Robert: Frontierland (Magic Kingdom)
Program: Spring 2016
Other Locations: Fantasyland
Role Description: As a merchandise host I had a variety of tasks that ranged from operating the registers, stocking the merchandise around the store, and greeting guests that come into the store and assisting them with their shopping experience. In merchandise you have a unique opportunity to interact with guests not just behind the counter but also throughout the store, which is something Disney calls "Merchantaining" (merchant + entertaining). Often you will be rotated around to different positions within the same shift, including moving from one store in your zone to another. Depending on where you are located, other responsibilities may involve food handling and/or PhotoPass assistance.
Training: Frontierland had a great management team! On my first day I met my trainer at costuming to get my costume, and pretty soon I was out on-stage getting hands-on experience! There was one training day at Disney University where we learned more about the registers and transactions, but most of the training was on-stage to get you used to a typical work environment. You have a set number of days with a trainer before you're left on your own, and the first day without a trainer can be a little nerve-wracking but there are always other cast members to help you out! In your first few weeks you will be scheduled other training days to learn about merchandising beyond the basics (food prep and PhotoPass get their own training sessions).
Hours: 35-40/week, 8 hours with a break ever 2-3 hours
Likes: The management team at Frontierland was great! Every one of them was friendly and easy to talk to, and they really encouraged us to excel and congratulated us for going out of our way for a guest. At the end of my program they gave me my "Ear-book Page," which had pictures that they took of me throughout the past four months!
Dislikes: PhotoPass is hard. It was really difficult to communicate the pricing and options for the pictures, especially to guests who did not speak English well. It was always a struggle and my interactions with guests were rarely anything more than me giving the same spiel over and over again.
Favorite Memory: My favorite memories have always been interacting with the guests. One time I was helping a couple find their picture for Splash Mountain-- both of them had trouble with seeing, so I magnified the images on the screen so they could find theirs. After selling their picture they mentioned that they wanted to go on again, so I had an idea. For the rest of my shift, I kept checking the pictures to see if I could find theirs and print it beforehand so I could hand it to them as they got off the ride. It turns out that they went on twice in a row, so I printed off both pictures, greeted them at the end of their second ride, and gave them both pictures free of charge! For Splash Mountain it was encouraged to offer free pictures for special occasions, and this was one of those times when I used that freedom to make their day extra special!
Other Locations: Fantasyland
Role Description: As a merchandise host I had a variety of tasks that ranged from operating the registers, stocking the merchandise around the store, and greeting guests that come into the store and assisting them with their shopping experience. In merchandise you have a unique opportunity to interact with guests not just behind the counter but also throughout the store, which is something Disney calls "Merchantaining" (merchant + entertaining). Often you will be rotated around to different positions within the same shift, including moving from one store in your zone to another. Depending on where you are located, other responsibilities may involve food handling and/or PhotoPass assistance.
Training: Frontierland had a great management team! On my first day I met my trainer at costuming to get my costume, and pretty soon I was out on-stage getting hands-on experience! There was one training day at Disney University where we learned more about the registers and transactions, but most of the training was on-stage to get you used to a typical work environment. You have a set number of days with a trainer before you're left on your own, and the first day without a trainer can be a little nerve-wracking but there are always other cast members to help you out! In your first few weeks you will be scheduled other training days to learn about merchandising beyond the basics (food prep and PhotoPass get their own training sessions).
Hours: 35-40/week, 8 hours with a break ever 2-3 hours
Likes: The management team at Frontierland was great! Every one of them was friendly and easy to talk to, and they really encouraged us to excel and congratulated us for going out of our way for a guest. At the end of my program they gave me my "Ear-book Page," which had pictures that they took of me throughout the past four months!
Dislikes: PhotoPass is hard. It was really difficult to communicate the pricing and options for the pictures, especially to guests who did not speak English well. It was always a struggle and my interactions with guests were rarely anything more than me giving the same spiel over and over again.
Favorite Memory: My favorite memories have always been interacting with the guests. One time I was helping a couple find their picture for Splash Mountain-- both of them had trouble with seeing, so I magnified the images on the screen so they could find theirs. After selling their picture they mentioned that they wanted to go on again, so I had an idea. For the rest of my shift, I kept checking the pictures to see if I could find theirs and print it beforehand so I could hand it to them as they got off the ride. It turns out that they went on twice in a row, so I printed off both pictures, greeted them at the end of their second ride, and gave them both pictures free of charge! For Splash Mountain it was encouraged to offer free pictures for special occasions, and this was one of those times when I used that freedom to make their day extra special!
Breanna: All Star Resorts
Program: Spring 2016
Other Locations: Dinoland
Role Description: Run the cash register, restock the floor, greet guests entering the resort, sort merchandise, occasionally participate in dance parties
Training:1 day of general all-star training followed by merchandise training at Disney university before going into my store. Then there was one day of observation where we got an overview of all three stores. The next day we Began practicing on the register with our trainer. The day after we learned closing procedures and took our assessment. About 1.5 weeks later, we had one additional day to learn heart of house (stock) training
Hours: 32-35/week, 6 hour shifts with a 15 minute break, 7 hour shifts with a 30 minute break, 8 hour shifts with a 30 minute and a 15 minute break, or 8 hour shifts with two (one unpaid) 30 minute breaks
Likes: Location: I loved getting to know guests who stayed at the resort and came into the store multiple times. I loved the dance parties that we used to have with guests.
Role: I get super excited about buying souvenirs, so I enjoyed watching other people get that excited. I also liked buying gifts for people at home and telling them it was from my store.
Dislikes: Location: was very slow at some times, especially during the day when most people were at the parks. It was also a really long bus ride home.
Role: hours vary so much. I know people who worked at mk until 3 am, and sometimes I had to be at work at 5 am
Favorite Memory: We had a family visiting from England for 3 weeks. They came into the store at all-star sports every single night to trade pins and I got to know them quite well. It was awesome to form such a connection in a place with thousands of guests.
Other Locations: Dinoland
Role Description: Run the cash register, restock the floor, greet guests entering the resort, sort merchandise, occasionally participate in dance parties
Training:1 day of general all-star training followed by merchandise training at Disney university before going into my store. Then there was one day of observation where we got an overview of all three stores. The next day we Began practicing on the register with our trainer. The day after we learned closing procedures and took our assessment. About 1.5 weeks later, we had one additional day to learn heart of house (stock) training
Hours: 32-35/week, 6 hour shifts with a 15 minute break, 7 hour shifts with a 30 minute break, 8 hour shifts with a 30 minute and a 15 minute break, or 8 hour shifts with two (one unpaid) 30 minute breaks
Likes: Location: I loved getting to know guests who stayed at the resort and came into the store multiple times. I loved the dance parties that we used to have with guests.
Role: I get super excited about buying souvenirs, so I enjoyed watching other people get that excited. I also liked buying gifts for people at home and telling them it was from my store.
Dislikes: Location: was very slow at some times, especially during the day when most people were at the parks. It was also a really long bus ride home.
Role: hours vary so much. I know people who worked at mk until 3 am, and sometimes I had to be at work at 5 am
Favorite Memory: We had a family visiting from England for 3 weeks. They came into the store at all-star sports every single night to trade pins and I got to know them quite well. It was awesome to form such a connection in a place with thousands of guests.
Chelsea: Theater District Stores (Hollywood Studios)
Program: Fall 2016
Other Locations: Momento Mori, Storybrooke Circus, Bonjour, Liberty Squire Christmas Shop, Pin Traders, World of Disney, Treat shifts for Halloween Parties
Role Description: Register, vending (cash apron), floorstock. Interacting with guests, and trying to communicate with non English speaking people.
Training: One day was merchentainment, then another day was a tour, another tour, cash apron training and then a test.
Hours: 36 hours but able to pick up more, 6-8 hour shifts usually, 10-12 hours sometimes, with breaks depending on the shift length
Likes: I liked that it was easy to give away shifts. The time went by super fast since our location is always busy. And when you see little kids eyes light up when they build the lightsaber it's just magical. The cast members andfull timers are all so nice.
Dislikes: Tatooine is the size of a closet and there are always 100 people in there since the ride dumps in the store. Also hollywood studios is not built for housing alot of people so when it's crowded theres no where to walk. Also guest relations hoards stickers and won't give them out unlike the stores at mk that give them out like water.
Favorite Memory: Oh gosh there are so many. I LOVE pin trading so I always got to interact with everyone and give them info about different pins and such.. There was probably a 8 or 9 year old girl who wanted a Darth maul lightsaber (a double lightsaber) and her parents said no cuz it was twice as expensive. I helped her pick out a different option and she was VERY happy and went from crying to over joyed immediately.
Other Locations: Momento Mori, Storybrooke Circus, Bonjour, Liberty Squire Christmas Shop, Pin Traders, World of Disney, Treat shifts for Halloween Parties
Role Description: Register, vending (cash apron), floorstock. Interacting with guests, and trying to communicate with non English speaking people.
Training: One day was merchentainment, then another day was a tour, another tour, cash apron training and then a test.
Hours: 36 hours but able to pick up more, 6-8 hour shifts usually, 10-12 hours sometimes, with breaks depending on the shift length
Likes: I liked that it was easy to give away shifts. The time went by super fast since our location is always busy. And when you see little kids eyes light up when they build the lightsaber it's just magical. The cast members andfull timers are all so nice.
Dislikes: Tatooine is the size of a closet and there are always 100 people in there since the ride dumps in the store. Also hollywood studios is not built for housing alot of people so when it's crowded theres no where to walk. Also guest relations hoards stickers and won't give them out unlike the stores at mk that give them out like water.
Favorite Memory: Oh gosh there are so many. I LOVE pin trading so I always got to interact with everyone and give them info about different pins and such.. There was probably a 8 or 9 year old girl who wanted a Darth maul lightsaber (a double lightsaber) and her parents said no cuz it was twice as expensive. I helped her pick out a different option and she was VERY happy and went from crying to over joyed immediately.
Jared: Animation Courtyard (Hollywood Studios)
Program: Spring 2016 and summer extension
Other Locations: World of Disney
Role Description: I worked at Hollywood Studios at various merchandise shops. You could see me playing with BB8 from star wars which was called merchantainment, you could also see me ringing register. I was always all over the place
Training: Merchandise has Welcome to Ops, Welcome to Merchandise, then Tier 1 which is learning your area, Merchantaiment at DU which is all about the register, Tier 3 which is all about the register, Tier 4 which is stocking and then you also take your assessment, I also worked at Star Wars Launch Bay which had its own training as well as being apron trained and then I even was alcohol trained as well if I wanted to pick up at resorts
Hours: 32-48, 6 hours or more, the longest was 12 hours, breaks vary based on length of shift
Likes: I loved the diversity of each cast member and what we were able to do as a group
Dislikes: I do not really have anything negative to say.
Favorite Memory: I really do not have a set favorite memory i just really enjoyed working for the mouse and cannot wait to be back in the future
Other Locations: World of Disney
Role Description: I worked at Hollywood Studios at various merchandise shops. You could see me playing with BB8 from star wars which was called merchantainment, you could also see me ringing register. I was always all over the place
Training: Merchandise has Welcome to Ops, Welcome to Merchandise, then Tier 1 which is learning your area, Merchantaiment at DU which is all about the register, Tier 3 which is all about the register, Tier 4 which is stocking and then you also take your assessment, I also worked at Star Wars Launch Bay which had its own training as well as being apron trained and then I even was alcohol trained as well if I wanted to pick up at resorts
Hours: 32-48, 6 hours or more, the longest was 12 hours, breaks vary based on length of shift
Likes: I loved the diversity of each cast member and what we were able to do as a group
Dislikes: I do not really have anything negative to say.
Favorite Memory: I really do not have a set favorite memory i just really enjoyed working for the mouse and cannot wait to be back in the future
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