Lifeguard CP's

[DisneyElite]

I just got my letter in the mail last week, and I was offered a position as a Lifeguard cast member. Although I'm very excited about the program, I am a little worried about the job, and was wondering if anyone on the DIS has worked as a WDW Lifeguard?

I was a lifeguard in high school for 3 years, and have spent college summers working at a camp where I was the Waterfront Director, so I am very familiar with lifeguarding responsibilities and such. So here are my concerns:

1. When I took the Lifeguarding tests, I was 16 and in very good athletic condition. I am still in pretty good shape, but I'm worried that I may not be physically strong enough to endure some of the tests. (Not the swimming, but the part where you have to demonstrate an actual rescue. I'm a pretty small girl, and the last time I had to "rescue" a flailing, 245 lb. man from the deep end and it was very difficult. I'm not sure I could do that again.) I am confident in all other areas but this, so I would appreciate any help about this portion of the test.
2. Where do most of the Lifeguard CP's work: resorts or water parks? Which is best?
3. I have heard the hours are longer for CP Lifeguards and there is less time off. True/false?
4. Are most of the lifeguards CP's, or CM's?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[kellyf2626]

I was a lifeguard in the CP during the summer of '97. I am sure some things have changed, but probably not many.

They train you when you get down there, and you will receive "licensure" from Ellis and Assoc. (not the Red Cross). It is a pretty intense program - every day for a week or two. Before you even get in the program, everyone goes for a swim test at Typhoon Lagoon - you have to swim across the wavepool 4x, and then tread water for a certain amount of time. If you swim across 2x, you can be a shallow-water guard, 4x, you can be a deep water guard. Now, I could have done the 4x, but I didn't want to be responsible for saving people in those wavepools! So, I just did 2x.

Then they train you, and you can choose whether you want to work at a resort or at one of the water parks. That is really the only decision you get - then they assign you to a place.

Don't worry - you will have a blast!!!! The hlifguards form a really tight community down there. And, it is great, b/c you parks always close so early!!! The others may have to work until 1am - but you will always be out by 8!!

Have a blast...if you have any more questions, I will do my best to answer them!

Good luck!

 

[DisneyElite]

Thanks Kelly! What you described sounds similar to what I have gone through. Did anyone not pass anything? I am still a little worried about having to demonstrate a "rescue", especially if it's in the deep end of the Typhoon Lagoon pool.

When you had to swim across the wave pool, were the waves turned on? That would definitely make it harder. But I'm pretty sure I can handle the swimming part.

Thanks for your input! I'm looking forward to it!

 

[kellyf2626]

The waves were not turned on - thank goodness! I remember a good chunk of people couldn't pass that 1st swim test at Typhoon Lagoon. I think they just gave them other jobs. Basically, if you past that test, you will do fine in the rest. We took the lifeguard course at a local pool in Orlando - we were separated into groups: shallow guards, and deep guards. Since I was a shallow guard, we didn't train in any water over 8ft (I think).

I worked at Blizzard Beach - and loved it! Because I was a shallow guard, I basically rotated throughout the park, with the exception of the wave pool (which was fine by me!). The majority of us were CP, although there were a lot of regular cast members, as well as some high school kids that just worked there for the summer. It was a great experience! Everyone was always so nice!