How much does Disney pay the CMs?

[disney1990]

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!

My daughter was in the Disney College program year before last. We didn't let her take a car -- so she depending on the Disney provided buses to get around (you save a lot of money when you aren't constantly buying gasoline). Even with the low salary she made, she never asked me for money. Some days she worked opening to closing, but she loved ever minute of it and even wanted to extend her stay. But, she needed to come home and finish college. Some of the college kids in the program, yes, were broke all the time -- but most of those kids had their cars. Right before my daughter left Florida, she bought Christmas presents for family and friends and still came home with money in her pocket. It can be done.

 

[PneumaticTransit]

My point is Disney expects much more out of their front line cast than other companies. Most companies pay you more the more responsibilities you have.
A front desk Cast Member that has access to your name, address, telephone #, credit card information, childrens names & ages, ticket usage, merchandise purchases, dining reservations, and keys to your hotel room whom is also expected to learn several computer programs, foreign currency, counting their cash drawer before and after a shift while filing their own paperwork, and be a wealth of Disney knowledge ALL while learning to work multiple jobs such as luggage, guest services, phones (adding resorts that you don't even work at), room operations, room assignment, housekeeping dispatch, engineering dispatch - all of which carry more responsibilites - with the possibilty of working in more than one of these locations during an 8 and half hour shift (deep breath) should be paid more than the person who counts how many chicken nuggets go in your value meal.

Yes, Disney is more rewarding than other places, but these entry level people still have families to support. They are great at what they do, and I think they deserve more money.

WDSearcher - I grew up across the river from you in Hastings. And I guess I meant most jobs paid $5 more per hour More like your entry level leadership roles. But I did get paid more flipping burgers than doing all the above listed responsibilities. I don't want to come off like I am complaining, Disney is a great place to start any career no matter where you end up. I do honestly believe that they expect a little more than they are willing to pay for though. I don't want you to be offended by that, but I am entitled to my opinion. I am working my way through the ranks the same way you have, and I encourage other people to do the same. However, I also work with many people who have been in these entry level roles for many years and are unwilling to give up their seniority to advance to a higher paying job and start all over again. It is hard to watch these dedicated CMs struggle with their bills even though they go above and beyond in their roles. In the end, it is up to the individual to do what's best for them - but I understand the struggle to give up a stable work schedule to start over even though it may mean they don't see their families as much. I have done it twice so far. Merchandise discounts and park tickets are nowhere in your thoughts when a bill is past due or you haven't seen your SO in 3 days.

 

[floridadreams]

I know pay for servers anywhere is horrible, only earning 3.50$ ph at my job now...but I manage great with tips...enough with working full time to live on my own car, rent, etc. I was wondering how those working TIP jobs do in Disney, since I'm looking to move down there and work. Also, can you get into serving positions right away? Since several posts have mentioned having to start at sweeping streets, perhaps a bigger savings account is needed before I make the big move? I'd appriciate any help..Thanks!!

 

[imatoad]

Okay, I don't know what everyone's background is, but after reading the job requirements of some the CM's at Disney, they are not being asked to do anything more than the front desk, wait staff, customer service, maintenance staff etc., than any of the 6 resort hotels I've worked at, being happy and cheery included. I'll tell you what, go to Aspen, CO, and try get a job at the mountain, or at a resort hotel for more than $8/hr, then try to find affordable housing within a 45 minute drive (in a snowstorm), oh, the main perk, you get a host pass that allows you discounted lift tix. Many people do it, not for the money, but for the opportunity of doing something they love to do. Again, I'm not defending Disney, but anyone who has never worked in the resort industry needs to know, this is the norm, not the exception.

 

[WDSearcher]

I do honestly believe that they expect a little more than they are willing to pay for though. I don't want you to be offended by that, but I am entitled to my opinion.

I'm not offended by that. In theory, I agree with you. But I think that Disney -- like every other company out there -- pays the least they can to get the best people they can. If fewer people were willing to work for the pay offered, the pay rate would go up.

I am working my way through the ranks the same way you have, and I encourage other people to do the same. However, I also work with many people who have been in these entry level roles for many years and are unwilling to give up their seniority to advance to a higher paying job and start all over again.

As you noted, you have to be willing to sacrifice or compromise a bit in order to get to where you want to be. Anyone who starts as line cast does their share of weekends, holidays, late nights, and early mornings, but if you move up, you eventually get to that 9-to-5 place where you get weekends and holidays off and you have a nice family-friendly schedule. I understand why people choose to keep their hours or days off and not move up, but if they do that, I don't think they can complain about not getting more money or about having to stay at the same level for years and years. That's my only point here -- it's MY responsibility to manage my career. If Disney wants to promote me and I say "no" because I don't want to lose my current schedule or my days off, then I can't come back and grouse that I'm not making more money. Disney shouldn't have to pay me more money because I chose to stay where I am. And I also need to understand that if I say "no" to this promotion, I may not get offered the next one for a while. It's the trade-off you make. I'm sure many of the folks who you feel badly for -- the ones who are scraping by and unable to move up because they don't want to "start over" at a different level -- are aware of the choices they made and made them with eyes wide open. It'd be nice if companies could look at each individual and understand why certain choices were made when they were deciding about salaries and promotions and schedules, but companies Disney's size can't do that. It's impractical, and it would be impossible to schedule because everyone would want the same schedule and they'd all have a good reason why they deserved it!



PS. When I was in college, all the Hastings kids used to come over to LaCrosse to hit the bars. Our drinking age was lower!

 

[WDSearcher]

Also, can you get into serving positions right away? Since several posts have mentioned having to start at sweeping streets, perhaps a bigger savings account is needed before I make the big move? I'd appriciate any help..Thanks!!

I would say that if you moved down here, you probably could get a serving job right away, but it may not be full time right away.

 

[crisi]

It'd be nice if companies could look at each individual and understand why certain choices were made when they were deciding about salaries and promotions and schedules, but companies Disney's size can't do that. It's impractical, and it would be impossible to schedule because everyone would want the same schedule and they'd all have a good reason why they deserved it!

Or maybe it wouldn't be. After all, if I'm willing to make the sacrifices to move and are the same quality of employee as you, why should your lack of willingness to make sacrifices pay higher dividends. Disney is one of those fortunate companies that has no lack of talent walking through the door willing to take a lower paycheck (at all levels short of senior management - I've met Disney attorney's, accountants, and IT staff that gets paid less than industry standard) in exchange for working for Disney. And they used to have a great reputation despite a lower pay rate (that they blew 15 years ago).

If I'm selling a used car for $6,000 - will you offer me $6,500 because that's what you saw a similar car for last week? I think you are more likely to offer me $5,750 and hope I'll take it. Disney (and most other companies) work the same way. If I can hire someone for $7, why should I pay them $10? Particularly when I then need to multiply that generousity across thousands of employees.

(And I'm in the Twin Cities right now, my local McDonalds is hiring lunch shift - $7.50 an hour.)

 

[dizprincess717]

I know pay for servers anywhere is horrible, only earning 3.50$ ph at my job now...but I manage great with tips...enough with working full time to live on my own car, rent, etc. I was wondering how those working TIP jobs do in Disney, since I'm looking to move down there and work. Also, can you get into serving positions right away? Since several posts have mentioned having to start at sweeping streets, perhaps a bigger savings account is needed before I make the big move? I'd appriciate any help..Thanks!!

This past summer when my sister and I would go to the parks later at night my mom and dad would head over to the Trout Pass Bar at WL. The two of them are such "people-persons" that they got to talking to the bartender there. He said that with his salary and tips, and a friend from his college that lives with him and also works at WDW, that they both can afford all the things that go along with living and he's putting himself through college. Therefore I'd imagine that the tips must be pretty good for him to do that.

My question is this - how much do you think vacation planners and wedding planners get paid? That's my future job if I don't think law school is for me

 

[PneumaticTransit]

I know pay for servers anywhere is horrible, only earning 3.50$ ph at my job now...but I manage great with tips...enough with working full time to live on my own car, rent, etc. I was wondering how those working TIP jobs do in Disney, since I'm looking to move down there and work. Also, can you get into serving positions right away? Since several posts have mentioned having to start at sweeping streets, perhaps a bigger savings account is needed before I make the big move? I'd appriciate any help..Thanks!!

I would also add that working in the tourism industry, you have to ride the waves of high and low attendance. It can go from feast to famine in the drop of a hat. I would recommend a good savings account before you start. Your hours can go from more manditory overtime than any sane person cares to work to cutting your hours and wondering if you'll be able to make rent on time - this is definitely true of part time workers, but happens to full time as well. I worked six days a week for 8 months
Disney is usually hiring serving positions year round, but not always full time. Tipped positions are very popular as you can imagine. You can be added to a waiting list, and they will call you when something opens up, which could be a week, a month, or a year from now. If you are really eager to start, you can take part time and be put on a list for a transfer to full time, or take another position and always transfer later to server.

 

[deltachi8]

This is the USA..2005.The richest country in the world..employers should pay their employees a living wage.. with health insurance..regardless of what the job it. Paying 6.00 an hr for a job is ridiculous! people work because they need money to live on..cant do it on 6.00 an hr. And I know.. I was earning 40,000 $ a yr until I lost that job and now i am in the 7.00 per hour rut. It hurts! These companies can afford to pay more..they just wont becasue they dont want too!

i do have sympathy, but again, its supply and demand.

 

[greenyskp]

Come on guys...

The people who work at Universal are there for their paychecks.

The majority of Disney CM's are there to make magic. Its not about the money. I would give up my 12 $ an hour job in a sec, to be cinderella or work on pirates of the carribbean. There are people out there like us who are obbsessed and who live in orlando and get their disney kicks from working there.

After i get out of school i plan on moving to Davenport, being a teacher by day and a disney employee by night. Its just something ive always wanted to do, has nothing to do with money. I've lived in my car. Happiness is my number one goal. Not money.

 

[PneumaticTransit]

i do have sympathy, but again, its supply and demand.

So is the drug market, it doesn't make it right. There will always be someone more desperate than me who is willing to work for a few bucks less, maybe they are retired and do it to fill their time or just need the benefits, but there are plenty of people who do these jobs because it's what they could get and are just trying to remain head above water. I know that a business runs to make a profit and drive up stock prices, but it doesn't make it any less sleazy.

There isn't much you can do when a company pays the lowest they can get away with, and decide it's not low enough and move their operations overseas so they can pay even lower. Unfortunately that's the way things go.

It's like offering a plate of rice to a person who is starving, and asking "Do you want this?" Yes. Followed by dumping all the rice in the trash but a few grains and asking "Well, how about this?" Yes, because something is better than nothing.

 

[Mom to Will and Finn]

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.

Please. I find that very offensive. It's much easier said than done for a lot of people for many reasons. There are also a lot of people with college educations who are out of work or working menial jobs.

 

[crisi]

So is the drug market, it doesn't make it right. There will always be someone more desperate than me who is willing to work for a few bucks less, maybe they are retired and do it to fill their time or just need the benefits, but there are plenty of people who do these jobs because it's what they could get and are just trying to remain head above water. I know that a business runs to make a profit and drive up stock prices, but it doesn't make it any less sleazy.

There isn't much you can do when a company pays the lowest they can get away with, and decide it's not low enough and move their operations overseas so they can pay even lower. Unfortunately that's the way things go.

It's like offering a plate of rice to a person who is starving, and asking "Do you want this?" Yes. Followed by dumping all the rice in the trash but a few grains and asking "Well, how about this?" Yes, because something is better than nothing.

And, of course, you practice what you preach in your own daily life. You've never bought anything made in China because it was cheaper over a similar U.S. made product. You've never shopped at Wal-Mart when you could be supporting an independant retailer.

And on the other end of those stock prices and dividends are people like me. I need to get paid for investing my money in Disney, just like you need to get paid for investing your time.

 

[TallandGoofy]

I worked there from '90 - '97 (two summers on CP and then full time after I graduated). My pay started at $5.50/hr (Great Movie Ride TG) and when I left, I was making $10/hr (DVC Member Services).

I think back and wonder "how did I get by on that??" But, at the time, I didn't care. I was working in the coolest place in the world (in my eyes). I had so much fun and I have no regrets.

Of course, I did eventually get somewhat disenchanted and I left. But when I say "disenchanted", I just mean, I realized I wanted to explore other opportunities. I liked working with guests/members, but didn't want a career of it.

Leaving Disney was difficult, but also opened up a LOT of doors. 8 years later, I can tell you that the experience has been resume' GOLD.

 

[mouse1928]

And, of course, you practice what you preach in your own daily life. You've never bought anything made in China because it was cheaper over a similar U.S. made product. You've never shopped at Wal-Mart when you could be supporting an independant retailer.

And on the other end of those stock prices and dividends are people like me. I need to get paid for investing my money in Disney, just like you need to get paid for investing your time.

I think you've hit the nail precisely on the head!

 

[DianeV]

Wow I cant believe some of the rude posts here! Its a fact that Disney makes alot of money and you can be sure that the higher ups make alot too! Why not reward the ones who actually do the work and have gotten Disney where it is today? Guess Disney has never heard of <gasp> profit sharing!!

 

[crisi]

I get profit sharing as a stockholder. Want part of the profit - own part of the company. I'm not sure why I should share my profits (which are already pretty miniscule).

 

[blessedby3]

My husband is an engineer and he would love to work for Disney as an imagineer. I would work just about anywhere in the park just to be in the midst of the world!! We can only hope that after the kids get grown maybe we will work down there.

 

[DianeV]

crisi:

I guess you dont understand profit sharing with employees? Many many companies do that and it boosts morale and makes the employees want to make the company even better.

Yes I guess profit sharing by investing is one way but you dont have to do much but invest money to get that..the workers are the ones who are actually making YOU money then