Do Former Cast Members Still Love WDW?

mousemaniacs · Post by **mousemaniacs** » Feb Thu 21, 2008 12:49 pm

If you are a former cast member, I'd like to know if you still visit and love WDW after having to work there. Please let us know when and how long you worked there.

ghostelias · Post by **ghostelias** » Feb Thu 21, 2008 1:31 pm

I worked at Epcot in the Rose & Crown Pub for a year on the International Program. I loved working there and i still love visiting all of WDW especially Epcot because it reminds me of all the magic i created for the guests in my time there.

cap396 · Post by **cap396** » Feb Thu 21, 2008 2:59 pm

I know this is on the WDW thread, but I worked at Disneyland and still love it. I don't have any friends who still work there, but I still love going back. Unfortunately I'm now on the East Coast and have only been back once since I moved in 1996.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Feb Thu 21, 2008 4:08 pm

I think if any employees who didn't still love Disney wouldn't be here...kinda skews the poll a bit...

mousemaniacs · Post by **mousemaniacs** » Feb Thu 21, 2008 5:27 pm

Captain Schnemo wrote:I think if any employees who didn't still love Disney wouldn't be here...kinda skews the poll a bit...

...hmmm good point. maybe i'll just rephrase the original post and remove the poll.

UPDATE: looks like i can't remove the poll after the thread starts.

WishUponaStar · Post by **WishUponaStar** » Feb Thu 21, 2008 6:46 pm

I can't talk on personal experience b/c I was never a cast member ALTHOUGH I have three close friends who were; two of them still love it & one can't stand the thought. One was a server in an EPCOT restaurant, one was attractions at EPCOT, and the other did the college program and worked in the Magic Kingdom merch (mostly Emporium) . The two that worked at EPCOT still love Disney & vacation there frequently, my friend who worked at the Emporium never wants to see Disney again.

yodiwan1 · Post by **yodiwan1** » Feb Thu 21, 2008 9:59 pm

well,i can see someone loving the disney music, but not like disney anymore. A hated the disney company a year or so after i was let go, but loved all of my memories and friends i made there....i voted yes....hoe can someone not love it?

SWHorn · Post by **SWHorn** » Feb Fri 22, 2008 3:09 pm

I definitely still love it!

castmember04 · Post by **castmember04** » Feb Fri 22, 2008 7:08 pm

I am a former castmember. I was on the Disney College program and worked there for a year. I had a job offer after graduation in Brand Mgmt, but I'm too close to my family to make the move. Although I think about it every week. I am a HUGE Disney fan, and loved working there and will work there again someday. I worked in attractions while on College Program at Star Tours, and again later opening the Animal Kingdom the next year.

I visit WDW at least once a year and can never get enough. I loved it and still keep in contact with some of my former roommates. I will say however that it is different when you work there. As great as it is, and as big of a Disney Freak as I am, it is different. I don't want anyone at home thinking that they will give up everything they have and come down and work full time for the World.

I use to go the the parks every time I had a day off. But some days I only stayed a couple of hours. After awhile of being in the company and the culture, you can get tired of it and it isn't quite as special. It is a magical place to me ever since I was there as a 2 1/2 year old, but it loses a little bit of the kiddishness in me when I was around guests all the time. I loved it and cherish all my memories, but the experience changes once you become a cast member. Still I loved it so much that I will work there again someday when I retire in 30 years, but until that day I will go back every chance I get. My wife is now a fanatic and as soon as my 4 month old daughter can remember things, she will be too.

Calypso · Post by **Calypso** » Feb Sat 23, 2008 8:26 pm

I'm not a former castmember, or even a current castmember (but hope to be someday!), but my dad worked there for a bit driving one of the boats at EPCOT. And, yes, he still loves WDW. In fact, my parents visit WDW every year (several times a year, usually)!

reiki1 · Post by **reiki1** » Feb Tue 26, 2008 4:38 pm

I am a former cast member (for 5 yrs!!!!!) - I go every year (sometimes more than once) and visit the parks. I spend more time now visiting the people I used to work with - since none of them were in the college program (nor was I) many of them have been promoted and have been able to arrange special "magical moments" for all the newbies that I bring to Disney. As a matter of fact - once of my contacts helped my best friend's boss and family into the WDW today! Gotta love it.

SlueFootSue · Post by **SlueFootSue** » Feb Tue 26, 2008 5:02 pm

I STILL LOVE IT!! I was on the College Program from January 07 to August 07 and I now I am a seasonal Disney Cast Member. I loved everyday I was there, really, I never had a bad day at work! There are too many good things that happen everyday, too many smiles to not enjoy it. I went to the parks almost everyday, and saw Spectromagic every night for a few months. I never grew tired of anything I just fell more in love with it. Sometimes just watching the reactions of people is rewarding. For example my friend (also a CM) and I were in Disney Hollywood Studios during Star Wars Weekend last year. We were fighting with our lightsabers on New York Street, and an elder couple walked by, started to laugh and then out of the blue the man turned around picked up his cane, said "AH HA" and started fighting with us LOL!! He had become five years old again, it was amazing!

To make a long story short I still LOVE WDW yes!

Blackie Pueblo · Post by **Blackie Pueblo** » Feb Tue 26, 2008 6:39 pm

Hey everyone. I am not a a former castmember, but I wish I was. A former one is better than not one at all.

Anyway, two of my best friends use to work for Disney Reservations. And I can tell you they still love Disney. I didn't answer the poll for them though.

"Everything here at Disneyland and the studio is a team effort."
--Walter Elias Disney

sprincess1 · Post by **sprincess1** » Feb Thu 28, 2008 4:29 pm

Love everything Disney!! I worked at the Emporium in the MK for 3 and half years. Miss it tons!!

Post by **acp** » Feb Thu 28, 2008 7:10 pm

Although I haven't visited WDW since I was a Cast Member, I would love to visit again. I've been to DLRP since working at WDW, and if anything having been a Cast Member made me enjoy the parks more than I did previously. It certainly makes you appreciate the Cast Members a lot more having been one.

Andy. Former International Cast Member at the Disney-MGM Studios