Question for WDW employees

[sbkline]

I have always thought that working at WDW would ruin the magic. Whereas I now look forward to every trip, I think if I worked there, it would become commonplace and would ruin the magic. After a while, I would think "bah. DisneyWorld. I go there every day for work, why do I want to go there for fun?"

Is this how you people feel after working there for a while? Or is it still just as magical?

Does WDW pay pretty well? Or just minimum wage? And is there any "long distance" jobs? By that I mean, ways that I could earn a paycheck from WDW without moving out of Illinois?

 

[peter11435]

Is this how you people feel after working there for a while? Or is it still just as magical??

For me it is just a magical just in a slightly different way.

Does WDW pay pretty well? Or just minimum wage?

Its more than minimum wage, but is still not much. You can't do it simply for the money.

And is there any "long distance" jobs? By that I mean, ways that I could earn a paycheck from WDW without moving out of Illinois?

What would be the point of the that.

 

[metscool]

It is you are wanting to work at WDW or not. I want to. I am moving down there in 19 days. And I want to work for Disney.

 

[mikeanabean]

I could not do it because it would ruin it for me.

 

[imagineersrock]

I have always thought that working at WDW would ruin the magic. Whereas I now look forward to every trip, I think if I worked there, it would become commonplace and would ruin the magic. After a while, I would think "bah. DisneyWorld. I go there every day for work, why do I want to go there for fun?"

Is this how you people feel after working there for a while? Or is it still just as magical?

Believe it or not, being a Cast Member has made it a lot MORE magical for me. My family has always had annual passes, so we used to visit the parks all the time... I think that kind of over-exposure made me lose the magic just a little bit. But now that I work here, I get to see on a first-hand basis the kind of magic and joy the parks bring to the guests---especially those first-time visitors... they're my favorite to watch. Working here has given me a brand new appreciation for the parks and what they do for people.

Does WDW pay pretty well? Or just minimum wage? And is there any "long distance" jobs? By that I mean, ways that I could earn a paycheck from WDW without moving out of Illinois?

The pay is practically minimum wage. If you're looking for money (sadly) you're better off at a fast food restaurant.

And like Peter said, what would be the point of a "long distance" job?

 

[JEDIsney]

I CANNOT wait until I'm in college so I can do the college program.

Then again, I'm most likely going to UCF anyway so I can be in the area.

 

[imagineersrock]

Yeah there isn't even a need to do CP if you go to UCF (great school) ...Might as well just be a part-time CM. That's what I do---school during the week, and weekends at Disney.

 

[sbkline]

What would be the point of the that.

Make a little extra money from home to supplement my monthly income, without having to quit my job and move to Florida to pay 4 times more for a house than what my house cost, and on a much lower income. That would be the point. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

[Miss Bell]

What would be the point of the that.

Make a little extra money from home to supplement my monthly income, without having to quit my job and move to Florida to pay 4 times more for a house than what my house cost, and on a much lower income. That would be the point. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

If that is what you want, I would try working part-time at your local Disney Store. That would give you the extra income, get you a connection to the magic, and after time, have the passes and other Disney-type perks that CM's get. Plus, because Disney Stores actually sell passes, I think it is nice to have CM's in there that know things about the parks--helps out the newbies.

 

[MMP]

I was afraid of losing the magic too when I went to work for Disney. I asked a friend that had worked there and he told me that if you have the magic to begin with you never lose it.
So I don't think you lose the magic, but the magic does change for you, because now you're making the magic which is really amazing.
I'm the big sap that burst into tears during all the cheesy videos we had to watch during "Traditions", and I also burst into tears when Chip'n'Dale handed me my training pin! Mostly I just burst into tears a lot at work because the whole thing is just so darned magical!
And I never get sick of going to the parks. It's cool to know that I can just pop into the parks for a few hours and then go back home without worrying that I didn't have time to do everything because I can just go again the next day.

 

[figment1985]

Wow,

I am in the same boat as sbkline (first poster)... I really want to work there but I am afraid it would reuin the magic....

I will probably end up going to graduate school at UCF or UNF.... so maybe I can work part time.

It sucks because I get paid good in NC- but to do what i really love.... Acting.... I would have to deal with the differences...

QUESTION-

Do the on stage performers get paid a lot more?

 

[LilRoo714]

Entertainment cast is paid slightly more than other areas of the parks. But it's still not that much.

 

[typhoonguy]

WDW may not pay *as* well for front-line cast members as other locations, but there are areas that pay well . And I agree, there is a lot MORE magic for me. Learning so many things, history, culture, meeting people from around the world, ect. Since I've started at WDW, I have friends from Hong Kong, Norway, Chile, South Africa, Australia, the UK, and so many more places. Most of them come visit me at least once every few years. It's such an experience, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[MyNameisStitch]

Working for WDW was magical for me. I found that everyday that I went to work there was always something that made the day wonderful whether it was a guest interaction, a good day with my fellow CMs or just walking around in the park and seeing the magic transforming the day of the guests.

I went into the College Program with the same feeling, Is this going to kill the magic for me? Its a little awkward at first, but that feeling goes away very quickly as you just get overwhelmed with all of the cool stuff you get to see behind the scenes. Speaking of awkward, your first experience with a character behind the scenes is very awkward but you'll get over that and I actually had a new found love for the characters after meeting a few "friends".

Anyways, Working for Disney gave me a new way of looking at Disney World and it hasn't lost any of its magic. I now have tons of friends that I look forward to seeing on my next trip and I can't wait to return to work there one day.

Hopefully this has given you some insight into the life of a cast member. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

-Jake (WDWCP 2006)

 

[Captain Hank]

It hasn't ruined the magic. Like many others have said, you experience a different kind of magic, and an appreciation for all of the things that go into creating the guest experience. Magic doesn't just "happen." There are a million different factors that make up what you see inside the turnstyles. Many that you, as a guest, never would think about.

Now, when I go to the parks, I can realize exactly what went into making my day as perfect as possible, and there's definately a sort of magic in that. Now, I'm not going to lie--it was a really weird feeling when I went backstage the first time. Seeing the backstage is really startling after being in onstage areas for so long. However, even though I know that certain buildings are just boxes in the back, or that the beautifully sculpted mountains end abruptly just beyond the Guest's line of sight, I don't actually think about that sort of thing when I'm in the park as a Guest.

I still do feel the magic of Disney.

 

[WDWKat26]

It's definitely different for me now. I used to be amazed by all of the different "secrets" that Disney used to hold. Now I know all of them. I couldn't quit my job because I love it too much, but i'd give up $1,000,000 to get that feeling that I used to get when I WAS a guest.