Questions for Store CM's

[DisneyMickey]

Who out there is a store Cast Member? How is the position? I would like to hear some information regarding the job. Good? Bad? Any feedback is appreciated.

Edit: I realized I put this in the entirely wrong section. It belongs in the Disneyland Resort forum.

[PrincessY]

Re: Questions for Store CM's

I am a former Stores CM.

[DisneyMickey]

Re: Questions for Store CM's

How was the experience for you? Where did you work? Was it difficult? How long did you work the post?

[PrincessY]

Re: Questions for Store CM's

Let me do a likes and dislikes list. I worked before the 50th year. I worked mostly on the West side (Pioneer Merchantile, Pooh, Bazaar, pin carts) but had a few shifts on Main Street.

Likes:

• Fun - you get to interact with people having fun at DLR.

Dislikes:

• Hours - I usually got short shifts and I was commuting so it didn't work out to be worth it. (I don't think that is an issue anymore)
• Hours - Hated working on Main Street where I was there until 2:30 am
• Avoid Main Street unless you thrive on mad crowds. You have to deal with parade time and end of the day crowds. Insanity! And cranky guests!
• Consider your commute. I live about 40 minutes away, which I didn't think was too bad, but I had to leave my house at least an hour and a half before my shift started. You have allow for traffic, then park, catch a shuttle, get into costume, walk to your station. So for a 4 hour shift, I had to allow at least 6 hours of my day to work it.

Would I do it again? Yes. If I lived much closer and I didn't need to depend on my salary alone. It was a lot of fun!

[DisneyMickey]

Re: Questions for Store CM's

Thanks so much! That was just what I was looking for. Any more information is appreciated.

[PrincessY]

Re: Questions for Store CM's

Feel free to PM me if you want to know specific things!

[Alyssa3467]

Re: Questions for Store CM's

Let me do a likes and dislikes list. I worked before the 50th year. I worked mostly on the West side (Pioneer Merchantile, Pooh, Bazaar, pin carts) but had a few shifts on Main Street.

Likes:

• Fun - you get to interact with people having fun at DLR.

Dislikes:

• Hours - I usually got short shifts and I was commuting so it didn't work out to be worth it. (I don't think that is an issue anymore)

That's a common complaint, and it still can be an issue at times. I've gotten a couple of 2300-0300 Runner shifts which to me seem utterly pointless. A four hour shift, with the store open to Guests for only two of those hours? Is having one more person really going to have that big of an impact that late in the day? :croll:

• Hours - Hated working on Main Street where I was there until 2:30 am
• Avoid Main Street unless you thrive on mad crowds. You have to deal with parade time and end of the day crowds. Insanity! And cranky guests!

Me personally, I don't mind the late hours, and I find DCA South (Paradise Pier/Golden State/Condor Flats) to be boring because there's not as much traffic as DCA North (Entry Plaza/Hollywood Backlot), and even in DCA North, I preferred staying in Tower Gifts or the Entry Plaza. The other areas don't get as much Guest volume. Despite what I heard from other Cast Members, I found Main Street to be similar to DCA Entry Plaza. I didn't particularly care for Pioneer Merchantile the one day I was there as a Hatwriter, and Pooh's Corner seemed pretty slow when I was there as a Runner, although admittedly, I was only at those locations one day each, so I'm not getting the full picture. Main Street and DCA Entry Plaza certainly have their slow moments as well.

• Consider your commute. I live about 40 minutes away, which I didn't think was too bad, but I had to leave my house at least an hour and a half before my shift started. You have allow for traffic, then park, catch a shuttle, get into costume, walk to your station. So for a 4 hour shift, I had to allow at least 6 hours of my day to work it.

Would I do it again? Yes. If I lived much closer and I didn't need to depend on my salary alone. It was a lot of fun!

I live 15 minutes away, so I have to allocate about an hour before my shift start time. Everything else is the same for me though.

[DisneyMickey]

Re: Questions for Store CM's

Maybe I'll move to Hawaii and work at the new resort.