Just returned from the World

[EmptyCinema]

CS Major here... I'd love to work down there in Engineering/Imagineering.

Unfortunately, no family history to help me out.

[ktulu]

Last time we were at WDW we talked to a guy who was there for the college program, he was emptying trash cans at the time. He loved his job, his roommate was a monorail pilot yet he talked about his job like it was his dream job.

Me, I'd want to drive someone that requires me to actually drive it (Train, Monorail, Boats, etc.) or something with computers backstage. I understand computers, I don't understand people sometimes.

Actually my dream job would be CEO, then I would just walk around the parks and watch/listen to the people to figure out how to make things better. I guess just President of one of the parks would be cool, but I don't think I could live up to the job. I'd probably end up at Disneyland riding Pirates, Nemo or the Train all day or something :)

[Cheshire Figment]

I think my WDW Dream Job does not exist. My costume would be to generally dress like a tourist. The duties would be to wander around the parks and resorts and observe and talk to both the Guests and CMs. The job title would be "Freelance Internal Auditor" and would report directly to the President of WDW. Additional duties would be to act as Devil's Advocate for discussions of new plans and also to be responsible for publicly reporting that "The Emperor is not wearing any clothes", when people come up with a harebrain scheme.

In other words to improve the Guest experience and protect the CMs from management stupidity.

Since that job does not exist, I will continue to generally have fun in my current one.

[Cranbiz]

I think my WDW Dream Job does not exist. My costume would be to generally dress like a tourist. The duties would be to wander around the parks and resorts and observe and talk to both the Guests and CMs. The job title would be "Freelance Internal Auditor" and would report directly to the President of WDW. Additional duties would be to act as Devil's Advocate for discussions of new plans and also to be responsible for publicly reporting that "The Emperor is not wearing any clothes", when people come up with a harebrain scheme.

In other words to improve the Guest experience and protect the CMs from management stupidity.

Since that job does not exist, I will continue to generally have fun in my current one.

The reason why your dream job doesn't exist is because it makes too much sense!

It is a great idea, kinda like the mystery shopper. Getting feed back on guests likes and dislikes and CM performances (both good and bad) would be such a great management tool.

[EmptyCinema]

I would really love to work down there. Unfortunately, I don't do heat well, so that part would kindof suck for me. Also the whole living and college thing in another state are problematic. No 6-hour commutes for me. :)

[joanna71985]

Did working as a character attendant help or hurt this love? I'm just kinda curious if seeing them backstage affected you.

I used to not be a big character fan, and am still not a big fan of the face characters... but in my mind, there's something SO relaxing about having that 20 seconds with Mickey, Minnie, Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore (oh, I could go on).

I hate to admit this, but the two CMs with the worst attitude my GF and I have ever run into were character attendants. The first was using her cell phone and having another CM take her photo with Sorcerer Mickey while the line was ~30 minutes. She spent several minutes doing this, including asking us to step out of the shot when we went up to meet Mickey. She had previously been texting on her phone, with the ringtones turned on, so we could hear the incoming messages while we waited. The second was described above (pushing us out of the way). Don't get me wrong, the CMs rock, but there's always those bad apples (I guess it just happens with 55,000 CMs).

Actually, I had done a CP before being a character attendant. So I was used to all the backstage stuff by then. But no, seeing all that did not hurt my love of the characters. I can be working and get off work, and want to go see Mickey. When I get to Mickey, I just see Mickey.

As for the attendants you described, that is just wrong. CMs should not have their cells out on stage- EVER.

[SirWillow]

I do wish the photopass people would take more "fun" (unposed) pictures, especially since my GF and I do spend the $125/trip to buy the CD. (She scrapbooks.)

We try to be quick, but hey: we're paying to come have fun too! Odds are we've probably been photographed by your fiance at some point... photopass CMs have started to recognize us.

What's really bad is the number of times I've had CMs ask me if I'm a CM... the odd part is that I sport a full beard and mustache...

Trust me, as one of those photographers, a lot of us wish that some of them would get off their lazy cans and start snapping those pictures also. A lot of us do, and it's rare when I'm shooting that I don't try to take at least a couple of the candid shots. There are some that we can't really do, for a variety of reasons (bad angle, trying to get a picture of them walking off with you doesn't look as good in a picture as it would on video or real life, inappropriate in some cases), but all of the photographers should be trying to get at least one or two pictures beyond the standard couple of posed ones, if not more.

Heck, that's the best part of being a photographer at Disney. Though I have to admit now that I'm wondering who the other photographer mentioned on the thread is since I've probably worked with her a few times now.

[SirWillow]

Some people just don't know when to quit.

Speaking of quitting... any tips on keeping the Photopass from quitting taking photos? It always seems like it's just two posed shots.... If we're buying the CD, how about a few candid shots or shots of character interaction? I don't want to seem rude, so I'm trying to figure out a polite way to ask for LOTS of photos.

If you get one that looks like he might be standing there, tell them as you approach the character to please take some candids- you're getting the cd and to please shoot away. They should be doing that anyways, but unfortunately some of them need a good kick every now and then.

Oh, and in reference to above, if you ever see a CM with cell phone out, especially taking pictures when there are guests waiting, report them. Just to have your personal cell phone out on stage is a fireable offense.