Advancement....???

[terp79]

So I need some help. I have a ton of questions and I'm just going to ask and I hope that someone out there in cyberland can help answer them.

Back story: I'm a college graduate who majored in fine art. Just graduated this spring. I have never done the WDW CP because the University I attended did not take part and looked down at the CP. I did however win 1st place in Walt Disney Imagineering's ImagiNations Contest. I have had 2 portfolio reviews/interviews with Imagineering out in Glendale and just rescently interviewed for a position at wdi in orlando. I did not get the position in orlando because they hired enternally, using the opening for a promotion for that lucky person. My ultimate goal is to one day work at WDI in orlando.

With that in mind i know that I must follow in the footsteps of some of the many great imagineers and start at the bottom and work up.
I'm currently tossing over in my mind going down and just applying for a full time position within the park. Cost of living in todays crazy world will also have me working a second job most likely. When interviewing for the position 2 weeks ago both imagineers said that they both worked in the park before advancement into their positions at wdi.

Questions:
Is there opportunity for advancement within the parks? If so how our these advancements handled? Is there an enternal job listing for current cast members to view if and when new positions open up? I've heard that there was. I've also heard about all the different divisions of employment within the park any suggestions as to what would be good for advancement? I heard guest relations??? Does anyone know someone in the casting office i could speak to? Does the casting office have a Human Resources Dept. that i could contact to ask questions?

Thanks.

 

[Blizz]

Well, let me see if I can help you at all from my phone calls with WDW Casting in the past few months.

If you are a hard working CM who shows dedication you will rise quickly. If you worked operations within a year you could easily be in a coordinator position if they liked you enough to move you up fast.

Guest relations is very very very hard to get into. It is on the same level as most positions, however it is a more respected and desired position. This is a job you would have to move into internally.

Part-time CM's can transfer between departments and positions anytime they choose. Full-time CM's can only move every 6 months.

Internal job listing are posted on the Walt Disney World Cast Portal, available to all CMs once employeed.

Casting is split into different divisions. There is hourly casting, entertainment casting, professional casting, and executive casting. Everyone must start at central casting/Disney Worldwide Services. From there your resume is passed along (if needed) to that departments recruiters.

You can contact the WDW Job Line for more questions however they will refer you to the DisneyCareers.com website.

As far as what role to start in? Like I have been told for the role I am after -- start anywhere. Look at D!ck Nunis, he went from a trainer at Disneyland in the 50's to Chairman of Walt Disney Attractions or Al Weiss who started out with Disney zeroing out registers at the end of the day. Today he is President for Worldwide Operations of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

As long as you show your true colors, anything is possible.

If all else fails, keep calling them. They might tell you to stop or they might cave and just give you the role.

Good luck.