Job vs. Magic? WWYD?

[pittsburghmarc]

When I was studying Hospitality Management at college back in - lets say the previous century - my dream job was to work at WDW.

Well due to the Gulf War and the subsequent slowing of the economy, Disney did not recruit and hire from colleges as they had consistently done in previous years. Yes, I was disappointed, but not enough to jump on a plane to FL and hope for an interview and offer.

Now, some years later, I'm left wondering if that was the best thing to happen at the time. I'm still a huge Disney fan, more than ever and love seeing everything again through my children's eyes. I wonder if I had worked for Disney, would that passion be gone because it wouldn't be magical anymore...just a job or career?

My question to you is...if you had a chance to work as a cast member at WDW, would you do it knowing your relationship with the Disney Parks would be forever changed once the "curtain" has been pulled back? So, take the job or keep the magic alive?

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

For me, it would depend on the job itself. I have a good friend that works for Disney (security) and he is still a huge Disney fan even though he's worked there 17 years!

 

[rchristiansen]

My ultimate goal would be to work behind the scenes, actually. So I'd take the job in a heartbeat

 

[Hollie]

People at work ask me alllll the time why I don't go work at the park. I tell them that, while I'd love to work FOR Disney, it would have to be VERY much away from the park because the first time a guest yelled at me or was rude to me, it would break my heart. I'm too sensitive.

 

[fall08CP]

I was a CM for several years but I eventually had to quit and move on. The parks were no longer special, the guests got under my skin (some of them can be REALLY MEAN!!), and the politics of management were in conflict with my ethics. I'm still in touch with my co-workers and I love the Orlando area, but I have no desire to visit or work for the mouse. It really bums me out because I was a huge parks fan before, but I can no longer go to the parks and just enjoy myself. Maybe in a few years when there are new attractions

 

[WaltD4Me]

It would definitely depend on the job. I've worked in telephone customer service for almost 20 years, I think I would enjoy working in their reservations center, ideally booking vacations, but I'd want to work FOR Disney, not for a company Disney outsources to. I would not want to work in the parks. I would have loved to been one of the telephone operators that worked in the room in the castle where the Cinderella suite is now.

 

[kaligal]

I wouldn't want to rely on Disney as my primary source of income. Like you, I think the thrill would wear off fast and I'd be left thinking of the company as work.

I work for the biggest game in town now. Everywhere I go, the logo for my company is there. It's on building, billboards, TV, flyers - just everywhere. And every time I see it, I think, "Ugh. Yuck. Work." I would NOT want to feel like that toward Disney or every time I saw Mickey!

But I wouldn't mind a part-time job. I'd take one for fun, just to see how I liked it. If it were horrid, I could always quit and not risk the Mickey-Ugh factor.

I'd like to ride around on the back of the tram. I think that would be a fun job.

 

[LilGMom]

I think it depends on what you do as to if you could still find the parks magical. I have a very good friend that is a full-time Imagineer and he says that every day that he goes to work he practically yells "Woohoo!" when he walks in his office. If I did what he does or worked in the CAD dept. at WDW I probably would still find magic in the parks and maybe find them even more magical knowing some of the hidden behind-the-scenes things. But if I worked at an attraction or restaurant and had to deal with the general public every day I don't think I'd find it that magical.

 

[pittsburghmarc]

But I wouldn't mind a part-time job. I'd take one for fun, just to see how I liked it. If it were horrid, I could always quit and not risk the Mickey-Ugh factor.

I'd like to ride around on the back of the tram. I think that would be a fun job.

That what my wife and I talk about now. When it comes time to retire, moving to Orlando and taking a part-time job at Disney. Does anybody know the current perks for Disney employees as far as discounts go? APs, etc?

 

[aprincesswannabe]

That what my wife and I talk about now. When it comes time to retire, moving to Orlando and taking a part-time job at Disney. Does anybody know the current perks for Disney employees as far as discounts go? APs, etc?

My husband's dream job is to be retired and "get" to go to work for Disney on a part-time basis!

 

[OKW Lover]

My husband's dream job is to be retired and "get" to go to work for Disney on a part-time basis!

That's my dream as well. Hopefully next year.