any advice or helpful links? for moving to WDW

[mousefan]

My friend recently became a widow, and she wants to move to Disney and work at Disney... she has been checking apartment prices online, and is starting to get serious.... I'd like to give her advice, I remember a great poster from years ago that has a blog Delswife ie the love ya mean it ( http://delswife-stories.blogspot.com/) her and her husband moved from Maine to Disney, and recently left Disney and moved back -

but I cant find any relevant posts to send to my friend.

she also says that all she has to work is 40 hours a year and she will get 24 free tickets to the park.

she is a lovely woman, great people skills etc always looks on the bright side of life... She does live in the south, so she's not afraid of the heat in the summer...

[mapo]

My friend recently became a widow, and she wants to move to Disney and work at Disney... she has been checking apartment prices online, and is starting to get serious.... I'd like to give her advice, I remember a great poster from years ago that has a blog Delswife ie the love ya mean it ( http://delswife-stories.blogspot.com/) her and her husband moved from Maine to Disney, and recently left Disney and moved back -

but I cant find any relevant posts to send to my friend.

she also says that all she has to work is 40 hours a year and she will get 24 free tickets to the park.

she is a lovely woman, great people skills etc always looks on the bright side of life... She does live in the south, so she's not afraid of the heat in the summer...

Bottom line...unless she has a tidy nest egg to support herself for the remainder of her life, tell her to just stay where she is and just visit occasionally.

There is not one entry level position that guarantees you 40 hrs a week. You may wrangle a manager role at 50 - 80 minimum per week for no money.

We had 115 degree heat days last summer and this summer is looking to be hotter. Yup, I am from Florida..and hell no, you are never ever ready for this. Southerners typically live in AC at home, AC in car, and most have AC at work. WDW Cast may enjoy the first two but most of us spend our days in the heat the whole time.

Orlando is not a place to move with no support network. The long hours for low pay combined with a higher cost of living make it a tough place to 'have a life'.

If she is still thinking of moving to Central Florida, there are many, many sites that can help her compare cost of living, plan her move, and even find an expensive appartment.

Good Luck.

MAPO

[Main Streeter]

she also says that all she has to work is 40 hours a year and she will get 24 free tickets to the park.

Typo, correct? If a WDW CM only has to work 40 hrs. per yr. for 24 free tickets, this is certainly unheard of @ DLR. Give your friend Mapo's solid advice asap.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I hope that poor lady is not using the move as a way to sidestep the grieving process of her loss.

Putting unusual expatations on a "career" at WDW as fulfilling the loss she is probably experiencing.

Has she even worked in a public service type of job of some sort?

[mousefan]

Thanks for the advice and kind words. She really doesnt seem to have a support system where she is, she has realistic work expectations, and no, it wasnt a typo - but I couldnt refute it - so that's why I posted here!

[Cheshire Figment]

If she is at least 55 she can check out http://www.solivita.com for an active adult community. One of the many clubs which exist there is made up of WDW CMs.

[Mr_Oogie_Boogie]

Hi folks...long time lurker, first-time poster...

I must say, generally, I agree with everything posted so far...

I worked for the Mouse at WDW many, many years ago in a capacity that never brought me anywhere near a guest. In all honesty, I don't know how anyone can interact on a daily basis with a guest anywhere, not just at a Disney park...

I didn't stay long...moved on to a more lucrative position in NYC. So...location from/to is relevant to the cost of living adjustment. While cost of living is high in Orlando, NYC is unbelievable. I actually doubled my salary from WDW to my new position but ended up living the same life style and in some cases a little worse. Went from paying $800 month house payment for 3000 square feet to not being able to afford a house...paid $2100 a month in rent for a 750 sq foot apartment. Relocated from NYC to Virginia, kept the salary and cut the cost of living to almost nothing compared to what it had been in NYC.

And although I love Disney and have since childhood, working for them wore most of the rose-colored tint off my glasses. I definitely saw the company in a completely different light. Now, I visit Orlando a few times a year and enjoy the parks so much more than I ever did while living there.

Bottom line...would I ever move back to Orlando, probably. Would I ever go back to work for Disney, NEVER.

[turkeyham]

Welcome to the family.

The only things I know is, the blue colored main gate pass allows at least 12 to 24 sign in a year and twice a year you can get 2 free tickets off of the Hub.

You start from the bottom and work up to the top. After 2 to 3 years you can go part-time or full-time and get you benefits. But then again, I know I could be wrong and my friends were hired in as full-time and they had to wait almost 7 months for their benefits to kick in.

[Lasolimu]

Hello Mr_Oogie_Boogie, I am the resident dragon and would like to offer you a very warm* welcome to that slice of the internet we call SGT. This website contains threads with quick twists and turns and I would like to advise you to not try to hard to keep up with them. Please keep your hands, arms, and legs safely inside the website at all times and enjoy your stay.

*this instance of warm is actually hot**... very hot

**this instance of hot means that you are now literally on fire, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for any inconvenience

[DragonFox98]

Welcome, Mr. Oogie Boogie!!! (I lurked for a really long time before I first posted as well...and still do for the most part...I live vicariously through others! :) )