Time to make a decision!

[Big Wallaby]

Well, after months now of checking my schedule before I leave for work, arriving at work at least an hour early, checking the system to make sure it hasn't changed, then checking it one more time after I clock in to make sure it didn't adjust, I've been able to keep the system from assigning me more points. I've had to be paranoid, because any time I've taken my record card to a manager, they tell me not to worry about it because I have a good record card compared to other drivers.

Well, I don't want a "good" record card, I want a record card that is accurate and reflects my work history. In fact, a few weeks ago, I looked and had almost ten points worth of attendance entries, of which seven and a half points were bogus. That's right, I've been late twice (once helping at a car accident, and once because, after leaving an hour early, I sat on I-4 unable to move to get to a side road until I was able to watch the clock move past my start time) and called in sick once, but somehow I had almost ten points racked up due to Workbrain issues.

Well, last night I was looking at my card, and a bunch of them have just disappeared, with no explanation. This is great news, because that means that on December 10, one of my (real) late arrivals will fall off my record card, and I will meet transfer eligibility requirements. I will be able to put MiMs behind me forever. Time to celebrate!


So, now, it's time to make a decision: Where do I want to go next? There are so many jobs that interest me at Disney World, I don't know where I want to go. I have talked about Kilimanjaro Safaris, Monorails, being a streetmosphere performer at Studios, Innoventions Presenter, Jungle Cruise Skipper, tour guide, park ops, recreation at the Yacht Club with hopes of getting into the Illuminations Cruises, and President of Disney World. I'm now going over it in my mind... what do I want to do? The thing that is most important to me is the ability to interact fairly constantly with guests, and the ability to start working toward slowly moving up in the company in the next several months.

Basically, I have one month to decide where to go next. Everyone here has an opinion on everything, so I would like to hear them. If you'd like to come analyze me and listen to my schtick on the bus, drop me a PM and I'll give you my info and a schedule... Those of you wanting to ride my bus, this is your last chance to do so. How fun would it be, on my last day in buses, to have all SGT members aboard for my farewell show? From what I understand of the Casting transfer process, the transfer itself will take place about two weeks after I go in to Casting.

I really don't know what I want to do... as my dad describes me, there are so many things to do and so little time!

[Shorty82]

Good luck with whatever you decide!

I'm disapointed that I likely won't make it back to WDW in time to hear your schtick. :( But you have to do what is best for you and with MiMs taking away guest interaction I can't blame you for wanting to leave busses. Guest interaction is a part of the reason I want to work at WDW also.

We'll have to drive around WDW ourselves pretending the car is a bus so I can hear it. :D:

[Princess Susi]

I always thought it was "So many men...so little time" LOLOLOL!!!!! :hysteria:

This is great news for you! Sad news for us who want to ride your bus before you stop driving and we cqnnot get to the Park to do so. I think in deciding what you want to do in the Parks, you have to look at each of those choices and picture yourself doing them. How long would you LOVE doing a choice. If a choice is something you think you would only like for a short time, then you might look at other choices you might want to do a longer time. Also how are the leads in each of those depts. Do you know peopple who work those roles and can they give you some idea? You sound like to me just from your posting here, you would make a GREAT Jungle Cruise Skip or in a role where you can have fun spieling or interacting a LOT with the guests. From your posts here it sounds like you love to have fun with the guests.
Whatever you decide, we will be coming to see you in Spring and be in awe of the master of Disney magic! :D:
Congratulations! :congrats:
susi

[ktulu]

Dude, whatever you choose you are going to excel at it. Do what YOU want to do, within reason ;)

[Big Wallaby]

I always thought it was "So many men...so little time" LOLOLOL!!!!! :hysteria:

For you, that works. Not so much for me :D: .

Do what YOU want to do, within reason ;)

What is this thing you mention, reason? And where are its bounds?

[CelebrationNM]

Of course you'd do great anywhere, and if they brought the MiMi into the Jungle Cruise you'd know that you're just cursed. :)

That being said, I would go for tour guiding. You'll get the guest interaction, it's heavy on the spieling, and you will be able to spend a bit more time developing a relationship with your group, instead of having them rotate through every 10 minutes. You'll find yourself touring interested CMs from other parts of the property, you'll get lots of interesting guests, and you'll get to know people that work is all areas of the park(s) because they'll get used to seeing you walk through their areas. (= potential networking later!) Recreation can be fun as well because, if you do programming, you'll see the same guests over and over during their stay...and potentially year after year.

just my thoughts,
-nm

[Cranbiz]

My friend,

You need to go where you can and will be allowed to use your special talent of gab to entertain guests.

There are only a couple of places that I can think of and they are KSR, JC , tour guide and the other transportation areas. Small boats/Motor launches would work as it's basically you and the guests, Monorails because you have always wanted to go there. KSR gives you 20 minutes alone with the guests and you only have to work days and of course JC let's you talk about the "Back side of water" and with your own style. As A tour guide, you would be awsome, sign me up for one of your tours.

However, President of Disney would work as then all CM's will be able to interact with the guests the way Walt wanted us to.

[Zazu]

I've been wrestling with this same question. Work at the concierge desk has been pleasant, but there's hardly as much magic and guest interaction there as in the Park.

I would encourage you to meet with CMs in each area you're thinking of transferring to. For example, I think you'd make a terrific railroad conductor, as they get a microphone, a captive audience, and travel a half mile through the woods between each station. Some conductors never noticed when the automatic spiels were changed, as you aren't required to use them.

OTOH, that department is presently headed by an area manager who thinks the right way to deal with safety issues is to threaten and intimidate CMs who raise them. Good job--bad time.

Reach out, visit the break rooms, and ask questions of those in costume how they feel about their area. Most folks will be glad to rant about the things that tick them off (hence this web site), so it shouldn't be hard to gather data -- just be sure to get a couple of sources each before you commit.

You should also keep talking to Transportation management. You might not know how many other good drivers have been whinging to them about MiMs, and there may well be a movement to make it's use optional for folks like you. Hey, it could happen! Showing your concern about operations and show quality won't hurt your pursuit of a promotion, in any case.

Good luck, and I hope you make the right choice. Remember that you've got 90 days to transfer back, and can apply for another transfer in just six more months.

[Big Wallaby]

Zazu, I hadn't really thought about the conductor thing... I'd certainly have to consult with you on that one, since you have experience. It's great that they made a way there of working around the autospiels. Oh, and you'd have to teach me to properly give the calls to the engineers. Like you and a certain person I won't name here except to call him "Walt" and "The Man Behind the Mouse", I find the authentic experience to be extremely important.

I also happen to know they have been getting a LOT of guest feedback on the automated spiels on the buses, and most of it not good. To the credit of the transportation managers, they're starting to take heed.

I didn't want to stay in buses a long time here, I saw it as my foot in the door.

I've met all sorts of people at monorails, those who love it, those who hate it. It's interesting that they have two groups of people, it seems. Those who have been there less than three years and those who have spent more than ten years on the beams, but very few people in between. I've met driver_dylan, Switchbeam9, and Steverails, more people from here than any other department. I know I would enjoy the interaction style I would have with people there.

KSR would be great for the same reasons bus driving used to be. The only thing that is automated is something that I interact with for show.

There are only a few things that I know for sure at this point I want to do: I want to make memorable magic for our guests, I want to interact with them, and I want to pass on the spirit that Walt Disney built this place to give them. Beyond that, I don't really care that much what I do.

[BRWombat]

I envision you in a kind of "floater" position where you can roam the parks at will and interact with guests -- sort of a Chief Marsupial Magic-Maker. Is there such a position??? If not, there should be. :D: