Roles Thread

[ashliejere]

Since so many people keep asking, I thought it may be helpful to have a thread that is specifically about roles. Descriptions, experiences, things you would be surprised to know about, what hours you'll probably have, etc. I've seen a lot of threads asking about this...so it may be helpful to have the info in one area.
I'll start by asking about Character attendant, Hospitality, Merchandise

 

[graygables]

I'm in merch at AK in Dinoland. What surprised me was how much we had to know for the area as we can work carts, the Chester & Hester's shop, the midway games, or the Dino Institute. We also work stock for merch and some food items (fudge, cupcakes, caramel apples, drink carts). In addition to the basic Matra/merchantainment, there are spiels to learn for the 5 games and the photo preview/ordering/printing process. I've also been trained in the Money Room which has 2 sides, Chester & Hester's and Games (which is a unique position at WDW). SO much information and a lot of different options. Our area has 3 costumes, one for the Institute, one for Dinorama, and one for stocking, so it's good to pay close attention to your schedule.

As far as schedules go, AK is pretty awesome in that the park keeps fairly regular hours. Africa closes at 5pm, no matter what. Dinoland keeps with EMH, so Wed evenings can sometimes be later, plus there are conventions that may have late hours. If I'm scheduled in Money Room, I'll be there 1.5-2 hours after park closing, so I have one night next week where I'm not off until 11pm, but that is very rare. I'm usually home by 7-730pm. Because of the shorter hours, though, it's harder to get a full 40, much less any overtime. I've been closer to 30.

 

[stephanie1755]

How about Vacation Planner. I don't feel like there are many of them out there and that will be my role in May. Kind of wanted to get a feel of hours, costume, what the job all includes. Maybe you know someone who has done it or you yourself have done it and can give me a little insight!!

 

[MaryPoppins86]

i would love to know what goes on during attractions and character attendant, pleeaaassee!

 

[bonbon]

i would love to know what goes on during attractions and character attendant, pleeaaassee!

I was Attractions!

Most people are mistaken that Attractions are rides. I worked at Innoventions. Its not a ride lol despite what guests think. I gave presentations all day at various venues in both east and west Innoventions, and at Mission: Space (at the game after the ride). It was an incredible experience. And it was so unique because so many other CPs were working rides. I felt special It was hard: training, depending on the venue, took anywhere from 3 days to 7. There is a TON of information to learn, and the actual scripts themselves. Those ranged from 4 pages to 20. But the CMs were sooooo nice, and incredible. We were just like a family. We often hung out with the FT people, some of whom were old enough to be our parents or even grandparents (my one set of grandparents are pretty young lol) We worked about 34 hours a week (on average) during the CP. Some weeks, I did work a LOT, but I regularly had the same days off, and I had a pretty good schedule.

Any questions, just ask! I'm happy to answer anything you want to know!

 

[Joanna71985]

I can do Character Attendant. I've done Character Attendant twice (FA 2006, and half of Summer 2008). It is such an awsome role. As a CA, you could work in any of the 4 theme parks (and sometimes, you could work in a resort. That's pretty rare for CPs though). CAs assist their character(s), keep the queue line orderly, answer questions for guests, help take pictures for guests, stuff like that.

 

[ashliejere]

For CA, do you have somewhat normal hours are are they all over the place? I'm assuming it's a lot of walking outdoors, every day?

 

[Joanna71985]

For CA, do you have somewhat normal hours are are they all over the place? I'm assuming it's a lot of walking outdoors, every day?

Hours are not bad at all. For the most part, characters are done by 6-6:30pm (the exceptions are character dinners, Toontown, UK at Epcot for a few). So my hours usually were starting around 8:30-10am and going to around 5pm or so. I loved the hours.

There wasn't too much walking involved (other then walking to the breakroom and back). For the most part, you stay in the one spot.

 

[ashliejere]

Oh.. I was thinking as the CA you would follow the characters around to all of the parks. And basically hang back until they needed/wanted something or the crowd had questions. I remember when I was little...going to visit Mikey in his house to get an autograph and there was girl who was in charge of the crowds (telling them whose next and all of that) Is that a CA? It's been a while since I was at Disney and other than Mikey..I don't really remember a lot of the characters... so I assumed they just walked around all of the parks all day.

 

[Joanna71985]

Oh.. I was thinking as the CA you would follow the characters around to all of the parks. And basically hang back until they needed/wanted something or the crowd had questions. I remember when I was little...going to visit Mikey in his house to get an autograph and there was girl who was in charge of the crowds (telling them whose next and all of that) Is that a CA? It's been a while since I was at Disney and other than Mikey..I don't really remember a lot of the characters... so I assumed they just walked around all of the parks all day.

For the most part, the characters do not wander around (they stay in their set spot).

 

[ashliejere]

Thanks Joanna!

 

[MaryPoppins86]

I was Attractions!

Most people are mistaken that Attractions are rides. I worked at Innoventions. Its not a ride lol despite what guests think. I gave presentations all day at various venues in both east and west Innoventions, and at Mission: Space (at the game after the ride). It was an incredible experience. And it was so unique because so many other CPs were working rides. I felt special It was hard: training, depending on the venue, took anywhere from 3 days to 7. There is a TON of information to learn, and the actual scripts themselves. Those ranged from 4 pages to 20. But the CMs were sooooo nice, and incredible. We were just like a family. We often hung out with the FT people, some of whom were old enough to be our parents or even grandparents (my one set of grandparents are pretty young lol) We worked about 34 hours a week (on average) during the CP. Some weeks, I did work a LOT, but I regularly had the same days off, and I had a pretty good schedule.

Any questions, just ask! I'm happy to answer anything you want to know!

thanks for the insight about your location. it sounds pretty cool. yes my head would explode from all that info but i really wouldn't mind learing all that info & script. question though: did you mean it took 3-7 days to learn everything or that's just how long you were placed at a certain location?

I can do Character Attendant. I've done Character Attendant twice (FA 2006, and half of Summer 2008). It is such an awsome role. As a CA, you could work in any of the 4 theme parks (and sometimes, you could work in a resort. That's pretty rare for CPs though). CAs assist their character(s), keep the queue line orderly, answer questions for guests, help take pictures for guests, stuff like that.

There wasn't too much walking involved (other then walking to the breakroom and back). For the most part, you stay in the one spot.

For the most part, the characters do not wander around (they stay in their set spot).

ooo i have another question (or maybe a few) if you don't mind. do you usually stay with one character during a shift or several? do you usually stay in one spot or rotate locations in a single shift? sorry if i'm asking too much questions.
i remember when i went to DLR the latest i saw a CA was just before the fireworks started (around 10pm i think. my family was the last in line to get a pic with mickey. we felt really lucky. we stood in line talking to one (there were two) of the CA's while waiting for our turn to meet mickey. ok another question just popped in my head. i figure that all characters have one attendant but is it possible to have two? i remember the first night we were in the park we was mini. i remember her CA was like nowhere near her and there were a whole bunch of kids bambarding mini. i felt so bad for whoever was in that mouse costume. but luckly she was rescued in time to leave before the fireworks show. thanks for the info by the way.

 

[Joanna71985]

ooo i have another question (or maybe a few) if you don't mind. do you usually stay with one character during a shift or several? do you usually stay in one spot or rotate locations in a single shift? sorry if i'm asking too much questions.
i remember when i went to DLR the latest i saw a CA was just before the fireworks started (around 10pm i think. my family was the last in line to get a pic with mickey. we felt really lucky. we stood in line talking to one (there were two) of the CA's while waiting for our turn to meet mickey. ok another question just popped in my head. i figure that all characters have one attendant but is it possible to have two? i remember the first night we were in the park we was mini. i remember her CA was like nowhere near her and there were a whole bunch of kids bambarding mini. i felt so bad for whoever was in that mouse costume. but luckly she was rescued in time to leave before the fireworks show. thanks for the info by the way.

Sure!

For the most part, you are with one character for the entire shift (unless you are a breaker- then you could be with several characters over the length of the shift). Also, you stay in that one spot for the shift. And yes, it is possible for a location to have 2 attendants (I have worked in some). However, usually it is 1 attendant per character(s).

 

[ashliejere]

What about Hospitality or Merch?

 

[Joanna71985]

What about Hospitality or Merch?

What would you like to know about merchandise?

 

[ashliejere]

What are the hours like. Where do most people work (what park). Do most people that do Merch...like it? Would you recommend it over CA or any other "role" you've done. What are the costumes like? Is it a bit much at times? I imagine the amount of people, check out lines, etc may make you a little frantic at times. I've worked as a cashier twice before...and I was constantly busy with decorating, working the cash registers, stocking, etc. And being a Disney store at Disney would probably be 100 times more busy. What are the pros and cons?

 

[Joanna71985]

What are the hours like. Where do most people work (what park). Do most people that do Merch...like it? Would you recommend it over CA or any other "role" you've done. What are the costumes like? Is it a bit much at times? I imagine the amount of people, check out lines, etc may make you a little frantic at times. I've worked as a cashier twice before...and I was constantly busy with decorating, working the cash registers, stocking, etc. And being a Disney store at Disney would probably be 100 times more busy. What are the pros and cons?

Let's see. I did merchandise back in 2005. I mostly worked in Fantasyland, but also spent 2 weeks each in Adventureland and Liberty Square. I just about always closed. So I usually started around 3-5pm and worked until park close (which could range from 10pm until 3am, depending on the time of year and if there was an Extra Magic Hours that evening). I usually worked the registers and assisted the guests (but I also stocked once in awhile). The costume in Fantasyland was pretty bad (green bottom and a white top with a floral design).

 

[ashliejere]

Thanks, Joanna, for answering my ten thousand questions on Merch. ha. I don't really want that role...it doesn't sound like the best (for me)..but I'm thinking about adding it to my role list when I apply. I have experience in Merch. and I figured if nothing else I could at least get that role.

 

[Joanna71985]

Thanks, Joanna, for answering my ten thousand questions on Merch. ha. I don't really want that role...it doesn't sound like the best (for me)..but I'm thinking about adding it to my role list when I apply. I have experience in Merch. and I figured if nothing else I could at least get that role.

You're welcome.

 

[chevyrules05]

Thanks, Joanna, for answering my ten thousand questions on Merch. ha. I don't really want that role...it doesn't sound like the best (for me)..but I'm thinking about adding it to my role list when I apply. I have experience in Merch. and I figured if nothing else I could at least get that role.

I worked at a place near my house call "superplay" I did the "ride operations for almost 3 years and when I had my interview the interviewer told me that it was good I had experince with "attrations" but that doesn't mean I will get "attrations" I was offered "merchandise" and I took it ofcourse even though I don't have experince with it and Disney knows that