Working for the Mouse, while living at FW?

[fugarwe]

So lately I've been entertaining the thought of working as seasonal at Disney, and staying in the camper while doing so. This is about 5 years in the future. While we were there last year I talked to a retired NJ state trooper who was working at Universal and loving it. And in the threads here I've seen people a talking about "security" living in campers and not following the rules? So, how does this work? Have others worked and camped and how did they like it?

 

[CCIntrigue]

There are several seasonal workers living at the fort. Disney used to give them a 40% discount on their sites but has recently discontinued it. They pay the same rate as everyone else now. I also heard rumblings last week that Disney isn't giving these people many hours -- instead, they're letting the college kids work double shifts because they pay them less. One of the ladies I met last year is a seasonal worker and is very upset about the current situation. I think you need to talk to someone who is actually doing this to get the latest info.

 

[caveat lector]

It's still nice to dream that it could happen though.......

 

[Tri-circle-D]

There are several seasonal workers living at the fort. Disney used to give them a 40% discount on their sites but has recently discontinued it. They pay the same rate as everyone else now. I also heard rumblings last week that Disney isn't giving these people many hours -- instead, they're letting the college kids work double shifts because they pay them less. One of the ladies I met last year is a seasonal worker and is very upset about the current situation. I think you need to talk to someone who is actually doing this to get the latest info.

I also know that there are quite a few folks who work seasonally and take advantage of the castmember discounts at the Fort. These folks tend to keep a low profile, and are mainly found in the full and preferred loops. The discontinuation of the castmember discount is not something that I have heard. That must be a brand new development. That could further reduce the number of snowbirds who spend their winters at the Fort. I guess the beancounters figure they can make more money by renting the sites out at rack rates on weekends, even if they sit empty on week days.


And, to the OP, what are you saying here? I don't remember the threads you are talking about:

And in the threads here I've seen people a talking about "security" living in campers and not following the rules?

TCD

 

[DisCamper]

I plan on doing it this summer. I hope a can work at the Fort so I can take my golf cart to work every day.

 

[fugarwe]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Re-reading my original post (made while enjoying my second tall caucasian) it almost makes it sound like I want to do this to break the rules. That reference was just from something I read on the boards on another post that made me realize employees are living at the fort. And apparently someone thinks they are rule breakers.

Anyway, since this is my fantasy, I'm keeping it pretty specific. I only want to work security, having retired from LE by then. And quite frankly, I'm okay with not too many hours. My wife will be working 24 ! years beyond me to her retirement, so I was hoping to drive the RV down there, work for a couple weeks, have her join me for two more weeks, then come home. I figured they could use me over the busy times a few times a year? Remember, it's MY fantasy.

My mother also winters in Ft. Myers Beach, and by then will be just summering up here and own a home down there. I could even leave an RV with her, fly to the Beach which is cheap, then drive it up from there.

But I'm not obsessing.

I plan on cornering some more CMs while I'm down there this year and get the low down.

 

[CCIntrigue]

The discontinuation of the castmember discount is not something that I have heard. That must be a brand new development.TCD

TCD, I was told this when we were there last week by one of the fulltimers who had been meeting with (I think his name is Jeff - reports to Meg Crofton) about several of their concerns. Their meetings apparently didn't go too well.

 

[clkelley]

............

 

[Magicbus]

I also heard rumblings last week that Disney isn't giving these people many hours -- instead, they're letting the college kids work double shifts because they pay them less.

From where I sit, this sounds fishy.

I plan on doing it this summer. I hope a can work at the Fort so I can take my golf cart to work every day.

So you're giving it another shot?

I only want to work security, having retired from LE by then.

Security, why? It's so far removed from LE.

so I was hoping to drive the RV down there, work for a couple weeks. I figured they could use me over the busy times a few times a year?

I wish you luck getting Disney to go along with that, but you never know.

Just an FYI, to be hired as a seasonal CM, I believe you have to give them 6 weeks straight as your first employment stint.

I'm not aware of that requirment and maybe some others, but I know for sure that full availability for a minimum of 6-8 weeks total during the peak seasons is required. That sounds like it might put a damper on your plan.

 

[fugarwe]

From where I sit, this sounds fishy.

So you're giving it another shot?

"Security, why? It's so far removed from LE."


I wish you luck getting Disney to go along with that, but you never know.


I'm not aware of that requirment and maybe some others, but I know for sure that full availability for a minimum of 6-8 weeks total during the peak seasons is required. That sounds like it might put a damper on your plan.

"Security, why? It's so far removed from LE."
That's what makes it attractive. I'm still going to be licensed and working part time here at my home department while in retirement. What else does Disney have to offer that's close to what I do now?


In my original quote I said I wanted to come down for two weeks, and then have my wife come down for two weeks, a few times a year. That's a month of availablity, three times a year, which totals more than 8 weeks. If my math is correct (not my strong suit) that's 12 weeks. But I didn't know about the minimum requirement, so thanks for letting me know my plan could work!

 

[fugarwe]

Just an FYI, to be hired as a seasonal CM, I believe you have to give them 6 weeks straight as your first employment stint.

Darn, then I'd have to stay six weeks the first time.

 

[des1954]

I have a couple of acquaintances that winter at the Fort and are seasonal CM's. Their hours have been severely cut this year with regular full-time and part-time CM's getting first choice for hours in their particular departments.

I did it back in 2003. I know a lot has changed since I did it, but at that time, it was up to the resort manager to approve a CM discount. Since in 2003 they were still offering winter settler rates, and we were paying that price, no other discounts were available to me. They discontinued the W.S. rates in 2004, and I don't know if the Fort extends discounts any more to long term stays by CM's. Maybe Todd can chime in on that one.

When I worked there (Epcot) I was told that I could NOT be seen at the Fort in my Epcot costume. Again, I don't know if that has changed or not, but that was one rule I obeyed & it was a bit of a pain. I changed into my costume at the Epcot CM building & back into my street clothes when my shift was over. The "changing" was done on my time. After one month I decided that working for the Mouse was spoiling my Disney "magic" and I quit. You get a whole different view of Disney when you work for them - and a new respect for CM's in general.

 

[stacktester]

A couple years ago during our Thanksgiving stay there was a couple across from us and the wife worked at Grand Floridian. She had to wear a jacket over her to cover her costume as well so I guess that rule is still enforced.

I too thought about being a CM but like Debbie said, it ruins the magic. I like seeing Disney from the front side. I've seen employees in uniform at Walmart and WinnDixie and they seem like every other person who is an employee of a big company, Miserable lol.

It's too bad the settlers went away for those that want to stay longer periods. Even if you had to pay more for Christmas week it would seem to make sense but I guess good sense is too much sense lol.

Hopefully if you try it, it may be something good for you. The guy in 400 who has the big decoration display wife works at ESPN I believe and she seems to enjoy it but said they were working her a lot of hours which she didn't think would happen. There seems to be so many perks that they don't have anymore either.

 

[DisCamper]

Debbie Cm gets 50% off a night. I don’t know of any long term stay discounts anymore. When I worked Disney you had to go to costuming on your way into work to pick up your costume and return it as you left. You could not leave Disney property in your costume. If I did OT in the MK I had to leave my Fort costume at the fort and get a new costume at MK. Now as I understand you can take your costume home and wash it of work the next day. Working for Disney it ruins the magic.

 

[Magicbus]

She had to wear a jacket over her to cover her costume as well so I guess that rule is still enforced.

I must have missed that memo.

but like Debbie said, it ruins the magic.

Maybe a little. CMs have to work harder to keep their jobs from ruining the magic, but it can be done. I have a CM switch that I'm able to turn on and off.

There seems to be so many perks that they don't have anymore either.

Loss of perks, can't think of which ones that might be, but I'm in a fog a lot of the time anyways.

Now as I understand you can take your costume home and wash it of work the next day.

Kinda true. You get enough costumes for an entire work week so you don't have to wash one for the next day. In fact you don't have to wash them at all. Just return them and get a fresh batch each week.

 

[doombuqqy]

This seems quite silly but I worked as a cast member in our local Disney store years ago and it did ruin the magic. I tease my husband that when we retire he will be ( he is LEO and I am EMT) security and I Will drive a bus lol

 

[fugarwe]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm learning so much from everyone.

Along with my regular job I work at the Minnesota State Fair. While it ain't Disney, it has a magic all it's own. I have worked all 12 days of the Fair at the Police Department (the Fair has it's own police!) every year since 1988. I l love working behind the scenes, knowing the secret passages and fast ways to get everywhere. I love helping the nice people that come to the fair, and helping kids find their lost parents. I don't even mind being a mobile information booth. I like removing problem folks from the fair before they become problems for all the good people there. Being part of making the Magic happen is big Magic to me!
I'm hoping to find another freindly security guard in one of the parks this year and grill them some more.

 

[des1954]

Maybe a little. CMs have to work harder to keep their jobs from ruining the magic, but it can be done. I have a CM switch that I'm able to turn on and off.

Kinda true. You get enough costumes for an entire work week so you don't have to wash one for the next day. In fact you don't have to wash them at all. Just return them and get a fresh batch each week.

Merry Christmas, Lou!!

My short stint with Disney was, IMHO, too soon after I retired from Verizon - like a month later. Both companies subscribe to the same corporate BS, and I probably should have "retired" a little longer before jumping back on the work bus. However, Disney University and Epcot Orientation really pumped you up to be a CM. Then, the grim reality set in once you actually started working. In attractions, you're just another warm body filling a position. And, working Mission Space just after they opened was a challenge in itself. All the bugs hadn't been worked out of it yet, there were lots of "protein spills" to contend with. The final protein spill that broke the deal for me was the one that ended up on my legs and shoes. The supervisor on duty told me to hose off and get back as soon as I could. That was the "deal breaker" and I said I'd hose off and turn my costume back in & to find someone else to permanently take my place. (In other words, "I quit").

We were also allowed as a part time employee up to 3 costumes which we could either take home and wash ourselves or turn in to be cleaned and then pick up 3 "fresh" costumes.

I'm certain if I had selected retail in a resort for a position, I'd probably still be a Disney CM. I did not choose wisely.

 

[Magicbus]

It's Christmas, I'm sure the OP won't mind if we go a little off topic. And Merry Christmas to you Deb and all the other Fiends. Everyone is trying to get close to WDW, I went in the other direction, to our house near Atlanta.

I've come and gone from WDW 5 times, yup 5 times, over a 15 year period, and each time I've lucked out. Disney offered me fun and interesting positions. I would never take anything in attractions though. As you found out, yuck. Except for the last time, which BTW they offered me out of the blue, they've offered me positions in the resorts. No crowds, one on one. I highly recommend it. So if you decide to give WDW another try, do look into something at the resorts.

But I like the situation I have now. I can pretty much make up my own schedule. I can work the days and times I want. As much or as little as I want. I don't have anyone except guests looking over my shoulder, nice.

But I do agree with everything you wrote and would have done the same thing.

 

[Cousin Ed C]

We winter at the Fort and I am a seasonal cast member. No discount at the Fort but there are other benifits. Plus I love my job. I only work two or three days a week but that's plenty and it's more fun to make the MAGIC then to get it!!!!