Originally Posted By Westsider Anyone who longs for the days of CM's parking in the Minnie and Mickey sections is forgetting a few things. I remember parking there for a few summers. And I remember the long backup up Harbor Blvd. to pull into the lot through that one lane entrance. Worse, I remember the huge traffic jams getting out of the lot around 1:00 AM on summer closings or weekends or at 5:00 PM during the shift change when you would idle for minutes on end waiting for your lane to move and inch closer to the exit back on to Harbor Blvd. And then Harbor would be a parking lot too as all the guests poured out of their exits farther south on Harbor. The old Disneyland parking lot can by a misty, nostalgic thing, and I miss it too. But I don't miss one bit the horrendous traffic jams on busier days that would clog both the CM sections of the lot and the surface streets around the lot back towards the freeway. There's a reason CM's used to sit on the trunks of their cars for half an hour talking after their shift. The traffic was so bad getting out of the lot that there was no use in trying to go anywhere, so why not just sit and talk for awhile?
Originally Posted By JobyCA65 And trust me, working those mass exits as a Main St./Parking Lot CM was probably the most challenging thing I ever did at the park, whether it was directing traffic, or maneuvering the trams through those mass exits. I remember doing things with those trams I didn't think imaginable. I worked Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and Main St. Parking Lot Attractions, and I think the only thing I did in the park that could come close to being as stressful was working Space Mountain. And I think I would still give the edge to P-Lot, where you were faced with thousands of guests, in their own cars, each with their own idea as to what they thought was the best way out of the lot. As for the CM discussion, I'm not sure how I would go about comparing today's CMs with those of yesterland. It does feel like a different environment in some ways. But times are changing too. The addition of DCA was inevitably going to expand the scope of the operation and make it less personable. Even some of the more periperal changes such as mixing genders on certain attractions that previously weren't, and the allowance of facial hair too, has changed the park on a surficial level. I remember having friends who had no interest in working at the park because they wanted to let their hair grow longer, or they wanted to grow mustaches. It was too clean cut for the taste of some. And it was too structured for others. Now that those things have been relaxed, that has created some changes that some of us older CMs aren't used to seeing. Of course those who worked there in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and quit, probably came back in the 80s and thought we had changed too. Overall though I'm not so sure if what is at the crux of the CM has changed. I think most of the CMs who work at the park do so because they want to be part of that Disney magic. And that's why I did it when I hired in in '83. I will say that I do think the overall face of the company changed through the course of the strike. It not only changed some of the interpersonal relationships at the park that had been strong for decades, but it also changed the face of the company itself. A lot of people who would not have otherwise done so, quit. There was the sense of family that was lost with many; that family that Walt had put into motion back in 1955. IMO, there will always be the Disney name, and the Disney magic, but how it's carried out will inevitably change over the years. I guess that is to be expected.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "Have you ever worked for Disney in any capacity? If so, where and doing what?" I worked for a year in Foods, had some fun, had some hardships, made some friends, and then quit when I got a better job. It's the typical Disneyland work experience.
Originally Posted By Westsider Here's a Casting update... The Casting Center is now closed on Saturdays, beginning this weekend. The Casting Center was closed today, after reopening from the two week holiday closure on Monday and operating normal business hours through Friday afternoon. Today, for the first time since at least 2000, the Casting Center failed to open on a Saturday to process applicants who would come in to apply on a weekend. There is no current plan to open Casting for Saturday operation, although my friend said they will probably go back to a Saturday schedule for a month or two in the spring to get ready for some summer hiring. We got two New Hires in our Attractions area this weekend. A buddy of mine talked to one of them on Saturday afternoon, a very nice college girl (cute too) who applied back in August and had been on the waiting list since then. She was really excited to be accepted. There's also a new guy I heard they put on Canoes, another college guy. According to friends, this guy is "not a tool". For Canoe guys, that's about the same as the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. It's a long way from the felons, dropouts and druggies we would have received two years ago.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "I worked for a year in Foods, had some fun, had some hardships, made some friends, and then quit when I got a better job. It's the typical Disneyland work experience." So you're an expert then all things Disney work experience. How many years have you been in the work force in total?
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "So you're an expert then all things Disney work experience. How many years have you been in the work force in total?" Eight years, I guess. Look, I just don't think working at Disneyland is as good as a job they make it out to be. There is no "Disney Difference" and management and guests treat and pay the employees like crap. There are better jobs out there for first-time workers and/or people who need a part-time job while doing to school. And you definitely can't make a real living working at Disneyland.
Originally Posted By VanFrance2009 <<Look, I just don't think working at Disneyland is as good as a job they make it out to be. There is no "Disney Difference" and management and guests treat and pay the employees like crap.>> Really, Cast Members get paid like crap? I can just see this during the hiring process. Casting Rep says "Well, congrats! I'm going to hire you. Your rate of pay? Crap! Isn't that great?" New CM "Oh thank you so much for the opportunity to make crap!" Once again, it's no surprise to anyone when they take a job as to what they are going to be making. I just don't feel bad for folks that complain about this.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones And yet people complain about the worsening performance of the general cast.
Originally Posted By VanFrance2009 I think my argument that Cast Members are pining for "Good Old Days" that were really not better than the present can also be applied to guests that are pining for the "Good Old Days" of superior service from Cast Members.
Originally Posted By VanFrance2009 <<In any case, the moral of the story is to stay in school.>> And here is where we can completely agree. I do believe that the Disneyland Resort has great opportunities for 18 to 21 year olds for a first or second job. But if you are in your late 20's or early 30's, and you are applying for an entry level job anywhere, you might want to take a look in the mirror and ask how you got into that position. VF
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL >>>> But the macro view tells us that by developing a system that allows Attractions Cast Members to get the same amount of breaks as the rest of the Cast Members, the Company had righted a wrong that had been in place since the Park opened. Let me be clear here, nobody deserves more breaks than anyone else. Nobody. All of the Cast works hard and all deserve to have a break every two hours. No more, no less<<<< I had to stop reading and respond to this one. Sorry if someone else already chimed in. You are 100% incorrect and I'll site one personal case but could go for many more. I started my Disneyland employ on the Davey Crockett Explorer Canoes and sorry but in no way shape or form is working 2 hours on Canoes the same as 2 hours on the Mark Twain or running Country Bear Jamboree. Shall I go on....
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <<But if you are in your late 20's or early 30's, and you are applying for an entry level job anywhere, you might want to take a look in the mirror and ask how you got into that position.>>> Why? I am in my 40's married in N.CA my DH makes enough for me to be a stay at home mom for the past 17 years. If I lived in S.CA I would apply for a job at DL. Some people like working in that industry - they enjoy helping others have a magical experience and some just love being at DL.
Originally Posted By VanFrance2009 All I wrote was "take a look and ask how you got into that position." When you looked at yourself in the mirror, you came up with an acceptable answer for you. I think there are many others that get into this situation, they blame others or a Company instead of accepting responsibility for choices made early in their adult life.
Originally Posted By VanFrance2009 <<I had to stop reading and respond to this one. Sorry if someone else already chimed in. You are 100% incorrect and I'll site one personal case but could go for many more. I started my Disneyland employ on the Davey Crockett Explorer Canoes and sorry but in no way shape or form is working 2 hours on Canoes the same as 2 hours on the Mark Twain or running Country Bear Jamboree. Shall I go on....>> I'm actually correct on this and it is something that you could look up. It is in the Cast Member contract. If Canoe Cast Members deserved more breaks or lunches than any other Cast Member, it would be in the contract. It's not. Is it hard work? Yes. Do other Cast Members outside of attractions have roles that are equally as difficult or even harder? Yes. I'm sorry, TMichael. I'm not wrong about this. Cast Members that are covered by a collective bargaining agreement have their allotted breaks and lunches determined by this. VF
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA TMICHAEL -- I started my Disney employ at Walt Disney World at the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes at WDW. I had just graduated from college -- I looked in the mirror and said 'Hey there handsome!'
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL LOL, me too Jim! In fact I still say it. (actually, I started my freshman year but HI BROTHER)
Originally Posted By monorailblue It is always interesting to be in the midst of a firestorm of posts. Doesn't happen to me very often. One reason Attractions Cast Members had more breaks is because they, unlike virtually any other Cast Members, take people's lives into their own hands all day long. That is also one reason why rotations developed--and, until CDS, Attractions CMs moved positions every 15-30 minutes (or more frequently). Just an observation--which may not need to have been made--I didn't read through all the posts. Sigh. Changes in breaks and meals is more a direct result of unbelievably strict CA labor laws than collective bargaining, though both obviously impact the workday. CA laws are at the point of ridiculousness. Example: in a non-exempt position, when a meal break is mandatory, the employer cannot EVER refrain from giving a meal break, even when the employee--a sentient, free thinking adult--agrees to forgo a meal break. Suppose a Cast Member writes the following: "Let it be known to all the world that on this day, when I happen to be scheduled just barely long enough that I am entitled to a mandatory, uninterrupted, unpaid meal break of 30 minutes, I choose, happily, cheerfully and willingly and knowing all my legal rights and entitlements to forego that right today (and today only) because I'm not hungry and not tired, and, for crying out loud, I am a freaking adult and am not being oppressed by my employer. Love and Kisses, Cast Member." Supposing she then has 17 witnesses sign an attestation that the Cast Member declared the foregoing to be true and correct, and they signed the attestation under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California. Supposing they all did this before a busload of Superior Court judges and a busload of nuns. Suppose that Disneyland then says to the Cast Member, "Thanks!" and let's the Cast Member actually forgo a lunch period. Guess who has an absolute, strict and indefensible liability to the Cast Member? Disneyland. That is how absurd it has become. When Arnold asks for concessions in labor laws and regulations to encourage business growth and development, he's actually (somehow) on to something super important. The scenario I've painted doesn't protect a worker--it severely impairs the right to contract. Any break/meal period laws should always allow for a knowing waiver. You can waive your right to a speedy trial, to a jury trial, to have an equal distribution of your property upon dissolution, your right to an attorney, your right to inherit, etc., etc., etc. But you have no right at all to skip a lunch--even if it is better for you and or your employer on a particular day. LUNACY! Which is a bit off our topic, but I'm sure you didn't mind. :O)
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones Should a meal period ever be mandatory? Even when you're working overtime? When you're working with heavy machinery? I mean, you gotta eat sometime or you risk becoming too fatigued to perform. I don't want my bus driver driving for eight hours without having something to eat. I can see people foregoing lunch during a long shift in order to make an extra 9 bucks for the hour to the detriment of the safety of guests. You work eight hours, you eat.
