Who's really done it?!

[k5thbeatle]

Many (jokingly) say they would retire near Orlando and work part time at WDW.

Well...who has really done this? Good, bad? Not what you expected? More than you expected? Sorry/glad you did it?

Any and all opinions from those who have gone beyond talk and actually did this welcome!

By the way, what was your Disney job?

 

[Fionasmommy]

I'd like to know too! Not specifically about retirement - just about moving down there and working @ Disney. I'm currently getting my BA in Hotel Operations, and have a secret dream of working for WDW.

 

[DISUNC]

I want to know too! GREAT QUESTION!
Im ready to go NOW! I think I can handle driving the Monorail!

 

[mrzrich]

I want to know too! GREAT QUESTION!
Im ready to go NOW! I think I can handle driving the Monorail!

Funny story about driving the monorail, we sat up front one time and my DH asked the driver what kind of training he had to have to dive the monorail. The guy said "5 days".

My husband says "Well surely you must have had some other experience with trains or buses or something" The diver says "No, no previous transportation or professional diving experience"

The guy didn't look a day over 20, so I kinda believe that he really didn't have any previous experience.

 

[ahoff]

I have thought about this also. Have talked to several older CM's and they all love it. One I talked to worked with her husband at Test Track. They applied on a whim and have worked part time for several years, and love it. I have also thought of doing this.

 

[Kitts21]

I plan on doing it also . Just have another 40 YRS.

 

[MICKEEP]

This is a great question and one of many I would love to ask the CM's but since we mere mortals are not aloud on the Cast Member's page, there is no where, that I know of, to ask these questions.

Maybe they could start a new forum and call it "Ask A CM".........
what do you think

 

[golden1]

This is going to sound really morbid but if something ever happened to DH before retirement, I would definitely consider retiring to Orlando to be near WDW. DH hates the heat and is not a big Disney fan so our plans are probably to retire to New Hampshire or Maine.

 

[Ghost]

I would move today if I could...

 

[puggymom]

Wow, I was just dreaming about this yesterday. I was even on Realtor.com to get an idea of real estate prices in the area.

 

[mamaminnie]

Well we did move to Florida, not the Orlando area but only 2 hours away and being near WDW was a big plus for us.

 

[NC State]

When we visited MGM back in September, we talked to several CMs about this. The two we talked to told us that they did it! Retired from the North and moved to Florida and went to work at Disney. They told us that they wished that they had retired earlier, because they enjoyed coming to work everyday and see the smiles on families faces.

 

[Terry S]

Well, I leave tommorrow morning with my parents and a moving truck. (I fly back to the cold north on Tuesday). We went down to Florida in March and found them a place to live and my Mom interviewed at WDW. She has a job waiting for her at MGM Studios working in one of the stores when she gets back. It is a dream come true for her and my step-dad. I can let you guys know in a few months if they are still as excited as they are today.

 

[jimmytammy]

While we were staying at CB a couple yrs ago I talked with the doorman at the lobby. He told me he was once a bank president of a large bank in NY. He said he was pulling in some major money while at the bank, but if he had known 25 yrs sooner what he knew now, he would have pulled up stakes a lot sooner and gotten that job at WDW. Less stress for one. And he said in most cases everyone that walks in and out those doors has a smile on their faces. He said if he comes in feeling bad or things arent going just right, all that quickly changes when he puts on those CM clothes.

 

[nhpooh]

Wow, I was just dreaming about this yesterday. I was even on Realtor.com to get an idea of real estate prices in the area.

I do this all the time, our best friends moved down two years ago. They live in Deltona which is about half way between Orlando and Daytona. Takes about 45min's to get to WDW. Some day soon we will be moving down too.

 

[txtxyeha]

I tell people if I won the lottery I would want to drive the barges on the San Antonio Riverwalk for the tourist. Now I'm changing that to doorman at a Disney deluxe hotel. I would get up early for that.

 

[Chester's Mum]

Wow, Orlando is going to be a really crowded place, when all of us disboarders retire. Will they hire Canadians? My daughter is even considering applying for summer jobs during breaks from University.

 

[TSM1993]

My DBF and I are planning to move to the area. We have purchased 2 pieces of property down there 1 in Hastings FL (about 1 1/2 hours away) and 1 in Ponciana Fl (about 1/2 hr away).

 

[momandseandodisney]

I plan on doing it also . Just have another 40 YRS.

Yep I will be ready in about 40 too

 

[threeboysmom]

I've often pondered this question as this is my dream someday to move south to Orlando. BUT I wonder if being so close to WDW or even working there would take away some of the "magic". I think I might have a hard time knowing those people are there on vacation and I'm not....