Question for all you PPP's (Purple Pants People)

[Goofyernmost]

I live up in the totally frozen state of Vermont. I am almost 60, in good health and so on. Over the past couple of weeks it has barely stopped snowing here and I am ready for the end of Winter already and it is still 6 days away from starting.

I was a bus driver for a number of years, mostly RTS and some Gileigs plus a few mongrels and some tour buses. A couple of years ago I applied for and got a job as a field supervisor at a municipal transit system after driving for them a few years. I have been planning on heading south as soon as I retire at age 62 but I am starting to rethink my options.

Here are my questions. Is there a need now for experienced bus drivers with active CDL's at WDW? Are they looking for drivers? I don't want to be a supervisor, I want to be a driver. How does one get considered? I never see it listed in the career sections of Disney's site.

Someone told me that they don't take any application seriously unless there is a Florida return address. Is that true?

Will the Purple Pants clash with my eyes? :) I have been reading your posts and am pretty aware of the problems you folks face with SG's. We have SG's also. The difference is yours will soon be going home and ours just stay and stay and stay as regulars. It can be quite tedious. The main problem for me though is the weather. The older I get the less I can tolerate the cold and snow.

Thanks for whatever information you can give me.

[Shorty82]

I'm pretty sure there is a driver shortage at WDW. I think there was one before MiMs and now that BW and other drivers like him are leaving buses then I would think drivers are needed even more.

[Kwahati]

Shorty: you're a computer guy too... did you see PPP and think "printer parallel port" like I did? :p:

I can't speak to the bus driver shortage thing (I'm sure Big Wallaby and Cranbiz will be by shortly to add a knowledgeable answer) but I know, on behalf of guests [the non-SG variety], if you're nice and friendly and like the mouse, then best of luck in the application process! If you're smart enough to find us here [and be able to tolerate us! :p: ] then I'm sure you'll do great!

[Shorty82]

Shorty: you're a computer guy too... did you see PPP and think "printer parallel port" like I did? :p:

I'm ashamed to say I didn't. Then again I'm young and used to hooking printers to a USB port. When I've hooked up non-USB printers I always called the port simply "printer port", no "parallel" in there.

[Big Wallaby]

Okay, from a FPPP (former...) The biggest thing they're looking for in bus drivers is a pulse. If they're not hiring bus drivers today, wait a week. Previous experience is nice to have in Core training, but after that it won't really do you much good, except in avoiding some of our less experienced drivers (who think it's okay to get into the left turn lane, then back into the flow of traffic without checking their mirrors to realize I've filled the space they provided by moving over.

If you come down here, you'll find that driving a Novabus is a trip. Made by Prevost, it has a very short wheelbase but generally a nice ride... until you put it into the hands of an abusive driver, then it sucks.

Geez, I've come to the conclusion it's a good thing I got out of buses when I did. I might be a bit bitter about the computer. Lotta guys like the thing.

Other thing in buses, they generally won't try to pressure you to move up. At least, I never received that pressure, except into training. But don't go into training. Ever.

If you want to work just for something to do that's fun, guest interactive, somewhat challenging and not too much less pay, come on over to Kilimanjaro Safaris.

[ktulu]

Shorty: you're a computer guy too... did you see PPP and think "printer parallel port" like I did? :p:

I saw that as point to point protocol.

[Kwahati]

I saw that as point to point protocol.

Ouch. I'm showing my age while you're showing your advanced knowledge level! :D:

[Randy B]

Ouch. I'm showing my age while you're showing your advanced knowledge level! :D:

FLASHERS!!

There are folks around here showing things they aren't supposed to in polite company!!!

Come to think of it, when has this place ever been polite company...... Nevermind. :D:

Randy

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I saw that as point to point protocol.

Woof, I was thinking PPP and PPTP!!

Last printer I hooked up parallel was for a supervisor in another office that thought he was getting a "new" printer (hehehe) And that was YEARS ago.

[Goofyernmost]

Hey folks, I enjoy a good swerve off topic myself sometimes but this is a serious question. I'm trying to decide what direction the limited time I have should go. Frankly, computers are not one of them. Great tools but they have robbed to much of humanity.

Big Wallaby, thanks for your response. I'm open to any driving position from parking lot tram to safari to buses. Money isn't a big focal point. What I need is enough to keep a roof over my head and medical benefits. Other than that I am pretty flexible.

I already am a trainer at my present position. I do a 5 hour "customer service" session complete with video, power point (computer as a tool) and lecture plus Q&A's. I don't mind that but I still just want to drive. I have driven cars, trucks and all kinds of buses for almost 45 accident free years. I can totally relate to having a watchful eye toward the "newbee's".

I still don't know where to begin. Any suggestions?