I just completed the Orientation for a position with the Swan & Dolphin Hotels and thought some of you who are having difficulties getting a position with Disney might find the following of interest.
The Swan and Dolphin hotels are owned by Starwood (they own Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis, W, and more) and not Disney, so they have different benefits. I applied for a position in the Security department was had an interview within two weeks. After about three hours of talking I was offered the position and accepted it. The S&D starting pay is about $1.00 - $1.50 higher (additional $.40 per hour if you work the graveyard shift) than Disney's hourly positions and they also have professional positions available, but I am not aware of the pay scale. To find out what positions are available go on starwood's website.
Here is the information you really want to know:
Starwood benefits:
1. Health
2. Dental
3. Vision
4. Life Insurance
5. Tuition assistance
6. 401K
7. Starwood stock (ticker: HOT) purchase plan (95% of market value)
8. Hotel stay discounts:
a. The cost to stay in one of the Starwood owned resorts is either $29, $49, or $69 per night. Must make reservations no more than 90 days before arrival.
b. You also get 50% off the cost of food and beverages in one of their resorts (some resturants do not honor this rate, but have a 20% discount).
c. You are allowed to have 25 nights per year at a maxmium of 10 nights per stay (The woman who gave this information said that the S&D staff generally does not stick to the 25 night rule as long as it is not abused).
d. Only immediate family (Mom, Pop, Wife, kids, siblings [and their family]) are allowed to take advantage of this discount.
WDW benefits
1. 20% off all Disney merchandise (No use of the Disney CM warehouse).
2. Every February Disney gives S&D CMs (yes they are CM at the S&D) one pass for the employee and one for a guess to all the parks. Unfortunitely I have to pay my own way until next February!
3. All S&D CMs must adhere to Disney's grooming tsandards and attend Disney Traditions.
Swan & Dolphin specific benefits:
1. Lunch is free (two CM cafes) during your shift (food was good during Orientation)
2. Breakfast is only $2.00 if you want
3. 20% discount in resturants (50% deal cannot be used at the hotel you work at).
4. 20% discount on merchadise in the Hotel
5. Room discount:
a. $69 per night when available. Must make reservation no more than 90 days before arrival.
b. Family and/or friends (Yes, anyone you want to share the discount with!!!) can use this discount
c. You cannot stay at the hotel because you work there, but you can visit your guests and eat in the resturants with them (You cannot go to the pool or use any of the other amenatees)
d. Uniforms are provided and cleaned for you (shoes also)
e. Parties, galas, etc. for CMs during the year.
You can also park at the hotel and use Disney transportation (water taxi to EPCOT/MGM) buses elsewhere.
Many of the CMs I met throughout the hotels were ex-Disney CMs and they also said that many Disney CMs are Ex-S&D CMs. You can also transfer to any of the Starwood resorts as you climb the corporate ladder. There are current almost 800 resorts owned by Starwoods worldwide and by the end of October it is suppose to grow to over 1200.
This was long-worded, but I thought that if you are having the same problems getting an interview/position with Disney (like I did), you might want to try S&D out.
Good luck on whatever path you take to get a career!
PM me if you have any specific questions not answered here and if I don't have it, I will see about getting it.
The Swan and Dolphin hotels are owned by Starwood (they own Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis, W, and more) and not Disney, so they have different benefits. I applied for a position in the Security department was had an interview within two weeks. After about three hours of talking I was offered the position and accepted it. The S&D starting pay is about $1.00 - $1.50 higher (additional $.40 per hour if you work the graveyard shift) than Disney's hourly positions and they also have professional positions available, but I am not aware of the pay scale. To find out what positions are available go on starwood's website.
Here is the information you really want to know:
Starwood benefits:
1. Health
2. Dental
3. Vision
4. Life Insurance
5. Tuition assistance
6. 401K
7. Starwood stock (ticker: HOT) purchase plan (95% of market value)
8. Hotel stay discounts:
a. The cost to stay in one of the Starwood owned resorts is either $29, $49, or $69 per night. Must make reservations no more than 90 days before arrival.
b. You also get 50% off the cost of food and beverages in one of their resorts (some resturants do not honor this rate, but have a 20% discount).
c. You are allowed to have 25 nights per year at a maxmium of 10 nights per stay (The woman who gave this information said that the S&D staff generally does not stick to the 25 night rule as long as it is not abused).
d. Only immediate family (Mom, Pop, Wife, kids, siblings [and their family]) are allowed to take advantage of this discount.
WDW benefits
1. 20% off all Disney merchandise (No use of the Disney CM warehouse).
2. Every February Disney gives S&D CMs (yes they are CM at the S&D) one pass for the employee and one for a guess to all the parks. Unfortunitely I have to pay my own way until next February!
3. All S&D CMs must adhere to Disney's grooming tsandards and attend Disney Traditions.
Swan & Dolphin specific benefits:
1. Lunch is free (two CM cafes) during your shift (food was good during Orientation)
2. Breakfast is only $2.00 if you want
3. 20% discount in resturants (50% deal cannot be used at the hotel you work at).
4. 20% discount on merchadise in the Hotel
5. Room discount:
a. $69 per night when available. Must make reservation no more than 90 days before arrival.
b. Family and/or friends (Yes, anyone you want to share the discount with!!!) can use this discount
c. You cannot stay at the hotel because you work there, but you can visit your guests and eat in the resturants with them (You cannot go to the pool or use any of the other amenatees)
d. Uniforms are provided and cleaned for you (shoes also)
e. Parties, galas, etc. for CMs during the year.
You can also park at the hotel and use Disney transportation (water taxi to EPCOT/MGM) buses elsewhere.
Many of the CMs I met throughout the hotels were ex-Disney CMs and they also said that many Disney CMs are Ex-S&D CMs. You can also transfer to any of the Starwood resorts as you climb the corporate ladder. There are current almost 800 resorts owned by Starwoods worldwide and by the end of October it is suppose to grow to over 1200.
This was long-worded, but I thought that if you are having the same problems getting an interview/position with Disney (like I did), you might want to try S&D out.
Good luck on whatever path you take to get a career!
PM me if you have any specific questions not answered here and if I don't have it, I will see about getting it.
