I like to thing I brought in a decent amount of money but also had the time of my life.
My tips:
- Get a Universal pass: they offer a flexible payment plan so you only have to pay 12 bucks a month. From Vista Universal is actually closer than the Magic Kingdom and it was always good to escape the mouse trap once a week or so. Plus everyone seems like they want to go to Universal once so with the pass you'll be "cool" and have a excuse to hang out with people.
- Ride the bus: I think this really depends on your work location. I worked at the Magic Kingdom so I only had to ride one bus but it saves money in gas and all. Sure it sucked sometimes but it saved me loads of money.
- Make your own food. Go in with your roommates and make meals - not the frozen stuff. When we first moved in since we didn't know each other we were all buying our own frozen pizzas and such. After a few weeks we realized how stupid that was and started pooling money to buy a couple pounds of meat and making a big batch of tacos or a homemade pizza. Plus cooking your own meals is a great excuse to invite friends over.
- Work the discount system: Disney offers plenty of discounts, so work them to your advantage. Try to go to the water parks when they run free or 50% specials. Go to the Disney mini-golf courses where it is only 6ish bucks compared any other course around town that is pushing 10+ dollars.
- Get an Entertainment book. It costs like 30 bucks on eBay if you can't find any still in stores. Go in with your roommates since there is usually more than one coupon for everything. I believe we found some 50% go kart coupons in there along with some other steep discount coupons for area attractions.
- Go to Disney World. Seriously. Its free, take advantage of it. I went on several dates - all at the parks (as corny as that may sound no matter if you work for Disney or not watching fireworks from a beach is still romantic). Explore the parks. Visit friends. Again its free so why not?
- Again just work with your roommates. No sense in say all six of you buying a loaf of bread when you can all just pitch in a get one that way you are always eating fresh bread. Take turns driving. Now gas is cheaper but since gas was so high whenever we went to Florida Mall (about maybe 10+ miles away) or somewhere far we always took turns driving.
- Overtime. I never got scheduled more than 35 hours but I picked up plenty of overtime after I started to feel comfortable. Working a 12 hour day or a 6th day really starts to add up with that extra 6-8 hours is paid at 10ish dollars a hour. Sure Disney pay anyone great but I have always said if you are willing to work hard that won't matter. Around Christmas last year I work 13 days or so straight and had a paycheck (after rent) that was still 300+. I always looked at it as a catch-22 if you will - if I'm at work I'm making money but I also can't be out spending money (which is a good thing). Plus remember around the holidays all your friends/roommates will most likely be working more too so why not work?
- Get a second job. I didn't do this but I did know a few people who did. If you are a CP you usually close (well if you are in the parks) so I knew some people who were always working 6-12 or at the earliest 5-11 and sometimes as late as 10pm-4am(the joys of working at MK). A few people I knew got a job with a local store or something as part time where a few days a week they would work there from 9ish am to 4pm then head to work at Disney. Sounds like a lot, yup, but it pays off.
- Get crosstrained. Not available to everyone and usually on the surface they say they don't let CPs crosstrain but usually you can talk the managers into it if you have a good record. If you work at one attraction see about training at another one. If you work front desk try to crosstrain concierge. That opens up the options for overtime.
- Hang out at the apt. Most likely you and your roommates will come from different areas with different traditions and such. So watching that favorite movie of yours with them might give you a different take on it when they point out some hidden meaning joke or just talking and playing video games. People can be interesting and its free to talk and just hang out with roommates.
- Set money aside. If you take the bus to work and with rent automatically taken out of your check besides food there isn't really any costs. I usually found setting aside 20 dollars for groceries and 20 dollars for going out to eat a week usually was plenty enough. I would then just bank the rest. A saw a lot people who would get a paycheck and go "ok well I made 50 dollars more this week, I'm got to go spend it" type attitude. Don't spend money just to spend.
Thats all I can thing of now. Like I said sure Disney doesn't pay a lot but I have always believed that if you are willing to work hard you can still make a decent amount of change with Disney. My managers used to joke with my coworker because he would pick up a few shifts each week and such and he was making more than the managers. Money is available with Disney you just got to be willing to work hard for it. Sure that 14 hour day may sound really long but remember that paycheck will be great.
