Driving jobs at WDW

[mgilmer]

I am going to be retiring soon and I am trying to convince my wife to consider moving to Florida. I am a professional driver (cdl a with several endorsements). How hard is it to get a part time job at WDW drving something? Anything?

[Shorty82]

Shouldn't be to hard considering we have buses driving all over the place and there are also trucks of all kinds hauling merchandise, laundry, and a myriad of other things around property.

I'd recommend calling the WDW Job Line at 407-828-1000 and see what you can find out.

[Big Wallaby]

I guess the big question, would you rather work with people or commodities? There's a difference in pay of about $8. If you like people, talk to Cranbiz, and he can tell you what driving is like now on the buses. I could give you my impressions, but that is from six months ago.

[mgilmer]

I would prefer something other than a bus, if at all possible. How does one get a position driving a parking lot shuttle? Those look cool even if it does not pay as well as a bus.

[Shorty82]

I would prefer something other than a bus, if at all possible. How does one get a position driving a parking lot shuttle? Those look cool even if it does not pay as well as a bus.

To apply for a job at WDW you have to apply in person at the Casting Center, which is across the street from Downtown Disney. If you get a job in parking you won't just be driving the trams all day, you'll also conduct them, direct traffic through the lots, and (I believe) work the toll plazas. You'll be out in the direct sun for long periods and most always in the heat during the summer and cold during the winter. I also don't believe a CDL is required to drive a tram as they only rarely leave the tram routes, let alone go on a public road, and when they do it is late at night so very little traffic and they have an escort.

If you want to actually drive I'd recommend either going for buses or the delivery trucks,

[mechurchlady]

you would have to pass the Florida tests.

Personally I would go for the best indoor job possible. Read the posts by monorail, trams, and bus drivers. It is not the glamour and glitz but can be painful, annoying and no freedom. There is not much chance of moving up in your carreer. There are more idiots in Florida driving. You are dreaming of a busses where the driver smiles and greets people who immediately take their spot and their are no gassy, burpy, stinky people nor disabled people. Drivers have it hard in parks as does any WDW public job. Even the custodian can get insulted or hurt by guests.

WDW would be nice to work for but think of the pay, sweltering muggy heat. Yesterday in LA it was one of the Florida days. California rains and done, Florida every day seems to ahve drizzles. Stiffling heat. Get the facts and think about what job you want.

[Cranbiz]

Well, driving a bus these days can be alot like hauling freight, Drivers don't have to talk now. Talking and joking with the guests IMHO makes the job better and That's why I still do it.

It soulds like you would rather work is support backstage. I understand it can be difficult to get a backstage trucking position but you don't know until you try. That starts at casting.

You can always start with buses and transfer after 6 months. It's fairly easy to get on part time with buses. Can't speak about the warehouse positions.

[Cranbiz]

You'll be out in the direct sun for long periods and most always in the heat during the summer and cold during the winter.

COLD of winter! Here in Florida!

I'll put our coldest day up against a normal New England winter day anytime.

Florida, where I ride my Harley 12 months a year.

[Big Wallaby]

I also don't believe a CDL is required to drive a tram as they only rarely leave the tram routes, let alone go on a public road, and when they do it is late at night so very little traffic and they have an escort.

And when they are on the roads they are being driven by technicians. Also, because they're considered farm tractors, they don't require CDL's.

If you want to actually drive I'd recommend either going for buses or the delivery trucks

Or there's always something like Kilimanjaro Safari or Monorails or what have you.

From your post where you say you don't want to drive buses, are you saying you want to stay away from guests? That's a whole area I know nothing about.

[mgilmer]

From your post where you say you don't want to drive buses, are you saying you want to stay away from guests? That's a whole area I know nothing about.

My wife tells me that I am not a "people person" in that I do not suffer fools lightly, so I thought a driving job not directly involving customer service would be preferable. I really do not know how the bus drivers at WDW do it without "going Disney" on some of the SGs I have seen.