any advice or helpful links? for moving to WDW

[CptnSkippy]

Be prepared to work outside. Even the HM cms have to greet outside to assist the foolish mortals to find the queue.

Good luck in your venture.

[HappyCamper]

Hi Happy camper! I'm new to this forum too, and a guest, not a CM. Just wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss. :( You have a great attitude and I think you'll probably be okay no matter where you go.
I work in the hospitality industry and so many people always tell me they would love to work in the arena I do. It's hard to be 'on' all of the time and harder still to deal with difficult people while staying pleasant and helpful. But as you said, you're old enough to realize that and old enough to realize it may not be what you thought. :p:
I always tell people that want to work in places that are near and dear to them to first remember that it may make them jaded or at the least may change the way they see that place forever. good luck with whatever you do! :D:

Thank you for your kind welcome. The same to you.

I'll bet that hospitality isn't a cake-walk either. It's probably difficult any time dealing with the public. It was difficult working the residence side of Bell/ATT, but once on the business side of it, it became easier. Most people handled themselves professionally ~ even when not happy dealing with us.

[HappyCamper]

Welcome happycamper, have a beverage. :coke: :pepsi:

[font="Century Gothic"]Thank you. Think I'll have a coke. Please sit and have a beverage, too.[/font] :)

[HappyCamper]

Be prepared to work outside. Even the HM cms have to greet outside to assist the foolish mortals to find the queue.

Good luck in your venture.

[font="Century Gothic"]Hmmm ~ I hadn't thought about that. That may not be too bad - it's in the shade. [/font]

[font="Century Gothic"]I thought about this a lot last night. I think that I'd really like a job training/instructing. How does one go about finding that job at WDW? What would the job title be? [/font]

[Nobleman]

As someone who just moved to Orlando, you have to weigh out your current life in your current location, and then decide whether Orlando (Florida really) is better.

From NYC:
Ludicrous yet underpaid salary, $3000 1BR apt 700Sqft, great public transportation $2.50 each way, Gas $3g, NYC/NYS income tax, crime meh... victims cannot fairly defend themselves, parking spot $500/month or $50 for 2 hours, mechanic labor $175/hr. I could go on and on. Suffice it to say the poverty line in NYC is established somewhere around $60000 and $70000/yr. Consider that if WDW were in Manhattan, an entry CM would get paid around $8/hr with no benefits. Your commute would be from at least 45 minutes away on a crowded train or bus.

Orlando:
Similar salaries in professional positions no state or local income tax. Higher wages for hourly positions but offset by costs of driving.
Truly mild winters, and the summers aren't much worse than NYC.
2BR 1000Sqft. apt with parking $500-$2000 (you decide which neighborhood is which).
Crime... meh, victims can defend themselves any which way they want.
Parking costs, traffic, labor HAH.
Your most basic house in a decent neighborhood in FL, comparably starts at $500,000 in the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area.
Benefits provided by the state are excellent compared to NYS.

Frankly it is a matter of experience. Some don't know what they have until they go someplace else. To all the Floridians that complain about FL and move to NY, I only need to say "why are all the NY'ers moving down here?"

Life here in FL is still life, and I wouldn't bank on WDW as my sole means of employment... but like I told everyone up north "In FL I have a fighting chance at a life." There may be other states that are better than FL, but I liked it here and my odds were better.

Would I give up my "basic training" in NYC... never, but who on earth wants to go through basic their entire life?

[HappyCamper]

Thank you, nobleman, for your response. It does put things into perspective.

[Zazu]

I have been widowed :( for one and a half years and it's time to move on. WDW has always been my dream. ...

... WDW is a taskmaster with low wages. I get that. Try working for AT&T....

... Florida rents and condo prices are so in the dumps right now, I can get by with my finances if I buy and then I wouldn't have to work. If I rent, that will take more monthly finances and I'd have to do part time.

By all means, *buy* then! You don't want to be in a situation where you *have* to work if you can avoid it -- work at WDW or anywhere else.

I want to work mostly for the joy of being at WDW.

That's good, because the pay is low, and benefits for PT and Seasonal are nil -- outside of free admission and discounts. If you love Disney, those can be a big plus.

I just found a condo in the heart of Celebration, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, for $85K !!, what can you recommend?

I recommend reading the condo association agreement very carefully. Ask to see their financial statements for the past seven years as well -- if only to see how hard it is for them to find them. Understand too that any damage to the common areas (including the roof and exterior walls) can fall upon all owners equally, which can become a big problem if some units are vacant or owned by the functionally indigent (read "Full Time Disney cast").

While I think I want Celebration, where else could I go and be close to WDW?

Hunters Creek to the east, Kissimmee to the southeast, and there are some areas just north of the property worth considering.

Safety is my largest concern. Where is it NOT safe?

Next door to morons, like anywhere else. Most places near WDW are reasonably safe (but then I'm from L.A.), but trouble can find you anywhere of course.

What, exactly, are the benefits for working PT? FT?

FT only guarantees 32 hours/week. PT guarantees no hours. Seasonal only has work when all FT and PT cast are maxed out. FT has good health coverage, PT is only theoretical, Seasonal has none. All get free admission, discounts ranging from 20% to 60%, and access to special cast events. More details on request, but the current contract negotiations may change some of them (the Company is proposing barring new hires from the retirement program).

I really like the sound of the new monorail traffic controller but is it indoors?

No, it's entirely outdoors, as I understand it, though it is in the shade. All attractions and custodial positions have some outdoors positions, as do many retail positions. Resort positions can include from token to total outdoor activities. It is highly dependent on the role and location. If you really can't take the heat, this may put a big restriction on where you can work.

... what jobs do I search for indoors?

Those are mostly office & technical positions. Even I, as a hotel concierge, have occasional outdoor duties.

... did I mention how much I absolutely hate the sun?, but I don't know how brave I am. Anyway, I don't know job titles.

Job titles don't always mean much, and some outdoor jobs are highly shaded. Ask at your audition.

I'm sure you'll have more questions as you dig into things. Please feel free to bring them here.

Break a leg!
Zazu
WDW Casting Scout

[Zazu]

I think that I'd really like a job training/instructing. How does one go about finding that job at WDW? What would the job title be?

You become a trainer by achieving excellence at your role and expressing and demonstrating a willingness to assist your fellow CMs. There's also the possibility to work into facilitation, often at Disney University, but these positions are generally TAs (Temporary Assignments) which take you away from your regular role for weeks to years.

A worthy goal, but get in and put in some hours first. I got offered a trainer position after six weeks; my background in adult education probably helped though.

[Nobleman]

A couple of other things that popped into my head. If you can, take a week or two to drive around down here and get a feel for the area, look at the condos and neighborhoods that interest you. Orlando is bigger than everyone thinks (including myself). This helped us a lot, we found a rental that met our immediate needs right away. Rentals aren't so bad here because you can break your lease with 60 days notice, which lets you rent and have more time to find a property you really want (and find a job).

Try searching the local zip codes for an idea of the available jobs, employers, requirements, etc... This will give you a relative idea if you will be able to compete for a position here.

As the previous poster suggested, inspect the properties, and bring a contractor to inspect before you sign anything. I have seen a lot of shortcuts taken with the maintenance and construction of certain things, it stands to reason this could extend to an entire building.

If the property has been around for a number of years, then it has withstood some major storms. You don't want to be on the bottom or top floors either (roof leaks, insects), and realize that insurance is a must as you can damage the condo below you, and may need to sue the condo above you for damages to yours.

All in all, renting and owning cost about the same, it's just a matter of who's making repairs. Owning brings the peace of mind of having whatever you want done to make your place yours, and a house eliminates the idiots above, below, and to the sides.

[HappyCamper]

[font="Century Gothic"]WOW. What great responses. Thank you so much. So far, I am getting happier and happier with the decision to move. Keep those ideas and thoughts coming. [/font]