Pay for Characters at Disney

[Bella the Ball 360]

My husband showed me an ad from the Orlando Sun Times. It was an advertisement for jobs as characters at Disney. You might think that this would be a good job right? Wrong the hourly rate was 6.50 with the potential to make all the way up to 9.25!!! The ad mentioned how this was the NEW higher rate!! Are they kidding? So they charge over 2.50 a bottle for water (on which their cost is pennies), 3.00 for an ice cream on a stick, and God knows what for dinner with the characters and yet they pay these people what amounts to sweat shop wages ( no pun b/c they do SWEAT). I find it a little disappointing.

My nephew makes 10.00 per hour (he is in h.s.) setting up pins at a bowling alley! He lives in NH by the way.

 

[kldmom2000]

Yes-it's true.... I used to be a Disney cast member (mgmt. in a Disney Store prior to them being bought out by the Children's Place) and many of my friends/cm's did the internship in Disney and resumed working there making not much at all... but the cost of living expenses are much lower than where we are so close to Boston.... still though, you'd think with what they're charging for admission/food/etc.. they could pay their most valuable assets a bit more $$$$$$$$$!!! What would WDW be without their magic?!?!?!?

 

[lillygator]

very true - my sister was a character - and she made $6.85!!!! And this was within this past year!

 

[Mermaid02]

I was a CM @TDS for a couple of years, Disney pays very little and expects A LOT !!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

On another note--cast members have access to much less costly beverages and foods in the CM area.

Also--characters--they only "work" for 4 hours---they are on shift for 8--but must have paid rest time/cooling off periods. Not to knock the work---but they are in costume for half their shift---not the entire shift.

My cousin was a character and LOVED it as did a sorority sister who had a scrap book full of Mickey pictures from her working days there .

These are wage jobs--the money is sunk into the parks and into profits of course. People will work the jobs--so there isn't much incentive to be paying them royally. Also--one must AUDITION for the character parts--it isn't just apply for a job as Mickey Mouse and then getting it via interview. And there are plenty lining up for it.

I don't find it a travesty as becoming a costumed character is purely a choice decision and there are plenty of applicants who are willing to do it.

Now--about the low cost of those who clean up after all the guests--that I do take exception with after cleaning up after guests at the Vero Beach Resort for the summer and being treated lower than dirt by mousekeeping management (was treated very nicely by the lobby staff though--they actually appreciated my work). I worked with many people who this was the best they had in life for a job. That is a true travesty! Especially when a guests causes the bathrooms to flood. YUCK!!!!

 

[disneylizzy]

What about the face characters? They have to make more than $6.50/hour, right? How can anyone live on that? I'm very surprised that there aren't more unhappy CM's at that rate.

 

[Loubon]

A man went to the circus and went up to the guy who cleaned up after the elephants. He asked him how much he made and the guy said $2 an hour. He asked the guy, "Why don't you quit this job?" The man answered, "What and leave show business?"

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think face characters and peformers (singers/dancers) fall under a different category IIRC.

Many do it b/c they love it--and face characters performers are probably padding their resume for bigger and better things.

Some use the hourly jobs at Disney as a springboard for advancement in the company. I met someone in the production area once who was some type of assistant and she used to be a face character.

There are easier ways to earn $6.50 an hour--and being there is a selective process for casting the costumed characters--those making ends meet aren't typically in those positions unless they want to be.

 

[Feralpeg]

My sister is a CM in a store at DTD. She makes $6.85 an hour as a full time employee. She does get other benefits such as a Main Gate pass and health insurance at a fairly low rate.

Many of the young people who work at WDW either live with their parents or they room with other kids. Yes, it is cheaper to live here than in the NE, but not that cheap. Working at WDW will not make you rich unless you get into a higher level job. I have several neighbors who work for Disney and they live very well, but they have worked at Disney for many years and are in professional positions such as event planning, entertainment, etc.

 

[CathrynRose]

My husband showed me an ad from the Orlando Sun Times. It was an advertisement for jobs as characters at Disney. You might think that this would be a good job right? Wrong the hourly rate was 6.50 with the potential to make all the way up to 9.25!!! The ad mentioned how this was the NEW higher rate!! Are they kidding? So they charge over 2.50 a bottle for water (on which their cost is pennies), 3.00 for an ice cream on a stick, and God knows what for dinner with the characters and yet they pay these people what amounts to sweat shop wages ( no pun b/c they do SWEAT). I find it a little disappointing.

My nephew makes 10.00 per hour (he is in h.s.) setting up pins at a bowling alley! He lives in NH by the way.

It is sad - i had a friend in HS, whom was working at Taco Bell after school and w-ends. He made $9.50 / hr and this was over 10 years ago. He had worked there for - I think- close to 2 years, but still!

That totally sucks. I give all those people so much credit for being so chipper. Working for Disney or not, I sure as heck wouldnt be.

Anyone know Universal's wage-averages?? I remember reading on boards a long time ago, quite a few people had left Diz to go work at Uni for more pay, when Uni opened up.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

A man went to the circus and went up to the guy who cleaned up after the elephants. He asked him how much he made and the guy said $2 an hour. He asked the guy, "Why don't you quit this job?" The man answered, "What and leave show business?"

 

[Feralpeg]

It is sad - i had a friend in HS, whom was working at Taco Bell after school and w-ends. He made $9.50 / hr and this was over 10 years ago. He had worked there for - I think- close to 2 years, but still!

That totally sucks. I give all those people so much credit for being so chipper. Working for Disney or not, I sure as heck wouldnt be.

Anyone know Universal's wage-averages?? I remember reading on boards a long time ago, quite a few people had left Diz to go work at Uni for more pay, when Uni opened up.

Universal does pay slightly higher, but not much. One of DD's friends worked there last summer. She quit and is now working at The Disney Store in the mall. Although she is making a little less, she is not out in the heat for hours.

 

[Regina]

It's not just Disney. My DS works for an NFL team and makes around $6.50 an hour. He's in his third year as an "intern" so he gets no benefits. (He made minimum for the first two years.) He has a degree in Sports Management.

He gets by with having a roommate and he's fortunate in getting a ton of overtime during the football season.

It's about building a strong resume. While it's very hard financially (rent, student and car loans), he's getting experience that future employers are looking for.

Is it fair? Heck no, but it's reality and it's not confined to Disney.

 

[sha_lyn]

There are plenty of jobs out there that are not meant to be the sole income for a family. If would be impossible to raise everones wage to a "livable" wage. If wages went up the cost of products and services would go up in a similar perportion.
Jobs such as the ones at WDW, Walmart etc do are more geared to your highscool or college student, someone who wants to suplement their income (ie mom who's DH makes a livable wage, someone who wants/needs a second job etc), retired persons who need/want a little $$ etc.

 

[Stitchfans]

I always said when I retired I wanted to move to Orlando to get away from the snow and ice we get here. I also said I wanted to work part time at WDW to be near the magic. Sure hope I can afford it!

 

[vivilasvegas]

I'm curious to know what you all expect them to be paid?

 

[Aimeedyan]

Disney doesn't pay well that's for sure =) And with the skyrocketing housing cost in Orlando, they are going to find themselves in a bind quickly. Many CMs have been kicked out of their apts and they can't afford to buy so they are leaving and heading elsewhere.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And yet one of our own DISers and her husband moved to Orlando--set up an apartment all with getting FT jobs at Disney.

The wage earner is never going to float along to an easy life--but many can live well--without debt--and accrue savings on "minimal" wage.

And in case any haven't noticed--when the MINIMUM wage increases--all prices increase so those who benefited from the increase--are really no better off.

Florida is a right to work state. If Taco Bell is paying more--a CM is more than welcome to go work for them. I would have gladly continued working for my pittance of a wage--even if it meant cleaning toilets--had my "coach" (what the managers were called at the time I worked) been a little bit nicer and less condescending.

They won't be in much of a bind at all. They have a successful college program (when my brother was in it--they actually overhired) with students who for the most part are willing to fill the hourly wage slots. There are CM's who actually work there as part of their retirement and teens and college students who just work there as seasonal or part time employees.

Just like the local grocery store doesn't suffer from the economy when it needs its hourly workers, neither will Disney.

And if your wage earners earn $10-$15 per hour or whatever you think they deserve to earn--it only increases your costs of going to Disney.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

This is one of the reasons DisneyLAND is having such a hard time keeping CMs around. Living in OC, CA there is a huge variety of minimum and just over minimum wage jobs at their disposal.

Disney used to be the exception, paying high wages and having the pick of the cream of the crop to wrok there. They had people who wanted to work there. Now they have people who work there becuase it's the first place that hired them. And this is why the quality of CMs has gone down hill.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

By the way this was for the face characters as well as the costumed. Iwish I knew how to scan the ad into the computer. The performers are different. I think that the days of Disney getting the cream of the crop are over. I remember 30 years or so ago when working at Disney was like being an airline stewardess (they aren't what they used to be either). I guess everything changes but I still think that they could pay these people a little more and NOT go up on the price. God the money from gift shops and food alone should be enough to float them and keep them in the black.