A posibly out of line question.

[Marchief]

Hey y'all. I have a question that might be out of order, and if so, please feel free to tell me. First, let me say that i am a United Methodist Minister that is fascinated with the 'ideals' of the Disney Business model. Through the generosity of a church member, I was able to attend a few years ago one of the class offerings from the Disney Institute on the Disney's Quality Customer Service Model. It was fantastic training that I have used much o in my local church setting. It's sad, to me, that the church is no longer the place where people receive the best quality customer care - Disney has long been in that roll.

But to my question. As a part of that class, the trainers mentioned the process of hiring Disney employees and the class called "Traditions" that every cast member is supposed to participate in. The trainer very briefly described that process, and very much peaked my interest. Is it possible to get a copy of the Traditions manual? I'd love to be able to read it and then adapt it to my local church setting. It may be one of those carefully guarded secrets, which i totally understand. I've considered coming down there during my vacation and trying to get hired on as a seasonal employee just to I can experience that class, and make a little money while working on my vacation!! But, that has nothing really to do with this.

Do any of you have your copy of the Traditions manual that I could purchase or borrow? If it's something Disney doesn't want you to do, like I said, I totally understand and won't ask again. But I would love to read through it.

Any help?

Blessings!
Mark

[kurtisnelson]

I think almost everything is done electronically now-a-days.
The getting hired seasonally quickly thing would fail miserably from my experience with casting. You have to fill out an application, wait 3 months in my case, go bug them in person, get told to setup an interview, there be no interviews available for 2 weeks, and then be told you would be hired if they had positions available in your area of interest.

[Zazu]

Is it possible to get a copy of the Traditions manual?

Probably not, as those are pretty jealously guarded proprietary information. (As such, it's technically improper to ask for a copy here, but you didn't know, so no harm done nor offense taken.)

I'd also recommend against getting a current copy or hiring on for the experience, as it's a shadow of what it once was. Seems the lawyers have taken over and it's been reduced to not much more than a series of dull videos.

Now you can create your own "traditions" program for your church without much trouble (and I'd be willing to help). But it requires that you really know and really believe in the mission and purpose of the church. I do realize that it's almost rude to ask a minister if he "believes", but that's not how I mean it.

What I'm reaching for here is a belief that approaches your faith in God that a particular way to do things is not just the *best* way, but the *right* way to treat your staff, parishioners, your guests, and your community. Disney breaks it down from a number of different perspectives, including:

¨It's better to ask forgiveness than permission." This means you authorize your staff to do what they feel in their heart is the *right* thing to do in all cases. If they are wrong, you forgive them, coach them in the right approach, and send them back out to follow their hearts some more. This requires a lot of faith in your staff, and it's faith that will occasionally be ill placed or ill used. We think it's better, and we think it's right, despite that.

"Treat everyone with respect, including (or perhaps especially) their children." This doesn't mean a "separate but equal" Youth Ministry. It means that when you deal with a family, you deal with *all* of a family. If you stop to answer the question of a child, his parents will see that you will answer all of *their* questions as well.

"Understand that your role is not your purpose." My role, or job, may vary from time to time. I've worked in attractions, merchandise, foods, hotels, in lots of different positions, and my specific duties varied. But my *purpose* remained the same: to make sure every guest has the most magical time possible. In this light, what is your "purpose", and that of every member of your staff? of your church?

Traditions also includes the history of the Company, from its founder and his motivations to the current management and organization. Just as in the Church, the way we do things changes over time, but the basic motivation, the primary purpose, doesn't vary. History can show this.

And have fun. Traditions, indeed most Disney training programs, start with a "warm-up" exercise so students and leaders can get to know each other, to find some things in common other than the class, and to get in a few laughs. People remember better when they laugh about things -- even things that aren't normally considered funny or polite to laugh about.

Disney's "Traditions" is about getting new cast to understand not *what* we do, but *why* we do it. Once that takes hold, then the "how" is simply a matter of handing them the tools (and procedures) and stepping back.

If you have chosen the right people, they will need little more than the occasional nudge or reminder to keep them on course. If you have not chosen the right people, the incessant grind of doing things "the Disney way" (or yours) will wear them down until it becomes obvious to both parties that it Isn't Working Out.

I meant what I said about helping your write your own Traditions. PM me if you'd like to work something up.

Here's a free sample: Who was the most popular television preacher in the 1950s, and what's that got to do with Disney? Hint: His TV show never mentioned religion, Christ, or God.

[Marchief]

Hey Zazu, Thanks a bunch! I do believe in finding the right way to do things - and thankfully, so does the church I serve. I'm sorry to hear that the course 'isn't what it used to be.' But I do appreciate the information. As they explained it in the course I took, I got enough to kinda work out something in my mind. But thought it might be helpful to see, or experience what Disney does.

I'm not giving up totally on working there seasonally. We have several friends that work for Disney, in entertainment. I've been batting the idea around with them some. I get an extra weeks vacation than my wife does. My thought is to go down for a week, work as many hours as I can, and then come home. Of course I've been thinking about it for 2 years and haven't done anything about it. LOL

Thanks again for the information!!

Blessings!
Mark

[Big Wallaby]

In regard to getting a seasonal job with Disney, I say go for it... just not for the Traditions class. I can't tell you how disappointed I was when we were discussing (I say discussing, I mean watching videos about) biohazards and chemicals, sexual harassment, etc. as all that should be handled the next day. It is important, but not first-day, "Let's Introduce You To Disney!" stuff.

I've been thinking about getting a group and cirriculum together, and seeing if we could make it fly at Disney University, in which all we talk about is the heritage of what we do, the future and how you the (possibly new) Cast Member help mold it, and why you being at Disney is important, both to the company, and to the fabric of North America. While in some ways I know I'd be promoting what in some ways is a bit of a fallacy, I also know that to so many that is how they view a Disney Cast Member, and I believe we should live up to that.

To make a statement that will sound very sacrilegious... My relationship is with God, my religion is Disney. If you really want me to get into the details of that, PM me and I will explain my statement. But this is to address a statement I've seen before, that some see the Cast like a cult... and to those of us who are here for the express purpose of working at Disney (say, having moved across the country, or even "just" across the state) that is almost exactly what it is. As you get deeper into being a Cast Member, you find that it fills your life. One day, you realize you have the Disney Room where you put all the stuff you get while in and around the parks. You lose your Safari belt buckle and it mysteriously (after they've charged you at Costuming for it) shows up among your prized posessions (along with your Monorail Wings, and that Mickey Bus Driver pin that the day after you bought it a Bus Manager bought all the rest so they could give them to bus drivers as an atta-boy). You start to think in terms of special things you can do for the guests that you see every day, and you even get to the point where you can work the Small World boat platform and love the BGM* because you know it was one of Walt's favorite attractions. You find that most of your friends are Cast Members, though you can't remember in what area you worked with them.
It is difficult to explain to someone on the outside. You have to experience it for yourself. But don't worry, it's Power Aid, not Kool Aid, that we drink.
So come on in, and be one of us! Most of us don't bite... Just stay away from crash's girlfriend, as we're not sure about whether she bites yet.




* This statement is not from personal experience, but was explained to me by a Fantasyland Cast Member. I hope never to have this personal experience, as I can only stand to be stuck in the last two minutes of said attractions for ten minutes, once a month at most.

[Yeti Chaser]

I want to add to Zazu's and Big Wallaby's comments. I have been a CR with Disney for a few years, as I have a full time job on the outside. I can tell you from personal experience that everything Disney taught me in Traditions and OTJ I have been able to use in the "outside of Disney" world of business. This includes the 7 Service Guidelines. Always had challanges with the "magical" guideline, but made it work.

I can tell you that some businesses attempt to instill some of Disney's philosophies for guest (aka customer) services. I have been very fortunate that working for Disney has given me a leg up on others and even has helped me stand out.

If you do come as seasonal, you will will learn those philosophies no matter what position you are in. I wish you the best in your endevours.

[darph nader]

Hey Zazu. Is it Mr Rogers?? Wait he was popular in the 70s-80s also.
(waits for Sat for correct answer)

[BRWombat]

... Who was the most popular television preacher in the 1950s, and what's that got to do with Disney? Hint: His TV show never mentioned religion, Christ, or God.

Hey Zazu. Is it Mr Rogers?? Wait he was popular in the 70s-80s also.
(waits for Sat for correct answer)

My guess would be Norman Vincent Peale, but I don't know of any Disney connection...

[mapo]

I've been thinking about getting a group and cirriculum together, and seeing if we could make it fly at Disney University, in which all we talk about is the heritage of what we do, the future and how you the (possibly new) Cast Member help mold it, and why you being at Disney is important, both to the company, and to the fabric of North America. While in some ways I know I'd be promoting what in some ways is a bit of a fallacy, I also know that to so many that is how they view a Disney Cast Member, and I believe we should live up to that.

This class exists at DU, it is called "Walt Disney and You". You must have leadership approval to go. I can tell you it was one of the BEST, if not the best, course I took at Disney. I love my special pin you get from attending. A different color jewel for whether you are WDW or DL even!

One day, you realize you have the Disney Room where you put all the stuff you get while in and around the parks. You lose your Safari belt buckle and it mysteriously (after they've charged you at Costuming for it) shows up among your prized posessions (along with your Monorail Wings, and that Mickey Bus Driver pin that the day after you bought it a Bus Manager bought all the rest so they could give them to bus drivers as an atta-boy). You start to think in terms of special things you can do for the guests that you see every day, and you even get to the point where you can work the Small World boat platform and love the BGM* because you know it was one of Walt's favorite attractions. You find that most of your friends are Cast Members, though you can't remember in what area you worked with them.
It is difficult to explain to someone on the outside. You have to experience it for yourself. But don't worry, it's Power Aid, not Kool Aid, that we drink.
So come on in, and be one of us! Most of us don't bite... Just stay away from crash's girlfriend, as we're not sure about whether she bites yet.

This is called "falling into the Mouse Trap". Yeah, I fell. And it is Zazu's fault. Thank God. ROTFL

[Yeti Chaser]

This class exists at DU, it is called "Walt Disney and You". You must have leadership approval to go. I can tell you it was one of the BEST, if not the best, course I took at Disney. I love my special pin you get from attending. A different color jewel for whether you are WDW or DL even!

Mapo: Good call on the course. I was very fortunate to take this course several years ago and it is by far the best course Disney has. And yes, the pin is very special. You can't wear it on your costume, but if you are in street clothes it is a proud addition.