Kilimanjaro Safaris

[T-land2010]

So during my interview, they talked with me alot about speaking in front of crowds due to my theatre experience. I thought this might land me in a spiel attraction so I had a quick question.

When it comes to Kilimanjaro Safaris, how difficult is the driving? I'm a fairly decent driver, but I don't have much experience driving such a big vehicle.

I arrive on the 19th!!!!!!

 

[PidginPea]

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[T-land2010]

Thanks so much for your quick reply. I was just worried that you had to have some large vehicle driving experience because it sounds like an amazing attraction to work
I have another question, in terms of attractions management, how is AK broken up? I was at MK last year and it was by land. Also how is Epcot broken up if ya know. I'm a little familiar with Hollywood Studios.

 

[PidginPea]

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[rachaelfig]

Do you mean how area locations are broken up? Because AK is divided up into "lands" just like all the other parks - Discovery Island, Africa, Asia, Dinoland, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Rafiki's Planet Watch, and Dinoland. I'm guessing that since your name is "T-land" that you worked Tomorrowland attractions, which is broken up into complexes. Now I can really only talk about my area for sure, but AK is mostly broken up into individual attractions. Like if you work Kilimanjaro Safaris that's all you do. Your rotation doesn't include other attractions. I worked Discovery Island attractions, which includes Camp Minnie-Mickey, which altogether is 'It's Tough to be a Bug!', the guides that work the tip board, and Festival of the Lion King. Each of these has a different costume so you're scheduled to work at one individual attraction on any given day, and each requires separate training. Like I started out my CP at the bug show, then later got trained for the Lion King. CPs didn't get guide-trained (and no one wanted it anyway..)

Other areas may work kind of like that if the attractions are small enough. I think Flights of Wonder and the Majarajah Jungle Trek are part of the same "attraction", but Expedition Everest is totally separate. And I think the Finding Nemo show and the Boneyard playground may be part of the same attraction, since they have the same costume with an added vest for one.

That probably totally confused you. As to Epcot, I have no idea. I'm guessing everything is broken up into individual attractions, since everything has its own costume and nothing is really close enough to be on one rotation.

 

[T-land2010]

Thanks so much for all your help. I should've been more clear.

In Tomorrowland, all of the attractions share the same managers, I was just wondering because it was cool to have a little unity between attractions. I was just wondering if any of the lands, say Asia and Africa, share management or if every land is seperated. Is there an Africa attractions or Asia attractions is what I'm really asking.

For instance in MK they have AD/LIB attractions for Adventureland and Liberty Square.

BTW I worked in Stitch Complex last year. It was amazing.

 

[YesIStillLoveDisney]

For Epcot, the areas are Future World West, Future World East, and World Showcase Attractions. I only have experience in World Showcase Attractions but I believe that you would probably be trained for one attraction but please correct me if I am wrong. I do know that Innoventions cast are trained for all attractions in there building but idk if they ever switch from East to West.

World Showcase Attractions are very different. They include the rides, shows, and KidCot booths in each pavilion. Those are staffed entirely by the ambassadors program although you may be placed in American Adventure at the show or KidCot but idk if they put many CP's there. The other two are Kim Possible and the FriendShip Boats. Kim Possible is staffed like any other attraction when it comes to CP's.

The FriendShips are a whole other story (where I did my program). While it is technically an attraction and everyone but CP's who are placed here are hired under attractions, it is actually considered a transportation role on the Role Checklist, lol. Very confusing but an awesome place to work.

 

[thatcrazydisneygirl]

Is Innoventions considered an attractions role?

 

[TinkerMouse]

Yes, but the presenters in innovations tend to be union actors. There are several of roles that CP people and average people can't do because they are reserved for members of actors equity and the like.

 

[PidginPea]

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[T-land2010]

One last question, if I end up at Safaris, what kind of insurance do I need? I'm not bringing my car so I'm discontinuing my auto insurance. But I'm really hoping that this job doesn't require any because of how low pay CPers get.

 

[PidginPea]

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[SyracuseWolvrine]

Yes, but the presenters in innovations tend to be union actors. There are several of roles that CP people and average people can't do because they are reserved for members of actors equity and the like.

There are 3 categories of role within Innoventions. Host/Hostess, Presenter, or Equity. I believe that at the moment, the only Equity positions are the ones that play the "game show hosts" at Slapstick Studios (Velcro), and I believe that show is closing in February. Equity is short for "Actors Equity Association", which is a performer's union. Those positions are gotten through audition only, and are NEVER a CP role.

I believe that CPs can be both Presenters and Host/Hostesses. The presenters will typically have longer spiels that have to be memorized nearly word for word. The Host/Hostesses may have a few short lines, but generally, not as much speaking as the presenters.

Each park is broken up into areas, and within the areas, you'll be trained in one attraction or "complex", and possibly, later in your program, cross trained into a different attraction or "complex" within your land.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Here's a list of areas and the attractions/complexes within each ... this list may not be 100% correct, they do sometimes change around, and I haven't worked in attractions in over a year.

MK:
Main Street

• Turnstiles
• Walt Disney World Railroad
• Parade Audience Control

Tomorrowland

• Space Mountain
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
• Stitch Complex (Stitch, TTA, Astro Orbiter)
• Buzz Complex (Buzz Lightyear, Carousel of Progress, and I think Monsters Laugh Floor)

Fantasyland

• Barnstormer
• Pooh Complex (Winnie the Pooh, The Mad Tea Party, and Snow White's Scary Adventures)
• Philhar Complex (Mickey's Philharmagic, Carousel, Dumbo)
• Pan Complex (Peter Pan's Flight, Its a Small World)

Adventureland/Liberty Square

• Hall of Presidents
• Liberty Belle Riverboat
• Haunted Mansion
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Jungle Cruise
• ATT (Aladdin, Tiki, Tree)

Frontierland

• TSI/Bears (Tom Sawyer Island, Country Bear Jamboree)
• Splash Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Epcot
Future World East

• Universe of Energy
• Mission Space
• Test Track
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Future World West

• Innoventions
• Spaceship Earth
• Imagination
• Soarin
• Living With the Land (also includes Circle of Life)

World Showcase

• Maelstrom
• Grand Fiesta Tour
• American Adventure
• Kim Possible

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Sunset

• Tower of Terror
• Rock N Roller Coaster
• Tots/Fantasmic (Beauty and the Beast, Fantasmic, Parades)

Backlands

• Lights Motors Action
• Honey I Shrunk The Kids Playground
• Backlot Tour (Special Effects Water Tank, Shuttles)
• Toy Story Midway Mania
• OMD/Narnia (Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, Narnia)
• Playhouse/Mermaid (Playhouse Disney, Voyage of the Little Mermaid)
• The Magic of Disney Animation

Icon

• Epic/Drew (Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Sounds Dangerous)
• Great Movie Ride
• American Idol Experience
• Star Tours/Jedi Training Academy
• Muppet Vision 3D

Disney's Animal Kingdom
Dinoland

• Dinosaur
• Primieval Whirl / Triceratops Spin
• Boneyard / Theater in the Wild (Nemo show)

Asia

• Kali River Rapids
• Expedition Everest
• Maharajah Jungle Trek / Flights of Wonder

Africa

• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Wildlife Express Train / Rafiki's Planet Watch
• Pangani Forest Exploration Trail

Discovery Island / Camp Minnie Mickey

• It's Tough to be a Bug
• Festival of the Lion King
• Discovery Island Trail Guides and Tip Board (not sure these are together)

 

[rachaelfig]

For AK Discovery Island there aren't trail guides anymore. When people get scheduled as tip board they're considered to be guides and can be rotated between the tip board, the entrance to Camp Minnie-Mickey, and in front of It's Tough to be a Bug. But CPs don't get Tip Board (which is good - it'd be hella boring.)

 

[fall08CP]

Former game driver here

Out of the dozen of us or so who trained together, one dropped out of training (and thus transferred) and another "crashed" within a few weeks on their own (whoops! but nothing serious) and was termed. Other than that, you trust your trainer and always keep your eyes peeled. Everyone hits unload dock at least once or clips a curb on the reserve, but you really do get sufficient training. I continued to pick up seasonal shifts every 6 months after leaving and was so worried about forgetting everything.. but it comes right back. Be responsible and don't come to work if you've been out all night partying; this is a job that you need to be on your A-game at all times. As long you keep yourself, your guests, and your animals safe, you'll do just fine.

It was a pretty awesome gig, but the full time turnover rate is very high. It's a taxing role and you have no idea how many rounds you'll be doing before you get a break. During the summer months it was downright brutal. But I'd rather do it than any other attraction at the World.

You will fall in love with the animals and talk about safaris 24/7, it's addictive. You'll want to dress like a bongo/tommie/okapi for halloween and recite animal facts in your sleep. You'll have an amazing appreciation for conservation and wildlife and begin watching the animal channel for fun, lol. Am I wrong, former drivers??

Anyways, you could also get GMR, Backlot, Innoventions or JC as spieling, so don't get yourself worked up over KSR until you know for sure.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

It was a pretty awesome gig, but the full time turnover rate is very high. It's a taxing role and you have no idea how many rounds you'll be doing before you get a break. During the summer months it was downright brutal. But I'd rather do it than any other attraction at the World.

You will fall in love with the animals and talk about safaris 24/7, it's addictive. You'll want to dress like a bongo/tommie/okapi for halloween and recite animal facts in your sleep. You'll have an amazing appreciation for conservation and wildlife and begin watching the animal channel for fun, lol. Am I wrong, former drivers??

You'll also start to think of the animals out on the reserve as your pets ... although, any attempt to hug a baby elephant or sneak a tommy out in your backpack are most likely grounds for instant termination.

And yes, the spiel does come back to you ... "Jambo, karibuni, welcome aboard. Slide all the way across those rows and get yourself seated, making sure to tuck any loose articles in those net bags in front of you, that'll keep them from bouncing around when we hit rough roads, and we will be hitting some rough roads out there ...." (I could probably still do my whole spiel nearly word for word ... wouldn't be the same as whats trained nowadays, but I was trained before they changed Wilson.)

And yes, there are former safari drivers everywhere. We have 4 in my current location (well, actually, 5, but one's on a TA)