Disney offers chance at 5 park 'jobs'

mcbates23

Member
Original Poster
Just found this artical online at:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/lo...7jan26,0,3780631.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

Not the type of job I would like. Maybe the person who sets up and launches the wishes fireworks. Or the Bell hop at TOT.

Everyone knows that today's employers think a great deal about increasing productivity and decreasing payroll expenses, but what are their workers dreaming about?

Would you believe having more fun?

A Harris Interactive poll released Thursday said American workers put fun at the top of the list of rewards they would want from a dream job. Fun dramatically topped money and making a difference in society as the one thing they most wanted from work.

Harris conducted the survey on behalf of Walt Disney Co. and CareerBuilder.com, an employment-advertising Web site. CareerBuilder is owned by Gannett Co., McClatchy Co. and Tribune Co., parent of the Orlando Sentinel.

The survey also found that 84 percent of workers aren't currently in their dream job.

More than 6,000 respondents ranked the qualities they sought most from employment. The results were released Thursday at Walt Disney World during Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" media event.

As part of the announcement, Disney said it would offer five one-day "dream jobs" in a competition to be held in conjunction with CareerBuilder. The survey found that 57 percent of U.S. workers thought it would be fun to work at a Disney theme park.

Candidates must be at least 18 years old, and willing to submit an online resume by Feb. 20 at careerbuilder.com/disney dreamjobs. The public will select five finalists for each of five dream jobs, and winners will receive a trip to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., in June.

The jobs include a Jungle Cruise skipper, a Haunted Mansion butler or maid, an apprentice pirate, a Fantasyland princess-in-waiting or a Disney park parade performer.

"This is an opportunity to have a once-in-a-day dream," Disney Worldwide Operations President Al Weiss said.

Disney spokesman Duncan Wardle said the contest should enhance awareness of employment opportunities at the theme parks.

"What we really wanted to do is to raise awareness of the positions available at Walt Disney World and Disneyland," Wardle said. "We saw this as a fun way to get out there and talk about employment with Disney."

The Harris survey tackled the ideal employment issue from two perspectives: the careers respondents dreamed about as children and those that were most highly ranked among adults. For children, firefighter was at that top of the list, followed by princess and professional dancer. President and cowboy tied for fourth place.

Adults rated firefighting and law-enforcement jobs most highly, followed by teaching, real-estate sales and engineering.

Employment satisfaction varies widely by city. Thirty-seven percent of workers polled in Boston felt they had their dream job. Other cities with high employment contentment included Sacramento, Calif., San Francisco, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Dallas and Portland.

Workers were least likely to say they had their ideal job in San Diego, Phoenix, Detroit, Atlanta and Miami.

Christopher Boyd can be reached at cboyd@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5723.
 

jmvd20

Well-Known Member
Not really my idea of a "dream" job though I do think it would be fun to do those jobs for a day. I think one of the options should have been Disney Co. CEO with a one day salary to match.
 

maelstrom

Well-Known Member
I think that most of the people who think working in a Disney theme park is uber fun have never really talked to someone who does it day in and day out. While I know it can be fun and rewarding at times, but after awhile, working 9 to 12 hour days for minimum wage and dealing with people who leave their brains at home on a regular basis is not really all that fun. It takes a special kind of person to stay at Disney longterm (and we love you!).
 

chappy

New Member
I think that most of the people who think working in a Disney theme park is uber fun have never really talked to someone who does it day in and day out. While I know it can be fun and rewarding at times, but after awhile, working 9 to 12 hour days for minimum wage and dealing with people who leave their brains at home on a regular basis is not really all that fun. It takes a special kind of person to stay at Disney longterm (and we love you!).

Agreed! I just went to a leadership training class and one of the things we discussed had to do with employees' various "levels of engagement" or attitudes about their job. The one that was referred to as being the worst was when employees "quit and stay". In other words, these are the employees who hate one or more aspects of their job (i.e. customers, certain company policies they don't agree with, etc), but instead of finding another job or dealing with the issue in an appropriate manner, they remain on the job and just complain about it all the time. A common one is the employee who is in a customer service type of job and justifies his/her behavior by saying the customers are "being difficult or rude". Hello??? You're in a customer service job. One of the skills you're supposed to have is dealing with difficult customers. If you can't handle it, find another job. :brick: :brick:
 

UKMickeyFan

New Member
I used to be a cast member at the United Kingdom Pavillion in EPCOT, obviously due to visa's I couldn't stay but I would cut my big toe off to work for Disney again. I loved every minute of it! Yes the hours were long and every day wasn't easy but we all did our best to make it all about the guest and I loved seing the faces of those people for whom I made a difference.
 

mickster

New Member
I think that most of the people who think working in a Disney theme park is uber fun have never really talked to someone who does it day in and day out. While I know it can be fun and rewarding at times, but after awhile, working 9 to 12 hour days for minimum wage and dealing with people who leave their brains at home on a regular basis is not really all that fun. It takes a special kind of person to stay at Disney longterm (and we love you!).

Agreed! I just went to a leadership training class and one of the things we discussed had to do with employees' various "levels of engagement" or attitudes about their job. The one that was referred to as being the worst was when employees "quit and stay". In other words, these are the employees who hate one or more aspects of their job (i.e. customers, certain company policies they don't agree with, etc), but instead of finding another job or dealing with the issue in an appropriate manner, they remain on the job and just complain about it all the time. A common one is the employee who is in a customer service type of job and justifies his/her behavior by saying the customers are "being difficult or rude". Hello??? You're in a customer service job. One of the skills you're supposed to have is dealing with difficult customers. If you can't handle it, find another job. :brick: :brick:
 

DisneyDragon

New Member
This contest hurts...I would LOVE to be a Haunted Mansion host, but I don't fit the mold very well, and well, Disney typically only hires Americans except in Epcot.

They posted my dream job on the website back in the fall...VP, Supply Chain Improvement. I've been in logistics for 15 years, the last 6 as an executive (Director level), with an MBA thrown in there as well. Not even a frigging call...

Argh, no wait, arrrrrrrrr....maybe I have a chance as a Pirate!
 

bayoutinkbelle

Active Member
As someone who works for one of the companies involved in the Harris survey (not Disney), I sure hope they take those results to heart. But, I'm cynical enough to know they won't. *sigh*
 

barnum42

New Member
I think that most of the people who think working in a Disney theme park is uber fun have never really talked to someone who does it day in and day out. While I know it can be fun and rewarding at times, but after awhile, working 9 to 12 hour days for minimum wage and dealing with people who leave their brains at home on a regular basis is not really all that fun. It takes a special kind of person to stay at Disney longterm (and we love you!).

Given that this is a survey paid for by Disney "to raise awareness of the positions available at Walt Disney World and Disneyland", it's going to be spun to make it sound fun and not dwell on the truth of 12 hour days for minimum wage.
 

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
I didn't look at the other job opportunities, but the Jungle Cruise Skipper was actually for Disneyland. I'd love to win, but I'm going to be there 2 weeks before.
 

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