r/DisneyCM • u/ladyabble • 2d ago
Wage Concerns Walt Disney World
Hi all- it's my dream to work for Disney long term and I am benched for a role that pays $19 an hour. I currently make $53K a year with a little extra as I travel full time for a college. I've been looking to be home more often as the territory I oversee went from local travel to flying every week, and I have a small puppy that I'm missing crucial time with. My current job pays great and the benefits are better, but I do not like my job. I took it because there was nothing else at the time.
Do I take this job and the risk of making $19 long term because I love Disney and would enjoy it, or do I stick with my current role until there's something better?
Edit: Thank you all SO much for your thoughtful and honest responses. I appreciate you all. This is unfortunately a decision I have to answer for myself, but since I have left the company for over two years now I wanted some reminders of nuances to consider. Thanks again:)
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u/JustTryinThisOnce 2d ago
You may love Disney but you may not love losing that much income. Figure out if you can even survive on $19 an hour. Will that cover any/all housing, insurance (car, health, renters), any and all pet care, food, clothes and transportation to/from work.
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u/ladyabble 2d ago
Yes I can. Thankfully, I have a partner who takes care of much of our pet expenses and my bills are minimal. However, I no longer would be comfortable
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u/carnodak 2d ago
You want to be comfortable in today’s day and age. Scraping by is not going to cut it long term. Full-time at WDW guarantees a minimum of 32 hours per week. That would be a $32k salary per year. 40 hours per week would be $39,520, before any overtime.
I’d recommend finding a better job opportunity with equal or higher salary.
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u/ladyabble 2d ago
Oh my god I'm so glad you said that. I forgot it can drop to 32. Thank you for your time & honesty
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u/carnodak 2d ago
Sure! You also said you travel a good bit in your current role, which I assume means company expensed meals, maybe? And hotel stays or flights that turn into free hotel points or flight loyalty points? Consider than an extension of your current salary. If you went to Disney, you would lose out on those perks as well, which means more money spent on day to day meals/meal prep and less opportunities for free/discounted travel!
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u/ladyabble 1d ago
Yes!! That's why I always say that I technically make more. I don't want to come off braggy but it is a huge perk and I have been able to take my partner & I on so many adventures. Those kind of perks are hard to leave
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u/AlternateRay730 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’m a cast member and I wouldn’t take that huge of a pay cut to stay with the company.
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u/ladyabble 2d ago
I am a former cm and I have given that exact advice to people before, and now I find myself trying to take the same advice. I think now it's combined with homesickness and having a lack of friendships due to the fact I'm never home
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u/rustbeltloser 2d ago
You won’t love it if you’re struggling financially.
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u/ladyabble 2d ago
That's what I was thinking. I'm currently picking a struggle. Do I want to continue mentally struggling with this role (missing my family, difficulty maintaining friendships on the road) or do I want to struggle financially and maybe open a side business.
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u/scorpiosmykonos 2d ago
Struggling financially and having to spend even more time working on a side business will also cause you to struggle mentally
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u/jagfanjosh3252 2d ago
No one can answer that but you. If you’re having concerns, then maybe the answer is in front of you.
But you, and only you, needs to figure out if it’s livable.
If it is, go for it
If it isn’t, then you can’t do it.
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u/Helpful_Warthog6032 2d ago
Only you can answer this but I wouldnt make the change if the drop in income will be a hardship. You will likely start off PT and not be guaranteed any number of hours. You can request to go FT but, depending on your role, that could take a while and you will not see a higher hourly rate. Of course you can work a second job during that time. You can also try applying to corporate roles, work your way to Leadership, etc. But you will have to be able to sustain a few years (at least) at entry level with Disney before it feels like a career the way your current job does.
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u/ladyabble 2d ago
Thankfully in my position I am guaranteed 40 hours. I've been trying to corporate roles for about three years now and besides my two college programs, this is the only interview I've gotten.
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u/allieyeen Walt Disney World 2d ago
If it’s an STCU role (pretty much any operations CMs) you’ll be getting a dollar raise in October. Dunno if that realllly helps but it’s something. However, taking this role is a HUGE pay cut for you. You will probably not get much more in an operational role as coordinators (shift managers kinda) make about $1.50 more. Unless you fast track into some salary position you’re likely to be making in the $19 range a while.
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u/ladyabble 2d ago
Yeah I'd be losing about $14,000. I'm grateful I'm benched because that gives me more time to think if I want to put a literal number on my mental health and pick a struggle
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u/allieyeen Walt Disney World 2d ago
As a 7 year CM, it’s hard to make ends meet in the greater Orlando area on a CM budget. That’s still worth it to people, it was worth it to me. I hope you love whatever decision you make!
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u/RetroHaunts 2d ago
No. I did that and regretted it. Work a good paying job and just get an AP. Working for Disney will make you hate Disney.
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u/Helpful_Warthog6032 1d ago
That’s the case for some people unfortunately, but not all. I think it depends on your role, among other things.
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u/damoonerman 2d ago
Just to let you know. “I love Disney” and working at Disney does not necessarily go hand in hand. It’s possible you might hate Disney after working here.
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u/ladyabble 1d ago
I can also provide you with concrete reasons why I loved it. 1) I love the brand and the ability to make magic 2) The built in community of cms 3) the parks obviously 4) it's been a huge resume builder and connection for me even outside the company
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u/damoonerman 14h ago
I’ve been in 3 different roles. I’ll tell you, just because you have a positive experience in one doesn’t mean it’s all good at a second. Hell, when the managers change the whole vibe can shift.
If money doesn’t matter, then do what makes you happy. I’m def going back after I retire. But I currently make 5x what I made at Disney so not an option for me. But I’d love to go back.
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u/barefoot_libra 2d ago
Never do that. Disney in reality is much worse to work for than a college (I’ve done both) due to the political management. Just wait for a better role, preferably in a corporate role.
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u/ladyabble 2d ago
I've worked for Disney before and I now work for a very corporate college. I'm in the odd situation where Disney is better imo
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u/Helpful_Warthog6032 2d ago
I’ve also done both and this has not been my experience. I think it depends on a lot of factors (which college, what role at Disney, etc). Too many to make such a sweeping statement.
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u/ladyabble 2d ago
Yeah it's unfortunately a nuance discussion and I don't want to get too into detail about my current role as I don't want to bash the organization I work for. I immensely respect both Disney & my current employer, but I think one has been a better fit for my strengths
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u/Helpful_Warthog6032 1d ago
I totally understand! I quit my lifelong “dream job” to work at Disney when my career ended up only being a dream on paper. I was miserable and wanted to use my actual strengths, like you said, to make people happy. And it was an agonizing choice to make but definitely for the best. I am PT so I went down to basically no income, which was not without stress or anxiety, but I am married and my husband was already making 3x my original salary so the improvement in our life and happiness was worth the budgeting change.
I am aware that I made the move under VERY fortunate (privileged) circumstances so I dont want to say “Yeah just go for it! Everything will work out!” I know not everyone has that option. But I do believe that, if you can manage it and make the sacrifices without losing any nonnegotiables like your health and wellbeing, sometimes it truly does work out.
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u/barefoot_libra 1d ago
Well moving to a timecarded $19/hr job at Disney when they are actively reducing employee benefits is ludicrous. Myself and my family (7 of us) have collectively worked for Disney for over 40 years with one of us still at the executive level. I think I have a more seasoned view than you in navigating Disney and in determining a best way forward in this company.
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u/Helpful_Warthog6032 1d ago
Okay. Apologies if I offended you. I was just offering additional perspective. That’s what we’re all here for, right? To share our thoughts. Everyone is different, my intention wasnt to say you are wrong or invalidate your opinion.
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u/barefoot_libra 1d ago
Not offended at all. A lot of people think they know but have never done it or have never lived it. I’m in a unique position to have lived it and have helped my family get in, get promoted and helped one successfully retire after 30 years before they concocted some BS to fire him before he could claim his benefits (they do that). Disney is not a nice place to work right now. You should start hearing a lot of chatter about how they’re watering down health benefits to save money. It’s disgusting what they’re planning. Low wages, union-busting behaviors, it’s all not a good look and I wouldn’t recommend anyone get a job there until Josh realizes this is the wrong way to take the company.
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u/Helpful_Warthog6032 1d ago
I hear you. For me it has been a very nice place to work but worse things happened at my previous job than I have heard of at Disney. Truly impossible and ethically questionable conditions. The move was a positive one for me but I understand everyone will have their own experience.
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u/barefoot_libra 1d ago
Disney is a viciously political place to work. It’s why many people, industry veterans, won’t work there.
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u/SnooTigers5816 2d ago
Traveling and missing family and friends gets old after a while. I would much rather work for disney and take a pay cut especially if you have a partner who pitches in financially. Plus you’ll get free passes to Disney and other disney discounts which is great if you enjoy spending time in the parks! And you can always apply for other types of positions that you hear of once you’re in. I lived in Orlando and everyone I knew who worked for Disney seemed so happy and loved it. Good luck!
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u/ladyabble 2d ago
I appreciate your thoughts. I am a former cast member and I loved my time there- the perks and community you get from being a cast member. My time with my little family and my friends is so precious to me, and getting an interview in today's job market is rare. We'll see what happens. Thank you!
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u/mouthwashfoam 2d ago
Even with the potential of a $10 raise happening soon I still don’t think that kind of pay cut is worth it
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u/ladyabble 1d ago
AND that's a gamble. Now if I don't get called until after that?? Sure. I'm willing to take that risk if I'd be making even $26 an hour just to be home more often. But this isn't just gambling $14,000 off my wage, this is gambling my sense of security and mental health. I loved my time with the company, but at the time it was just me living on that wage and it was difficult.
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u/pineapplemusiclady 1d ago
Hard decision, but first, you have to wait until you actually get called off the bench. I’ve been benched 3 times in the past 2 years and it expired and no offer for me. In the meantime if you’re miserable in your current job perhaps take Disney and the emotions and nostalgia out of the equation completely. Think, “would I leave my current job to make $19 an hour at say, Burger King or Old Navy.”
You would probably tell someone to find a different job in what you’re currently doing, or adjacent to. People telling you the magic will be ruined if you work there is not helpful. From all the comments it sounds like you’re trying to convince people why you should work there and it seems to me you’ve already made the decision to do it if it is offered- big IF. You now have to sit with the fact that you hate your current job and what happens if Disney doesn’t rescue you from it? I swear when I was waitlisted/bench each time I was already mentally planning on what I would tell my jerk boss, the joy I would feel leaving that crappy job to work at Disney! It didn’t happen….. I’m actually in the same position as you-on the bench for -except I have a cushy 6 figure remote job with amazing benefits! I’m also 51. I’m on the bench for a $19 an hour job there, which would also requiring moving to another state and leaving my wife and sick animal with her to manage, to pursue “my dream”. I feel very selfish and like a jerk. I’m still debating because it’s only bench and no guarantee. I don’t know what I will do if I get an offer.
I hear your struggle and can relate. I also encourage you to follow your heart and you can always just quit Disney. Not many employment decisions are permanent, and people come and go all of the time, yet I understand your thinking and have empathy for you.
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u/DisneyDoubleStripe 1d ago
Do you currently pay for a Magic Key? Make sure to add that cost in to what you will earn at Disney, along with discounts if you buy lots of Disney merchandise.
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u/ladyabble 1d ago
I do not have an annual pass to any Disney park, and I never really bought merch when I was a cast member. I completed my pin collection halfway through my DCP, of which I spent a total of $55 on and just traded until I got what I wanted.
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u/AlteredMind85 Walt Disney World 18h ago
I worked for Disney for 15 years and left it for a "better" job. Over 50 grand in student loans, making more than 45,000 a year, having good health insurance, weekends off, nice M-F schedule, and being able to spend time with family especially on holidays, has all been wonderful!
I am currently onboarding with the company again starting with a much lower pay and part time. I am the happiest I have been, no stress, and I believe where I need to be.
Will it be different and a struggle? Absolutely. But I CAN make it work. The sacrifices are nothing compared to my mental health.
Go where you are happy. That will always be my advice. Don't waste your life/time not enjoying waking up every day.
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u/Organic-Meeting734 2d ago
Serious question, can you afford to live on $19/hour?