Originally Posted By tiggertoo ESPN is not however part of the Disneyland Resort business unit. Disney, yes. Disneyland, no. I think that is what he/she was asking.
Originally Posted By SpoonCM ESPN Zone employees and the Charicature booth are Operating Participants, not CMs. I believe the only Store Ops in DTD is WOD and the pin cart. As for the Resort Hotels, this past summer the largest openings occurred for Front Desk/Guest Services, Disney Dining, and Recreation. Altho, there are many more divisions such as Store Ops, Food&Beverage, Banquets, Valet/Bell Services, Housekeeping and more. Hotel CMs recieve the same benefits and perks as park CMs and things are ran a bit differently than the parks...for one Hotel CMs do not get their schedules 2 weeks in advance. Try 3 days before the new week. So it's a different pace than the parks.
Originally Posted By HRM A quick aside... iluv, get some rest... geesh! A high-5 and special thank you to tiggertoo and SpoonCM for all the info; SpoonCM, I assume you're a CM becuz of your handle. 'disneygal & XXLKJ thanks for the insight - first impressions are everything, right! Dfno1, sounds like a great plan; PastKnight (you are still reading this thread, aren't you?) and OceanSpace, I hope you get to follow your dreams - too bad spell check isn't an option huh ;-)
Originally Posted By HRM Now back to CM Career Development 101... ;-) Back to the beginning; For those of you who are, or were, CM's... what past work experiences did you find helpful when performing your CM duties? What did you wish you knew before you actually went "On-Stage"? Would it be useful to hightlight certain core skills if a person wanted to be a CM, say in Guest Services? Attractions? ODV? etc...
Originally Posted By imadisneygal I only have a short moment here to post, so I'll post more later, but I wanted to say that it's VERY important that you understand that every role is integral to the success of the Disneyland Resort. No roles are anything less than crucial to the overall Guest experience. So I guess my point is that it's perfectly fine and almost expected to have a preference for area or department when applying. However, make sure that you communicate that every department is vital and even though some departments may be a better fit for you than others that you see the success of the Disneyland Resort as a team effort. More later.
Originally Posted By SpoonCM Thank you HRM, yes I am a CM, just not in the division that's on my SN. I left Foods years ago...anyhow, I wish you best of luck on hiring in! Anyhow, dealing with guest recovery has always been an important one. Your approach and solution to a situation should be quick, concise, and does NOT always have to end with a guest being happy (altho, we would do our best to make the guest happy, you can only bend so far before it destroys any of the 4 Keys). One of the questions Casting likes to ask is about a situation where something wrong happened and the person you are helping is unhappy - How did you resolve the situation? Everyone can take an order, tell someone where to sit, or countless other things a front line CM does; It's how that CM approaches and reacts to guest issues that is important.
Originally Posted By SpoonCM Well, I used an experience from an Oregon St.-USC game...my fraternity used to sell programs as a fundraiser. Anyhow, this evil Oregon St. fan said I shorted him money. It was a really ugly situation, but in the end he was all smiles and I didn't hand him the money that he said I shorted him. So...just think of a situation where you have turned a bad situation into a positive one.
Originally Posted By Disnerd This weeks Cast Member Reference Guide shows a Casting Scout Job Fair from 8am to 6 pm at the Disneyland Resort Casting Center. August 18th - 20th. Call (800)766-0888 for details.
Originally Posted By HRM Are Job Fairs @ Casting a regular occurance or just when the DL's staffing needs are really high? I would figure Casting would be "ramping down" with the High-volumne summer season coming to a close and the Park hours being reduced. Is the Job Fair mainly a recruiting for Casual PT with the College Semesters beginning... How long does it take a new CM to "get up to speed" (i.e. initial orientation and training) once on board? p.s. SpoonCM > What'dya expect, Oregon St. fan ;-)
Originally Posted By Disnerd They are still trying to replace CMs lost to the enforcement of the points system. Plus hotel bookings are remaining high as we go into what use to be a slow period. And convention bookings are up.
Originally Posted By HRM >>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.>> (WAY BACK in the beginning of the thread, Post#2 from imadisneygal) If DL is reducing operating hours in September, which roles will have more potential hours as the fall season moves toward the Holidays? Even "Presenteeism" has its limits in creating vacancies for new hires.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo <<If DL is reducing operating hours in September, which roles will have more potential hours as the fall season moves toward the Holidays?>> It will be an interesting year that's for sure. Many of the trends may be broken so I don't think anyone can predict how hours will be in the off season. Typically, hours drop off pretty drastically and filling up your schedule could sometime pose problems. But with the 50th, presenteeism enforcment, the changing of the CM status (possible elimination of PT, CR-25, CT), who knows what will happen. My guess is whours will be easier to come by, but again, who knows.
Originally Posted By SpoonCM HRH: HAHA...yah I guess I wouldn't expect anything less from a school that picks a Beaver as a mascot. Everyone remembers the GEMS switchover back when it started in 2000 or so? GEMS pumped out schedules that had more CMs at a location because it cut the hours that those CMs worked. At one point CMs hated it, but that issue kind of died down as CMs began to take advantage of the situation. Now with Presenteeism requiring RFT/RPT/CR-25 to work 30 hour/5 day work weeks, it looks like they want to increase hours worked and cut the amount of CMs at a location. By creating a limited amount of open positions and allowing CMs to hire on in large numbers, it creates competition for the better CM to stay on. That's what I think is happening. If you can work the hours Disney wants, you will most likely get to stay. If you can't, you either become a CR, CT, or seperated.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo <<That's what I think is happening. If you can work the hours Disney wants, you will most likely get to stay. If you can't, you either become a CR, CT, or seperated.>> That's just it, there might be a number of slots open as the CRs/CT who can't work the hours Disney wants leaves or a number of them will stay taking up every available hour. It’s a tough one to call, at least through the initial shock. SpoonCM: Have they been padding shifts like they used to? If so, that should help some, but if they're getting stingy with hours, it may be tough going come Autumn.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo <<HAHA...yah I guess I wouldn't expect anything less from a school that picks a Beaver as a mascot.>> What's up with Oregon anyway? Ducks and Beavers? Oregonians are strange folk.
Originally Posted By HRM [SpoonCM & tiggertoo thanks for the info; iluv & 'disneygal, hope you are still able to post some follow-ups, your input has been very helpful...] What is the progression of front line CM's? What are the advancement opportunities? Do many move into support, administrative, and corporate roles? Just as an aside, how many admin and corporate people walk the park and talk with the CM's? Do any actually "take a shift?" - (had to be careful there, huh tiggertoo!)
Originally Posted By imadisneygal Again, only a short minute to post (with a 7 month-old I never have a block of time!) When I was in Main Entrance management we spent at least one day a month in-costume working at the Main Entrance. I know they do not do that anymore, at least not regularly, because the upper management of the area has changed. My old ops manager is now the ops manager for Westside Attractions. She, and all of us on the management team, believed that working in-costume gives a different perspective. At the time I worked there it was expected that the managers would spend a good portion of their working day in the area. I thought it was great. Depending on your department's use of leads, that is generally the next step after front line CM. I became a working lead in Guest Relations about a year and a half after I started working there. Later that summer I was accepted into the Disneyland Leadership Development Program (DLDP, now called something else) and became a supervisor in Guest Relations. Shortly thereafter the "Center Stage" group that consisted of Main Entrance, Guest Relations, Parking Lot, and Main Street Attractions split up into different business units and I went to the Main Entrance. So in about two years time I was promoted into management. I stayed in that role until I left the Company a few years later although there was room for advancement with the expansion of the new Park/Downtown Disney, etc. As I understand it, Matt Ouimet spends time in the Parks talking to CM's. HE seems to be very highly regarded for this. Every time I've talked with him he seems genuinely interested in his role and the overall success of the Resort. I apologize in advance for any typos. And I'll blame the baby in my lap, although it's probably just me typing too fast!!
