I went to the Disney Casting office on Monday(long post)

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by momof3disneyholics
Do you by any chance know why she hated it?

I just called her and this is what she said. She went as a college intern and lived with four roommates. They took out room and air conditioning and she had $100 per week left. She worked at the Contemporary Woman in the Contemp. Hotel. Its not that she didn't like her job, it was fine but she hated going to work because it interfered with her social life. Her husband did the internship the year after under similar living arrangements but he was a monorail driver and was over worked (long hours) and underpaid. Neither were dating or married at the time and both were college students. She doesn't like going back because she is just totally sick of pixie dust and sees Disney as "phoney". Thats an interesting opinion because she loves Universal. When I asked her if it was actually Disney that she feels is phoney or because she worked back stage and hasn't seen Universal from back stage, she acknowledged that it was indeed a possibility.

 

[Trish Bessette]

If you are moving to Florida mainly because you want to work at WDW then by all mean do it!

As you mentioned, I'm positive your husband will land a great job with good pay.

Follow your heart, we only live once

 

[ScarlettO]

Just because you want to work on Main Street, doesn't mean that will happen. You may end up working a food cart in the hot sun all day.

What sort of management positions are available at WDW? I would think even a management type job is not easy to snag , either.

 

[jkovick]

DawnCT- I can relate to what your friend said- in a way. In college I worked a summer at Cedar Point in OH. After working there with low pay and slavish hours I would never go back even to visit---- and that was 11 years ago! Working there spoiled it for me. That's why I think I'd love to live closer to WDW but would hesitate to work there.

 

[disme]

I work in the marketplace and love it,
the pay is low,the hours bad,weekends holidays always etc.

comming up on 3 years now and looking forward to many more.

You have to stay in a position for 6 months and can than transfer, usualy not a hard process.

If you want to try WDW go for it. you can always move on in the company or leave and go in to the real world.

any questions that I can answer just ask

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Originally posted by ScarlettO
Just because you want to work on Main Street, doesn't mean that will happen. You may end up working a food cart in the hot sun all day.

What sort of management positions are available at WDW? I would think even a management type job is not easy to snag , either.

I realize I might not get the job at the attraction I want. The handout they gave me at the casting office has different catagories for jobs and I am not going to apply for any food service positions or any retail positions. I am strickly wanting an attraction position. (I used Main Street specificially as a metaphor) I am going to call the casting office in a little bit and talk to someone and find out more details.

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by momof3disneyholics
I wonder if Disney is exploiting the fact that so many people want to work for them by giving such small wages?

No, I think it's supply and demand. If so many people weren't willing to work there for the wages, they'd have to raise them. But people are willing, so Disney doesn't have to pay.

Honestly, I'd take the Admin job. I love Disney - still do, even after working there - but the magic isn't quite the same after working in the parks. I still want to to back and work for the company, if ever DH is stationed close enough, but I would definitely want a non-park position.

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by momof3disneyholics
I wonder if Disney is exploiting the fact that so many people want to work for them by giving such small wages?

No, I think it's supply and demand. If so many people weren't willing to work there for the wages, they'd have to raise them. But people are willing, so Disney doesn't have to pay.

Honestly, I'd take the Admin job. I love Disney - still do, even after working there - but the magic isn't quite the same after working in the parks. I still want to to back and work for the company, if ever DH is stationed close enough, but I would definitely want a non-park position.

 

[Hillbeans]

Just to add my two cents here...
After a year of working in "the real world" with a salary of $23,000, I quit my job at 23 and moved to Colorado to work in a ski town. The pay was $6.50 an hour which was awful. I went from having "decent" money to being constantly broke. I worked 5 days a week and didn't even get to Ski all that much. I ended up moving back to NJ after the Ski season, getting another real job. I've now worked my way up to a Supervisor at a major company with a great salary. Do I like my job? Most days no. I just got back from Disney last week and the dreams start filling my head how i'd love to work at Sea World, and it's such a fun and happy place. Yes, well that is true for the few people that really like their jobs there, but if I went from making a great living to making $6 pushing soda around in a cart with my college degree, i'm nuts. I always consider more than just my base salary, like my Benefits, 401K match, etc. I already have a great nest egg in my 401K and if I quit and take on a more "fun" job i'd just be hurting myself and my family. In your case though, it sounds like your DH will hopefully be able to support the family, and i'm sure you and he have talked about the possibility of you working Christmas, New Years, Easter, your kids Birthdays, etc.

I am very envious and just hope that you are the one person who really "quits" the real world to follow their dream and all of your dreams come true and many more. I hope you're not offended by my post, and it sounds like you're already thinking about the salary as an issue.

 

[ScarlettO]

To the OP....are you a retired couple, by chance? I can see a retired person working at Disney(to suppliment Social Security)-there are lots of retirees at WDW. But these wages of $6-7-8 and hour are ridiculous.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by DawnCt
I just called her and this is what she said. She went as a college intern and lived with four roommates. They took out room and air conditioning and she had $100 per week left. She worked at the Contemporary Woman in the Contemp. Hotel. Its not that she didn't like her job, it was fine but she hated going to work because it interfered with her social life. Her husband did the internship the year after under similar living arrangements but he was a monorail driver and was over worked (long hours) and underpaid. Neither were dating or married at the time and both were college students. She doesn't like going back because she is just totally sick of pixie dust and sees Disney as "phoney". Thats an interesting opinion because she loves Universal. When I asked her if it was actually Disney that she feels is phoney or because she worked back stage and hasn't seen Universal from back stage, she acknowledged that it was indeed a possibility.

I worked at the Disney store for 1 day, years ago and quit because I knew if I stayed it would suck the magic out of Disney for me. I didn't like seeing behind the scenes. I don't want to know how things work or what they look like back stage, it would bring reality into my little magical world of fun. lol

I can't imagine working at WDW, heaven forbid I saw Mickey in a compromising postion, it would scar me for life.

 

[mickeyfan1]

I know that the "office" jobs don't pay that welll at WDW, either, but I think they would be more than 6 whatever per hour. I do know that 5 years ago the Manager of the Animal Kingdom (the head of the WHOLE park) made somewhere in the neighborhood of 35K per year, it was published in something I read. That is not a lot of money for all that responsibility. I think I would love to be a CM there in almost any position, but I am lucky because I am retired and could afford to have a low paying job, I would almost consider doing it for gas money.

There are also unions at WDW, I believe at least 11 different ones, and many of the cast members jobs fall under a union contract. Even that does not keep the salaries from being way low. I doubt Universal or Sea World pay much better, because a lot of people work for the pay, not the joy.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Originally posted by ScarlettO
To the OP....are you a retired couple, by chance? I can see a retired person working at Disney(to suppliment Social Security)-there are lots of retirees at WDW. But these wages of $6-7-8 and hour are ridiculous.

No, I'm 27 and my husband is 34.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Originally posted by Hillbeans


I am very envious and just hope that you are the one person who really "quits" the real world to follow their dream and all of your dreams come true and many more. I hope you're not offended by my post, and it sounds like you're already thinking about the salary as an issue.

I really enjoyed reading your post and was by no means offended. That's why I post here, to get other people's opinions.
I keep weighing the cost of living issue around. I have an idea of how much real estate costs are because I have been talking to a realtor. I shop there all the time so I know that food and gas are more expensive than where I live now, but I still think some high cost I haven't thought of is going to jump out at me.
My husband and I wanted to move to Orlando in 99, then we got transfered to Germany and when we left Germany we wanted to move then in 02 but he didn't find a job right away ( he latergot job offers but had already reenlisted) and plus we hadn't saved up enough money for the move. So we moved to the closest army base to Orlando and go down there whenever we can to get more of a feel for the place. When we go, we always spend time driving around and exploring and all of it just reaffirms our desire to move there. My dream is to work at WDW. Not at some desk stuck in an office, but "really" work at WDW. I am just hoping and praying that my husband will get a good job. When we were going to try to move there in 02, he sent out his resume and got a few job offers, but unfortunately, he already reenlisted by then. I am hoping it will all play out in his favor again, maybe even better since he has a few years more experience. Even he is wanting me to work there because he knows how much I love the place and how much this is what I want.
Thanks so much for everyones opinions

 

[catsrule]

I just don't see how anyone with a family could live on that.

 

[Figment2]

Friends of mine (a retired couple) moved to Orlando and even though he is a CPA, he went to work at the reservations center (that's all that was offered). That lasted six months. Mainly because he was too tired by the time he got home (mandatory overtime) to do anything. She was ready to go to the parks for dinner, etc. and all he could think about was going to bed. He was paid minimum wage and sometimes had to work six days a week.

I decided quite awhile ago that Disney can't afford me and I can't afford to work at Disney. So even though I plan to move to FL (not necessarily Orlando) it won't be to work for Disney.



C.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Originally posted by catsrule
I just don't see how anyone with a family could live on that.

We can't that is why I am waiting to see what kind of job my husband will get. We are still months out from that though, since we are moving at the end of the year.
As a side note, I know several single women who support their kids on less than what Disney pays. It is so hard for them, but they do all they can. I'm just so thankful I have a husband that takes most of the financial responsibility.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Originally posted by Figment2
Mainly because he was too tired by the time he got home (mandatory overtime) to do anything. She was ready to go to the parks for dinner, etc. and all he could think about was going to bed. He was paid minimum wage and sometimes had to work six days a week.



C.

How can they make someone work over 40 hours a week?

 

[gshoemate]

Originally posted by momof3disneyholics
How can they make someone work over 40 hours a week?

I don't know how they can make anyone do it but they do. Performers at times have to work mandatory overtime due peak times....such as Christmas.

 

[danacara]

I cannot even fathom attempting to get by at $6/hour, but I live in a pretty inflated area.

But anyway, your adherence to your dreams is pretty impressive. At the same time, though, I wonder about two things: (1) is there any upward mobility at Disney? You're 27. If you make minimum wage now, is there any chance you could be making significantly more eventually if you take this job and stick with it? Minimum wage at 27 is very different from minimum wage at 45! and, (2) would you be better off spending your time/energy getting an associates or bachelors degree, if you don't yet have one, and striving to work for Disney in a professional capacity?