Studios role question for the alums!

[sandybobandy]

Hey guys!

I'm wondering if you alumni know of any CP's that have been able to do the Backlot Tour schpieling? Seems like it'd be a blast to be one of the "directors".

Thanks!
Sandy

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I've casually known people who have worked the Backlot. What you need to realize though is that while you can mention interest in a specific area, there is no guarantte that you will get that area. The more specific the request, the less likely. All the hiring is done based on operational need. You will be told your generic role (i.e. attractions, merchandise, etc.) but you won't even know which park you're in, much less your specific location until day 2 of check in!

 

[sandybobandy]

Yup, I know all about the requests and no guarantees and all that fun stuff. I was just wondering if it was a role open to college program participants.

Thank you for your quick reply!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Sandy: pretty much any role is "open" to a CP, it really just depends on the area and the operating need. I have seen CPs at literally every attraction I have visited.

 

[sandybobandy]

Great! Thanks again! You sure know your stuff!

 

[catkel3299]

My roommate was a Backlot Tour Guide. She really loves it. The cast memebers at BLT are a close-knit group of people. Her recruiter asked her during her interview what attraction(s) she was most interested in. She said Jungle Cruise and the recruiter asked her would she be comfortable with a high-spiel role. She said yes. Whe she arrived she had been placed at BLT.

Other High-spiel attractions:

Kilimanjaro Safaris
Great Movie Ride
Jungle Cruise

 

[stal]

AFAIK, BLT is split up into 2 sections, the tour guide, and the water tank host. some maybe trained on one but not the other, and some may be trained on both.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Stal, any ride like that with multiple roles, a CM will be trained for all roles. I have not heard of any ride that is an exception (it would have to be a big ride.)

If you are trained on a ride you have to be able to pass a test for all parts of the ride. This is because attractions rotate CMs every 45 minutes or so depending on the ride. This prevents fatigue from working certain positions and helps to keep attractions people fresh. If a person is not approved in certain roles, it will mess up the rotation and that person will most likely end up "stuck" in a position.

Depending on the size of the rides and the area, you may even be trained on multiple rides. In Fantasyland, rides are broken down into complexes, (Teacups, Pooh, Snow; Philhar, Dumbo; Carousel, Peter Pan, Small World.) You learn every position on every ride on your complex. Some areas may even cross train you later on for other rides or complexes. My CP was the first time Fantasyland cross-trained CPs on multiple complexes, by the time I was done I knew all three!

 

[fall08CP]

My roomie is doing this role! She starts tomorrow

 

[RR0206]

Just want to throw out something I experienced so no one gets their heart set on a rotation every 45minutes. I worked Safaris and the rotation was more like every 90-120 min, which is a long time to be talking and driving.

I just throw that out there so no one gets their heart set on only doing a spiel for 45 minutes at a time because that is not always the case.

True about everyone rotating... though, I *thought* that the gangster / robber on the Great Movie Ride could only do those roles, because of the special training (gun) required for it. But then, not sure if that particular role (gangster/robber) is open to CPs.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Backlot Tour is indeed split up into 2 parts ... Water Tank, and Shuttles. They have separate rotations, and while some cast may be trained on both halves, not everyone is. Although to the guests it's considered one attraction, from a cast perspective, it's run as if it's 2 separate attractions.

And yes, Kilimanjaro drivers can be on the trucks for a long time, but if you've got a good animal show and/or good guests, that makes the time just fly.

(Yes, I am currently trained at both Backlot and Kilimanjaro, how could you tell? )

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

That's why I said it would depend on the ride... obviously certain rides will be different than others. I was just giving a rough estimate of what has been the most common experience I have seen.

SW: Thanks for the backlot clarification.

 

[Joanna71985]

Actually, for GMR CPs do not get trained for Gangter/cowperson.

 

[Merriweather86]

Actually, for GMR CPs do not get trained for Gangter/cowperson.

On my Fall '07 program, I was friends with a girl who was Gangster trained I was pretty jealous!!!