Merchandise Role

[prk]

Hey so I am currently a CM at wdw right now, I absolutely love my job. But
I am thinking of transfering Into merch. Can anyone give me some information? Any would be awesome!

 

[uk2usa]

my daughter did the Spring 2014 in merch. She was placed at AKL and loved it. Merch was her top pick. She loved working at the resort and actually extended her program into Spring Advantage and stayed at AKL.
She had a great team of co-workers and wonderful managers, supervisors,etc. Said they really were one big family. She even got offered seasonal there but then Disney did the 13 week separation requirement so she is waiting for her 13 weeks to end so she can get back there for seasonal. She did get enough hours and could easily pick up shifts there and at other locations. Said the best thing about merch is that you can literally pick up shifts anywhere (not the one's that include food handling unless you are trained).

 

[slmjam]

My daughter is returning for her second CP (Spring Advantage 2015). She has also been assigned Merchandise. Her goal is to work for Disney full time after her program ends. What is the 13 week separation? That policy was not in place during her first CP (Spring 2011). Would she be eligible for full time status after her program ends?

 

[uk2usa]

Not sure that this new rule affects pt and ft but it definitely affects anyone wanting to go seasonal. If my daughter had ended her program in May like she was supposed to she could of gone seasonal with no problem at all. She chose to extend and weeks before her program ended she applied for seasonal and got two offers - one from her hone location and one for mk. Even got the official email and phone call. Sent in her availability and then on the day she left the program she got an email regarding the new seasonal criteria. You need to have either 13 weeks immediate availabity or you have to do a 13 week separation from the company and then you can apply for seasonal - if there is a need for such positions

 

[prk]

Thanks for the response! I'm leaning into doing it at a resort. All the rule is, if a cp wants to stay seasonal they will have to wait 13 weeks

 

[prk]

Anyone else have any info?

 

[Golden_Eagle426]

Merchandise can also include food handling/sales. I did Merchandise at Downtown Disney Westside, so i was a bit shocked when I saw that Candy Cauldron was in the rotation (along with quest and DStreet). I enjoyed merchandise though. It was super easy. As stated in an earlier post, it is also extremely easy to pick up shifts in merchandise. I picked up several shifts in all the other parks with the exception of Hollywood Studios. Especially enjoyed picking up PM shifts on Main Street and being able to see/hear the fireworks whenever.

The training is easy also. They'll teach you how to count back change the "Disney Way." As with any job dealing with money, you just gotta be careful with it. They take it super seriously.

As far as positions, theres (among others) stocker, greeter, register. Normally you'll rotate several times throughout your shift. At least that was the case at my location. There's a computer program that'll give you your roation and you go where it tells you to go.

Hours can be all over the place, depending on where you work. I worked early morning opening shifts at the crack of dawn and I also worked 2 am closing shifts and everything in between.

I hope this helps a little bit! Let me know if you have any questions

 

[Pancakes]

My first program I was merchandise at the Polynesian and I loved it. It's such a laid back job, and you don't have to make a sales quota or push the merchandise, which I love. You'll be able to pick up shifts at other merchandise locations as well, which is great for networking. I only picked up one other shift at the Boardwalk gift shop, and I regret not picking up more EHH. The perks of merchandise is that your hours will be consistent. There are no EMH and (rarely) force extensions. You'll work with a smaller, more tight knit group of cast members, which could be a good or bad thing. I don't have any experience as merch in any of the parks, but I don't hear many complaints! Good luck with your transfer, you can have a lot of fun in Merchandise.

 

[prk]

Thank you! I want to transfer to a resort or Hollywood Studios, Mickey's of Hollywood to be exact. Anyone have any experience or knowledge working there?