Snobbery among cast members?

[copcarguyp71]

I have always wondered if any sort of snobbery or hierarchy exists within the CM structure at WDW? Just curious really if say ride techicians are higher up the ladder than food services or costumed cast members are above que line employees etc. I am not looking to incite any sort of dis-harmony but it has always interested me to see if working for WDW has its' share of "office" politics as well or is it more of "we are all in this togther" mentality. Any thoughts from CM's (without bashing) would be appreciated.

As an afterthought I wanted to try and revise the thread title...but I am unable to do so. Sorry if this sets the wrong tone, after re-reading it I thought better of the phrasing.

 

[dreamfinder]

My understanding is that many of the office types, and even some managers definitely feel it is above them to interact with guests. These are the CM's who have their parking space at both TDO and behind Main Street, and come to walk the parade route only when their boss is around. Otherwise they never leave their office. So they don't see how changes affect the guests since they don't interact with them on a daily basis. Not sure if this is what you are looking for/talking about, but it is there, or at least was there.

 

[raven]

Indeed there is. Upper management seems to be the worst. All of the cronies working their way up to it tend to kiss their a$$ and be so fake at appreciation events, service awards and cast celebrations. Maintenence (ride techs) seem to hold above the ops heads the power to keep a ride operating. Yes this is true but they sometimes take that to their heads. It's also funny to see a lot CP's and International CMs hold their noses a little higher in the air when walking past custodial, food service and other CMs in the back stage areas. Little do they know though that those CMs are getting paid more than they are. But all this is nothing more than you'd see at most other companies in America.

 

[erstwo]

Indeed there is. Upper management seems to be the worst. All of the cronies working their way up to it tend to kiss their a$$ and be so fake at appreciation events, service awards and cast celebrations. Maintenence (ride techs) seem to hold above the ops heads the power to keep a ride operating. Yes this is true but they sometimes take that to their heads. It's also funny to see a lot CP's and International CMs hold their noses a little higher in the air when walking past custodial, food service and other CMs in the back stage areas. Little do they know though that those CMs are getting paid more than they are. But all this is nothing more than you'd see at most other companies in America.

Haha! This reminded me of some friends who used to go down to the beach to live during summers in college. One guy consistently took a job as a short order cook at Waffle House. No one could understand it (why wouldn't he want to lifeguard or caddy?) until he told us what he was getting paid Good for the food service folks!

 

[BrerFrog]

Indeed there is. Upper management seems to be the worst. All of the cronies working their way up to it tend to kiss their a$$ and be so fake at appreciation events, service awards and cast celebrations. Maintenence (ride techs) seem to hold above the ops heads the power to keep a ride operating. Yes this is true but they sometimes take that to their heads. It's also funny to see a lot CP's and International CMs hold their noses a little higher in the air when walking past custodial, food service and other CMs in the back stage areas. Little do they know though that those CMs are getting paid more than they are. But all this is nothing more than you'd see at most other companies in America.

Wait. Are there CPs and ICPs who really think they are getting more money than Disney's full-time emplyees?

 

[mkt]

I don't think that snobbery is necessarily attributed to salary, but rather a mentality of.. "this is a vacation for me!" and "I don't need this f@#$@ job!"

 

[BrerFrog]

I don't think that snobbery is necessarily attributed to salary, but rather a mentality of.. "this is a vacation for me!" and "I don't need this f@#$@ job!"

I see the point now, and it goes in line with some things that I heard during my ICP months. :brick:

 

[fosse76]

Wait. Are there CPs and ICPs who really think they are getting more money than Disney's full-time emplyees?

No, I don't think that's what was meant. That type of snobbery has nothing to do with pay. It's more of "sure, you make more money, but look at what you have to do." And also, let's face it, the odds are more than average that the CPs and ICPs will be making a lot more money after they graduate, so the "snobbery" stems from that. And in my experience at Six Flags, the people in food service and park services (custodial) weren't exactly the "cool kids" in the first place, so it can be more "territorial" and clique-ish than anything else. I worked in rides, and the only other department we would be seen with is entertainment (and that's only because that was the department rides employees would transfer to if they were leaving the rides dept). Theme parks are no better than high schools: Cliques rule. And rides tops the heirarchy (even though they don't et paid the most). I can't imagine that Disney would be much different.

 

[tizzo]

Interesting that this came up just now, because I just witnessed a counterexample at Epcot on Saturday. I was waiting for the Friendship Boat to cross the lagoon. The Illuminations crew were out in their boats, and there was a custodial cast member on the dock cleaning up. He flagged down one of the boats, which contained a guy who appeared to be acting in a supervisory role (can't explain why, it just felt like he was "in charge") on one of the boats and "sent" him to retrieve some debris that was in the water. The guy on the boat was very polite and respectful to the custodial guy, and thanked him for pointing out the debris, even though he seemed to clearly outrank him.

All of which is to say that Disney is a large corporation which is made up of human beings. And like any such organization, these attitudes surely exist, but on an individual basis.

 

[puntagordabob]

Ive interacted with a number of the managers and executives at the parks... while there may be some bad apples in the barrel I am sure... IN MY experience they have gone out of their way to interact with me... one of them (Executive of Adventureland - Jim Beeson, though hopefully they will promote him!) goes so far as to remember MY NAME after even several months of not seeing him.

In my opinion Mr. Beeson is an example of a 'Great' Executive manager and likely a very good role model for those who work with him.

Also he has the Best office at WDW....says he can hear the Tiki Preshow Drums from inside his office!

....Speaking of the Tiki Room, Give Jose back his show please!

 

[BrerFrog]

Ive interacted with a number of the managers and executives at the parks... while there may be some bad apples in the barrel I am sure... IN MY experience they have gone out of their way to interact with me... one of them (Executive of Adventureland - Jim Beeson, though hopefully they will promote him!) goes so far as to remember MY NAME after even several months of not seeing him.

In my opinion Mr. Beeson is an example of a 'Great' Executive manager and likely a very good role model for those who work with him.

Also he has the Best office at WDW....says he can hear the Tiki Preshow Drums from inside his office!

....Speaking of the Tiki Room, Give Jose back his show please!

I had some managers who were absolutely fantastic in guest interactions. They were better in doing that than most CMs out there. I was always amazed at what they did and how they did it.

 

[ann0d]

Isn't that true in any corporation?

 

[Duckberg]

Interesting that this came up just now, because I just witnessed a counterexample at Epcot on Saturday. I was waiting for the Friendship Boat to cross the lagoon. The Illuminations crew were out in their boats, and there was a custodial cast member on the dock cleaning up. He flagged down one of the boats, which contained a guy who appeared to be acting in a supervisory role (can't explain why, it just felt like he was "in charge") on one of the boats and "sent" him to retrieve some debris that was in the water. The guy on the boat was very polite and respectful to the custodial guy, and thanked him for pointing out the debris, even though he seemed to clearly outrank him.

All of which is to say that Disney is a large corporation which is made up of human beings. And like any such organization, these attitudes surely exist, but on an individual basis.

Two way streets are best! Duckberg

 

[Texas84]

Man, if I was WDW management, I would find every excuse to get out into the parks and mingle.

 

[disneydata]

Ive interacted with a number of the managers and executives at the parks... while there may be some bad apples in the barrel I am sure... IN MY experience they have gone out of their way to interact with me... one of them (Executive of Adventureland - Jim Beeson, though hopefully they will promote him!) goes so far as to remember MY NAME after even several months of not seeing him.

In my opinion Mr. Beeson is an example of a 'Great' Executive manager and likely a very good role model for those who work with him.

Also he has the Best office at WDW....says he can hear the Tiki Preshow Drums from inside his office!

....Speaking of the Tiki Room, Give Jose back his show please!

Jim is not an executive, but simply a "manager of managers" in his area.

Also, just because you have a nice interaction with someone doesn't mean they act the same when interacting internally. Many execs/area managers/managers will do just that.

 

[raven]

Interesting that this came up just now, because I just witnessed a counterexample at Epcot on Saturday. I was waiting for the Friendship Boat to cross the lagoon. The Illuminations crew were out in their boats, and there was a custodial cast member on the dock cleaning up. He flagged down one of the boats, which contained a guy who appeared to be acting in a supervisory role (can't explain why, it just felt like he was "in charge") on one of the boats and "sent" him to retrieve some debris that was in the water. The guy on the boat was very polite and respectful to the custodial guy, and thanked him for pointing out the debris, even though he seemed to clearly outrank him.

Not saying that the jesture wasn't genuine but this was in an onstage area. It doesn't happen to everyone and everywhere but backstage there is plenty of it around, at least at Epcot. At the end of the night when nearly everyone is leaving, 3rd shift comes in and attempts to walk through Cast Services without getting ran over by loud, obnoxious CPs and ICP running through the hall, throwing costumes all over the floor and sitting in the middle of the hallway. One often runs out from a row of lockers and slam into me giving me the evil eye. That stuff happens every night and it's out of control...let alone the smell of soiled costumes they leave behind.

 

[Captain Hank]

Not saying that the jesture wasn't genuine but this was in an onstage area. It doesn't happen to everyone and everywhere but backstage there is plenty of it around, at least at Epcot. At the end of the night when nearly everyone is leaving, 3rd shift comes in and attempts to walk through Cast Services without getting ran over by loud, obnoxious CPs and ICP running through the hall, throwing costumes all over the floor and sitting in the middle of the hallway. One often runs out from a row of lockers and slam into me giving me the evil eye. That stuff happens every night and it's out of control...let alone the smell of soiled costumes they leave behind.

In defense of the ICP's, I believe their bus scheduling is pretty horrible, and most are trying to make the bus without having to wait a long amount of time. At least, that's what I surmised as I tried not to get run over by half of World Showcase while walking through Cast Services after working closing shifts at Epcot. I know what you mean about the costumes, though.

 

[ChrisFL]

well I bet Bus Drivers are pretty snobbish to the other CM's since they know as much as WDI does...

:lookaroun

 

[raven]

In defense of the ICP's, I believe their bus scheduling is pretty horrible, and most are trying to make the bus without having to wait a long amount of time. At least, that's what I surmised as I tried not to get run over by half of World Showcase while walking through Cast Services after working closing shifts at Epcot. I know what you mean about the costumes, though.

At the end of the night the ICP buses come every 10 minutes. Not long at all to wait so there isn't an excuse to be pushy. I understand the line is long for the bus as well but a lot of them still hang out inside the building and directly outside the door making it difficult just to enter. And the costume thing? My locker is only steps away from the stench of it. :hurl:

 

[thelookingglass]

The general consensus seems to be among frontline cast that everyone hates Entertainment because Entertainment CMs tend to be stuck up and think they are better than everyone.*

*Obviously not true for every Entertainment CM, but is for many.