ROLES: pay, hours, and more!

[MAGGIED]

For those of you that have already worked the CP... it looks like you might have about $125 left a week ... after paying for your room... so out of that you need to buy groceries and pay for gas if you have a car.... did any of you have your parents supplement your income? I am wondering if we are going to need to put $30 or so a week into DD account so she has enough money....

 

[Holls]

I currently work at All Star Music in Quick Service.

I work nights, and I usually stay until 1 most nights. Right now, I have a bunch of days where I'm working until 2 because we're leaving our Market (which has snacks and drinks) and our beverage station open until 1, so they're having about 3 or 4 CPs close the beverage station each night.

Tuesday, I actually had my first shift that was longer than 10 hours, so I started at 2:30 and went home after 1. It surprisingly wasn't that bad because they ended up moving me from a really boring station to one that I got to keep busy at, so time went by fast!

But for the most part, I work about 32 hours a week (If I estimated), and start around 5 and go until 1. I don't have much of a social life, but it's fine because all of my friends are the people I work with.

And as someone mentioned, I get paid $7.56/hour.

 

[tarrbear]

I guess this could be the right place for this question, with the College Program is it possible to get a role in the Jedi Training Academy???

That'd be like my Disney dream job haha!

 

[Berlioz70]

I guess this could be the right place for this question, with the College Program is it possible to get a role in the Jedi Training Academy???

That'd be like my Disney dream job haha!

If assigned attractions you could work over there signing up future jedis and managing the crowd.

The Padawans (non speaking) are Character Performers.

The Jedis (speaking role) are Equity actors.

 

[TinkStitch]

For those of you that have already worked the CP... it looks like you might have about $125 left a week ... after paying for your room... so out of that you need to buy groceries and pay for gas if you have a car.... did any of you have your parents supplement your income? I am wondering if we are going to need to put $30 or so a week into DD account so she has enough money....

My mom put a little extra in my account a few times, but not very often. She did send me packages about once a month with "staple" food items. Mac & cheese, ramen, instant potatoes, cans of tuna or chicken, toilet paper (sometimes), etc. It was nice to get a package & I could usually get the stuff she sent to last awhile. I didn't have a car, so I don't know what it was like if you had to pay for gas, but I did usually give my neighbor $10 a week for gas since we usually drove to work together & frequently had off the same days, so we'd go to walmart & the parks. I usually spent about $30 on food & that would last about a week & a half.

 

[theatregrl04]

I think the night hours sound great, to me at least!
I have been doing theatre since I was a kid so working late nights has been pretty typical, so that would be nice and normal for me. And I am not a morning person at all!
I do think that 32 hours a week does not sound like very much!
Between work and extra rehearsals I work at least 40 hours most weeks and am a full times student.
I would say it seems like I could get bored. But at least at WDW there is so much to do, I guess I would just have lots of time to explore and play.

 

[tarrbear]

If assigned attractions you could work over there signing up future jedis and managing the crowd.

The Padawans (non speaking) are Character Performers.

The Jedis (speaking role) are Equity actors.

Ahhh, thank you for the information

 

[SmellsLikeJapan]

I worked merchandise at Everything Pop at the Pop Century Resort Jan-May 2010.

When I first started, I was worked nights and closed up until the beginning of March, they switched my schedule so I worked mornings until the end of my program. I actually preferred mornings, I always went to the park afterward.

My paychecks generally ranged from the amount of hours I work, lowest was 30 hrs and the maximum was 45 hrs, so it was usually between 130-160, they took 84 out per week (Chatham 3 bedroom, 6 people)

I had an amazing time during my program, and one of my best friends was my suite mate You definitely make strong bonds and friendships on the program, I loved it

 

[Bounce_Tigger]

I did the fall08 CP and work attractions, at Kilimanjaro Safaris. I was paid 7.25ish (which included a 75 cent premium). I'm still seasonal there.

I loved it. Training was intense - you have 4 days to learn a 20 minute script, how to drive the truck, and about 60-80 animal facts, in addition to learning how to operate all the other non-driving positions. Technically, you are supposed to do all your training on the clock and aren't supposed to take the script home (my trainer let me) If you don't pass your assessment, they give you 1 extra day of training, if you fail again, they reassign you.

I generally worked 6-8 hour shifts for a total of 35-40 hours. Holidays I was still only getting 38-45 hours a week, which was nice. 2/3rds of every shift is driving and the remaining 3rd is on a "land" position - greeter, load, unload, strollers, etc. So basically, an 8 hour shift might go: Drive for 1.5 hours, 15 minute break, drive for 1.5 hours, 45 minute break, Greeter for 2 hours, 15 minute break, drive for 1.5 hours

(for reference, 1.5 hours of driving usually equated to 3-4 "rides")

It is probably one of the toughest attractions - in addition to multi-tasking, you have to drive carefully and safely! But its also the most unique - the animals move freely, so no ride is ever the same. I've had rhinos pee on my truck, giraffes lick guests and I've seen newborn elephants no bigger than a dog. It was a great experience and even though I was terrified for my first week there and almost considered asking to be reassigned, I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

 

[Bounce_Tigger]

Forgot to add - After rent (90 for a Chatham two bedroom) and taxes, I was bringing home about 100 a week. This was plenty for me - and we went out to dinner and stuff a lot! I didn't stray too far from Disney property and I utilized every discount that was offered (meals, merch, etc) I even usually bought lunch from the cafeteria and still did fine. I wasn't rich or anything, but I lived within my means and still had fun!

 

[peaceheart]

I did the fall08 CP and work attractions, at Kilimanjaro Safaris. I was paid 7.25ish (which included a 75 cent premium). I'm still seasonal there.

I loved it. Training was intense - you have 4 days to learn a 20 minute script, how to drive the truck, and about 60-80 animal facts, in addition to learning how to operate all the other non-driving positions. Technically, you are supposed to do all your training on the clock and aren't supposed to take the script home (my trainer let me) If you don't pass your assessment, they give you 1 extra day of training, if you fail again, they reassign you.

I generally worked 6-8 hour shifts for a total of 35-40 hours. Holidays I was still only getting 38-45 hours a week, which was nice. 2/3rds of every shift is driving and the remaining 3rd is on a "land" position - greeter, load, unload, strollers, etc. So basically, an 8 hour shift might go: Drive for 1.5 hours, 15 minute break, drive for 1.5 hours, 45 minute break, Greeter for 2 hours, 15 minute break, drive for 1.5 hours

(for reference, 1.5 hours of driving usually equated to 3-4 "rides")

It is probably one of the toughest attractions - in addition to multi-tasking, you have to drive carefully and safely! But its also the most unique - the animals move freely, so no ride is ever the same. I've had rhinos pee on my truck, giraffes lick guests and I've seen newborn elephants no bigger than a dog. It was a great experience and even though I was terrified for my first week there and almost considered asking to be reassigned, I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

thank you SO MUCH for this!! <3 ive been really curious about how long you get to memorize scripts for speil roles. (spelling??) wow that job sounds so awesomee!! i think id be afraid of the wild animals as well lol. but I really would love a speil role... like the Great Movie Ride or the jungle cruise!!! do you know anything about those roles? are the scripts really hard to memorize?
During your safari was it just you and guests on the jeep or are there two workers for added safety, or?

thanks again so much! <3

 

[tower_of_terror_luvr]

Is there a just summer college program? If you choose attractions do you get to say which park you prefer to be in?

 

[Bounce_Tigger]

thank you SO MUCH for this!! <3 ive been really curious about how long you get to memorize scripts for speil roles. (spelling??) wow that job sounds so awesomee!! i think id be afraid of the wild animals as well lol. but I really would love a speil role... like the Great Movie Ride or the jungle cruise!!! do you know anything about those roles? are the scripts really hard to memorize?
During your safari was it just you and guests on the jeep or are there two workers for added safety, or?

thanks again so much! <3

I don't know too much about the other roles. Joanna is currently working on GMR, so she might be along shortly. I imagine memorizing the scripts would be about the same. I'm biased, but I think its a bit harder on the safari because, unlike the Jungle cruise, the animals move around, so your spiel is different everytime.

Its just you and the guests - having an extra person wouldn't really make it safer anyway. Occaisionally, a coordinator will ride your truck, to observe your show.

 

[glendalais]

Is there a just summer college program? If you choose attractions do you get to say which park you prefer to be in?

There isn't a Summer Term, per se. The Advantage Terms cover the summer season, as do Spring Term Extensions.

On occassion, the Company will offer Disney College Program Alumni the opportunity to participate in a Summer Work Experience, as labour demands permit.

You can indicate a preference as to which property you would like to work, however it is just a preference which the Company will attempt to meet if possible. All final placements are based upon the labour needs expressed by the Operating Areas.

 

[Joanna71985]

thank you SO MUCH for this!! <3 ive been really curious about how long you get to memorize scripts for speil roles. (spelling??) wow that job sounds so awesomee!! i think id be afraid of the wild animals as well lol. but I really would love a speil role... like the Great Movie Ride or the jungle cruise!!! do you know anything about those roles? are the scripts really hard to memorize?
During your safari was it just you and guests on the jeep or are there two workers for added safety, or?

thanks again so much! <3

I work at GMR. It is a lot of fun, and I love it here. You have 6 days to have the script totally memorized (usually you will go live on Western on Day 3, and Gangster on Day 4 or 5). You rotate around a lot. Usually you'll do one show, then rotate to a non-vehicle position, then back to a vehicle, and so on (aprox every 20 minutes).

 

[meganDCP2010]

Is there a just summer college program? If you choose attractions do you get to say which park you prefer to be in?

There is a summer program for alumni.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I've worked at 3 attractions that are considered "High Spiel"

- Kilimanjaro Safaris - has already been covered on this thread, but I'll add that I really enjoyed my time at KSR ... even though I worked there before the extra dollar premium.

- Backlot Tour - I was there before the automated spiel, and I did both the Shuttles (tram) and Special Effects Water Tank ("pre-show" to most people) spiels. The shuttle spiel, was, to me, the hardest spiel of any that I've learned. Even though the props didn't move like the animals on Safari, I still had a hard time with this one. The script is really poorly written, and I also didn't really know much about most of the props, because I hadn't seen a lot of the movies they came from. Luckily for new CPs, the tram portion of the tour is now auto-spiel, so you don't have to learn the spiel.

I loved the spiel at the Special Effects Water Tank, although it did take me a few days to learn my blocking so I didn't get soaked.

The Magic of Disney Animation - I did the pre-show with Mushu, not the drawing class. Talking to Mushu was fun, although most people didn't really care about the show, and there was no room to ad-lib or add any of my personality to the show. The hardest part of this show is getting the timing down ... Mushu doesn't care if you're done talking or not, he's just going to keep on saying his lines.

I've also worked at the Wildlife Express Train, which is a "medium-spiel" attraction. I had a lot of flexibility with the spiel, there were a few key points they wanted me to hit, but the rest could be pretty much whatever I wanted, within reason of course. I could spiel park hours, I could do Disney trivia, I could talk about other attractions in the park, I could sing happy birthday to little kids, etc.