So, your level of Disney geekery (and/or boredom) has reached a level you didn't think it could, and you decide, HEY! I want a debit card with the cool Disney font and permission to access literally three backstage areas (well, one - Disney University. The Disney Springs and South International Drive branches are open to the public). But you don't want to become a CM, because let's be honest, you enjoy playing in the parks, not working there (or in my case, you're on property often enough that doing some of your banking there makes sense). Well, good news friend, there's Partners FCU - the Cast Member Credit Union!
Here's how you do it!
1- Join the Disneyland Alumni Club. It's a $25 fee and ANYONE* can join. And it's a 501c3, so you get a tax write off for the donation!
2- Save your receipt. If you don't receive them, email the treasurer who can get you a copy. This happened to me.
3- Once you have your receipt, THEN apply for membership, Make sure to select "Employee of an Operating Participant / Other Company", then select "Disneyland Alumni Club", and include a screenshot of your profile page from the Disneyland Alumni Club as your "employee ID"
4- Once you've submitted your application, wait a few days to be contacted by a Partners FCU rep. Because you're not a CM, they need to verify your membership manually. This is where the receipt comes in handy.
5- Offer to send in your receipt as part of the verification process, then email it to the person you've been in contact with.
6- If all goes well, you will be approved and will receive an email welcoming you to Partners FCU. In my case, it was about 8 days from start to finish, due to a weekend being in the middle, my work schedule taking up a lot of my time, and this being a test for me. But realistically, it could be from one day to another.
*the website makes several mentions about non-CM's being in the club, but doesn't specifically say non-former-CM's can or can't join. My status as a current or former CM was never asked.
Here's how you do it!
1- Join the Disneyland Alumni Club. It's a $25 fee and ANYONE* can join. And it's a 501c3, so you get a tax write off for the donation!
2- Save your receipt. If you don't receive them, email the treasurer who can get you a copy. This happened to me.
3- Once you have your receipt, THEN apply for membership, Make sure to select "Employee of an Operating Participant / Other Company", then select "Disneyland Alumni Club", and include a screenshot of your profile page from the Disneyland Alumni Club as your "employee ID"
4- Once you've submitted your application, wait a few days to be contacted by a Partners FCU rep. Because you're not a CM, they need to verify your membership manually. This is where the receipt comes in handy.
5- Offer to send in your receipt as part of the verification process, then email it to the person you've been in contact with.
6- If all goes well, you will be approved and will receive an email welcoming you to Partners FCU. In my case, it was about 8 days from start to finish, due to a weekend being in the middle, my work schedule taking up a lot of my time, and this being a test for me. But realistically, it could be from one day to another.
*the website makes several mentions about non-CM's being in the club, but doesn't specifically say non-former-CM's can or can't join. My status as a current or former CM was never asked.
