lifeguard/merch? which is the best?

[raerae28]

I applied to work as a lifeguard or in merch.
What are some pro's/con's

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Never done either, but this is just info I've gathered from different places.

Lifeguard - You have to get up fairly early, but get out of work earlier than most (at least for the water parks)

Merchandise - Late hours, especially if you work Main Street, or DTD. CPs tend to have to do stock more than the FT CMs. On that day you wear a completely different costume and you fill in merchandise - heavy lifting required. A lot of hours guaranteed though.

 

[havie35]

I was a lifeguard at the Grand Floridian and sometimes worked at the Polynesian too in the Spring of 2007. It seemed to me that I had one of the best jobs as a CP (perfect location, good hours, good supervisors). The only bad thing was they fired a couple of the regular cast member lifeguards, so we CP's had to pick up the slack and I had to work six days a week from the middle of February to the end of my program in May. I usually worked between 45-50 hours/week. The earliest I had to work was 7am, but that was only once. The latest I had to work was till 10:30pm, and that was only a couple times. I do not know if they did this at other resorts, but my supervisors usually kept us on the same shift for a while. My usual shift was 8am-4:30pm. Shift times and lengths varied from resort to resort. I had a friend who worked at Yacht and Beach Club and she worked ten and a half hour shifts, but only worked four days a week. Two of my roommates were lifeguards at Blizzard Beach and they had the same schedule all of the time and worked five days a week. To make a long story longer and to sum it up, I had a great schedule that allowed me to party at night and have fun. I got to go to the beaches close to Orlando and got to go to Miami by asking off/calling in sick lol. I would definitely recommend being a lifeguard and you will not regret it.

 

[MegaraRocks!]

I was a lifegaurd at Old Key West/ Saratoga Springs. I loved every minute of it and had wnderful hours. Earliest I ever had to be in was 9 and latest i was there was 8:15. I worked 5 days a week and had 2 days off. I didnt just sit stands all day, i got to play bingo, work on the dock, and rent equipment. working lifeguarding at the resorts was something diffrent everyday.
All five of my roommates were merchandise and they worked some crazy crazy hours!

 

[cowza]

It all depends on location with both I think. I worked in Merchandise and because of my location in futureworld at Epcot I never was scheduled for more than 35 hours in a week (even during busy periods).

I enjoyed it but it got kind of repetitive in my location. However, the good thing with merchandise is it is probably the easiest role to be able to pick up shifts. I used to work in Magic Kingdom quite a lot for those reasons.

You get a lot of guest interaction too. I've got to say, of the people I knew who were lifeguards they seemed to have the most ridiculous hours (unless they were in one of the water parks).

Also, I think with Americans they often ask you what park you would like to work in if you do merchandise. It's good to have an answer coz every park does have a different atmosphere.

 

[Joanna71985]

I did merchandise in 2005. I mostly worked in Fantasyland, but also spent 2 weeks each in Liberty Square and Adventureland. There was a lot of guest interaction. I mostly worked the registers, but also did work on the floor and once in awhile was a stocker. The only bad thing was the hours. I wasn't overworked (except when we were on a stretch of 6-day weeks). But the hours were late. I just about always closed.

 

[saceo17]

I was a lifeguard at Blizzard Beach and it was one of the best 5 months of my life. If given the choice, I would certainly take lifeguard!!

I believe that you are given a few extra perks for being a life guard and part of the rec & leisure dept of WDW. This includes the option to attend the water parks (on days off) and use of the Wide World of Sports to workout (if you are into that).

 

[M.I.C.]

Is it okay if you've never lifeguarded before in your life? It seems like it would be boring and go by slow, do you just sit around your whole shift basically?

 

[Korey_87]

It doesn't matter if you have been a lifeguard before or not. Although it does help. If you are accepted into lifeguarding you go through Ellis and Associates Training for like 3 days and then you are certified. You do have to be able to swim 250 yards, tread water for like 15 minutes, and retrieve a 10lb brick from 10 feet of water. As for lifeguarding being boring it is actually pretty fun. I was at Yacht and Beach and we rotated every 30 minutes with a 30 minute break every 2 hours, so it's not that bad. And with EA they make you walk around a lot to keep you from falling asleep.

 

[Joanna71985]

Is it okay if you've never lifeguarded before in your life? It seems like it would be boring and go by slow, do you just sit around your whole shift basically?

Probably. But you have to go through a swimming test to pass.

 

[M.I.C.]

so you don't have to have any certificates or anything? they just train and test you on everything there?

 

[Joanna71985]

so you don't have to have any certificates or anything? they just train and test you on everything there?

Here's the description from the WDWCP website:
Lifeguard
Responsibilities may include:

Monitoring Guests’ safety in water and on slides/attractions
Physically challenging work and prolonged exposure to outside elements
Providing first aid and basic life support in the event of Guest injury or illness
Strong swimming skills
Keeping recreational areas clean
Providing Guest information
Standing for extended periods, working outdoors
During off-peak seasons, assisting other operating areas throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort, including performing roles other than lifeguarding
Each individual must be evaluated and certified at the Walt Disney World Resort. All lifeguards must pass a swim test and a vision screening that requires 20/20 vision with or without corrective lenses. In the event you do not pass the swim test described below, you will be placed in another role based on availability.

Lifeguard Swim Test

Swim 200 yards (183 meters) freestyle or breaststroke
Retrieve a 10-lb (4.5 kg) brick from the deepest section of the pool (minimum 8 feet / 2.4 meters)
Tread water with hands out of the water for two minutes
Participants reserved a Lifeguard position must complete a pre-qualification test prior to their arrival. Participants must have have the certified instructor validate skills and complete a form that must be sent to the Recreation team no longer than 2 weeks prior to a participant's arrival. This form is available on this Web site to those extended invitations to participate on the program as a lifeguard.

 

[M.I.C.]

yea.....my Mom just seems to think I need some sort of cert. before even going down to be a lifeguard anywhere

 

[Korey_87]

No you don't need any prior certs. And to answer your question withe being certified you become officially certified with Ellis and Associates. They are the top lifeguard certification for water parks and what not. The certificate lasts for a year and then you have to get renewed.