Who wants to work for Disney when their kids are grown?

[mollyseven]

O.k how many people out there want to work at Disney?
It can't just be me...I know that there is a Diamond out there who is right there with me....come on!!
Does anyone know if this is possible for us Canadians and where would you want to work?

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

From what I understand, the ONLY place us Canadians are allowed to work at WDW is in the Canadian Pavilion @ Epcot!

When we ate at Le Cellier in January, our server told us that as far as she knew, ANY International workers are only allowed to work for a period of up to 1 year and then only 2x in a lifetime!!

Not sure if this is completely accurate tho...worth checking into!

EDIT:

CHECK THIS LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION

DISNEY'S INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM

 

[OntFamily]

From what I understand, the ONLY place us Canadians are allowed to work at WDW is in the Canadian Pavilion @ Epcot!

When we ate at Le Cellier in January, our server told us that as far as she knew, ANY International workers are only allowed to work for a period of up to 1 year and then only 2x in a lifetime!!

Not sure if this is completely accurate tho...worth checking into!

EDIT:

CHECK THIS LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION

DISNEY'S INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM

There are two types of restrictions for Disney employment: Government (you must be eligible to work in the USA, ie Visa requirements for non-USA residents) and Disney (they have to hire you to do a job).

My understanding is that is Disney hires you for their international college program (which will eliminate most people who only want to work @ Disney when their kids are grown), Disney will obtain the appropriate visa for you. Otherwise, the cultural representative program may be your key, which as a poster indicates, has a 12 month term (and again, Disney will obtain a working visa for you).

Otherwise, to work at Disney you must be legally eligible to work in the USA (being a USA citizen, USA resident, or able to obtain a work visa on your own). If you're a Canadian resident, but can get a USA work visa, it'll probably be easty to get some type of job @ Disney.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Did we not just have this conversation a few nights ago in the walmart parking lot while your incredibly bored Dh looked on?

My plan is once the kids are in some type of post secondary education then Dh and I can take a leave of absence to work down there. If le cellier it has to be then so be it. It can't be worse than when I worked at McDonald's in my teens.

 

[glendalais]

Actually, there are a fair number of Canadians who work for WDW outside of the Canadian Pavillion. Enough that Canada Day is actually not just another work day in many areas. A lot are snowbirds who come down for the winter and pull Custodial or QSR shifts to fill in the time. But there also a lot of us who are Full Time and Part Time.

You do have to be legally authorized to work in the US. I have US Citizenship, and I'm assuming that most of the rest either have PR or Citizenship. Unfortunately, outside of DI&P opportunities, Disney's not going to make arrangements for you to get a work visa, neither will the US Government be much inclined to offer you a work visa for a job that averages US$8.30/hour.

Like mentioned, you could always try to be a Cultural Rep, there are people doing that programme who are years out of school. However, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with representing Canada as a nation of lumberjacks, lol.

 

[Sue M]

My cousin worked there for a year in the international program, worked a few months in the Canada Pav, then in LeCellier. It's mostly kids in their early 20's in the program.
I'd love to work in WDW, but would never be able to convince DH to move to Florida!

 

[tink1969]

OMG.....I've often thought the same thing! I even thought that when my two daughters are grown, the 3 of us could go on the one year program to work at the Canada pavillion. lol
Did you know that when you start the program, you have to start out front working the carts! You have to work your way up to be inside the shop then Le Cellier.

 

[dvcdisney]

I think it would be fun to work behind the scenes. But definitely not out where I have to interact with the guests. I have been feeling sorry for a lot of the CMs lately who have had to deal with some very rude and entitled guests. I would never be able to handle that and it would no longer be a happy place for me if all I did all day was deal with the most inconsiderate and self-centred guests.

As a side note: one CM (who looked rather tired and flustered because everyone was sighing and complaining about the lines - he was collecting the trays and bringing it over to the counter) had approached me in a large line and mentioned that there are two lines to order food at one of the kiosk outside...so I walked over and there was a shorter line...I realized it was kind of rude not to thank him so when I looked back he wasn't there....after I got my food, I looked for him...when I found him and thanked him, he was somewhat taken aback...it took him a minute but he smiled and said "no problem ma'am"...when I looked back, he was still smiling.... - Sorry for getting off topic...

So, anyways, I think I'll stick with being a guest.

By the way, a friend of the family graduated and moved to Florida, he now works a designer at Disney. He didn't work at the Canadian pavillion. He loves working there -- behind the scenes.

 

[iluveeyore]

I actually made it through to the face to face interviews last year for the cultural rep. program - I'm in my forties and was soooo excited, but after much discussion with my DH and my DD, we decided that I would postpone my dream of working at Disney until my DD and I can do it together in three more years. We are so excited, and plan to be roommates while there. In the meantime, my DS is applying next month, so I can visit him if he gets the position and get great room discounts when I visit. That should keep me happy until I can work there myself. I'm in retail, so hoping to get placed in the gift shop at the Canadian Pavilion - DD is a bus girl at a restaurant right now (she's 15), so she's hoping to work at Le Cellier.
Dreams can come true if you just believe (and wait!)

 

[mollyseven]

Diamond........I know our conversation is what made me think to post this.!! My DH looks bored all the time!! He would be on board with me working there and him just being there!! haha
I am not sure I can pull off the waitressing......when I was in high school I waitressed for one night.....I remember asking someone how they wanted their fish cooked???? yeah, not my thing. Although after 15 years of making B,L and Dinner daily I could probably do it if that was the only way to get there.

If you could work anywhere though assuming we didn't need to be US citizens....where would you work?
I am thinking alot of fairy godmothers out there......

 

[xipetotec]

There are two types of restrictions for Disney employment: Government (you must be eligible to work in the USA, ie Visa requirements for non-USA residents) and Disney (they have to hire you to do a job).

My understanding is that is Disney hires you for their international college program (which will eliminate most people who only want to work @ Disney when their kids are grown), Disney will obtain the appropriate visa for you. Otherwise, the cultural representative program may be your key, which as a poster indicates, has a 12 month term (and again, Disney will obtain a working visa for you).

Otherwise, to work at Disney you must be legally eligible to work in the USA (being a USA citizen, USA resident, or able to obtain a work visa on your own). If you're a Canadian resident, but can get a USA work visa, it'll probably be easty to get some type of job @ Disney.

Aside from the International Exchange program, you're right. If you have a VISA you can definitely work there for whatever time you want! I met a few Canadians there in different places that had been there for years. One guy from Edmonton was working at Villains in Vogue and had moved down permanently years ago. Also there was a french Canadian lady at Typhoon Lagoon.

 

[Evad]

I would work for free!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dsneygirl]

Like others have mentioned you need a working VISA to be employed in the US you can't just show up at casting and apply for the job without papers.

Also the International Program is really designed for young people not retirees. I am an alumni of the program and was 20 when I did it. We thought people who were pushing 30 were old!!

I would say early 30s is about the oldest I ever encountered. Some as young as 18. The accomodations are shared and segregated sex so you could not live with your spouse.

I do remember seeing one or 2 older people on the US college program who were "mature students" but not on the IP.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

I have no idea the legalities of working in FLA but I did meet a CM on Main Street that had retired to FLA. She spoke to me when she noticed the Canadian Flag pin I was wearing.

She liked speaking to someone from Toronto and the funny part was where she lived was about six blocks from my house.

 

[kamanda]

That's our plan - to work for Disney at least in the winters!

We just bought a vacation home that we eventually could use for retirement. Currently, its for short term rental.

 

[Boomer1]

I have considered living/working in FLA part time after my "nest is empty". I am a RN, and have worked with many collegues who worked in the USA. I'm not sure what the job market is like for RNs in FLA, but am going to check it out in the near future.

Would love to spent the Canadian winters in the Sunshine State!

 

[katt789]

I definitely want to look into working down there. And now! Lol ive applied for the cult rep program already & am headed to an in person interview next week!

However, anyone know a way to get a work visa otherwise?? It seems you need to get the visa to get the job,. But need the job to get the visa... *sigh*

 

[CdnCarrie]

To be honest I don't. I worked minimum wage jobs in my student days and have no desire to go back to that kind of work even at Disney.
The thought of dealing with cranky customers, working odd shifts and holidays, doing manual labour and standing on my feet for hours holds no appeal in the least.

I'll continue to just be a customer rather than an employee.

Now if I could do a professional type job full time as a career that would be a totally different story.

 

[bdoyledimou]

i have a few friends who are high up in the Disney IT world -- and me being Canadian, even though i am a leader in my field, have won awards for being a leader in my field -- and have friends in high places in IT -- cannot get hired by Disney


may be different as a front line min wage worker though.

 

[surfer_ed]

I have a high stress, fast paced sr management job. When I retire would love a lower responsibility min wage part time role. My dream is a ride operator...."how many in your party?"