Just Hired at WDW - Place to Stay?

[TheCastleBluff]

Friends,

Not sure if this is the correct thread location as the Cast Member board is private, but...

I must say - I'm proud of my mother as she just received noticed that she is hired as a Disney Cast member for this summer. Being of the retired age, this is a great lifelong dream for her.

She is making the trek from Texas to Orlando at the end of this month. We're in the quick process of searching for an extended stay apartment/hotel/suite that is close to the World and is safe.

Any suggestions from you folks that live in Orlando on housing for Cast Members?

Many thanks!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I live west of the parks in the Four Corners area (south Clermont/north Davenport/west Kissimmee) and there are a lot of apartments/extended stays out here. Cagan's Crossings I believe has furnished apartments, there are also short and long term rental townhomes and houses.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Well YAY to your Mom, I can't help with your question but wanted to offer

 

[disneychic2]

Congrats to your Mom for landing a Disney job. Hope she enjoys every minute of it!

 

[yoopermom]

I have no idea where she should stay, but have always wondered how this works? Does she only work for the summers and still retains castmember benefits? Does she have to work a certain amounts of weeks a year? Holidays?

How exciting for her!!!

Terri

 

[crashbb]

Congratulations to your mum!

I know that she is the wrong demographic, but she/you may want to check out the "College" board. Many threads there about working at WDW (admittedly, many of them are staying in WDW housing, but not everyone).

 

[disneyred]

congrats to your mom .. she must be so excited.. and you could go ...visit..

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I have no idea where she should stay, but have always wondered how this works? Does she only work for the summers and still retains castmember benefits? Does she have to work a certain amounts of weeks a year? Holidays?

How exciting for her!!!

Terri

cast members that work like that are "seasonal" CM's and they do maintain their discount etc status. I am a CM and hope to do an internship soon at school, a professional one. seasonal are required to work so many hours in a time, like 40 hours.

 

[Praise2Him]

Friends,

Not sure if this is the correct thread location as the Cast Member board is private, but...

I must say - I'm proud of my mother as she just received noticed that she is hired as a Disney Cast member for this summer. Being of the retired age, this is a great lifelong dream for her.

She is making the trek from Texas to Orlando at the end of this month. We're in the quick process of searching for an extended stay apartment/hotel/suite that is close to the World and is safe.

Any suggestions from you folks that live in Orlando on housing for Cast Members?

Many thanks!

Congratulations to your mom! I interviewed on Monday for seasonal and am waiting to hear back (I'm also older - 50 ) What role will she have?

I'm sorry I can't help with a specific place, because I'll be living with my DD who's attending college in Orlando, but my DS lives in Windermere and it's a very nice area - safe and close to the parks.

I know that she is the wrong demographic, but she/you may want to check out the "College" board. Many threads there about working at WDW (admittedly, many of them are staying in WDW housing, but not everyone).

Definitely! I was on the College Board constantly when my DD was applying for her CP and now I still check it all the time - it really helped me when interviewing!

 

[Amy]

Congrats to your mom! This is an idea I've floated around with DH for a while - after we retire, we both get jobs at Disney. I know he'd love to drive some form of boat transportation, like the boat from WL to the MK. I'd love to work in a shop in one of the parks.

 

[TheCastleBluff]

Thanks for all the kind words - we're very proud of mom! A quick update...

We have found a nice, clean, and safe extended stay suite hotel that looks to be a good option for her. She was hired as a seasonal employee through the end of the summer, so it was fairly difficult to find an apartment (that we thought was safe and secure) that offered short-term (2-3 month) arrangements. Plus, we would have needed to figure out how to furnish it if it was an unfurnished location. Needless to say for this specific time, it was significantly easier to forgo a bit more cost but ensure a nice, safe place for her.

Some of you inquired about her role, process, retirement, etc? She is a retired higher education teacher/faculty/professor who has taught and worked in the choreography and dance industry for 40+ years. She attended an audition several months ago followed by several phone interviews last week (when things were finalized). She'll be working as a Character Performer.

It's been a lifelong dream for her! So, if you have the desire, my suggestion would be to say, "Go for it!".

 

[Traveliz]

My daughter stayed in an Extended Stay after college (UCF) and until we closed on our condo in Windermere while she continued to work at Disney. It was really ideal. No extra bills, just the room and the rates were great.

Liz

 

[S. C.]

congrats to your mom .. she must be so excited.. and you could go ...visit..

We could all go visit!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Thanks for all the kind words - we're very proud of mom! A quick update...

We have found a nice, clean, and safe extended stay suite hotel that looks to be a good option for her. She was hired as a seasonal employee through the end of the summer, so it was fairly difficult to find an apartment (that we thought was safe and secure) that offered short-term (2-3 month) arrangements. Plus, we would have needed to figure out how to furnish it if it was an unfurnished location. Needless to say for this specific time, it was significantly easier to forgo a bit more cost but ensure a nice, safe place for her.

Some of you inquired about her role, process, retirement, etc? She is a retired higher education teacher/faculty/professor who has taught and worked in the choreography and dance industry for 40+ years. She attended an audition several months ago followed by several phone interviews last week (when things were finalized). She'll be working as a Character Performer.

It's been a lifelong dream for her! So, if you have the desire, my suggestion would be to say, "Go for it!".

So who will your mom be friends with?

 

[Praise2Him]

Oh wow, that's awesome! Definitely a dream of a lifetime! Hope she enjoys every minute of it!!!