No more free passes for Disney Store CMs

[manning]

the best perk you will ever get from that job is going occur when you put it on your resume for your next job. Disney Store goes a long way when you are shopping around for a new employer. Good luck to all of you.

That distinction is fast fading. Disney is becoming, if not already has, a copy of other badly run companies. With that comes a loss of respect.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by manning
That distinction is fast fading. Disney is becoming, if not already has, a copy of other badly run companies. With that comes a loss of respect.

I don't agree. Having a sister who works in HR for a major customer-service company in California, I can tell you that when they see Disney on a resume -- Disney Store, Disneyland, Disney anything -- they pop that resume to the top of the pile, and that person almost always gets an interview. The thought being that if they could handle the customer volume or atmosphere at Disney, they can handle it pretty much anywhere. (And that's not meant as a negative.) How the company is run at the top very seldom influences how the working cast behaves farther down the ladder. There are still more good CMs -- by a huge margin -- than bad CMs at Disney. And I think other companies know that and are very happy when they can steal away a Disney employee for their team.

The fact that there are Disney employees willing to be stolen away is a whole 'nother discussion ...

 

[exDS vet]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
There are still more good CMs -- by a huge margin -- than bad CMs at Disney.

The fact that there are Disney employees willing to be stolen away is a whole 'nother discussion .

When I look at a resume from a former Disney CM, I immediately consider the guest service aspect, and how they worked in that capacity. Guest service is what most employers look at, expecially in the service and/or retail industries.

Shortly after leaving Disney, I worked for a hotel chain as a front dest manager. While my guest service and management background easily got me the job, I found that it was not the best fit for me.

As for the good and bad CM's. There are some CM's who would not fare well in other retail environments. Mostly because some of them live in their own "Disney World." And they couldn't function well in other situations. Unfortunately, sometimes their passion for "all things Disney" clogs their vision of the real world.
For years, the Disney Store hired these people and most of them are your long term CM's who are very happy in their positions and never move up the ladder.

My experience with these CM' s was difficult. If I promoted them to a lead position, they would often fail, becuase they couldn't handle the supervisory or management piece. Therefore, I was faced with possibly creating morale issues by hiring leads and assistants externally.

Had I stayed in California after leaving DS, I would have considered recruiting 4 or 5 of my 25 CM's to my new company. Only one of them had worked longer than 1 year at DS.

Finally. I think all employees should always keep their options open and be willing to be stolen away by other companies. There are much better companies out there that the almighty mouse. Talent is very important and so is happiness. Disney is only looking for followers and not leaders. The song from "Peter Pan" comes to mind. This is everywhere in the field operations of DS. If you are a "yes person" who doesn't question decisions and is ok with some of the many stupid ones that DS makes, then they are the perfect company for you.

 

[manning]

I don't agree. Having a sister who works in HR for a major customer-service company in California, I can tell you that when they see Disney on a resume

That's today. When all the good ones are gone the reputation of the company will drop.

Lately we are seeing more posts about how bad service is becoming. Check-ins aren't as efficient as in the past, rudeness is on the rise.

The last time I was there I couldn't get a proper check-out invoice. And there was not anything unusual about the bill. I walked away with a sense of disorganization. I complained to top management and a rare thing happened (for Disney). I got compted.

Reflection of top management is rapidly moving down the ranks

How the company is run at the top very seldom influences how the working cast behaves farther down the ladder.

I believe your view is in the minority.

Actually it does influence how the working cast behaves down the ladder. I worked for a large company now gone from the scene. When we had a top CEO it thrived and everyone was happy. Many of us put in long hours without complaint.

When he retired, the last CEO and his team ran the company into the ground. Morale dropped fast and those of us who saw the handwriting on the wall, bailed. And the good ones bail first. Those who stayed were those near retirement and average workers. That is what is happening to Disney now. The good ones are leaving.

Disney is only looking for followers and not leaders.

Those are the ones who are more inclined to stay.

One of most successful airlines around was run by an excellent leader (now retired), who picked another excellent leader. SouthWest. The employees attitudes reflect his.

 

[shariskates]

I just have to say that some of you are missing some points here that TDS CM's are trying to make.

#1 - I don't know of anyone who works for TDS just for "the perks." We work very hard for very little -- this is not a complaint, but the truth. I actually love my job and the castmembers I work with. When I was hired, I didn't know about any persk, nor did I care. I was thrilled to work for Disney!!

#2 - It wasn't just that the free admission was taken away. It was how.... They gave us about 2 weeks notice, which is not very much. Heck, I'm going in March and still trying to figure out how I will pay for my pass?

#3 - Bottom line here is most CM's who work for Disney, do so because of a love for Disney. I never felt "how dare they take away" this perk... but Gosh, a little more notice would've softened the blow a bit. I feel really bad for CM's going in January... that really has to stink big time!

Thanks for letting me vent. Happy New Year!

shariskates

 

[gary in florida]

Gee, as a stockholder I think I should get some perks - after all, I own part of the company -

 

[Belle1962]

No point--just wandering thoughts------

1. Does anyone remember how upset DVC'ers were when THEIR free admission to the parks went away? And they knew when they purchased it that it wouldn't last forever.
2. Does anyone remember how upset the Magic Kingdom Club people were when it turned into the PAY FOR IT Disney Club?
3. Does anyone remember how upset Disney Clubs members were and ARE that the entire program ended Dec. 31?
4. How would you feel if two - six weeks before your planned vacation AND AT THE HOLIDAYS you were suddenly told--cough up an extra $300 - $400? And at a time when your company (Disney Stores) is FOR SALE and closing many locations? Not exactly a morale builder.
5. Yes, Disney on a resume STILL does carry some weight. I just changed fulltime jobs and everyone I interviewed with mentioned my Disney experience.
6. When guests come into the Disney STORE and have questions about DisneyWORLD they often get upset if the CM doesn't know the answer to their questions. If you do however, have a CM who has BEEN to DisneyWORLD and can talk from their own experiences then its good for the company. Maybe Disney Store CM's should just give guests who ask about the parks a copy of Birnbaums to buy and the 407 phone number to call? (Then everyone could complain about how little the CM's at the STORE know about the PARKS and how they aren't helpful)
7. I don't know how Parks could "bill" backcharge" etc any other Division for "admission". The CM's at the gate push a generic code letter that from my understanding is used ANYTIME a pass needs overrode and for all other situations. They couldn't tell for example the number of ABC employees vs the number TDS employees vs the number of guests with pass issues.
8. I don't know where these thoughts came from but here they are.

Take them as you will.

 

[manning]

Gee, as a stockholder I think I should get some perks - after all, I own part of the company

You do and they can take it away from you. It's called a dividend.

 

[exDS vet]

Originally posted by Belle1962
When guests come into the Disney STORE and have questions about DisneyWORLD they often get upset if the CM doesn't know the answer to their questions.

When I worked for DS, we were not supposed to waste our time selling theme park tickets. I was on the west coast when DCA was opening up. Giving them a Birnbaum book is exactly what we were supposed to do. I had to yell at my CM's if they spent too much time talking up the parks.

Theme park tickets fall in a category called Department 99. The sale of tickets (passports for you purists) do not count towards a store's retail sales. So from a management point of view, they are time wasted. No I know that they were thinking of changing this rule a bit, but I couldn't take the DS torture long enough to find out.

This is one of the reasons why they have those large passport displays at the stores. So they can sell themselves. Cast Members are not travel agents and guests need to appreciate and accept that. Otherwise, maybe people should call their local ABC radio talk show, or RadioDisney to ask for ticket information.

Just more fuel for the fire.

 

[CM Tinkerbell]

Originally posted by exDS vet
Theme park tickets fall in a category called Department 99. The sale of tickets (passports for you purists) do not count towards a store's retail sales. So from a management point of view, they are time wasted. No I know that they were thinking of changing this rule a bit, but I couldn't take the DS torture long enough to find out.

I don't know if this was the case when you were a manager, but although park tickets do not count towards the stores sales totals, we do receive a good amount of payroll hours for a specific dollar amount sold. Which as a past manager, I'm sure you remember just how valuable those payroll hours can be. So although we'd like to see those numbers in our daily sales, at least we do receive some benefit for tickets sold in the stores.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Another good example of how things change back and forth is the sale of park tickets in the Disneystores. There was a point, 2-3 years ago, when we WERE discouraged from spending too much time talking about the parks to the guests, at the expense of helping guests shopping in the stores. We were told at one point to just hand over a Birnbaums book, and the 407-WDISNEY phone number (at this time, prices for passes were the SAME at parks and in the stores/internet). Now, there is a different philosophy that came along with the advance discount on park passes at the stores(about the last 15 months). To save WDW payroll expenses, we are encouraged to sell passes, in the name of corporate synergy.......

We are still supposed to be careful not to get so involved in park conversations that we neglect Disneystore guests who need our assistance with store product or store questions.

 

[Cheshire27]

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