Recreation Rolers?!?

[OnoGrinds]

Hey, I'm Matt. I'm going to be doing the recreation role for Fall 09. I'm moving in on Aug. 12. Anybody in my same boat? Anybody with any experiences in recreation (what/where they worked) they want to share? I'm not really sure what to expect. Thanks!!!

 

[dopeyrunner]

Hey,

I worked Recreation at CBR (caribbean beach resort). My role was pretty much running the Marina - so that was cash register, boat rentals, surrey bikes and making sure the area was clean that the equipment was ready in the morning. Before and After the marina closed I would check towels, put them out if needed and clean up the area pick up towels etc.
When we had more then one rec person at the marina (not often) one of us would do kids activites so like doing coloring pages up at the custom house or leading arts and crafts in the food court.
You also have to gas up all the boats at the end of the day...
It's pretty easy can be boring in the winter if it doesn't get above like 55 you don't rent boats out or if there is lightning within 10 miles pools and marina are closed. Sometimes they ask if you want to take a lifeguard swim test and do both. That is a maybe it just depends.

 

[lauraebeth]

I'm in recreation now,and I wish I had known what I was getting into.

I'm in sassagoula region which is Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and Port Orleans. I do different things @ every resort.

SSR: community hall - kids activities, painting, movies, bingo, pool parties, etc.
OKW: Dock dock dock, I sit there, I have read a lot of books, which "isn't allowed" but basically ignored because until a few weeks ago, I'd spend a 7 hour shift sitting on the dock alone
P.O.: Pirate adventure cruise with kids as well as PMAC which is night area custodial, so cleaning up towels @ the pools, straightening chairs((AMAC and PMAC are available at all resorts))

There aren't a lot of CPs in the role, and there are tons of full & part timers that have their drama you have to deal with. there are some great people, but it's an easy peasy job compared to what you could've been stuck with

 

[dopeyrunner]

I totally agree with lauraebeth.. cause I ended up transfering back to attractions when I could. But that was also cause I was all dock all the time and only left for lunch. But you know make the best of the situation!

 

[OnoGrinds]

Oh man...I'm kinda nervous now. I thought I heard good things about recreation, but i guess I was wrong. What are some other possible responsibilities for recreation rolers? I thought I heard something about working at golf courses... I have 4 years experience in working at a golf course so I have a feeling I will be placed there. Does anyone hear have any stories about working at a golf course in the DCP? Also what about the water parks. I thought that was a possibility for recreation too.

What responsibilities do you think I should suggest to make my recreation role more exciting than what people are saying?

 

[dopeyrunner]

You could work the mini golf courses those are also recreation roles. It's not that its bad its just more outside and labor intensive (fueling boats, cleaning boats, towel pick up)then others.
Here's a huge plus your costume for working at the dock is blue swim shorts, white polo and black sandals with heel strap.

 

[OnoGrinds]

I have no problem with the heavier labor, and I definitely prefer to be outside, much nicer than Chicago winters, but I do not want a role where I am going to be bored all day.

 

[DisSisters]

As a recreation cast member, you could also work at the water parks as a slide operator. At my resort area, there was only two cp recreation cast members so the other lifeguards or full-timers did recreation too. I know that both of the recreation people at my location ended up getting trained as lifeguards. They really liked doing recreation though. Since there is a lot of down time when you work at the marina, you get to know you fellow workers really well
P.S I have to agree wtih Laurabeth about all the drama surronding recreation though.

 

[OnoGrinds]

What do you mean by "all the drama" within the recreation role? People complaining????

I'm not sure if I will get trained as a lifeguard or not. I'm just gonna see how everything plays out when I get down there. I'm hoping for a better experience than it appears some of the posters on here have had.

 

[BabyPiglet]

I've talked to a lot of people who love it, and people who hate it. I guess it just depends on how you like to work. If you're the laid back 'I can sit and stare at the wall for hours and be content' kind of worker, then it should be perfect for you. But if you're the kind of worker who has to be constantly doing something and busybusybusy, then it's probably not right for you.

Nonetheless, you should wait til you get down there before forming an opinion about it.

 

[DisSisters]

OO no I didn't mean to give you the wrong idea. Recreation is a great role!! I was a lifeguard but I loved when I got to do recreation shifts. It's a good role you can have alot of guest interaction because you are not pinned down to a strict rotation. The only thing I meant by drama was that since there is alot of workers at the marina it gets kind of gossipy. My favorite thing about doing a recreation shift was doing PMAC, which is just driving around in a golf cart and picking up the towels or straightening chairs. So at night time I would always drive to the area of the resort where you can see fireworks and watch them

 

[OnoGrinds]

Oh don't worry about it...You didn't give me the wrong idea at all. I am definitely going to stick with my role and hope for the best. Anyone else have any stories or insight?

 

[lauraebeth]

OO My favorite thing about doing a recreation shift was doing PMAC, which is just driving around in a golf cart and picking up the towels or straightening chairs. So at night time I would always drive to the area of the resort where you can see fireworks and watch them

Yea, the first time they scheduled me for PMAC I was nervous b/c i had no training, but i ended up loving it. I have only done it at port, and I always take a bike because I love being able to ride a bike around the resort.

Recreation @ resorts includes: Area custodial(cleaning up around the pools, picking up towels, straightening chairs, throwing away trash, etc.), Children's activities, which @ DVC resorts means working in community hall. Cashier for rentals, marina(sending out and welcoming boats back in, filling gas tanks, cleaning, etc.), Pirates adventure cruise(which is at Port Orleans) you get to take a group of up to 24 kids out in search of pirate treasure. , I think arcades at some places. and lifeguards are also classified in recreation, but as a lifeguard you're specifically assigned that role before arriving

those are the ones I know of, the other Rec CM's would be able to expound upon that list.

 

[MegaraRocks!]

I too was Recreation in DVC/Sassagoula area and loved every minute of it. I agree that it is all the way you work. There are days that are slow during the winter where you could literally stare at the wall all day, but there is always something you could be doing. Like if I was bored on a night that PM Pools were lite I would organize DVDs, print coloring sheets, play board games with kids. If I was bored on dock all day I would clean boats, clean lifevests or change light bulbs on the dock. There is always something to do or keep you busy!!!!!! It is true that there are few CP recreation rolers, but there are a ton of lifeguard CPS that you will get to know. And as for Full-time/part-time drama, there is always going to be drama it all depends on if you choose to involve yourself or how much you let it affect you. I was one of those Recreation CPs you got a chance to test to lifeguard too, if they give you that option I say take it because you can pick up or trade shifts with almost anyone. I loved every second of recreation because I wasnt tied down and could share magical moments with families; I made towel animals, hosted pool parties, gave free boat rides, played board games, helped teach a kid to swim, built sand castles, etc.. The best part of recreation is that everyday is diffrent, you have an opportunity to work on all the random projects they do. The key to recreation is to learn quickly and put yourself out there to learn more. It is alot of outdoor, heavier work, but if you have an upbeat attitude you barley notice it. Changing towel bins and cleaning boats during the hot days does sometimes suck, but 90% of the time I had nothing but fun with recreation. It was easy easy work and tons of fun. I hope that you love it as much as I did.

 

[MarinaAndCharlie]

It seems like you'd go home super fit too after all that physical labor!

Sounds like a good deal to me. haha.