Is Attractions an over-hyped role?

[Toffy]

I was at ToT for my CP and couldn't have asked for anything better.

Ahhhhh you lucky duck!!!! If I get attractions that's where I hope and dream being located haha...

Then again, it is a lottery. I had friends who were stuck at like Fantasmic or Playhouse Disney the entire semester.

I didn't know Fantasmic! counts as an attraction!!! It's not like parade crowd control where attraction CMs are cycled through crowd control duty???

 

[DisneyAngie]

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[Lukas87]

Someone mentioned that there is a lot of physical work involved. I realize every attraction is different, but in general, what does this mean? I know just about every attractions role will involve standing for long periods of time, but is that about the extent of it? Or should we be prepared to lift heavy things and such? I have a history of back problems and am considering the CP, so this could be a deal breaker for me with attractions.

If you have back problems, I would not recommend attractions. The majority of attractions will require frequent bending and pulling on lap bars to check that they are properly secured.

I know lots of people with perfectly fine backs who experienced soreness just from the constant bending over to check the restraints.

 

[Toffy]

On the flip side of that though, if you talk about it with your recruiter, they probably can put you on an attraction that doesn't have lap bars... If you think about it, there are MANY attractions that don't have lap bars, or any restraint nessesary period for that matter. Depending on how serious your back problems have been, I'm sure Disney would totally be willing to accomidate your need of no lap bars

 

[GreatWideSomewhere]

But, even if you don't have lap bars, most attractions do require lifting or pushing of some sort. I work an attraction with no lap bars, and yet we have lots of physical labor.

I am trying to think of an attraction that really wouldn't require something that would cause back pain and I'm having a hard time! Of course always let your recruiter know, because he or she can help with things like that.

Oh and just for another note, all rides and shows are attractions. You could be placed in the Boneyard at Animal Kingdom, the Tiki Room at Magic Kingdom or the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot. There are many, many possibilities (even Disney Quest) when it comes to attractions. The most popular and talked about ones are usually the rarer ones. And some of them are not all they are cracked up to be, trust me!

I absolutely love working in attractions, but it is by no means a perfect role. There were many, many days that I wished I had the benefit of working in a cozy air conditioned shop like my roommate...heck, I would have even been happy with an break room that had air conditioning! Lol

If you’re determined to make the best of your program, your role is not going to matter that much. It may be hard to believe now, but it really is true. Good luck all!

 

[tinkerbelluk]

I didn't know Fantasmic! counts as an attraction!!! It's not like parade crowd control where attraction CMs are cycled through crowd control duty???

I was actually a Fantasmic Attractions CM whilst on my ICP and loved both the job and the people i worked with (i actually met my husbaand there as well. Fantasmic CM work Parade control and high school musical as well, and many CP's and ICP's are cross trained also at Rock n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror and Beauty and the Beast.) Fantamic was great to work on as it had a very high amount of guest interaction, and there were times when all we did was supergreet (eg we would be assigned an area, and if someone looked puzzled looking with a map we would interact with them, or be running atmosphiric activities such as blowing bubbles, hula hoops, jump rope, doing the limbo.) I also struck lucky as i was on the closing team for stars and motorcars and opening team for block party bash! (its rare for CP's to be on opening teams.)

 

[DOasDREAMERSdo]

I think I'm going to put Attractions as my first choice!
Everyone's stories make me so excited to maybe work an attraction!
I'd love to do one with a spiel...I was on my speech team in high school, and I think it would be a good fit and really fun!!

 

[DisneyAngie]

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[tinkerbelluk]

That sounds like an awesome role! Supergreeting sounds really fun. You said a lot of CMs are cross trained with ToT, RnR, and Beauty and the Beast - were you referring to all HS CMs or just Fantasmic CMs? I really like the idea of being cross trained with another role, so that hopefully it would seem a little less monotonous, but I had read that it was really rare for CPs to be cross trained. Were CMs automatically selected to cross train, or is that something you can request?

Thank you to the people who answered regarding back problems. I hadn't even thought about the lap bars. Bending over generally isn't a problem (although I've never done that as much as I would if I worked, say, EE) it's mainly just repeated or heavy lifting. I was thinking that ToT (just for example; I know better than to pin all my plans on getting a specific attraction) might not be terrible on my back. ToT, if I remember correctly, they just have people pull up on the yellow tabs. Plus, as was mentioned, the shows would work well.

If I know going in I need to be placed in a role that is easier on my back, do I need to have documentation from a doctor?

Its kind of hit and miss if your cross trained at fantasmic (its actually classed as sunset area attractions, rather than just one ride, unlike some other areas.) In my case i purely did Fantamic/HSM and PAC, except when fantasmic was in rehab, then i ended up working a limited no. of positions at rock n roller coaster, and then i random ended up being thrown into working beauty and the beast in my last week, without even being trained.

With regard to your back injury mention it at the interview, they have special forms that have to be completed by a doc, but they should give you them to have completed if they hire you. I will say fantasmic is a good area to work in with a back injury, so if you really want to work it say so at the interview, you are more likely to get it if you ask for it. (I was actually transfered there from food and beverage because of a back injury. (between being hired and getting there i was the victim of a car accident.)

 

[razzery]

That sounds like an awesome role! Supergreeting sounds really fun. You said a lot of CMs are cross trained with ToT, RnR, and Beauty and the Beast - were you referring to all HS CMs or just Fantasmic CMs? I really like the idea of being cross trained with another role, so that hopefully it would seem a little less monotonous, but I had read that it was really rare for CPs to be cross trained. Were CMs automatically selected to cross train, or is that something you can request?

Thank you to the people who answered regarding back problems. I hadn't even thought about the lap bars. Bending over generally isn't a problem (although I've never done that as much as I would if I worked, say, EE) it's mainly just repeated or heavy lifting. I was thinking that ToT (just for example; I know better than to pin all my plans on getting a specific attraction) might not be terrible on my back. ToT, if I remember correctly, they just have people pull up on the yellow tabs. Plus, as was mentioned, the shows would work well.

If I know going in I need to be placed in a role that is easier on my back, do I need to have documentation from a doctor?

I cant imagine Tower being bad on the back except for maybe working distro, walker, and load.
At distro if the machines run out of paper you do have to refill them, which requires a lot of bending and lifting. Also when tickets get stuck you have to be able to pull open the machine.
Walker requires bringing wheelchairs and other random things from load to unload. Depending on what is there, it might be a problem for you.
And usually load wouldn't be too bad on the back, unless you have some guests who have no idea what they're doing. All you really have to do at load is walk up the steps, tell guests to pull on the yellow cords, hands up, and close the gate. About every other elevator though, you do have the difficult guests who don't know their left from their right, can't find the seatbelt, try and hold their seatbelt so that might require you moving around the elevator a bit.

Also, not sure if this would bother you, but opening the building requires walking up TONS of stairs.

Besides all that I HIGHLY recommend tower. I really can't imagine myself working anywhere else. We have way too much fun, I can't believe they pay us to do what we do. Also you can pick up shifts at Fantasmic. It doesn't require any training.

 

[tinkerbelluk]

Razzy, when did you do your CP, i seem to recognise your profile pic. (which means you either ere there when i was, or you happened to be about when i'd go visit the CM's i knew whom work tower.

 

[razzery]

Razzy, when did you do your CP, i seem to recognise your profile pic. (which means you either ere there when i was, or you happened to be about when i'd go visit the CM's i knew whom work tower.

Did Spring 09 and went seasonal as a little part time gig while I go to UCF so I've been around a lot.

 

[DisneyAngie]

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[razzery]

From your description, razzery, ToT seems like it would be okay on my back. ToT and Fantasmic both sound really great. I think those two are definitely at the top of my list for attractions!

tinkerbelluk - I hope your back is doing better! One more question, lol. Do you mean that working Fantasmic is referred to as Sunset Area attractions, or are all the attractions near there (ToT, RnR, Beauty and the Beast, etc) referred to as Sunset Area?

Sunset attractions is tower, coaster, beauty and the beast, and fant. From what I've seen if you're main job is fant you will only work crowd control positions the entire day where as if you're trained at coaster or tower you can pick up fant shifts. I haven't heard of anyone's main job being parade control and then being trained at tower or coaster during their cp.

 

[MKandy]

We have way too much fun, I can't believe they pay us to do what we do.

Totally agree. I did my CP at Kilimanjaro Safaris and couldn't believe they called it "work." It was great.

Attractions has so many advantages; Great guest interaction, fun rides, smiling faces, magical moments, etc. A lot of roles have those things but in Attractions those are all magnified. I did get a chance to pick up a QSFB shift during Spring Break. My one roommate and I worked at Pecos Bills for a couple hours. It was really hectic, but still fun. It was one of the shifts that didn't require any "special" training. That same day we also worked in Adventureland Stroller Parking. So I got a taste of somethings other than Attractions and would pick Attractions any day.

 

[Joanna71985]

I am about to start in Attractions (I will be working at TSM at the Studios). I think it will be fun. I do know it will be busy. Training starts tomorrow, and I can't wait to see how it goes.

 

[MaryPoppins86]

I am about to start in Attractions (I will be working at TSM at the Studios). I think it will be fun. I do know it will be busy. Training starts tomorrow, and I can't wait to see how it goes.

good luck Jo! and have fun!

 

[Joanna71985]

good luck Jo! and have fun!

Thank you!

So far it's going well. Tomorrow is the assessment, and I really hope I pass (I'm worried about a couple of positions). But I really enjoy working at TSM.

 

[Pure_Imagination]

What happens if you don't pass the assessment?

 

[GreatWideSomewhere]

What happens if you don't pass the assessment?

It kind of depends on exactly why you didn't pass, but usually you'll just get a little more practice on whatever position you are having trouble with and take it again. I was so worried I wasn't going to pass at first, but it turns out it was pretty easy. Even grouping and merge. Trust me, you can become a champion grouper in no time. And merge...well it can be fun, every once in a while.