Working for Disney? Anyone?

[abner1776]

My retirement is now less than 6 weeks away and I would love to work for Disney...driving the boat around Crescent Lake is my dream job...but to do that I would have to...move to Florida. Yes, I know these NE winters are a killer but I just don't think I could actually pull up roots and move to central Florida.

 

[dixiegirl]

Elaine - I hope you get a job at WDW that you love! DH and I have plans do move to the area in the next few years. There are a few obligations here in PA that currently keep us here but once they end, off we go! We cannot wait.

I have worked for TDS in the past for several years and would happily work for WDW during my "retirement". Having the Disney attitude is over half the battle getting hired.

The very best of luck to you and I hope you enjoy your retirement!

 

[myjourney]

My DH has a job interview in Florida on Mon ( not Disney) but we are really hoping to move to Florida b/c Disney will be the first place I apply!

I am a Disney authorized travel agent so I think I'd apply for that.. I also have 14 yrs loss prevention experience.. I'm thinking more of the career jobs than park jobs but working for Disney would be a dream come true for me!

We also may be moving. I have a job interview next Thursday (not at Disney)The job I am trying to get is in higher ed, hopefully we are not competing for the same job.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

thank you everyone for your tips and insight! I think I would like something that utilized my finance background and maybe a little back office-ey. But I am good at customer service and would love to interact with the public.

I think this is still several years out. My daughter just turned 11, and we live in an area with wonderful schools. But it has been something I have been thinking about for awhile now!

 

[Berlioz70]

The hiring process varies based on the type of role you are looking for.

Several park/resort roles (Merch, Attr, Cust, Foods, Front Desk, Concierge, Housekeeping, etc) are union roles. This means that when you submit your resume and go for your interview, it's essentially a pass/fail scenario. If you pass then you're placed on the wait list. As they work through the wait list it's first come first serve, meaning not the most qualified person gets it.

During the interview you can request information on roles currently open, and if you just want to get your foot in the door, it's easiest to take a role that has openings (even if it's not what you want) because after six months you can put in for a transfer. Union role transfers work off on seniority, not qualifications.

Then there are the Office and Technical / Salaried roles (Guest Relations, DPI, secretaries, managers, etc). These are filled based off of specific job openings/postings. These types of roles are not always open to outside people, internal candidates can view more opportunities. It's often recommended to start out in a role I mentioned above then try for the one you really want once you're in.

I've personally worked all over: Entertainment, Merchandise, Concierge... I've worked all 4 parks and just about half the resorts. I've been in union roles, O&T roles, and 2 different versions of salaried roles (exempt/non-exempt)... I'm pretty familiar with internal transferring so feel free to PM me if you have other questions. Oh, and I should mention, I did ALL of those roles in less than 4 years. I got my current role in summer 2011 and have stayed put.

 

[Dan Murphy]

......Oh, and I should mention, I did ALL of those roles in less than 4 years. I got my current role in summer 2011 and have stayed put.

AND, along the way, had your picture taken with just about every character, in every costume, everywhere.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Berlioz, thank you so much for your kind offer. When I get a bit closer, I will definitely contact you.

I'm happy to hear that with the right attitude, getting hired is not all that difficult.

 

[Berlioz70]

AND, along the way, had your picture taken with just about every character, in every costume, everywhere.

HAHA yes! I'm very lucky that my current role gives me access to rare characters, hence why I've stayed put

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

Awww good luck!!! With my love of Disney, I wish we lived just a bit closer to Disney World and I would apply for something too in a heartbeat!! We live like 1 hr and 45 mins away... I'd hate to drive I-4 everyday.

 

[Postal68]

I'm going to ask what may be considered a blasphemous question.....

Better to work for Disney or Universal in Florida?



Pay?

Benefits?(passes, ect.)

 

[supergoofy]

I think it would be fun to get my license(electrician) in Florida and do a summer with Disney.

No way I could pull up roots and move there full time. Its hard enough being 8 hours from family.

 

[nadira36]

I think it would be fun to get my license(electrician) in Florida and do a summer with Disney.

No way I could pull up roots and move there full time. Its hard enough being 8 hours from family.

Don't know about electricians, but plumbers are contracted out. My dad worked for Paige (page?) plumbing at Disney. He did a lot of the ride plumbing work. My kids think it's great that their grandpa made parts of the rides and attractions they go on.

Id' suggest looking into which company Disney hires, then talk to them if you do go for your ticket.

 

[raven69david]

I would hate to work there as I think it would kill the "magic" for me. I don't even take the behind the scenes tours as I'm afraid that something will kill the magic for me. Is that weird to think like that?!

 

[nadira36]

I would hate to work there as I think it would kill the "magic" for me. I don't even take the behind the scenes tours as I'm afraid that something will kill the magic for me. Is that weird to think like that?!

Nope, not weird.

I knew several ppl who should never have worked there b/c they didn't believe in magic and didn't see the magic, and happily killed it for others. The last thing you want to do is risk taking away the magic. Though it does create another level of magic. It's like the difference between Santa as a child and Santa as an Adult.

 

[OKWJan]

My husband and I,(both with Masters degrees), work part time at Disney in hourly roles and love it. You will find many of the "retirement aged" workers are there because they love it. It is very interesting to learn the various educational and work backgrounds,and to see what we are doing now.

my favorite story was when one of the front gate people stopped to pick up a piece of trash and a mom pointed to him and said to her child "see...that is why you have to go to college or that will be the type of job you do". He really wanted to tell her he had his PhD, but just smiled.Many, many overqualified people doing things they love.

Great guests, fun coworkers, beautiful parks....life is good

 

[ruthies12]

I met a couple who did this and I thought it was really neat. They had an RV and every November would travel to Florida in it and stay at an RV park. They would take jobs with Disney in the gift shops. Their children would come visit for a week and bring the grandkids and the couple would use their comp tickets to take their grandkids to the parks.

Then in May they would travel back to Michigan and spend the whole summer and fall with their kids and grandkids. They lived in their RV year round, just changed where they parked it.