Disney Career?

[tigger248]

So, I just graduated from UofL and am currently looking for a career. I'd love to build my career with Disney. How realistic is that? Is it even feasible for someone to move to Florida and start a job with Disney? (i.e. is the pay enough for someone to survive?)

I have tons of theme park experience since I am a current Guest Relations Supervisor at Six Flags (where I've worked for like 9 years) and I am a CP Alumni. In addition, I'm also a part time cast member at the local Disney Store.

Does Disney hire directly into Guest Relations? That's what I really want to do, since that's where the majority of my experience lies.

Any advice/input/suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

[Lexxweb]

Well, the Disney store is no longer associated with Disney (Suprised? I was too) They're associated with Children's Place but have the rights to Disney merchandise.
Anyways, with all your experience and everything you mentioned I would actually be shocked if they didn't let you in. You should be able to survive right now. It won't be the best living experience in the world, but after a while I'm sure Disney would move you up their latter and you could make more money.

Lexxweb

 

[Captain Hank]

So, I just graduated from UofL and am currently looking for a career. I'd love to build my career with Disney. How realistic is that? Is it even feasible for someone to move to Florida and start a job with Disney? (i.e. is the pay enough for someone to survive?)

I have tons of theme park experience since I am a current Guest Relations Supervisor at Six Flags (where I've worked for like 9 years) and I am a CP Alumni. In addition, I'm also a part time cast member at the local Disney Store.

Does Disney hire directly into Guest Relations? That's what I really want to do, since that's where the majority of my experience lies.

Any advice/input/suggestions would be much appreciated!

Unfortunately, most hiring for Guest Relations is done from within. It's only very rarely (almost never) even offered to new applicants at Casting. Now, there is one exception to this: the Guest Relations professional internship. Here's a link to the info page for it: https://disney.recruitmax.com//main...ToSearch=1&szWordsToHighlight=Guest Relations

I know of several people who got this internship and then stayed on with Guest Relations full-time afterwards.

 

[coasterphil]

Yeah, I don't want to be a downer but I don't think Disney Guest Relations is going to consider your experience at Six Flags as proof enough that you'd be a good fit for them. You'd likely just end up frontline somewhere else.

 

[tigger248]

Thanks everyone for the input!

Yeah, I know that Disney Store is no longer owned by Disney, but I still call myself a cast member...lol Especially since I've been there since before the sale was even in talks!

Don't you have to still be in college to do a professional internship? I'm really regretting not applying for a second CP last spring when I had the chance. Maybe I should go enroll in some random community college class so I can be a student again...

Six Flags may not have the greatest reputation in the world, but I still consider my service experience to be somewhat valuable. Our park has been through some tough times (esp. this year...), and I'd say I've dealt with a bit of everything experience wise!

I don't know, maybe I'm aiming too high...

 

[cm1988]

Check your budget

Thanks everyone for the input!

Yeah, I know that Disney Store is no longer owned by Disney, but I still call myself a cast member...lol Especially since I've been there since before the sale was even in talks!

Don't you have to still be in college to do a professional internship? I'm really regretting not applying for a second CP last spring when I had the chance. Maybe I should go enroll in some random community college class so I can be a student again...

Six Flags may not have the greatest reputation in the world, but I still consider my service experience to be somewhat valuable. Our park has been through some tough times (esp. this year...), and I'd say I've dealt with a bit of everything experience wise!

I don't know, maybe I'm aiming too high...

If you can afford to, Merchandise would be an obvious starting place. After 6 months, you can transfer... and you sound like a good candidate for Guest Relations. They (at least used to) require 6 months in-park experience.

But please do a budget before considering hourly work at WDW. You would probably have to share housing, already own a car and really need to live frugally for a while.

Another thing you might do is just plan to work at WDW for a few months. Take kind of a sabbatical... maybe work there through the holidays and then resume your career elsewhere. Of course, you've already done the CP and so maybe that wouldn't be what you want.

 

[Lindsy1052]

If you can afford to, Merchandise would be an obvious starting place. After 6 months, you can transfer... and you sound like a good candidate for Guest Relations. They (at least used to) require 6 months in-park experience.

But please do a budget before considering hourly work at WDW. You would probably have to share housing, already own a car and really need to live frugally for a while.

Another thing you might do is just plan to work at WDW for a few months. Take kind of a sabbatical... maybe work there through the holidays and then resume your career elsewhere. Of course, you've already done the CP and so maybe that wouldn't be what you want.

If your looking to make a living, Disney is not for you. The pay is horrible and raises can be as low as a nickel for the year....Good job for someone who is married and their spouse has a good paying job. Lots of Disney employees are on Welfare, apartments are not cheap unless your willing to have roommates. Guest Relations is not one of your higher paying jobs. Even managers do not make much money unless your a General Manager at one of the Resorts and those jobs are almost impossible to get.