Costume Capers

CujoSR · Post by **CujoSR** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 12:54 am

Considering the cold air lately I am wishing I hadn't turned in my heavy canvas coat.

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:16 pm

MK Cast Zooming, Days 5-6:

Yesterday wasn't too bad. I was able to get the wrong size costume pieces very quickly. That's progress, right?

Today made up for it. Despite arriving 30 minutes before my shift started, it took 40 minutes to get out of Costuming with a shirt I couldn't tuck in (too short) and promises to, "Fix things right up." Oh, be still my heart!

Then the bus is delayed and takes 20 minutes instead of 10, and it's so late by the time I get to Main Street that CDS won't let me clock in. A call to the duty manager and he tells me to start work and promises to fix my clock-in time.

At my first break, a coordinator tells me she's fixed my clock-in. She hasn't, she's clocked me in 35 minutes late.

At my second thru fourth breaks, it's still wrong, but I can't get a callback from the duty manager.

At quitting time, it's still not fixed, so I call a different manger who promises to fix it right away. Ten minutes later, it's still wrong, but I have to clock out (ten minutes late) or CDS will cut me off again.

So, I've now been stuck for an extra 45 minutes of my time, despite being there on time and working my full shift. If these SOB's don't get it fixed before next week's paycheck, I'm going to be *very* angry.

They won't like me when I'm angry.

Hey, he can't get a shirt that fits either!

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 12:05 am

MK Cast Zooming, Week 6:

Still no back pay. I'm rapidly developing an attitude problem.

Today, having picked up every last shirt in my size in the correct style, and in a different style I can get away with (both of them), I went out to get on the bus to MK. Guess what was at the bus platform?

It was a big sandwich sign, declaring that effective immediately, the Costume building would be closed Sundays and Mondays.

I'm part-time. I only work on ... that's right, Sundays and Mondays! I'm guessing most of you can see what sort of a challenge this might present.

Management has suggested two options:

1. Do the Company's laundry for them at my own expense on my own time -- including dry cleaning for the vest, jacket, and pea coat.

2. Come in on my day off, without pay, to get costume.

I have a third option:

3. Bite me!!!

The sad thing is, I really do love my job once I get on stage (and can find the tools I need). Even yesterday when we had 76,000 in the park and a 38 degree wind chill, I managed to enjoy myself. It's not like I'm burned out from dealing with the stroller nazis.

What's killing me is the BS I have to go through to *get* my costume, to *get* a broom or grabber, to *get* my schedule, so that I *can* go to work. My homeroom leader is a really nice guy, but moderately clueless and 100% ineffective on each and every issue I've asked him for help with.

I'm going to try real hard to stay on the high road. I'm going to call him every day until Tuesday asking for help. On Tuesday, I'm going in wearing a loud Hawaiian print instead of my white costume shirt (but with the necktie!), and see what they want to do about it.

The first thing I'm going to ask for is to be put on administrative furlough until they resolve the costuming issue -- it's been two years so far, this could get me a permanent park pass and discount if I work it right.

The next thing I'm going to do is to look up a really great manager we had once who moved to Animal Kingdom. Let's see, closed at dusk every day, there *is* no closing shift that isn't also an opening shift! True, I will have to wear pajamas instead of a nice suit, but I'm about willing to go for that trade.

In case that doesn't work, I did some calculations. This past year, the Company paid me about $4000 in salary and $400 in discounts. I'm about at the point of declaring that's not enough. Gonna miss Property Control, but I'll get over it.

Stduck · Post by **Stduck** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:36 am

I hope to the gods that DL doesn't do something that stupid. DL costuming is open everyday, 3 hours before DL park opening and 2 hours after DL park closing. The real question is what if someone gets pulled locations and needs to change and the costuming building is closed. WDW should adopt the program we have. It seems to work for the most part (untill you need something special issued).

I wish you luck Zazu (you could always move out to California again and get a job on our Steam Trains)

Karnever · Post by **Karnever** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 11:05 am

Disneyland Costuming did try to close every weds for "restocking" but alot of the older CMs who have lockers or that are not on Fasttrack complained...which I agree with I mean we have costume shopping now we get our own clothes all they do is scan them its not that hard to wrok around us and "restock" which they do now...

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:16 am

MK Cast Zooming, Week 7:

I should have known. At Disney, words mean whatever people want them to mean, even when they don't.

Turns out that when the Costume building is closed, it's still open. Yup, door unlocked (but only one of the four), staff on duty to check costume pieces in and out, even a coordinator to bitch at. Makes me wonder why the fuss.

Nevertheless, I've informed my supervision that, "Disney obviously doesn't want me to work on Sundays and Mondays," and informed them that my availability -- previously Sun thru Tue -- will now be Tue & Wed only. (Screw 'em for the third day, I've got email backed up to last September.)

I know this won't help, but at least I'll only get pissed off twice a week instead of three times.

Now to see how long it takes to process the change in availability!

lady ulrike · Post by **lady ulrike** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:42 pm

Yeah, that's how it was at Disneyland. Costuming would be closed one or two days out of the week (depending on which costuming building you were at) for general stuff, but it was still open for 'emergencies' The thing was so many people would show up on their closed days that eventually they gave that up and are open every day now.

GMC · Post by **GMC** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:38 pm

if the Park is open EVERY DAY, then the places people need to go to get things important to work should be open EVERY DAY.

RebuildtheKingdom · Post by **RebuildtheKingdom** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 3:00 pm

GMC wrote:if the Park is open EVERY DAY, then the places people need to go to get things important to work should be open EVERY DAY.

[sarcastic upper management mode ON] No no no silly CM, staying open 7 days a week, costs money. How are supposed to pinch those pennies, when we have to stay open *all* the time. We have to make the bottom line look good so Mr. Eisner can make his multi-million dollar bonus. Come on now gang, take one, or two, or three.. for the team! [a$$hole mode off]

Seriously, I can't comprehend why they're not open 7 days a week. This whole situation seem moronic at best. If you ask me if proof positive of how "saving moeny" can cost money... and time... and morale...

Anna · Post by **Anna** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:48 pm

I just asked my sons and they say wardrobe is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week at universal. You have to have special permission to take your costume/wardrobe home and even then you aren't supposed to wash it. How are you supposed to work if you don't have your costume?