Why?!?! Why In Their Right Mind Would Do Such A Thing?!?!?!

[GaTechGal]

I think at Disney the corporate culture is to move up through the ranks for Imagineering jobs. If you've worked out in the parks then you understand about giving a good show. Maybe it gives you more of a perspective. Now not always, but it probably helps when a position becomes available if your foot is already in the door if you are already on the company books.

[leftcoaster]

I think at Disney the corporate culture is to move up through the ranks for Imagineering jobs. If you've worked out in the parks then you understand about giving a good show. Maybe it gives you more of a perspective. Now not always, but it probably helps when a position becomes available if your foot is already in the door if you are already on the company books.

Agreed. I'm not a CM, nor have I ever been, but I think you would need to see what positions are available in Imagineering, and see if there is something reasonable that you might be able to do. It might even be a small pay cut (?), but at least you would be in the right department (if that is what you want). I also think that you would have to have a very supportive manager, who would also give you an excellent recommendation.

I know that WDI's home base is in Burbank, but can you get a position say in Orlando without "having to go through Burbank?" And is there a WDI site where they list openings ?

[hobie16]

And is there a WDI site where they list openings ?

There is.

https://disney.recruitmax.com//main/car ... 475b752e8e

[SmallWorldGuy76]

Oh, brother! Now, I've seen everything! :dropmouth

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

..........Mary Poppoins costume complete in the white dress and bird umbrella!! I asked myself: "Why? Why?"

So, I guess I saw them again yesterday, this time as Mary Poppins:

[Amphigorey]

In theory, Disney promotes from within. In practice, not so much. They do love to tell stories about the ones who rose through the ranks, like Tony Baxter and (I think) Card Walker. However, the reality is that you're much more likely to be hired in the higher ranks if you have a lot of outside experience. Look at Paul Pressler, or Cynthia Harriss, or almost anyone else. There are very rare exceptions, but they are definitely not the rule. You have a better chance of being a bigwig at Disney if you go get an MBA and work at some other companies than if you actually start at Disney and work your way up.

[hobie16]

In theory, Disney promotes from within. In practice, not so much. They do love to tell stories about the ones who rose through the ranks, like Tony Baxter and (I think) Card Walker. However, the reality is that you're much more likely to be hired in the higher ranks if you have a lot of outside experience. Look at Paul Pressler, or Cynthia Harriss, or almost anyone else. There are very rare exceptions, but they are definitely not the rule. You have a better chance of being a bigwig at Disney if you go get an MBA and work at some other companies than if you actually start at Disney and work your way up.

Sadly, this is true of most big companies. For some reason they think they can buy someone from the outside that will take them to the next level. The new guy comes in, pisses off the people that have been building the business for years by telling them they don't know anything, hangs around for a while, screws things up, cashes in some stock options and splits for another company which sometimes turns out to be one of your competitors. And rather than replace the now gone ace with someone who knows what to do, they go get another outsider.

I understand UPS is an exception to this. They actively train and promote from within.

[EeyoresButterfly]

Back to the OP, There is a similar family that comes to WDW. I remember when I was helping out Pumpkin Donald at Stitch's Cosmic Dance Party in 06, there was a family with a couple of little kids in CM costume. One of them was in a Character attendant costume. She was absolutely adorable and looked to be having a good time. Apparently the mom or grandma was a CM and bought the cloth at some kind of sale the company had, so the shirts really did look authentic. The kid obviously loved it. I always think the home made costumes are much nicer than the dime a dozen ones the people buy in stores, and if it makes the kid happy...

[joanna71985]

I've seen pictures of a little girl who was also in a CA costume. The pictures were in the GMR/Hat breakroom.

The little girl was so cute! I believe she also had a Tour Guide costume too.

[EeyoresButterfly]

Yep! That's the one!