Disney Cruise Line

[kcw]

so I'm thinking about maybe auditioning for a contract on DCL and I was wondering if anybody had actually worked on one of the ships, or if anyone knows anything else about it- I have a few questions!!!!!

- is the pay comparable to what it is in the parks?

- if I'm currently seasonal at WDW, can I keep that status as long as I continue to work the required hours per year?? Or can you not be employed by two different places (for lack of a better term) within Disney?

- when you're working on the ship, where is your technical residency? Ultimately I would like to move back to FL, finish school, and go FT or PT with disney again. But since I'd be giving up a full scholarship at my current university, as well as losing my parents insurance, I need to make some money first (hence the stint on the ship), and gain residency in FL for in-state tuition. If I were to move to florida first, get a driver's license and whatnot, and then work on the ship for 9 months, could I be earning residency at the same time??? WOuld they still count that as working and residing in FL??

that's all I can think of.... I'm sure I'll have more if there's someone here who knows anything about this!!! Thanks!!!

 

[juan]

Here's what I know about the DCL
you work about 70 -80 hours a week
any free time is spent on crew decks - you are not allowed in any guest areas when you aren't working
you work a long period (I think 2mos) and then get 2-3 weeks off, then back on again

 

[ImaYoyo]

so I'm thinking about maybe auditioning for a contract on DCL and I was wondering if anybody had actually worked on one of the ships, or if anyone knows anything else about it- I have a few questions!!!!!

- is the pay comparable to what it is in the parks?

- if I'm currently seasonal at WDW, can I keep that status as long as I continue to work the required hours per year?? Or can you not be employed by two different places (for lack of a better term) within Disney?

- when you're working on the ship, where is your technical residency? Ultimately I would like to move back to FL, finish school, and go FT or PT with disney again. But since I'd be giving up a full scholarship at my current university, as well as losing my parents insurance, I need to make some money first (hence the stint on the ship), and gain residency in FL for in-state tuition. If I were to move to florida first, get a driver's license and whatnot, and then work on the ship for 9 months, could I be earning residency at the same time??? WOuld they still count that as working and residing in FL??

that's all I can think of.... I'm sure I'll have more if there's someone here who knows anything about this!!! Thanks!!!

Nope, you can only work for 1 unit within the company.

As far as residency, yes, you could earn it at the same time, as long as your home address is a FL address.

As far as entertainment contracts, I unfortunately don't have any info on that. You're a CM now, right? On the Hub, check through "contacts" for Cruise Line HR. They'll be able to give you lots of info!



I would offer to walk to 210 and ask some questions myself, but my next two weeks are going to be crazy busy. Sorry.

 

[Rabflmom]

when you're working on the ship, where is your technical residency? Ultimately I would like to move back to FL, finish school, and go FT or PT with disney again. But since I'd be giving up a full scholarship at my current university, as well as losing my parents insurance, I need to make some money first (hence the stint on the ship), and gain residency in FL for in-state tuition. If I were to move to florida first, get a driver's license and whatnot, and then work on the ship for 9 months, could I be earning residency at the same time??? WOuld they still count that as working and residing in FL??>>>>>>>>


Residency can be tricky when it comes to proving it. . Not sure of all the specifics so best bet would be talking to a state school admissions office, but
you definitely would have to be an independent student getting no money from your parents for school or living. There is a whole bunch of rules proving independence including them checking your income tax statements and those of your parents proving that you are not claimed by them. You would have to have a Florida driver's license for a full 12 months with no license from your home state. You have to have rent or mortgage statements proving that you are a Florida resident for a full 12 months before you send in any application for admittance. I am not sure that living on a ship will even qualify as residency so you might need an apartment somewhere too.
I forget whether Disney Cruise lines is one of the rare lines that actually sails under the US or if like most they use a foreign country as their origination because of the easier taxing etc. You would need to check residency on a ship with the university, too.
It used to be easier to prove residency but they tightened the belt when too many students were getting around paying out of state tuition at so many colleges around the country. Out of state tuition helps pay the bills so colleges do not want to give it up if they don't have to.
I know you aren't asking for this advise but I am a mom/teacher 24/7.
As a parent who has had a student in the Florida system for years, I would say. Finish school at home using your scholarship. Then come down to Florida if you want to live here and get your graduate degree while working for Disney. College is expensive even with the scholarships that my son had in his undergraduate years. Get as much education as you can without having to pay for it yourself. I can tell you that working at Disney full time(in a skilled position that starts out at a little higher pay); it takes everything my son makes to pay his tuition and his living expenses. So far he has not taken over his car payment or car insurance because that would mean not being able to eat each month. He doesn't have much money left over to have a social life unless it is almost free so they(his roommates and him) end up at Disney parks a lot, renting movies, and staying home.

 

[jiminy.cricket]

I second that! Dude, if you have a full ride already, just finish it up and move down afterward. I know that's not what you were asking, but I had the urge to say that! If you overload, you can even graduate early!

 

[kcw]

I second that! Dude, if you have a full ride already, just finish it up and move down afterward. I know that's not what you were asking, but I had the urge to say that! If you overload, you can even graduate early!

haha so I should have clarified a little bit- Normally, I would never even think about giving up that scholarship just to move to florida and work at Disney. BUT i'm all but completely fed up with my university, which is part of the reason I want to move. There's no way I could graduate early, in fact, as of right now they have set me to graduate at least a year and a half after when I was originally supposed to. This is simply because they do not offer enough classes to accomodate for the HUGE number of students we have (I think ASU is the second largest in the nation right now...) So each semester, I'm just wasting time, because I can only take maybe 3 classes that actually count towards my degree- the rest are "just for kicks" classes to fill out the rest of my schedule. I think it is absolutely ridiculous that my advisor suggested that I pick up some classes at the local community college just so that I can get all my requirements finished. Plus I am also looking into the new med school that UCF will be opening, and I think it might be to my benefit if I've already done some time there at UCF prior to applying. I do understand what you guys are saying about finishing school first, and normally I'd agree 100%.... but I can't stay at my school much longer for fear I'll get too frustrated and drop out completely!!!

imayoyo- thanks, I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of using the portal (sorry, hub) for more info- i'll be sure to check that out. and no worries, I know what it's like to have a Disney schedule!!!

thanks everyone else for the replies- i haven't made any for sure decisions but want to at least get info on all the possibilities.... If anyone has anything else to add please do!!!

 

[Lindsy1052]

haha so I should have clarified a little bit- Normally, I would never even think about giving up that scholarship just to move to florida and work at Disney. BUT i'm all but completely fed up with my university, which is part of the reason I want to move. There's no way I could graduate early, in fact, as of right now they have set me to graduate at least a year and a half after when I was originally supposed to. This is simply because they do not offer enough classes to accomodate for the HUGE number of students we have (I think ASU is the second largest in the nation right now...) So each semester, I'm just wasting time, because I can only take maybe 3 classes that actually count towards my degree- the rest are "just for kicks" classes to fill out the rest of my schedule. I think it is absolutely ridiculous that my advisor suggested that I pick up some classes at the local community college just so that I can get all my requirements finished. Plus I am also looking into the new med school that UCF will be opening, and I think it might be to my benefit if I've already done some time there at UCF prior to applying. I do understand what you guys are saying about finishing school first, and normally I'd agree 100%.... but I can't stay at my school much longer for fear I'll get too frustrated and drop out completely!!!

imayoyo- thanks, I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of using the portal (sorry, hub) for more info- i'll be sure to check that out. and no worries, I know what it's like to have a Disney schedule!!!

thanks everyone else for the replies- i haven't made any for sure decisions but want to at least get info on all the possibilities.... If anyone has anything else to add please do!!!

They are right about working in only one department at Disney at a time. As to residency, you have to have a legal address here in order to get a Fl. Dr. Lic. Being on the ship does not count as the ships registry is in the Bahamas not the United States. You would have to wait till you term on the ship is done, you take an apartment in Florida and go back to work for Disney. You cannot register in a Florida College as a resident until you have lived here at least 1 year.

 

[jiminy.cricket]

Oh, that totally makes sense; I've heard about class issues like that. The down side is, I don't think UCF is that different! It's about the same size. They might be better with scheduling, though. I have no idea. But even if they aren't, at least you'd be waiting it out in Orlando and going to school with other CMs! And if you're looking at med school at UCF, then yes, most definitely having Florida residency is important because you have the highest chance of being accepted by med schools in your state of residence!

 

[coasterphil]

UCF isn't going to be any better about scheduling, its huge like ASU and the budget cuts are only going to make it harder for you to take the classes you need.


As far as establishing residency for tuition purposes, don't count on it. The process you must go through to actually prove it to the school has so many steps and rules that I don't think many people ever get it done. You'd be better off seeing if UCF will give you a scholarship. They gave me one covering 50%, so you might be able to get enough to make it work.