Disney as Employer??

SWHorn · Post by **SWHorn** » Jul Mon 02, 2007 12:24 pm

GhostHost wrote:
casrin wrote:^ And of course, all of that is true at any job, really.
Yep. However, most jobs don't involve catering to people on vacation. People expect (even if unrealistically) to be greeted with smiling faces and fun. I think most CM's accomplish this regardless of what may be going on in the "real world".

I agree. If they don't, they probably won't be working for Disney very long.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jul Mon 02, 2007 1:56 pm

Also, cast members must do all of that, in all kinds of weather- including the hot hot humidity.

Post by **acp** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 3:59 am

Lion Sleeps Tonight wrote:Also, cast members must do all of that, in all kinds of weather- including the hot hot humidity.

And the pouring rain!

I seem to remember getting soaked one evening because I didn't have one of the clear plastic raincoat thingies that the cast usually have, and it suddenly started *really* pouring down. Fortunately, my cart was about to be closed and I wasn't in the rain for too long.. But I still had to wait a couple of hours before I could get back to Vista Way to change out of the soggy ODF costume!

Also... Try selling ice creams and cold drinks to people when it's a rather chilly morning.. It doesn't work too well!

Andy.

Guy · Post by **Guy** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 5:32 am

acp wrote:
Lion Sleeps Tonight wrote:
Also... Try selling ice creams and cold drinks to people when it's a rather chilly morning.. It doesn't work too well!

Andy.

LOL... I must say that the vast majority of CM I encountered seemed happy and were very active in creating the fa'mouse' Disney Magic. It is a shame that there were a few (for example doing the History of Disney ride at MGM) that seemed not just bored but as if they had had their personalities sucked out. That said, you get this in every company. Does anyone know if WDW uses undercover inspector to keep tabs on staff? Such trials are very popular with companies in the UK.

Post by **acp** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 6:52 am

Guy wrote:LOL... I must say that the vast majority of CM I encountered seemed happy and were very active in creating the fa'mouse' Disney Magic. It is a shame that there were a few (for example doing the History of Disney ride at MGM) that seemed not just bored but as if they had had their personalities sucked out. That said, you get this in every company. Does anyone know if WDW uses undercover inspector to keep tabs on staff? Such trials are very popular with companies in the UK.

I don't think they do the "mystery shopper" thing that's common over here in the UK, but the various managers do wander around the parks and sneak up on you every now and then..

I do remember working away one afternoon, taking an order from a guest and tapping it into the handheld register thingie.. Turning round to go and get said order only to have it handed to me by one of the managers who I didn't even notice sneak up behind me

But yeah. The managers do go round checking that everything is OK, helping out every now and then.

Andy.

Guy · Post by **Guy** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 6:58 am

Scary - I suppose that there is loads of CCTV that they could also keep an eye on you with too!

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 7:06 am

Big Brother is watching!

Post by **acp** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 7:21 am

Guy wrote:Scary - I suppose that there is loads of CCTV that they could also keep an eye on you with too!

Yes there are.

Like this one

I managed to spot some of them whilst standing at the carts with no guests...

The majority of the managers aren't bad. They'll come up and point out what you need to fix or sort out, but they're often nice about it. A couple of them are more picky about things, but once you figure out how to work with them, you're fine

Of course, the idea is to not have them have to tell you to fix things by doing them right to start with...

Andy.

Guy · Post by **Guy** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 7:30 am

Well at least they are nice about it - a rarity in most jobs!

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 8:06 am

acp wrote:
Guy wrote:Scary - I suppose that there is loads of CCTV that they could also keep an eye on you with too!
Yes there are.

Like this one

I managed to spot some of them whilst standing at the carts with no guests...

The majority of the managers aren't bad. They'll come up and point out what you need to fix or sort out, but they're often nice about it. A couple of them are more picky about things, but once you figure out how to work with them, you're fine

Of course, the idea is to not have them have to tell you to fix things by doing them right to start with...

Andy.

I have seen those cameras on the castle as well. They do a pretty decent job of hiding them but they are there for sure. I bet the person sitting in front of the monitors gets to see some pretty interesting things!

Guy · Post by **Guy** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 8:12 am

I should imagine so. I was reading about a book online that details a lot of what the CCTV people get to see, particularly on the dark rides

However, in one of the reviews a series of former CM said that they were well onto this guy when he was researching for his book (which from what I understand was basically an exposÃ© of Disney) - and as a result, they and other CM purposely fed him a load of rubbish to set him up.

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 8:21 am

Do you happen to have a link to that information?

Guy · Post by **Guy** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 8:36 am

I have just tried to find it, but cannot. I know that the book was on amazon and it had mixed reviews. Some people felt that it really spoilt the magic and it was a number of cast members who added to the reviews that said that they had faked stories to the author. I remember that the book dealt with quite a few 'adult themes' as well as accidents at the parks.

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Jul Tue 03, 2007 9:19 am

Guy wrote:I have just tried to find it, but cannot. I know that the book was on amazon and it had mixed reviews. Some people felt that it really spoilt the magic and it was a number of cast members who added to the reviews that said that they had faked stories to the author. I remember that the book dealt with quite a few 'adult themes' as well as accidents at the parks.

No worries, I was just curious. I know there are no shortage of books about Disney, both those that paint it in a positive as well as a negative light.

BrandanW · Post by **BrandanW** » Jul Wed 04, 2007 12:46 am

I had worked for them for about a year and 1/2 and I loved it. If the job paid a little better I would not mind working there forever

.... think about it where else can you go that if your having a bad day work makes you feel better. It is awfully hard to be sad in WDW.