How much does Disney pay the CMs?

[kakiegirl]

Wow I am surprised that the majority of CM's are so friendly only getting paid that much. I told DH that when we retire I want to go down to Disney one year and work but it sounds like we wouldn't be able to afford to live down there on what we would get paid.

 

[Katy]

She only got $7.00 per hour and didn't make enough money to live on even with Disney's subsidized housing. Most kids in the program have to depend on mom & dad to pay their living expenses. For most kids the novelty wears off quickly after long days and late nights of being cheering all the time!

 

[live4christp1]

Our cousin works as a bus driver taking guests from the resorts to the parks and he told us he makes $10 an hour.

 

[WDSearcher]

Duplicate post. Sorry.

 

[WDSearcher]

I'm actually shocked that CMs only get minimum wage. For the amount of forced cheeriness they have to display and the enthusiasm that they must empart into the park guest, you would expect them to be more handsomely rewarded. I think that Disney is taking advantage of the percieved magic of working there as an excuse to pay minimum wage.

It must also be one of the few low paid service jobs in the US where tips are not exchanged.

There are 55,000 CMs at WDW, and not all of them are only making minimum wage. Yes, there are unskilled positions in virtually every department where the CMs are making the exact same amount they'd make at McDonald's or Wal-mart for doing the same job. Then there are leads and managers and team leaders and supervisors and skilled technicians and office workers and trainers and all of those other low-to-middle management jobs, where the salaries are competitive to what you'd make on the "outside." Then you move on tot he more skilled positions, where salaries are at or better than those in other entertainment companies.

Disney is no different than any other large conglomerate out there. There are many, many levels of pay for many, many different types of jobs. The majority of the people who work at WDW are more than able to afford their mortgage and their car payment, along with saving for their kids' college funds and taking a vacation every once in a while. If affordable living wasn't possible on Disney salaries, no one would be working there.

As for "the amount of forced cheeriness they have to display and the enthusiasm that they must empart," I've found that the vast majority of CMs do that naturally, and would whether they were at Disney or anywhere else. Disney doesn't "take advantage" of anyone. The people who choose to work there are grown-ups. They're able to weigh and offer and see if it's worth their while. If it's not, they have lots of other places they can go for jobs.

 

[TSR6]

She only got $7.00 per hour and didn't make enough money to live on even with Disney's subsidized housing. Most kids in the program have to depend on mom & dad to pay their living expenses. For most kids the novelty wears off quickly after long days and late nights of being cheering all the time!

The College Program only gets $6.25, which is a raise from the $6.00 that it was about 6 months ago.

 

[Spacey]

I totally agree, Everyone is talking about how their mousekeeprs are paid so low and their CM's only make minumum wage. At any hotel the housekeepers arent paid great, what do you want for a job that takes relatively no skill? The CM's working at the gate, or wondering around in the park are no different then the kid who takes your money for the movie at home, and he is only making minimum wage. Yeah CM's don't make a lot of money, but neither does anyone working the front line of customer service.
Not to mention for those kid son university work, when I was in Univ, my parents had to support me, I was working part time at Wal-Mart, and even in the summer and at x-mas when I got full time hours it wasn't enough to live on. I guess I don't understand why it is such a big deal that CM's only make minimum wage, most people working in customer service only make minimum wage

 

[PneumaticTransit]

I know it must be fun to a certain extent to work at Disney - but if you don't make enough money, get another job and make more money. I really get tired of CM's saying they need this or that because they are "entitled" to more because they don't make enough money. Many of them get 35% discounts on everything and even get their park passes and enjoy the fun that outsiders pay good money for. Then they get their family and friends in free. Not all of them do this, but a great number of them do.

If it is a second job and you get benefits and enjoy it, go for it.

Minimum wage is just not enough money to carry the American family of four these days.

Just my 2 cents.

This is rather offensive to me. Disney is one of the *better* places to work in Central Florida, but it doesn't pay much. Many people stay for the health insurance benefits. So... you're saying if I need more money I should work my 40 hours a week at Disney and then get a night job and neglect my family so I can pay my bills. Or maybe I should quit and get a job someplace else that pays more but doesn't provide me insurance and put my family's health at risk?

Sorry, I'm not here to get into the parks for free or get a discount on merchandise. These really do nothing to help my family or bills. I would MUCH rather get paid more than get a few bucks off a Mickey doll.

Many CM moved from up north (like me) where the sames jobs would pay at least $5 more an hour. Things are not cheaper in the south except for homes, but many CM can't afford them either. Why is it so difficult to understand that a grown adult would want to be paid more than $7/hour? It took me 2 years at Disney to make more money than I did working at McDonald's when I was 16.

 

[krdisneybound]

If it is offensive to you, don't read it. There is a "back" button at the top of your screen on the left. I can voice my opinion and how I feel about it.

I have many, many CM friends at WDW and they are there to get the "perks" and use them extensively. I didn't say everyone, I said a great number of them.

If you are part of the system, you have to hear both sides and accept it or forget it.

again, just my 2 cents................

 

[PamNC]

I was a salaried CM so perhaps I have no room to talk. However, $37,000 a year isn't a good salary. However, I absolutely loved working for Disney. The benefits are great...not just the park perks. They treated us very well - I felt like they treated me just as well as a CM as they did when I was a guest. Now, I'm a guest again - and I can see both sides of this.

I do think Disney should pay more - $7 an hour is ridiculous for anyone to make anywhere. Single, with a family, whatever. Ever read the book "Nickled & Dimed?" You should - I think everyone should. An educated journalist, a Ph.D to be exact, takes it upon herself to really see what it's like to be poor in America. She moves from city to city taking low-paying jobs and writes about it. What she does is pretend that she's divorced and has no skills. She works as a maid in one place, a waitress, at Wal-Mart. It's absolutely eye-opening. We should all get on our knees and be thankful for our lives. Some people can't afford to even get an apartment because they can't pay the deposit and first month's rent. And, as a result they have to live in expensive motels that offer weekly rates. It's an endless cycle. They can't afford to save the deposit and rent because they are living in the motel.

I think one reason the CMs are cheery despite their ridiculous pay is because Disney gives them some ownership. Ownership is very important. By that I mean they are given the freedom to give over-and-above service to guests, at their discretion. For instance, a CM friend of mine was a manager in one of the resorts. A guest was very very mad about losing touring time due to some transporation issues. My friend wanted to make the guest happy so he decided to offer to him a ride in his personal car...anywhere he wanted to go for a whole day. He took him from park to park (parked in the CM area), gave him his cell # and told him to call him when he was ready. Basically was his personal shauffer for a day.

We should all be grateful that the CMs are so wonderful despite their pay - the CMs are what makes Disney special. Not the technology - they don't have the best technology. No way - the CMs make the difference. I for one salute and thank them from the bottom of my heart!

pamNC

 

[krdisneybound]

I also have had some very good experiences with CM's. Many of them are my friends to this day.

They work very, very hard and most of them enjoy their jobs, w/o a doubt.

 

[WDSearcher]

Many CM moved from up north (like me) where the sames jobs would pay at least $5 more an hour. Things are not cheaper in the south except for homes, but many CM can't afford them either. Why is it so difficult to understand that a grown adult would want to be paid more than $7/hour? It took me 2 years at Disney to make more money than I did working at McDonald's when I was 16.

OK ... but who forced you to move to Florida, and who demanded that you work at WDW? It was your choice. If you're not getting paid enough, or your benefits aren't high enough, you have the ability and freedom to go find a job where it pays more and gives you the benefits that you want. No one is forcing anyone to stay at Disney. Disney is paying people what every other company their size is paying people for the same job. In many cases, Disney is paying more.

If you were getting paid more at McDonald's, nothing is stopping you from going back there. I don't understand why it's Disney's fault that you're not making more.

 

[WDWguru]

If you were getting paid more at McDonald's, nothing is stopping you from going back there. I don't understand why it's Disney's fault that you're not making more.

Agreed! I would also add that you are free to go and get additional education or training to acquire skills you don't have. In turn, you would then be qualified for better paying jobs. Nobody owes you anything, but you have the freedom to go out and work hard to get what you want.

 

[SnackyStacky]

How much does Disney pay the CMs?

Not NEARLY enough.

I've seen what some of those Cast Members have to put up with, and most of them do it with a smile, and a cheerful demeanor. Some people were MEANT to work in those roles, and it's a shame that they can't be paid more to do it.

 

[krdisneybound]

I totally agree with the last few posts.............

 

[mjmcca]

They are part of the Reedy Creek Improvement District / Reedy Creek Emergency Services.

Are you sure about this? I looked into working as an RN in WDW a few years ago and spoke with some of the nurses at the first aid area at MGM they told me they worked for an agency.

I know that Reedy Creek has its own ambulance hence its own EMTS/ Paramedics and its own fire department hence Firefighters.

 

[crazelion]

Disney is no different than any other large conglomerate out there. There are many, many levels of pay for many, many different types of jobs. The majority of the people who work at WDW are more than able to afford their mortgage and their car payment, along with saving for their kids' college funds and taking a vacation every once in a while. If affordable living wasn't possible on Disney salaries, no one would be working there.

As for "the amount of forced cheeriness they have to display and the enthusiasm that they must empart," I've found that the vast majority of CMs do that naturally, and would whether they were at Disney or anywhere else. Disney doesn't "take advantage" of anyone. The people who choose to work there are grown-ups. They're able to weigh and offer and see if it's worth their while. If it's not, they have lots of other places they can go for jobs.

I begged to differ. That may be the only job that they can found and have work for the amount money. Trust me alot us would be gone if could found something different making more money.

I worked for 6.00 dollars myself the only reason I there is because I could not found another paying more money and 40 hours a week.

Where I am at in the summertime at baseball park our is along the anywhere 6.00 dollars to 10.00 dollars. The 10.00 dollars is for management. Be if show that good work ethic we give rises of 1.00 dollars during the season.

The baseball which is seasonal pays more starting out then my part time job that I have that work year around.

I would not go work for WDW because they don't pay well enough. Unless I'm retire and a excellent savings account.

 

[imatoad]

Well, time for me to bow out of this thread, it's getting silly and ridiculous. Yes, doesn't everyone, regardless of what they do, want to be paid more, and surely feel deserving? Basic business practice, they, the company, are in business to show a profit, and most often it would come at the expense of the empolyee.

 

[JDarling]

Back in the 90's, when min. wage was around $4.50 ish, I asked a DL cast member (parking attendant) what he made. $7.50! That was good money - or so I thought.

 

[disney junky]

I heard from a CM that one of the best positions is wait staff at hoop-di-do. Tips of 15% on the price times how ever many tables they have time three shows a night. That's a lot of tips, but they have to hustle. I heard that they actually match the entertainers' income. And that was from someone who worked there. For me, I'd drive a boat around for $6.50 and hour.