Question for anyone working in merchandise!

[mgriffi6]

I just got accepted as a merchandise cast member so I was thinking about where I want to work and where to possibly request. Has anyone worked in ge main street confectionery or sweet spells in DHS or a merch location that also sells food? I was wondering how it would compare to selling products and whether it's better/worse. Do you actually prepare the food or just sell it? Also does anyone know what the costumes for merch look like for DHS?
Thanks for any help!

 

[khancock]

You didn't bring up locations in your interview? That's really the best time to talk about it. They even say to mention it then on the site (2nd bullet under "Prepare")
https://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com/sap/its/mimes/zh_wdwcp/apply/interview_tips.html

Just take in mind hours too. Like the Emporium is probably the most famous merch location at WDW and a lot of people want to work there because of that, but those closing shifts are going to be very, very late compared to other MK locations.

 

[mgriffi6]

No, I did bring it up in my interview don't worry. I said I'd like to work in magic kingdom but it's not really very wise to name a much of specific locations before you get accepted, and ultimately I would be fine working anywhere. That's why I was afraid of getting the emporium because of their hours, so I thought maybe DHS would be better.

 

[Disney_Lover06]

Most people email certain places they want to work after they get accepted. Just email recruiting.

DHS is alot more laid back it seems. I work in MK in Merch and love it. My friend works Merch in DHS and is usually done by 10. The lastest I know he has worked is 11:45pm. I know if you work in sweet spells also works once upon a time, a pin cart and a few other stores. Unless they changed it, you can make the food but it depends on that location. The outfit depends on the location. Most DHS merch locations where hats.

 

[Lindzmarie]

Ive just been accepted in merchandise for the spring 2011 advantage too! in my interview tho, i never requested any specific location to work in. as long as Im in Disney,then Im happy

 

[sfgadv02]

Last year I requested to work in MK (didn't know they paid 50cents extra), but I was selected to work in Downtown Disney-- World of Disney to be exact. I love all the people I met, but the bad part is you may be scheduled to work at 5am or you may work until 2am. Also, a lot of people like to go to House of Blues on Sunday or BDubs (Buffalo Wild Wings) on Wednesday, so the F bus may be crowded if you're working late.

 

[graygables]

My oldest DD did her CP at the Confectionary. Yes, you will play a part in making some of the foods, cutting fudge, cotton candy, etc. as you can be "kitchen" trained. Remember, however, that if you do work in a merch location that has foods, even if it's just fudge in case, you have to follow food-handling appearance guidelines, so no artificial nails, no nail polish, no rings, no watches or bracelets and absolutely no tattoos that are not covered by the costume (no makeup allowed to cover them). BTW, I can't get my DD near cotton candy anymore...

 

[PrincessBetsy]

My oldest DD did her CP at the Confectionary. Yes, you will play a part in making some of the foods, cutting fudge, cotton candy, etc. as you can be "kitchen" trained. Remember, however, that if you do work in a merch location that has foods, even if it's just fudge in case, you have to follow food-handling appearance guidelines, so no artificial nails, no nail polish, no rings, no watches or bracelets and absolutely no tattoos that are not covered by the costume (no makeup allowed to cover them). BTW, I can't get my DD near cotton candy anymore...

I would absolutely love to work in the Confectionary! Did your DD request to work there or was she just placed there?

 

[graygables]

I would absolutely love to work in the Confectionary! Did your DD request to work there or was she just placed there?

She was just placed there, luck of the draw. My 2nd DD got merch and was all excited until she got put in Once Upon an Toy at DTD. I remember she called me crying because the costume was so "ordinary" She did wind up loving it and was able to extend into the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, so there are advantages.

 

[mgriffi6]

She did wind up loving it and was able to extend into the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, so there are advantages.

Did she extend at the BBB for merch or as doing hair and stuff as a FGIT? That was one of my top role choices and I didn't know if it was possible to extend into a different role.

 

[Disney_Lover06]

Yes you can extend into another role but you have to still have the qualifications if that role has any.

 

[graygables]

Did she extend at the BBB for merch or as doing hair and stuff as a FGIT? That was one of my top role choices and I didn't know if it was possible to extend into a different role.

Yes, she extended as a FGiT. She networked like crazy, though, to get it. When I originally applied to extend (I did a merch CP), I applied to full service food and was granted the switch (although I wound up declining as I accepted a management internship instead). So, it is possible, but helps if you network, network, network.

ETA: Hospitality was NOT offered as an option for extending when I did it, btw, and I don't know that BBB is offered, it was just something she had worked out.

 

[mgriffi6]

Ok thank you! I would imagine it would be very rare to be able to do that; I'm just glad to know it is possible! Haha

 

[itsalwaysamagicalday]

I'm super confused by this whole requesting thing. We didn't talk about location at all during my interview; I'm not really worried about being put anywhere I don't want to be. Like someone else said, as long as I'm at Disney I'm happy! But I certainly wouldn't mind requesting, even if there's a slim chance I would get put there.

But I feel like it's rude to just email the recruiting office and ask; even if a lot of people do that, I can't shake the feeling! What kind of response do you get if you send them a request via email?

 

[graygables]

To be honest, I wouldn't make a request. Think of it like Santa bringing you a real surprise on Christmas! If I were a recruiter, I'd probably be pretty irritated if my inbox was inundated with requests when I'm already super-busy interviewing and visiting campuses.

In my and my DDs' cases, we were asked during the interview which was our favorite park. DD1 said MK, got MK. DD2 said MK, got DTD. I said AK and got AK. In hindsight, we were each place exactly where we needed to be for our Disney careers to get where they needed to go, so I always recommend that you trust the process (as frustrating as it may be, believe me, I know!)

Besides, the 2nd day of check-in is like Christmas morning, you walk up to the table, they hand you the booklet and announce where you are going to be, it's all very exciting!

 

[SportsChick]

You actually find out where you're working on day 1 now, at Casting

 

[lrcavazos14283]

I was in the fall advantage 2009 and worked at downtown Disney once upon a toy. It was great I loved it. I also learned so much. I was then moved to the boardwalk and I hated it. It was absolutely boring. So hope you don’t get a resort. When it comes to magic kingdom my roommate worked there and she worked crazy long very long hours. She worked at emporium. She said that working there ruined her magic kingdom experience. Yes the view outside was exciting but the work not so much. So i would say downtown disneY.

 

[Tigger1221]

I worked at the Emporium in the MK and LOVED it. Yes you work extremely long hours but I wouldn't have traded it for anything. It did not ruin the magic at all for me. I can see how it would ruin the magic for some but you have to know how to keep work separate from the Disney magic. I got the see the fireworks and parades almost every night. Spectromagic holds a special place in my heart now thanks to seeing the floats backstage so many times and getting to see how they work. I got to meet and get Christopher Robins autograph, see and watch the fireworks with the horses for the Christmas parade. BUT, the hours were the worst on property. I got home later than all my roommates and worked more hours than they did too. Time off was also very hard to get and we had so RUDE customers. I did not ask where to work, it was luck. One of my roommates was also in merchandise and picked up a few shifts in the Emporium but said she was glad she did not work there all the time. YMMV. Have Fun and enjoy it, it goes by too fast.