Time Limits on Cast Members?

[JungleJim]

When you read many of these boards you come across so many bitter cast members! Would it be best for some to just move on? Should there be a time limit??It's just not good for the overall show. It must make Cast Members who love thier job, and do it well angry to be around such negativity.

 

[SpongeScott]

Iam not a CM and I don't play one on TV, but I think that this is probably a good place to CM's to let off some steam, vent, rant and rave about some things that they could not do while they are working. I have no problem with a CM releasing steam here on the boards as long as they do not reflect this when they are on the clock dealing directly with a guest (though they do put up with a lot of crap sometimes).

 

[Monorail Lime]

Cast members definitely aren't paid enough to be happy 24/7...

 

[mkt]

I just don't identify myself as a CM except on my signatures. I have never said "I'm a CM, you're a guest; I'm right, you're wrong." But with Disney's history of treating its CM's, i'm not at all surprised there aren't many more bitter CM's on the boards (btw- I'm angry, not bitter..)

 

[Lord Alfred]

Normal people who are unhappy with their jobs or feel they are being mistreated (pay, benefits, etc.) find other jobs. If things were so bad, people wouldn't work for Disney. If they do anyways, then they should stop whining. If enough people felt it was bad and quit, Disney would have no choice but to improve conditions.

The thing is that WDW primarily employs teens and college-age people. Just about every job source that services this demographic pays poorly and has bad hours. This is true in Orlando, here in S.C., and probably everywhere else too.

I know complaining about your job is every American's right and privilage, but I hate to listen to people constantly moan and complain about a job and then continue to go to it day after day. The only people who should have to do that are those who have children to feed, and I doubt a large percentage of park CM's do.

 

[JungleJim]

Tiggerman- I worked for Disney for over 5 years and think they treat the cast members very well. What is it that unhappy Cast Members want??? What would make them happy??

 

[JungleJim]

Originally posted by Monorail Lime
Cast members definitely aren't paid enough to be happy 24/7...

How many work 24/7??

 

[RobFL]

Most don't, but a lot of shifts are from Open till close. Which with sleep can be the entire day.

I think he means CM's shouldn't be expected to be perfect people in their off-time.

-Rob

 

[raven]

Originally posted by Monorail Lime
Cast members definitely aren't paid enough to be happy 24/7...

AMEN!

Keep that in mind the next time you come across an frustrated CM.

I have to filter out all of the bad and tell myself that I love doing this because I love Disney. That's all CM's are: Disney Nuts who get paid!

I often find myself listening and singing to the "Remember The Magic" parade music or "Tapestry of Dreams" music in my car on the way to work. Helps to get me in the mindset of being chipper and in a great mood. It works!

 

[cymbaldiva]

I can totally understand how people can get really burnt out and really hate their jobs ( I hate mine everyday!) - I just don't think that the people they end up venting on should be Disney fans on a discussion board. More than a few CM's have been less than kind to me on the boards...I try not to mind, but I'm wondering what I'll be thinking when I do actually go back to WDW? It'll be like "How many of these CM's actually hate me ?"

It's only my opinion, do try to give peace a chance!

 

[raven]

Originally posted by RobFL
I think he means CM's shouldn't be expected to be perfect people in their off-time.

Many do! If people know you are a Disney CM, they kind of expect high quality. I always did of other CM's I knoew before I worked for Disney.

 

[Erika]

Originally posted by Lord Alfred
Normal people who are unhappy with their jobs or feel they are being mistreated (pay, benefits, etc.) find other jobs.

Wow, I don't know who you know, but everyone I know complains about their jobs! :lol: Even if they like them. That doesn't bother me. We all have our days and it does no good to bottle things up.

If people feel this is a place where others might relate to their frustrations, I say, by all means, let it out!

 

[marypopmom]

We have met and talked to CM's at both ends of the spectrum. One being a CM who just loves working at Disney, has a house full of collectibles, is not into pin trading and even spends some of his off time in the parks with other Cm's off duty just enjoying the atmosphere.
We also heard the other end of the spectrum. A CM with 2 kids who told us there is just no way she can get ahead with the pay scale that is offered and she would move back to her home state if she could. She made the comment, this is my JOB, i DO NOT spend my free time. So much for any emotional attachment. She was a sweet person and we truly felt sorry for her. Hers is a matter of financial concern.
Hearing both sides, makes us respect and appreciate the CM's all the more. Keep up the good work and you all deserve our thanks for the magic.

 

[niteobsrvr]

I would like to point out that Disney Does not employ mostly teenagers and college students. Mostly they employ people from 18 to whatever age the individual feels like retiring permanently. There are a number of people who attend college. There are also quite a number of folks for whom disney is their full time job.

While the pay may not compare to other jobs in the country favorably, its not bad. Most jobs range from 6.50 to $12.00 and some as high as $20.00 with the average being about 11 or 12 dollars an hour after five years of service. Most of them start around the 6.50 to 7 dollar range for the first year.

Not too bad for the few expectations Disney has for their employees which is basically to be happy, wear funny clothes, and help people have fun. (Not that there aren't bad days or bad managers just like anywhere else that you have to dela with from time to time.)

As for negative Cast members, well, it gets old, real old, real quick. I worked for Disney from September of 2000 to May of this year. The number one reason I left is the bitterness and crabbyness of fellow cast members. I went to Disney to enjoy myself both as a cast member and a guest. When on the clock I had to hear about how terrible the company treated the lazy union employees who did everything they could not to work anyway and usually got away with it. As a guest, any time I presented my ID to utilize one of my benefits in the park, I was at risk the following scenario occurring:

1. Where do you work?
2. Your job is better/easier/higher paying than my job.
3. What do you get paid.
4. How long have you worked here?
5. Do you like it? ( if yes they tell you how you will come to hate it, if no, the "evil michael Eisner talk starts"

Now the funny thing is when you told those people they should transfer or even look for a job outside of Disney they could give you 100 reasons why they couldnt.

Bottom Line: Disney isnt a bad place to work for whatever criteria they were trying to meet.

For me, if we could have gotten rid of all of the crabby cast members I would have had a blast. The best part of my day was working with the guests. The worst part was the cast members I worked with on a regular basis.

Since I cant fire the people I work with, I fired me. LOL

 

[raven]

Originally posted by marypopmom
Keep up the good work and you all deserve our thanks for the magic.

Thank YOU! It's guests like you who make OUR dreams come true. You brought a tear to my eye. :wave:

 

[JungleJim]

Originally posted by raven


AMEN!

Keep that in mind the next time you come across an frustrated CM.

If a cast member is doing his/her job we should never come across them "frustrated". A cast member job requires you to leave the baggage backstage.

 

[cymbaldiva]

niteobsrvr -

You've made some really good points. You really have given me something to think about - Thank you.

 

[raven]

Originally posted by JungleJim
A cast member job requires you to leave the baggage backstage.

True. But I work with 2 managers who can't even do that. One of them brings her personal life to work everyday and I have to hear about it and often console here when she cries.

It's very hard to keep things in but a good CM can put all other things aside. We have to.

 

[JungleJim]

Originally posted by raven


But I work with 2 managers who can't even do that. One of them brings her personal life to work everyday and I have to hear about it and often console here when she cries.

Sorry to hear that Raven! That's too bad. Maybe you could look into being a manager!

 

[Lord Alfred]

Originally posted by Erika
Wow, I don't know who you know, but everyone I know complains about their jobs! :lol: Even if they like them.

If people feel this is a place where others might relate to their frustrations, I say, by all means, let it out!

As I said in my post, I have no problem whatsoever about people complaining about their jobs. It's literally the American way. BUT..

There ARE some CMs that hang around these boards that talk and act like Disney and WDW are the great satan and are the worst employers ever. If it is that bad, find another job and quit. If you don't like working with the public, move away from Florida. That won't help much though, as close to 85% of all US jobs are now service-oriented.

Like I said, the only people that have to put up with a bad job are folks with small mouths to feed.