Job at Disney

[Goofyob]

Hi all,
I just got word I will have a phone interview with Disney on the 23rd. It's for full time monorial driver, but I have some questions, and well I could use some help form my Disney family.
So I live in connnecticut, and really want to let them know I can relocate. I also want to let them know that I have a ton of experience in hospitality. I currently work for Hilton as a front desk supervisor, and have a degree in hospitality (graduated in 2008) and have worked in everything from cruise ships to a head pastry chef. What would be the best way to go about this in the interview, other sites have said they never hire out of state. I really would like that to change
Any advise would be great !

 

[longboard55]

We know a few kids who applied. There main deal is they want total flexibility (on your part) on schedules and assignments. If you have an outside life you are not their type. We actually know an older guy who got more of s aupervisor type job, he loves it but works weekends.

 

[wilkeliza]

They hire from out of state all the time. I know at least 2 of my friends were hired from out of state. One from California to FL and another from Atlanta to FL.

You biggest thing will be letting them know you can and will make to the start date you would be assigned. Also let them know you would be open to other positions as well if the goal is just Disney and not transportation.

Also be honest with yourself on what you are going to get paid and if the move is a smart one. Disney starting is very low (above min wage but low) and so being away from family and support can be hard. Hopefully you have a job and some saving to make living there easier.

 

[Goofyob]

I guess my thing, would be getting to them, I have a lot of experience and drive. I am jot just out of college. and would make a great asset in a supervisor role

Relocating would be hard, would they be willing to let me stay in a college housing until my girlfriend (physical therapist) could join me?
He grand parents actually live in the palm coast, which I think is 2 hrs away.

I guess I want to get my foot in the door, and I do love monorails haha!

 

[mustlovecats]

I guess my thing, would be getting to them, I have a lot of experience and drive. I am jot just out of college. and would make a great asset in a supervisor role

Relocating would be hard, would they be willing to let me stay in a college housing until my girlfriend (physical therapist) could join me?
He grand parents actually live in the palm coast, which I think is 2 hrs away.

I guess I want to get my foot in the door, and I do love monorails haha!

They would not let you stay in the college program dorms. I think it might be time to consider a job closer to home. There are too many stories on this board of people who get their "dream" job at Disney, but realize after a month that they simply can't afford it.

You say in your first post that you want to let them know you can relocate, but from your previous post it doesn't sound like you can. Willingness to relocate and being actual financially able to relocate are two completely separate things.

 

[Goofyob]

Like I said, If I had to commute from the palm coast I would. I also have a job as a front desk supervisor. Only I live in Connecticut, which has crap for my degree. I have had it since 2008.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I was hired from out of state, but I flew here for an in person interview and told the recruiter I was signing a lease in the area that same day. (It was true!)

You absolutely have to have your own housing. Look for a Facebook group called something like Disney Cast Member Roommate Finder. You might find someone willing to rent you a room on a month to month basis until your girlfriend can come. You do not want a 2 hour commute. Traffic here SUCKS.

 

[Goofyob]

Thank you ,
I appreciate this. And yes traffic sucks! I know! but I am 32 and got to do what I need to do. Honestly I am at a point in my career where, I need a bigger resort. yes Disney would be the dream job, but I do realize realistic goals. Any way I look at it I need to leave CT, to find what I went to school for and have worked very hard at.

 

[diznygirl]

Realistic goals is not commuting two hours for a minimum wage job. Florida is full of hotels and resorts. You could find a dozen closer to your girlfriend's grandparents that probably have job openings.

Seriously, what is it with people losing their minds just to work for Disney?!

 

[Minnesota!]

To piggyback - can someone give me an idea of what a starting salary would be for some jobs that are currently posted? I am not sure if a CM has access to a salary chart for jobs? There are a few we are looking at, but it would be a waste of time to even apply if the salary was not near what we make now.

Someone can PM me if they prefer

 

[Goofyob]

1st....I have gone to school for hospitality. Disney is a huge company, and a pinnacle for anyone who is in the field. It is a career goal to work for them. It is hard to understand that if your not in the field, it opens a ton of doors, much like when I worked for NCL out of school.
Trust me I know the wages suck but the door is open. I was simply just asking some info on what people have done in the past. I am 32 years old and have been all over in this field. I understand realistic. I feel alit of hate on this board, or thinking iam just going to throw away my life for Disney.

 

[SirDuff]

I admittedly don't know a lot about it, but I'm not sure how driving the monorail involves/needs/uses a degree in hospitality?

 

[Hrhpd]

Hi all,
I just got word I will have a phone interview with Disney on the 23rd. It's for full time monorial driver, but I have some questions, and well I could use some help form my Disney family.
So I live in connnecticut, and really want to let them know I can relocate. I also want to let them know that I have a ton of experience in hospitality. I currently work for Hilton as a front desk supervisor, and have a degree in hospitality (graduated in 2008) and have worked in everything from cruise ships to a head pastry chef. What would be the best way to go about this in the interview, other sites have said they never hire out of state. I really would like that to change
Any advise would be great !

Didn't you put your past experience on your resume?

 

[Goofyob]

yes and yes to both questions. My second job was for hotels. Again this is to get a foot in door or an interview. It is very tough to find hotel openings at Disney.

 

[wilkeliza]

A 2 hour commute just isn't going to work no matter how much you want a job at Disney. Having worked there I can tell you at first you are going to have crappy hours and most likely at 9-10 a shift. During the holidays it'll be closer to 13 hour shifts. That drive is going to be closer to 3 or 4 on super crowded days like summer and holidays. My friend is 30 minutes from WDW and there were morning it took us an hour and a half to get to work.


Monorail drivers make a tiny bit more than your standard gate opperations CM but every person I know who was interviewed for monorail was told the position was full but we have x,y, and z lower paying positions available and in 6 months you can try to transfer.

Also you say CT doesn't have a lot of oppertunity but where in CT are you? Some pretty affordable cities are closer to NYC where you can get just as much valiable experience. If you are further north there are the casinos.

A lot of the board isn't mean we have just seen too many people run down to Orlando with nothing and the idea that you can move up through Disney's ranks pretty fast just to come back 6 months later and say they quit and moved back home.

 

[SureAsLiz]

Disney does hire from out of state, but they expect you to be available when they want you to start. You need to be willing and able to relocate pretty quickly should you get the offer. If this is something you want to do, start researching places to live now. Find someone who will rent to you on a short-term basis (this will be a sub-lease rather and an outright lease. Very few places are willing or able to rent short term. You might even look into vacation homes)

For the interview, you will have plenty of time to discuss your past work experience - that's the whole point of an interview.
And not to discredit your experience, but everyone in Florida has a hospitality degree. You need to be able to differentiate yourself outside of your degree.

It looks like Orlando has a lower cost of living than Hartford (I'm unsure of where in CT you are, but looking up a comparison should be helpful) but that doesn't mean it's cheap to live here. I know a large number of people who work 2 jobs to be able to continue working for Disney. The commute is also something to consider. I had a coworker who commuted from Tampa (an hour ish) with a regular 9-5 schedule, and it burned her out. I can't imagine commuting 2 hours with an irregular schedule. What happens if your shift runs until 1am? Are you willing to not be home until 3? That's a pretty major commitment.

If this is something you seriously want to do, do some research. Make a budget. Create a schedule that includes commute, regular shopping (grocery, etc), and free time. If you can't make it work on paper, then it's not going to work in person when things are much less predictable.

To piggyback - can someone give me an idea of what a starting salary would be for some jobs that are currently posted? I am not sure if a CM has access to a salary chart for jobs? There are a few we are looking at, but it would be a waste of time to even apply if the salary was not near what we make now.

Someone can PM me if they prefer

Salaries are not public information, and vary pretty widely. You can try to research the information on sites like glassdoor, but always take that information with a grain of salt. The hourly positions might be reliable, but I wouldn't count on a great wealth of information on salaried positions

 

[Goofyob]

I have been out in the field since 2008. I have associates in culinary and bachelors in hospitality. I have worked for the cruise lines, was a head pastry chef , and now manage a front desk for a major hotel.
I wont just run to Disney. Just want an opportunity to talk to them. thanks everyone for the info.

 

[Goofyob]

I live in the ct coast. Worked for a casino, It is terrible there. I need a bigger resort Disney or not. I am 32 and need more then what I am offered currently. me and my Gf have means to move as she had a great job too.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

A few insights.. I work in the Orlando hospitality industry and have a degree in it:

Why not transfer to a Hilton in Orlando, at least for a little bit? Front desk is most likely going to pay more anyway. I'm pretty sure monorail drivers make something like $10-11/hour.

A Palm Coast to Disney commute everyday would be 4 hours. That's insane. You'd burn everything you make in gas money.

Is your ultimate goal to work for Disney? You said that Disney is impressive on a resume.. while I think this is true in other states, here locally in Orlando working at WDW doesn't carry as much cache.

 

[Goofyob]

Aweosme for you! I actually have an application at the waldorf. And yes I am going to apply to the Hiltons to=o . I should have stated Disney is an option.