same as the one on her Aurora shirt we ahd bought from Walmart).

 

[Disney1976]

Yikes! When I said they got paid peanuts I thought it was more than that! I definitely think, with all Disney makes, the face characters should make more. After all, for many of the little girls, seeing the 'real live princesses' is the Disney experience. And they not only have to look like them but talk like them and do the signature (which I didn't realize until we came home from our trip and I realized the autograph dd got was exactly the same as the one on her Aurora shirt we ahd bought from Walmart).

Yup, I know a costumed character who said they also got about a day of training on signatures so that they looked "real" and everyone's looked about the same. He said the hardest part was often that most people were more than one character, and it could get confusing. He told me he was playing Pluto one day and was signing a little boy's autograph book when he realized he was signing a completely different character's name (Grumpy, maybe, I forget). With some quick thinking, he tore the page out of the book and pretended to eat it like a dog! He said everyone laughed and thought that was great, and no one was the wiser!

 

[iluvmickeytown]

My cousin and his wife have worked at Disney and at the party the give before the cruise takes off. They sing. I'm pretty sure they told me they made 100.00 each, each time they went. At the parks they usually have 2 shows. I'll have to ask them. In fact i'm going to see if I can reach them. If I can I'll come back and post.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

We were fortunate enought to see a GORGEOUS, native Pocahontas at AK in February. She was striking. I even said to her after she posed for pix with my DD and signed her autograph book that she was just beautiful. She was very sweet too, there was no one in line to meet her and when we rounded the corner she skipped over to my DD, gave her a huge hug and was just great. DD still talks about her.

I wonder if she could be the same Pocahontas that we saw last month. She played with my DD2 at the Affection section for close to 1/2 hour. Just chasing her around the fake trees. I think that was one of the happiest times of our trip for DD.

 

[teresajoy]

There's a lot more to living expenses besides gasoline costs, though. My point is, I've traveled around this country, food, housing, clothing, etc. are all comparable, if not exact, but I think that part of the reason employers in general in Florida can pay less is this thinking from people that "Florida costs less." Not true true, not true yesterday, won't be true tomorrow.

I won't argue that it's no cheaper to live in Orlando than the rest of the country, that's clearly not the case, as anyone buying groceries down there knows! (Really, it's FLORIDA! WHY is ORANGE JUICE so much more than it is here???) But, you said NO ONE can live on $8 an hour, and they can. My brother gets no benefits either. It stinks, he works for a large pharmaceutical company, so you KNOW they could pay better!