Working at the Disney Store for discount

[Libade]

Can anyone tell me exactly what the benefits are for working at a Disney Store?

I'm planning on getting a part time job for the holidays, and the Disney Store seems to want to keep this info a secret!

I want to work somewhere where the discount will benefit me most! We are planning on going to WDW next spring.

Thanks for any info you may have!
Lisa

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I worked there and hated it. The discount was nice, but having to stay in the store and work till 4 am doing inventory the night before a final exam in college was the end of it for me. And yes, I explained to my boss that I was a student and had a final at 8 am the next morning. She did not care.

I quit the next day.

If you get a job there, I sincerly hope you get a better management team than I did.

 

[Pop Daddy]

get another job

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
get another job

Was this to me or the OP?

I quit my job at TDS in...maybe...1999. LOL!

 

[Maleficent13]

20% merchandise discount to employees with 3 yrs or less seniority

35% merchandise discount to employees with more than 3 years

This discount does not apply to media (video, DVD, CDs, etc). On those items it's 10% no matter how long you've worked there.

 

[Pop Daddy]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
Was this to me or the OP?

I quit my job at TDS in...maybe...1999. LOL! [/QUOTE


lol it was to the o/p, you did the right thing , I just met a better paying job would make up for any disscounts

 

[Libade]

What about Park Discounts? Hotels? Tickets?

Honestly, I'm not all that interested in the STORE discount - I've interested in the Park Hopper Passes and Hotel discounts?

Thanks for the info!

 

[bjgrazi]

Pop Daddy, yet another long post from you.....

You okay?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Libade
What about Park Discounts? Hotels? Tickets?

Honestly, I'm not all that interested in the STORE discount - I've interested in the Park Hopper Passes and Hotel discounts?

Thanks for the info!

I don't recall any. I only recall getting a discount off some merchandise at the parks. It was a while ago though so it may have changed.

 

[Pop Daddy]

Originally posted by bjgrazi
Pop Daddy, yet another long post from you.....

You okay?

I do feel a little funny, I mean sick not un hetro. Sorry Libad I will quit hijacking yuor thread, hope you get some good discounts







long post

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Lisa,

you may also want to check out :

www.mousesavers.com for info on discounts and things at the parks.

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by Libade
What about Park Discounts? Hotels? Tickets?

Honestly, I'm not all that interested in the STORE discount - I've interested in the Park Hopper Passes and Hotel discounts?

Thanks for the info!

No appreciable discount on park passes; there was one but it averaged out to like $10 a pass. You could save more through other ways. We used to get hotel discounts, but then we used to also get into the parks for free with our ID. They stopped doing that in January of 2003.

FYI, TDS is currently in negotiations to sell the stores, and I would count on them not continuing anything except the discounts on merchandise in the stores. That's probably why they won't be upfront with you about it.

 

[Parkhopper]

Trust me. Unless you have a massive LOVE of all things Disney and the patience of a saint, this is not the job for you. I have been with DS for 9 years. We work HARD (I often come home sweating) and get paid very little. During the Christmas season you are not even permitted to ask for time off in the months of November and December. Expect to work 4 - 5 times a week with two shifts being on a weekend. This leaves very little time to spend on family and friends during the holiday. If you are hired on for Holiday help, the WDW hotel/ticket discounts will have NO MEANING for you because you will not be able to utilize them.

That said, it is wonderful to see the joy on a small child's face when you find the perfect item for them.

Suzi

 

[RadioNate]

I was a Disney Store CM and Manager.

There are store merchandise discounts of 20% or 35% for people who have worked at the store more than 3 years.

There are small discounts on Park Hoppers but they are very small and usually not worth trying to get to a location on property to buy them or the cost of shipping to have them sent to you.

regular cast members get 4 free hoppers a year but if you are hired as seasonal holiday help you will not receive these

hotel discounts of up to 50% are offered depending on availability

I think WDW is still offering a 20% merchandise discount at WDW but the restaurant discounts can be spotty.

That being said - the Disney Store divison is for sale. Children's Place has signed a letter of intent to buy the Disney Stores. The sale is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

No one knows what Disney benefits will be retained. Disney has been quietly been reducing Disney Store CM benefits since the intent to sell was announced.

I left TDS in February after watching my benefits be drastically reduced. I also felt like we were left to flounder with no support from upper management. I worked at a great store in another state but was not happy with the management team at the store I transferred to.

I loved working at TDS but rest assured it isn't all fun and games. During the holidays you will be expected to work 4-5 days a week including both saturday and sunday. Sometimes shifts last until 2am or in some cases overnight. Even if you are only schedule until 10 or 11 pm, if the work isn't finished you don't leave. I'm also sad to say that these days the focus is more on selling than making sure guests have a positive experience.

That being said there are a lot of wonderful TDC CM's and managers out there! I'd go back to my old store in a hear beat.

I don't think they are telling you about all the "perks" for several reasons. One TDS does try to employ people who are in it more for than the benefits. I not saying this is you in anyway so please don't think that but in many cases people who just want the benefits usually do not work out long term and once they use the benefits they are there for they quit or stop showing up. The other reason may be that things are rapidly changing with the status of the stores they don't want to discuss a benefit that may not be there in a few weeks.