Totally off topic...sorry...working at disney

[cpdrn7]

Our plan is to move to Celebration or close by to work at Disney in about two years. But I have some serious questions before I jump on board.
I understand the cost of living is high there compared to us in Iowa. Does Disney offer any employees health insurance? What about the local grocery stores--are they union? Does anyone know? Are most jobs in the world of disney part time? We are in our forties...if anyone has any suggestions..
I know the economy is down everywhere...but knowledge on my side will help me prepare.
thanks in advance

 

[buckler]

There are online cost of living comparison calculators available. I googled [ "cost of living" calculator ] and found this one but I'm sure there are better ones.
http://www.bestplaces.net/COL/

Plugged in Des Moines (the first city in Iowa that came to mind) vs. Celebration. The default salary they check is $50,000 so I just went with that. If you had a salary of $50,000 in Des Moines you would need a salary of $73,617 in Celebration to maintain the same lifestyle. If you'd live in Orlando instead of Celebration it says you would only need $58,298. Celebration is a lot more expensive than Orlando. The figures show it is mostly due to the housing cost.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

wow, I just did that, comparing my hometown in NJ to Orlando and found that we could live comfortably on $27,000.....I think we need to relocate. And housing is 72% cheaper in Orlando compared to here!! Thanks for sharing that site, that's pretty interesting.

 

[cjdj4]

I don't live in the Orlando area, but I live in Tampa and, as far as I know, there are no unions for grocery stores at all in FL. Unions in general are few and far between and pretty weak. This is a "right to work" state and that means something completely different then what is sounds like it means. You might want to google "right to work state." The main grocery store chain is Publix, which has its headquarters in Lakeland (about 45 min from the Disney area off I4). They do not have a union, but I have head people say that they love working for Publix. However, if you move here from up north, you will probably think they do not pay well.

Good luck

 

[SandrA9810]

Disney offers three levels of employment.
Full-time - 40hrs or more a week
part-time (CR) - max 20hrs per week. (or 1040hrs per year) or else you get bumped into full time
Seasonal (CT) - There's a max, but not sure what it is, min is 1 week per year or every 6 months. You usually let your scheduler know when you want to work, or pick up extra available hours. Unless you state I will be available from nov-jan, you won't be scheduled regularly. This is what the snow birds do.

Most jobs are union positions in Disney, but you don't have to be part of the union, you just follow the rules. Like yearly pay increase, shop steward available if you need to write a witness statement. Seasonals to do not get to be part of the union, FT and PT have the option.
Disney has great benefits, for medical dental and vision. There's even an onsite clinic behind Epcot with doctors and a pharmacy. You do have to be FT or PT to get benefits, and the lowest med benefit is about 8$ per week, there's a free vision plan or 3$ for high vision (you get new frames and lenses every year rather than every two year and higher frame allowence). Same thing with dental, there's a more expensive HMO option, like 5$ or basic for like 3$. And then all the other things like life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 401k's, stocks, that are optional.

The more popular grocery chain here is Publix, it started as a family business and mostly employee owned through stocks. I don't think there's a union. I'm sure there's some sort of medical benefits. Kari told me one of her managers went to work in the publix bakery as a manager for a lot more than what she was earning at Disney after 5 years.

I'm sure there's plenty of options available to you. Seems like lots of mom and pop places in Celebration too. But it is on the higher end to live there. The smaller of the houses, like 3 bedrooms, run in the 400-500,000 range. I don't know what property taxes are like, but every thing else you need like groceries and such are still pretty cheap and nearby to Celebration. I don't know if they still do, but years ago they used to give away a free electric car to new home owners. But if you're buying from some one else, maybe they'll throw that in with the deal. You'll see many of them around and special parking for them too.

 

[ceecee]

I have a friend who lives in Celebration and the housing is really pricey. At least compared to Ohio!

 

[mpls_mm]

I am from Orlando and lived there my whole life and relocated to Minneapolis and now live in Iowa. We will buy a second place in Florida at some point, but I can't see wanting to go back to Orlando full time. Can you do a short term rental to test it out? It is oppressively hot, there are cockroaches and the crime is much higher. We leave our house and cars unlocked here and the kids all walk everywhere they need to go. I think some of the food is cheaper in iowa, eggs and milk and some staples. However fruit and veggies are way cheaper in Florida, especially in winter. We find our money goes much further in Iowa, but since the market is so depressed in Florida, we hope to find a good winter place. We make the same money because our jobs aren't related to the area, more to the work, but I have heard some jobs pay more. My dad managed a large well known place and he used to say that in Florida he could fire the whole place and have a new crew in the AM but in Iowa he could search for weeks to find one good replacement.

 

[Princess April]

wow, I just did that, comparing my hometown in NJ to Orlando and found that we could live comfortably on $27,000.....I think we need to relocate. And housing is 72% cheaper in Orlando compared to here!! Thanks for sharing that site, that's pretty interesting.

Sure you could... if you want to live in the 'hood. Honestly the real "average" cost of living I believe would be 50K. Yes, much cheaper then NJ, but not rock bottom either.

 

[SandrA9810]

Right to work is a crazy thing here. Most companies don't abuse it, but any one can fire you for no reason at all. There's ups and downs to living in Florida. I personally don't see the point... it's highly over rated. But whatever floats your boat.

You could be snow birds, buy a condo in Celebration and work during the winter months and fun happenings at Disney like Halloween Parties, Christmas Parties, Food and Wine. If you did something like merchandise, you can pick up shifts all over the place. Then if the north ever gets too cold, well you can then stay down here.

 

[cpdrn7]

Oh my gosh...thank you so much for all of your ideas. I just figured to go towards Celebration because alot of the people we had talked to in disney lived there.
I think the real reason we want to move to Florida is to get away from the Iowa winters. The snowbird idea really appeals to me. We could have the best of both worlds in a way...family here and work there.
We live in Davenport and the crime is beginning to get closer to us daily. I feel part of that is also the economy.
I did not think of the bug issue..thanks. I was worried about the hurricanes etc...
I also think the idea of working in somewhere I find so magical appeals to me. To make one person smile a day would be awesome and I find just the different lifestyles and cultures I would see daily would be fun.
I am glad to hear about the health insurance if you are a disney worker.
I work retail in a grocery store daily and have for 25 years..so I am used to working with the public.
Keep the thoughts coming...I appreciate it!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

One problem with Celebration is that the house there are very expensive compared to just about anything else within fifty miles. Of the four countis close to WDW there is lots of decent and affordable housing in Lake, Orange and Polk. Osceola is much more tourist oriented and a high percentage of the people living in Osceola are in non-professional positions.

 

[DawnM]

Are the benefits for spouse also or just the employee????

DH worked for Disney years ago, but he worked in the corporate tax department and made a decent living and he was just starting out. Overall, Disney pays lower than working other places.

Dawn

Disney offers three levels of employment.
Full-time - 40hrs or more a week
part-time (CR) - max 20hrs per week. (or 1040hrs per year) or else you get bumped into full time
Seasonal (CT) - There's a max, but not sure what it is, min is 1 week per year or every 6 months. You usually let your scheduler know when you want to work, or pick up extra available hours. Unless you state I will be available from nov-jan, you won't be scheduled regularly. This is what the snow birds do.

Most jobs are union positions in Disney, but you don't have to be part of the union, you just follow the rules. Like yearly pay increase, shop steward available if you need to write a witness statement. Seasonals to do not get to be part of the union, FT and PT have the option.
Disney has great benefits, for medical dental and vision. There's even an onsite clinic behind Epcot with doctors and a pharmacy. You do have to be FT or PT to get benefits, and the lowest med benefit is about 8$ per week, there's a free vision plan or 3$ for high vision (you get new frames and lenses every year rather than every two year and higher frame allowence). Same thing with dental, there's a more expensive HMO option, like 5$ or basic for like 3$. And then all the other things like life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 401k's, stocks, that are optional.

The more popular grocery chain here is Publix, it started as a family business and mostly employee owned through stocks. I don't think there's a union. I'm sure there's some sort of medical benefits. Kari told me one of her managers went to work in the publix bakery as a manager for a lot more than what she was earning at Disney after 5 years.

I'm sure there's plenty of options available to you. Seems like lots of mom and pop places in Celebration too. But it is on the higher end to live there. The smaller of the houses, like 3 bedrooms, run in the 400-500,000 range. I don't know what property taxes are like, but every thing else you need like groceries and such are still pretty cheap and nearby to Celebration. I don't know if they still do, but years ago they used to give away a free electric car to new home owners. But if you're buying from some one else, maybe they'll throw that in with the deal. You'll see many of them around and special parking for them too.

 

[akcire]

I'm guessing you work at Hyvee...which is a pretty well run grocery chain.

Publix is similarly well run, my cousins both retired from Publix as bakery managers and made "enough" money to comfortably support a family. Last time I was at Disney I talked to an older guy who worked part-time at the Public bakery (he was retired and worked to get out of the house) and said he made either $15 or $18 an hour part-time. Clearly he was a responsible person who did not need supervision, don't know what the "normal" wages are paid in the bakery.

My husband and I have entertained similar ideas as yours, we are in IL but have lived in IA. We could not make the money in FL we make in IL but we are not really concerned about that; we are more concerned with healthcare and weather. We have decided neither IL (due to weather [cold]) nor FL (due to the doctors/hospital-system and weather [hot]) will work for us long term. Another option you may consider is the TN area near Nashville. The weather is more temperate, to an IA girl their winters will be a piece of cake, and with the University's nearby their healthcare is top-notch. It would put you an easy drive to Disney (compared to IA) and a pretty easy drive to IA to visit family.

This may not be an ideal for you, but is something we are thinking about. We have even looked at housing stock in TN, and really like how they can use geothermal energy for heating/cooling.

 

[lastminutemom]

I suspect that Davenport probably has less crime than Orlando.

A great website for information (statistics) is www.city-data.com

 

[daleswife]

Publix wasnt union when I worked there a few years ago, and I doubt seriously that they have went union since then.

 

[KAMKIM]

I guess I have been living in the bubble called New York my whole life....I thought all states were "right to work" - yes you can be fired for no reason, but I think most people that are fired from a job, there is a very good reason just might not be one you like or agree with.

My DH and I jokingly talk about moving to Florida to have the nicer weather and be closer to our favorite place. I doubt it would happen though....those summers are brutal...I'd rather shovel 7ft of snow thanks lol

 

[SandrA9810]

Disney benefits are for employee, spouse (same sex partners too), and family. The funny part, is it's cheaper to insure a family, rather than just employee and spouse. As it is for the two of us, and all the benefits that we get, it's about 50$ per week and that includes a portion to the flexible spending account.


I live in Kissimmee. I really like KUA the electric company, OUC just isn't as nice and progress energy is just a rip off. That's part of the reason that kept me from wanting to move out of Kissimmee. I live right around the corner from the Loop, which is the next big shopping area. There's actually quite a bit of decent housing here, and if you go up the street to the Hunter's Creek area, it's even nicer (But now you're in Orange County).

The best suggestion I have for you is to spend a week at least exploring Orlando Areas. Looking at what you think is nice and then when you get back home look at home prices and research the area.

Dr Philips area is another nice place to be, and more established than some areas. That's north on Apopka-Vineland Rd, above the cross roads shopping area. There's tons of nice places behind Disney off 535, but then you're in the middle of no where with just housing around, and it takes like 20 minutes to get to the closest shopping areas. And all they're doing is building more condos, townhomes and apartments, but no shopping.

 

[Kay1]

It's not that easy to get hired but Publix pays about $8/hour.

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=Publix_Super_Markets_Inc/Hourly_Rate

 

[jezebella]

Actually, right now you can pick up some cheap townhousese in Celebration. DH is a realtor and just closed on one in Sienna for under $150 and just put in an offer on another one for $115. I wouldn't live there though...check out the "other" side of Disney and look into Winter Garden/Windermere area. You ar just as close to Disney and away from all the tourists.

 

[GalDisney]

Publix pays minimum wage to new hires,ie cashiers, baggers, stockers, deli. Minimumw wage in Fl is 7.25.