Originally Posted By PastKnight I need some pointers PLEASE! We are taking our annual trip to DL Sept 24-28. I will be visiting "casting" on moday the 25th......I will do anything including scooping horse stuff on Main Street USA.......Do they hire full time ( i need full) and how do i get on.....im already 36 but it is time to chase my dream!
Originally Posted By imadisneygal You may or may not be given an interview on the day you fill otu your application. I have no idea how busy Casting is right now but generally your app is reviewed and then you are called for an interview. The interviews are group interviews with (usually) two other prospective CM's. From my experience with Casting and hiring as a Main Entrance manager, most areas do not hire full-time through Casting as those slots are filled by part-time CM's after attrition. Even though most areas do not hire full-time CM's right off the bat, you may get the hours anyway since it's so busy right now. I hired in full-time into Guest Relations in a time when everyone told me that Guest Relations was a department I'd have to transfer into, not hire into. So my advice is...dress nicely, but no need for a suit or anything. Have a good handshake and a good smile. Listen to the other applicants' answers and interact with them as well, not just the interviewer. And MOST IMPORTANTLY, be yourself. Share a Disneyland memory that you hold dear. You'll probably be asked about that. Definitely recognize that your hours will vary week to week and that they'll include some late nights and early mornings. Indicate that you're willing and interested in any role, but it's O.K. to indicate a preference, too. Some areas then utilize a secondary interview performed by the area management. Good luck to you! Next to Motherhood, working at Disneyland Resort was the best job I've ever had!!
Originally Posted By imadisneygal Oops, sorry for all the typos. I'm typing with my 7 month-old on my lap. He likes to hit the keys.
Originally Posted By PirateJohn September probably isn't the best time to apply. October might be better, because they'll be hiring for the holiday season. The best time to apply is April or May.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo Depends on what you want to do. First, with 36 years experience, are you sure you want to be a front line CM? The pay is minimal and you will probably be getting less than full-time hour unless you 1) beg 2) get lucky, or 3) get placed into an area with a high attrition rate. Perhaps you would prefer a back stage or office type job. Many of these only hire full-time employees and make much better money. If you have experience in a professional field, I'd investigate possible positions, you may be quite surprized at the numerous fields DL hires for.
Originally Posted By PastKnight thanx tigertoo, I of course visit Disneycareers.com everyday, do they hire administration staff through the main casting office?
Originally Posted By Ursula Well, I've been there before. I think I got hired on because I had some fairly honest asnwers about Disneyland. I told the story of the time my dad bumped into Walt, and of course that my grandad said he delivered wood to the park the year they were building it (he was a Teamster). I do know that local radio is in full campaign to hire now. Good luck, and I hope you get hired on.
Originally Posted By ploeb909 Lucky! I wish I could interview for a job! I have a BS.in Psycology.Maybe I can help some of the Disney bashers with their obvious Problem!Serious though, I totally wish I could work at my "happy place". Best of luck, I hope you get it!! Keep us posted.
Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland For your reading pleasure... the first draft of an article I am writing for MouseTimes.com ==================== Last week, a friend of mine asked me what it was like to work at Disneyland Park; to which all I could think of was “how do I respond to that?†How does one summarize the experience that is being a Cast Member at the Happiest Place on Earth? How does one describe the wonderful feeling you receive when you brighten another’s day, or better yet, brighten their entire vacation? And then, of course, there is your fellow Cast Members, and that is a large part of the experience! How do you tell an outsider that when you go to “work†(as much as I try, I still cannot think of Disneyland as “workâ€) you are surrounded by thousands of people all dedicated to achieving one goal: to create magic. Every Cast Member at the Disneyland Resort plays a vital role, whether they buss tables at the French Market, check lap bars at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, wash windows after the park has closed, scan your passport at the Main Gate, rent you a stroller, welcome you into the Star Trader, hands you a freshly made churro, greets hotel Guests at the Grand Californian Hotel, sweeps the queue of Soarin’ Over California, or any of the other thousands of roles the Resort depends on to create an experience like nothing else in the world. As a Cast Member, there are also perks – our Main Gate admission pass allows us, and three Guests, to enter the theme parks of the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, or Disneyland Resort Paris free of charge and we are allowed discounts on merchandise, food and Disney hotel stays. Aside from that, there is the Disney Difference, a program that offers dozens of opportunities exclusively to the Cast Members of the Disneyland Resort through various clubs, softball leagues, our world-famous canoe races, Disney VoluntEARS, Cast screenings of new movies, discounted admission tickets to other theme parks, movies, and theatrical productions, exclusive merchandise, cast events such as Minnie’s Moonlit Madness and the Disney Family Holiday Party, Commuter Assistance, a competitive benefits package, excellent pay, recognition, and much more! And of course, there is the best perk of them all: bragging rights. Who else can say they work at the Happiest Place on Earth – the original Disney theme park designed and created by Walt Disney himself? How do you describe the feeling of watching a brand new fireworks spectacular that has not even debuted yet on an empty Main Street, U.S.A. or the creepy sensation of walking through the Big Thunder Trail at 4 o’clock in the morning? And then, of course, there is the incredible experience of opening the park and watching dozens of young children run to greet Mickey Mouse as the Disneyland Band plays the Mickey Mouse Club Anthem. I guess what I am trying to say is that you simply cannot describe the experience of “working†at Disneyland in one sentence (or one page!). All I can say is… experience it for yourself! The Disneyland Resort is always looking for smiling, happy future Cast Members to add to our family, and applying is a lot easier than you might think. If you are seriously considering Disneyland as an employer, please read on! I’ve provided some tips for our future Cast. And even if you’re not interested in a Disney career, I still urge you to read on – you might find it interesting. First and foremost, you have to examine your reasoning. Disneyland is not a “normal†workplace, nor is it a “normal job.†Our Cast employs the “Four Keys†in our role and our daily lives. Firstly, we all strive to provide a safe environment for all of our Guests and Cast Members, and we do this in dozens of ways. Secondly, we are courteous. The Disney name is famous around the world for the courtesy of its Cast Members, and this is an extremely important part of what we do. Thirdly, we are dedicated to the “show†of the park. Walt Disney once said “Disneyland is a show,†and today we continue to uphold that value. All of our Cast Members fulfill a role in the Disneyland show. And lastly, we practice efficiency. By being efficient, we are allowing as many of our Guests as we can to enjoy as much as they can. The “Four Keys†are our general principals that guide us on a daily basis. A Cast Member needs to understand each key and utilize it while on or off the clock. If you have reached this section and you have examined the Four Keys and agree with them, then please continue! There’s a lot more to learn. What follows is an in depth guide to the application and interview process. Applying at Disneyland for an hourly position must be done in person at the Casting Center within the Team Disney Anaheim (TDA) building, located at 700 W. Ball Road, Anaheim, California. Please bring two forms of identification and be prepared to complete an application and possible interview in the same day. The application for employment form is similar to that of any other company. Your personal information, employment history, eligibility to work in the United States will be required, and the company will conduct a background check. The interview, or casting process, is what makes Disney unique. Unlike some employers, Disney Casting Agents look for specific characteristics, such as professionalism, the ability to “think on-the-fly,†eye contact, body language, manners, and respect. As there will most likely be two other applicants within the interview room, it is important to give those prospective Cast Members the same attention and respect you would wish from them. While this may seem extremely corporate, I assure you it is not. All of these traits will help you as a Cast Member, which is why it is important that future Cast Members possess them. The most important part of this interview is to smile. Remember: you are trying to convince this person that they must have you working for them. Be enthusiastic and open, and be yourself. If you follow these tips, I’ll be seeing you “backstage†at Disneyland, and you too will begin creating your own Disney family memories! ================
Originally Posted By HRM A great read 'iluv'... (and @ 03:54 too boot, wow!) I'll need to read it again to truly get all the info. A few quick ???'s... You admirably (sp?)highlighted the benifits unique for a CM both tangible and intangible; at what level (hrs/wk) would a CM also receive "real-world" benefits - i.e. health, 401K, etc.? Also what would be your estimate on the percentage of the daily front line CM's at DL that are full-time, part-time, and/or seasonal? Are any particlar type of position more seasonal versus full-time? Thanks - once again, great draft; can't wait to see the final article.
Originally Posted By PastKnight i cant thank you all enough, many might think my quest is crazy, after all i do have an MBA, a good job, and live in a great place. But all my life i really have believed dremas come true, thanx to Walt Disney...from the first time i visited the park in 1970 it felt like home and where i needed to be...l now have a parterner in my life that wants me to chase my dreams.....so at 36 im going to try
Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland Re: Post #11 Thank you very much. Most Operations departments have several different scheduling classifications. Casual Temporary (CT) is a seasonal Cast Member who only works during peak season. They can also "pick-up" shifts during the off-season and they can apply for a Casual Regular (CR) position. CR is a Cast Member who, at least in Foods Operations/Outdoor Vending/Ventures, is required to work no more than 30 hours during non-peak season and be fully-available during the peak seasons. The benefits of being a CR in my department (Outdoor Vending) is the Cast Member has a lot of flexibility in their scheduling. The Cast Member only has to be available Fridays after 18:00 and fully available on Saturdays and Sundays during non-peak season. Then there is CR-25. The CR-25 Cast Member is required to maintain 25 hours a week or above in order to maintain basic benefits. Following CR-25 is Regular Part-Time (RPT/A) - 30 hours a week with benefits. After that, Regular Full-Time (RFT/B) - 40 hours a week, or if you're in Foods or Vending, you're on a "line schedule" which dictates what you'll be doing the entire season. The Disney benefits package is pretty competitive. I'm not going to go into its specifics, but you have to be at least CR-25 (I believe, although Scheduling has told me there is some ways around that) for basic benefits, and RFT for full benefits. When it comes to percentages, I could only give you a guess, and it would only be of Outdoor Vending. Suprisingly, ODV is a very high-seniority department, and the bulk of our labor force is Regular Full-Time due to our new contract. Most, if not all, of our summer workforce were hired-in as CT's. I'd say 85% of my department is RFT, with 12% being CR and 3% being CT. Foods and Outdoor Vending no longer have RPT or CR-25. Hope I helped!
Originally Posted By HRM Yes... From your answer, it seems that this position, or at least working is ODV, is a Union Job... True? (not saying that this is good or bad) Does a person have to start at the CT level and work their way up through tenure; i.e.: attrition, waiting for people to exit their postions before any advancement/promotion is possible? How long can a CM "patch" several shifts together and actually survive in the real world until a RFT/A or RPT/B position becomes available? Sorry to ask so many "reality" questions, but sometimes these answers help potential CM's make realistic long term decisions. Meeting basic needs and all that... After meeting those basic necessities however, what & why people do what they do may be more important than how much someone makes. There are a lot of people making a lot of money who are not happy! Following a dream, and allowing the dreams of others to become real is very special! Being able to have fun at the same time is priceless!
Originally Posted By tiggertoo I’m not iluv but am a former employee who worked TL attractions. I’ll try and answer if you or iluv don’t mind. <<Does a person have to start at the CT level and work their way up through tenure;>> Either CT or CR (in attractions). The RPT or RFT are available to existing CMs as the slots open due to the reasons you stated. <<How long can a CM "patch" several shifts together and actually survive in the real world until a RFT/A or RPT/B position becomes available?>> At first it could be hard but after a few months as your seniority increases, it becomes easier although the pay is fairly low anyway. You should speak with and build a relationship with the area schedulers. It’s the only way to gain hours outside of main scheduling. I must say that working at the park was wonderful. By far the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had. If that’s what you want, go for it. I just couldn’t afford to stay.
Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland HRM, most of the departments at Disneyland are union shops, meaning you have to agree to join the union if you're selected for a role. All I know for sure is Parks Food Operations and Outdoor Vending/Ventures are covered by UNITE/HERE Local 50 and Attractions are covered by Teamsters. To answer the attrition question... I guess it would depend on which department you hire into. In Outdoor Vending, you will not hire-in as an RFT Cast Member, but you'll probably have that option presented to you almost immediately after your tenure with ODV begins.
Originally Posted By HRM Great info, thanx! I hope this also helps PastKnight... "tiggertoo": If you don't mind, what type of CM were you? (Besides a very good one, of course!) Who are the "area schedulers", I mean do they also work in the Park? Is there a way just to chat with them on a regular visit to DL? Also, how does the logistics of "main scheduling" work? "iluv": In ODV, what type of positions are available? Is it just the food carts in DL? PS: I recommended your post (#10) to another person over at the WDW General Section as a great overview to someone who was thinking of working @ WDW, hope that was ok...
Originally Posted By XXLKJ I am curious about a previous poster stating that it isn't necessary to wear a suit. It has been many years since I applied and worked at DL but if yo did not show up in a shirt and tie you had no chance of being hired. I know they have relaxed their standards at the park over the years due to the turnover and the need for applicants but why would anyone go to a job interview, even at DL and not wear a tie(men)or business attire (women)?
Originally Posted By tiggertoo I was in TL attractions. Area schedulers work and manage the scheduling for a particular area of the park. If a CM calls in, an attraction is short CMs, filling any gaps in the schedule, etc… the area schedulers handle it. Schedulers are regular frontline CMs but are additionally trained as schedulers. They work in the backstage offices so a day guest wouldn’t typically see them. Main scheduling makes their schedules two weeks in advance based on seniority, knowledge (what you are trained on), status (CT, CR, PT, FT), and formal availability (the days and times you state you are available to work). They handle the scheduling for all the CMs in the park. Once passed down the area offices, the area schedules handle any changes that must be made.
