full time cast jobs

Lago · Jul 28, 2016

My son recently finished the college program and wanted to get a full time job as a cast member. He put in several applications but never heard yes or no. He tried to talk to someone in the casting dept but the only answer he could get was to "be patient". No one would give him any concrete answers regarding if he has any chance to get a position. Does anyone have any idea what he should do next? Should he just wait or put in new applications for different positions? Did he do something wrong in the application process? Are there certain positions which have are more likely to be hiring in the near future?

Does anyone have any insider know or know someone in Disney who might give some guidance on what the best course of action? Thanks in advance for any help.

ravenclawtrekkie · Jul 28, 2016

If he's looking at hourly parks & resorts jobs, there just aren't a lot of FT roles available right now. If he's holding out for FT, he could be waiting a very long time, since there's also an internal waiting list of part-timers who want to transfer into FT positions. If he's qualified to be security, they're hiring boatloads of security right now. I see a new group almost every week. Bus drivers and lifeguards are also generally in demand, because those positions require fairly specialized skills. Housekeeping comes up a lot in job listings because it's hard, stressful, and has a lot of turnover.

If he's looking for professional/office type jobs, I have absolutely no frame of reference.

Lago · Jul 28, 2016

Ravenclawtrekkie

Thanks very much for your reply. That is very helpful info.

My son recently finished the college program and put in several applications in the last 6 weeks before he left but he only got a reply from 1 position which had closed. He has not heard from any of the others. Are the other applications still considered active or should he reapply for those positions and other positions? Is there any way to find out if there is any reasonable hope that he might get a FT position in one of the jobs he applied for?

Is there any way for him to find out if there are any other FT positions which they might be hiring so he could apply to positions that he might have a chance to get?

He would prefer to work in the parks/resorts preferably with an attraction but he is certainly flexible. I suspect he would be willing to start part time if there a reasonable chance to eventually move to full time.

Would he have a better chance if he applied for part time positions? Which PT positions would you give him the best chance of being hired?

He might be willing to do housekeeping. Would Disney hire a mid 20's year old male with a college degree for a housekeeping position? Would he have any chance to transfer to an attraction or other position if he started with housekeeping?

Thanks again for your help.

ravenclawtrekkie · Jul 29, 2016

His best bet with finding out whether his current applications are still active is to talk to Casting. In person is best, but if he's no longer local, he can call.

A huge majority of hourly (not salaried management) full time cast members in the parks & resorts started as part time.

Whether Disney would hire him to do housekeeping would depend on his interview. They wouldn't refuse to consider him based on his age and/or gender. If hired, he would be eligible to apply for a transfer into another position after six months, assuming his record card was good at that time. (If someone accumulates too many attendance points or reprimands, they become ineligible for a transfer until a certain time passes.)

Honestly, if his degree is in a field that's useful in the travel/tourism/hospitality industry, and he has his heart set on living and working in central Florida, he shouldn't settle for making ten bucks an hour. It's just not enough to live on AND to pay back student loans. If I were him, I'd at least be looking into entry level management jobs. Or, since he's a former CP, maybe a Professional Internship - some of those are open only to former CPs.

Lago · Jul 29, 2016

Ravenclawtrekkie. Thanks again for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate your help.

His degree is not one which is useful in the travel/tourism industry so I suspect he would have to start somewhere below management and try to work up. He really enjoyed all the people he worked with in his college program and he is a bit of a Disney junkie and hopes to turn his passion into a career. Fortunately he does not have any college debt.

Its been tough for him to get through to someone in the casting dept who will give him any info. About the only answer he has gotten is "wait to hear from us". Any suggestions on how to get more info?

Assuming he works hard and does well, how long does it usually take to go from part time to full time?

Do part timers get any benefits such as health ins?

If he got a YMCA or Red Cross certification in his home state would it help him get a lifeguard position.

If he got CDL certification for driving big vehicles in his home state would it give him a leg up applying for a bus driving job?

Any other suggestions on which positions he might apply for part time status?

Lago · Jul 29, 2016

Ravenclawtrekkie

Last question for now. What sort of certification do you need to work in security?

ravenclawtrekkie · Jul 30, 2016

Lago said:
Assuming he works hard and does well, how long does it usually take to go from part time to full time?

Do part timers get any benefits such as health ins?

If he got a YMCA or Red Cross certification in his home state would it help him get a lifeguard position.

If he got CDL certification for driving big vehicles in his home state would it give him a leg up applying for a bus driving job?

Any other suggestions on which positions he might apply for part time status?

1) How long it takes depends entirely upon the internal waiting lists. Applying to go from from PT to FT is basically the same as applying for a transfer, just with fewer restrictions. It took me 3 months last year.

2) Not generally. If a PT CM is PT for over a year and exceeds a certain number of hours worked, I believe they can apply for health insurance, but it's not the same as what FT CMs get.

3) It probably couldn't hurt, but I know Disney wants to re-train all lifeguards "their way." One of my friends had several years of lifeguard experience and all the relevant training and he still had to be tested and trained at WDW before he started working. I looked for a job posting to copy/paste requirements from but I guess they aren't looking for lifeguards right now.

4) From a current job posting for bus drivers on the Disney Careers site:

Basic Qualifications

A Commercial Driver License (CDL) is not necessary to apply for the Bus Driver role, but will be required if hired into the role.
Interested Candidates must have a valid driver license, and have possessed a driver license for at least 5 years to be considered.
You must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for this role.
NOTE: Upon completion of a successful interview, Candidates must obtain/posses a valid Florida driver license to begin the CDL process.
You must have no moving violations for the past twelve (12) months.
This role is Part-Time and requires full availability for any shift, a MINIMUM of THREE (3) days per week, including nights and holidays.

Preferred Qualifications

Full availability for any shift, seven (7) days per week, including nights, weekends, and holidays is preferred.
Bilingual preferred.

4) My suggestion is that he apply for whatever is available that he's even minimally qualified for, assuming his current applications are not still active. (Submitting multiple applications when you've still got active ones in the system generally kicks you out automatically.) After you get an initial interview, and they like you, a Casting representative can queue you in the system for whatever roles they feel you'd be a good fit for.

Lago said:
Ravenclawtrekkie

Last question for now. What sort of certification do you need to work in security?

From a current job posting for security on the Disney Careers site:

Basic Qualifications
A Florida Driver license is not required to apply, but will be required prior to the start of initial shift. Florida Class “D” license must be obtained at the culmination of training - must meet eligibility requirements. Willingness to work outdoors and at various heights is required.

All candidates must be at least 18 years of age for consideration AND be working towards or successfully completed an Associate's Degree or higher in Criminal Justice, Private Investigations, Private Investigations, Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services and/or any other Security related field OR at least one of the following:

Successfully completed Basic Training in the Military
Law Enforcement, Special Deputy and/or Police Cadet experience
Loss Prevention and/or Plain Clothes Operatives experience
Security Guard/Officer experience responsible for foot/bicycle/motor patrol, monitoring cameras, and/or aviation screening
High pressure situational experience such as an Emergency Medical Technician, Firefighter, Flight Attendant and/or a 911 Operator

Preferred Qualifications

Bilingual (Spanish, Portuguese, French and/or Japanese)
Florida Class "D" Security license
Associate's Degree or higher in Criminal Justice, Private Investigations, Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services and/or any other Security related field

Lago · Sep 6, 2016

Ravenclawtrekkie

Thanks again for your replies

My son just found out he has been hired for a part time custodial position at Animal Kingdom starting in mid September.

Based on what you have said starting part time is the best way to get into the system so you can hopefully transfer to a full time position. Is that still true?

Should he start applying for transfer to full time positions as soon as he starts?

Custodial work would not be his first choice for long term employment. Does starting in that role make it harder to transfer to another unrelated role. He would like to be in a customer service position such as guest relations or work at an attraction.

Which full time positions might be the best for him to apply to get the earliest transfer to full time so he can get health insurance and other benefits?

He can't live for very long on part time $10/hour wages. Do most part time cast members have other part time jobs and is Disney willing to be somewhat flexible with part time cast members regarding scheduling?

Is there a way he can interact with other part time cast members who might be in a similar position so he can hopefully find someone to share an apartment?

wilkeliza · Sep 6, 2016

Lago said:
Ravenclawtrekkie

Thanks again for your replies

My son just found out he has been hired for a part time custodial position at Animal Kingdom starting in mid September.

Based on what you have said starting part time is the best way to get into the system so you can hopefully transfer to a full time position. Is that still true?

Should he start applying for transfer to full time positions as soon as he starts?

Custodial work would not be his first choice for long term employment. Does starting in that role make it harder to transfer to another unrelated role. He would like to be in a customer service position such as guest relations or work at an attraction.

Which full time positions might be the best for him to apply to get the earliest transfer to full time so he can get health insurance and other benefits?

He can't live for very long on part time $10/hour wages. Do most part time cast members have other part time jobs and is Disney willing to be somewhat flexible with part time cast members regarding scheduling?

Is there a way he can interact with other part time cast members who might be in a similar position so he can hopefully find someone to share an apartment?

Part time will be getting mixed hours especially at DAK. The whole parks hours are about to be slashed for the holiday season. Since your son with be doing custodial he should be picking up any and all hours he can get. He can look for custodial, crowd control positions, and cross utilization offerings at other parks as well. He should join whatever FB he is suggested to by colleagues for picking up shifts from other custodial members.

Starting in one role makes it no more or less difficult to transfer to something else. I know people who started in custodial and now are in Guest Relations or Hotel management. It is all about your ability to work hard and play by Disney's rules.

Lago · Sep 6, 2016

wilkeliza

He worked at the front gate at Animal Kingdom and in Flame tree BBQ and Disney JR/little mermaid during his college program. He has a lot of experience and understands how to play by Disney Rules. Is it possible he could get a second part time job with Disney to supplement his hours?

Is it possible to get a part time job off property such as Starbucks or Target to supplement his income while he waits to hopefully get a full time position

With World of Pandora at DAK and toy Story and then Star Wars land at Hollywood Studios coming on line. Do you think they will be hiring more full time people to staff those lands and their attractions?

I am surprised to hear the DAK hours are getting slashed for the holidays. I guess the night time experience has not been a huge draw. Are they going to close down Rivers of light before it even gets started?

wilkeliza · Sep 6, 2016

He can't get another part time with Disney as you can only be on payroll once if that makes sense.

There are options in Orlando. Many CMs who are part time do manage to work part time elsewhere. Universal, Sea World, Starbucks, Target, Wal-Mart, etc are all options.

Pandora isn't opening until sometime in 2017 and the others much later so no extra positions will be coming from those in awhile.

I hope your son is also doing some research of his own.

Lago · Sep 6, 2016

Thanks again.

He is doing his own research. I am just curious and this is as good a resource as any.

I know attendance at WDW is down this year and I have head that the night time hours at DAK have not been a huge draw. The latest rumor I saw on this broad is that rivers of light is going to debut in October but they can't really slash park hours if rivers of light is running.

ravenclawtrekkie · Sep 6, 2016

When I was part time at WDW, I had a second part time gig at Universal. I had to give each job three days of full availability. I gave Disney Thur/Fri/Sat and Universal Sun/Mon/Tue, so for that short while I only had Wednesdays off. It was fun though. Lots of CMs are also TMs (they're called Team Members at Uni).

Lago · Sep 6, 2016

Ravenclawtrekkie.

Thanks. Its good to know that you can do that. I think a lot of us had to work like that when we started in order to make ends meet. Fortunately he does not have a family to support just yet. He is excited about coming back to Orlando and thrilled to be be starting with Disney.

Berlioz70 · Sep 18, 2016

Lago said:
Ravenclawtrekkie
Custodial work would not be his first choice for long term employment. Does starting in that role make it harder to transfer to another unrelated role. He would like to be in a customer service position such as guest relations or work at an attraction.

Custodial and Attractions are part of the same union, so yes, working in Custodial would give him an advantage to getting FT in Attractions. Roles are first offered to internal Cast Members in the same union, CMs in other unions, CMs not in an union, then external CMs.

That being said - Custodial has higher Guest Service interactions than attractions and would better position him for Guest Relations. If his goal is GR, I'd recommend going to FT Custodial over FT Attractions.

GR is a non-union role, they post their job only ONCE A YEAR, internally only.

mickey2minnie1 · Sep 18, 2016

Berlioz70 said:
Custodial and Attractions are part of the same union, so yes, working in Custodial would give him an advantage to getting FT in Attractions. Roles are first offered to internal Cast Members in the same union, CMs in other unions, CMs not in an union, then external CMs.

That being said - Custodial has higher Guest Service interactions than attractions and would better position him for Guest Relations. If his goal is GR, I'd recommend going to FT Custodial over FT Attractions.

GR is a non-union role, they post their job only ONCE A YEAR, internally only.

Is bell services part of the custodial/attractions union as well?

Berlioz70 · Sep 18, 2016

mickey2minnie1 said:
Is bell services part of the custodial/attractions union as well?

No; Unite Here Local 362 is Attractions, Custodial, and Vacation Planning.

Both are affiliated to STCU, which is the over arching contract for the majority of unionized roles.

::Snow_White:: · Sep 18, 2016

Internal transfers can almost happen at anytime so just tell him to put in his positions and wait it out. They could never move, it just depends on when something opens. You can only do two roles with like 4-5 locations at a time and if none of those are open then they will just continue to sit on a wait list.

I transferred from CP Photopass to PT Photopass over the summer with 4 other girls on my CP. They just happened to open up a lot of spots, it's really a hit or miss. There is no cap for PT so you can pick up shifts online to get to 40 hours. Two of my roommates never got transfers so one works as a bartender and the other works at Universal. You just have to keep looking for anything you can find. Yes, PT does get offered benefits if they go over so many hours every week within a month, but you don't have to accept it if he is still under your insurance.

A lot of people get second jobs, but I don't find money to be absolutely dire, but I pick up shifts every week and stick straight to a budget. It just depends on your bills and how you live.

full time cast jobs

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