Disney Store CM's Please Read

[gjpjtj]

I just completed, (what I feel), was a good interview with the manager at my local Disney Store. I have applied for a Part Time CM position, and if all goes well, I hope to start in a week or two!

I am very excited about this, and I think the manager felt my enthusiasm. After talking with her, she mentioned some of the benefits of being a CM.

I do have an upcoming trip to WDW in 8 weeks, and was wondering how long it has taken other Disney Store CM's to receive their CM ID's?
Before you get your official ID, do they give you something temporary?

Anyway, the benefits aren't why I'm looking for this job, (really I just want to spread some Disney Magic), but it couldn't hurt to use some of the perks! Thanks for your advice.

 

[se8472]

I don't know about all of that...BUT I do know that the Disney Stores ID's are not the same as ours at WDW

Like for example they don't work with the Fastpass machines (I am told they are working on it)

 

[CheshireCatStar]

Disneyland Resort IDs don't work with any fastpass machines, either (neither ours nor the WDW ones).

They just give the ID holder and their party (whoever the person is signing in) readmission cards (they look just like regular tickets) that can be used to re-enter the parks and get fastpasses.

 

[gjpjtj]

Thanks for the reply, but I was basically curious, because I would like to go to Property Control while on my trip. Just wondering if it is possible to get my ID in 8 weeks?

 

[VILLAINSRULE]

Hi and congratulations! You will love working for Disney....it really is a fun job.....and you get to be with others who also love Disney! and get paid for it! Woo Hoo!
You should be able to have your ID in time for your trip. Just make sure they take your picture ASAP and send it in so that it will get back to you in time....it usually takes about 3-4 weeks.......Property control is cool, be sure to check out Company D at Team Disney too........they have cool stuff there also.....

 

[gjpjtj]

Thanks! 3-4 weeks isn't too bad, I was hoping it wouldn't take too long. I am really looking forward to the possibility of working at TDS, still waiting to hear if I got it or not. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Which store will you be working at? I work at the store at the Lehigh Valley Mall near Allentown, PA. Just remember that Disney Store cast members DO NOT get into the parks for free anymore. Just an FYI. You can still go to property control (one of my favorite places to shop in the world!) and Company D. Hope you have a wonderful experience working for Disney! I know I have!


TheDisneyGirl02:sohappy:

 

[SnowWhite5669]

Welcome aboard! You will love it! You will truly feel like you are part of the magic! I think you can get a temporary id. Too bad we don't get into the park for free anymore but you will get tons of discounts on merchandise and food plus 4 free passes a year!
Good luck and keep us posted. CM Store 359!

 

[gjpjtj]

Thanks for the welcome! I just got the word today, I have been HIRED!!! I will be working at the store in Middletown, NY. I already work in NY, and this store is on my way home. I have to go fill out paperwork tomorrow, and should start next week! I am so excited!

I have heard about not having free entrance to the parks, which is OK because we have PAP's.

I am wondering about the discount on food, can you get it at most places?
We will be eating alot at the All Star Music food court. Will it work there? Thanks again!!:sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[SnowWhite5669]

Yes, you can get your discount at the food courts, just flash that id! My husband laughs everytime I take my id out. About the only place you won't get your discount on food is at the fast food counters, vendors, etc. At the sit down places, make sure you tell them that you are a cast member before you order. Check out Wolfgang Puck's Express, we get 30% off there!! We eat there a lot, it's so reasonable! Oh and Pleasure Island is 50% off and there are two cast member nights (Monday and Thursday) where you get in for FREE!!!!(at least this is how is was in September, I don't know if that benefit has changed! I'll let you know in 4 weeks!!!)
Have a blast and congrats on becoming one of us!!! I heard we will be wearing Home on the Range t-shirts!! (YUCK).:sohappy:

 

[CheshireCatStar]

At the sit down restaurants, wait until you're done with your meal and the bill comes. THEN tell them you're a Cast Member.

With the CM discount comes an automatic 15% gratuity, and it was our experience that whenever we told the servers that we were CMs ahead of this time, our service would slide into the poor zone because the servers knew they'd already be getting a good tip.

(This was not the case for every restaurant we ate at, but it certainly happened at a ratio of almost 2 out of 3 restaurants that we ate at. That is, until we started waiting to the last moment to tell them about our discount).

 

[TURKEY]

CM still get in free on Monday and Thursday.

 

[Coree]

Originally posted by CheshireCatStar
At the sit down restaurants, wait until you're done with your meal and the bill comes. THEN tell them you're a Cast Member.

With the CM discount comes an automatic 15% gratuity, and it was our experience that whenever we told the servers that we were CMs ahead of this time, our service would slide into the poor zone because the servers knew they'd already be getting a good tip.

(This was not the case for every restaurant we ate at, but it certainly happened at a ratio of almost 2 out of 3 restaurants that we ate at. That is, until we started waiting to the last moment to tell them about our discount).

I've made five trips to Disney as a CM and never had a problem with poor service. In fact, a lot of times the server would strike up a conversation about which store I was from, etc.

One good reason to mention the discount up front is that there are some restaurants that only honor the discount on weekdays or at certain times. If you're eating at one of those you may want to know that before you order. I'll never forgot the time we ate dinner at the castle and decided to splurge and order dessert only to find out that they didn't give a discounts to CMs any more. Let me tell ya, we wouldn't have ordered six strawberries with chocolate sauce for $12 if we had known we were paying full price!

Enjoy working at The Disney Store--it's a lot of fun!

 

[CheshireCatStar]

Weird how things change so often.... When we ate at the Castle this January, we recieved our discounts!

The only place that had an exclusion on our discount was at Boma, where it's only at particular times and such.

 

[gjpjtj]

Well after about 1 1/2 hours, I filled out all of my paperwork, and got my picture taken for my ID! The paperwork took so long, because my Manager had computer problems.

I thought I read somewhere on this board that TDS was doing away with the FREE passes we get each year. My manager said we get them, and I even filled out the form to receive them.
Did I just get this wrong?
What kind of passes do they give us?(1 Day Park Hoppers, or are the only valid at a single park).

Anyway, I have to go back tonight, and sign the papers that the computer messed up, and hopefully find out what my schedule will be. I can't wait to start!!

Thansk again for all of your advice!

 

[Coree]

Disney did away with being able to get into the parks for free just using our ID. You still get two free passes twice a year (so four total per year--two in the summer and two at Christmas). The passes are basically a one-day hopper pass. You take it to the guest relations window at any park and they give you a one-day hopper in return. It's a nice perk because a one-day ticket that can be purchased by regular guests is not a hopper--these are.

 

[gjpjtj]

Well that's great news, about the Park Hoppers!

How does the gratuity thing work with the CM discount? We have to tip 15% because we are fellow CM's? Why I'm asking is, I'd normaly tip 20% for good service.

 

[Coree]

When you use your CM discount they automatically add a 15% gratuity to the total. On times when service has exceeded my expectations, I'll leave a bit extra on the table or add a bit more to the total.

 

[Kwit35]

Congratulations on the job

So how part time is part time. I have been thinking about applying to my local Disney Store. I only have one day a week available. Will they be that flexible, or do I need to offer more of my time? Just curious.

 

[Coree]

Re: Congratulations on the job

Originally posted by Kwit35
So how part time is part time. I have been thinking about applying to my local Disney Store. I only have one day a week available. Will they be that flexible, or do I need to offer more of my time? Just curious.

Not likely to be that flexible. I believe the requirement is availability both days on the weekends and a couple of shifts during the week. I remember that when they implement the both weekend days rule there were some cast members that had to quit at our store because they couldn't give that kind of availability--and those were CMs that already worked there.