Last updated 16Nov14 – Fun in 2014.

The information I wrote in previous years was correct when I wrote it. Currently the previous 4 quarters are reviewed in Jan., Apr., Jul., and Oct. to verify every seasonal/casual temporary (CT) employee has worked 150 hours. Therefore, I am trying to work at least 40 hours every quarter. Walt Disney World’s (D) web site is set up for CTs to enter their availability is orientated toward working a week at a time, but a day or two a week is best for my schedule. My current availability is Sundays only and CTs are required to update their availability quarterly in March, June, September, and December.

I work in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK) Dinoland Boneyard. When I first applied there were no CT openings in park operations (then called attractions), but I requested it anyway. So it is still worth filling out an application – you never know what jobs will be available next week. Read my 2008 story to see how my career started. http://wdw.disneycareers.com is the web site to apply for D jobs. Review my comment on D employment at the bottom of this page.

I started working at Disney in 2008 and worked 14 days – see how it all started - Dave in Disney 2008.

I worked 15 days in 2009 - Dave in Disney 2009.

I worked 24 days in 2010 - Dave in Disney 2010

I worked 21 days in 2011 and started counting hours - Dave in Disney 2011

I worked 27 days in 2012 - Dave in Disney 2012

I worked 27 days in 2013 - Dave in Disney 2013

I worked 26 days in 2014 – Total days worked in 6 years and 4 months – 154 total.

I work at D for the fun of it. It is really great fun helping people who are having fun, have fun. I have received many 50% and 40% discounts on rooms, discounts of 35%-40% on merchandise, 20%-40% discounts on meals, discounts on tours, have received special considerations at reservation time, provided friends and family free admission to D, and a million fun times. I should also point out that since I am working away from home, all my expenses – tolls, auto mileage, motel room, meals (I take the meal per diem rate of $57/day), costume cleaning, etc. – are an employee income tax deduction. Since I also work for a major tax preparation firm, I use every deduction I can find to help me and my income tax clients get the largest legal refund.

I am only trained to work in DAK Dinoland Boneyard which features a playground area with 9 slides for kids and a dig site where kids can dig for dinosaur bones. If I can continue to work at least 40 hours a quarter, I see no reason to request training or work in other areas.

Week 02 – 12/29/13 - I was not available for work this week – D week numbers are based on pay day, Thursday following the end of the work week.

Week 03 – 01/05/14 – Sun, Jan 05 – 6.25 hrs. 6.25hrs this qtr – 59.75hrs -1 qtr – 49.25hrs -2 qtr – 65.00hrs -3 qtr -- total 180.25hrs last 4 quarters

On Sat. we (spouse, son, and daughter’s family (here from Japan)) went to EPCOT since the other parks were blocked out for my free passes. While in England, a charming young lady, noticing my hat (a large representation of the Vietnam service ribbon), asked me if I was a veteran. She indicated one of her teachers had presented classes on Vietnam and other wars. She thanked me and gave me a hug for my military service and I indicated I also try to thank every veteran I see. We talked for a while with her and her family who were down from New Jersey staying in an RV at Fort Wilderness for their annual vacation. I suggested she should start enjoying D the way I do by working here as soon as she was 18.

On Sun. using some of my park entry passes, I was able to get my family into DAK and while I went to work in the Boneyard (I forgot update my schedule to unavailable and thus was scheduled to work), my family park hopped to the Magic Kingdom (block out days for my passes were over). I worked at various positions and spent the last 2 hours supporting the daily DAK parade.

At the end of my shift I drove over to the Contemporary Resort to meet my family returning from the Magic Kingdom.

I received a call on Thursday from D asking me to come in and pick up a shift. If you agree to come in, you need to arrive in 2 hours. Since I live 3 hours away and was working another job, I did not agree to pick up the shift.

Week 04 – 01/12/14 - I was available but not scheduled for work this week.

Week 05 – 01/19/14 – Sun, Jan 19 – 10.25 hrs. 16.50hrs this qtr – 59.75hrs -1 qtr – 49.25hrs -2 qtr – 65.00hrs -3 qtr -- total 150.50hrs last 4 quarters

When I got up on Sunday in Orlando, the temperature was 37 degrees. As I was getting ready for work, I received a call from D asking me to come in early. I arrived 45 minutes early (I always plan to arrive 15 minutes early) and could not clock in. I located a coordinator working the Boneyard entrance/exit. He had my start time changed; I clocked in, was assigned to work the entrance/exit, and relieved the coordinator. I was told a couple of cast members were sick and could not come in. During the day I went from 6 levels of clothing on my upper body to three as it warmed up. I had the opportunity to talk with guests from Winnipeg and another large family group from the south Chicago suburbs where I grew up. Part of my assignments today, like two weeks ago, was parade support which is a nice break from the normal work locations.

Week 06 – 01/26/14 – I am available for work but not scheduled for work this week.

Week 07 – 02/02/14 – I am available for work but not scheduled for work this week.

Week 08 – 02/09/14 – Sun, Feb 09 – 6.0 hrs. 22.50hrs this qtr – 59.75hrs -1 qtr – 49.25hrs -2 qtr – 65.00hrs -3 qtr -- total 156.50hrs last 4 quarters

Today I trained in material and movement safety, cleaned the break room, swept the Boneyard, took a break, worked position ground roamer, worked position tower, worked position entrance/exit, took a break, straitened strollers, worked position mid roamer, worked position ground roamer, and that was a day of 6 hours. I talked to couples from Minnesota, Kalamazoo, New York, Chile (he was Chilean, she was Columbian), and others. As I was leaving, seven young ladies were laying on the concrete outside the last gift shop trying to get as much sun on their bodies as possible. They were extremely white, from Minnesota, and I suggested they could get to see the sun again at home sometime in June. I then drove to Downtown D to buy a gift my son wanted to give. I received 40% off as a D employee and 6% off using my D visa so $54.95 became $29.67 (before sales taxes).

Week 09 – 02/16/14 – I am available for work but not scheduled for work this week.

Week 10 - 02/23/14 – I am available for work but was not scheduled for work. Concerned I might have enough hours, I asked to work 3/15 (Sat) also. The scheduling requests must be done 3 weeks in advance.

Week 11 – 03/02/14 – Sun, Mar 02 – 6.0 hrs. 28.50hrs this qtr – 59.75hrs -1 qtr – 49.25hrs -2 qtr – 65.00hrs -3 qtr -- total 162.50hrs last 4 quarters

Today I spent most of my time working in the tower, the third floor level entrance to the longest slide. One little girl, about 7, climbed up and went down the slide 21 times while I was there. She lives near D and had been there many times. I told her parents they were spoiling their kids I – the kids think every kid in America has D in their yard. Spent some time at the entrance/exit talking with a lady from PA where she said it was snowing again. Talked for some time with some Canadians and they were also happy to get out of the snow. When I found out I was working next Sunday I figured I had enough hours this quarter and I made myself unavailable for work for 3/30 and the next two weeks (tax time at home). It has to be done 3 weeks in advance. I also filled out my availability for the next quarter – something required of all CT employees.

Week 12 – 03/09/14 – Sun, Mar 09– 6.0 hrs. 34.50 hrs this qtr – 59.75hrs -1 qtr – 49.25hrs -2 qtr – 65.00hrs -3 qtr -- total 168.50hrs last 4 quarters

Worked every position except for the dig site and while in the tower talked to a set of triplets from New Orleans. Seems the three were 8 years old and really enjoyed going down the big slide several times. While working as ground roamer talked with a lady from Ohio. She laughed and said she was “taking one for the team” with her kids down here while her husband was at home. She showed me a picture of all the snow he just sent. A set of three cute young girls went down the tower slide about eight times and the two younger ones returned later to do down a few more times. Their older sister was on the Dinosaur ride and the youngest were too short. They had their names written in script on their shirts. My request to work on 03/15 did not result in work for that day.

Week 13 – 03/16/14 – Sun, Mar 16 – 6.0 hrs. 40.50 hrs this qtr – 59.75hrs -1 qtr – 49.25hrs -2 qtr – 65.00hrs -3 qtr -- total 174.50hrs last 4 quarters

I worked every position for a brief time, but spent about half the time straightening strollers, cleaning the break room, sweeping the Boneyard, filling the hand sanitizer, talking with a VIP family, etc. Tried to convince a lady from Oklahoma she should work at D and could do it working a week a quarter. Sort of like the lady I talked to 4 years ago from Arkansas who came down for a week to work in Hollywood Studios and was taking a D cruise with her mother the following week (at half price). Another family from Melbourne said they had been trying to talk their parents into working on D’s cruse line. I spent some time talking with a family whose English was very correct, figuring they were not from the US, I asked them where they lived – New Zealand was the answer. On the way out talked to another cast member who was a monorail driver and his wife who worked in the Contemporary Resort. They both said they enjoyed working at D. He was full time, and she was CT but worked about 1200 hrs per year. I said I was working on getting at least 150 hrs per year.

Week 14 – 03/23/14 – Sun, Mar 16 – 6.25 hrs. 46.75 hrs this qtr – 59.75hrs -1 qtr – 49.25hrs -2 qtr – 65.00hrs -3 qtr -- total 180.75hrs last 4 quarters

I went to Shades of Green to use their computers before my shift started at 2:30pm. During my shift I spent several minutes talking to various guests including several from Canada. Seems the kids were on some sort of break. I worked every position and since I was there when we closed, ended covering the mammoth in the dig site. The dig site is full of fine crushed rocks which is called “Texas Grit.” Covering the mammoth is the closest thing to shoveling snow I’ve done since I left Chicago.

Week 15 – 03/30/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 16 – 04/06/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 17 – 04/13/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 18 – 04/20/14 – I am available for work but not selected for work. I found out I was working next Sunday so called a couple of other cast members and asked them to post a request in the break room requesting a Saturday shift if anyone wanted to take time off. Being concerned I might not get 40 hours the quarter, I also put in a request to work on Saturday 5/17 – requests have to be made 3 weeks in advance

Week 19 – 04/27/14 – Sun, Apr 27 - 6hrs. 6hrs this qtr, 46.75hrs -1 qtr – 59.75hrs -2 qtr – 49.25hrs -3 qtr -- total 161.75hrs last 4 quarters

Noticing my schedule said I was to work in Dinosaur, a ride I’ve never worked, was not trained, and for which I did not have the costume, I emailed my supervisor and she fixed it. I spent the first two hours working the parade, and then various positions in the Boneyard. I talked to guests from Serbia, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Canada, and Texas. When the father in the Texan family was 3 years old, the family started coming to D, returned often, and always had a wonderful time. So when he and his bride decided to get married, they married in the Wedding Chapel at the D’s Grand Floridian Resort. Now they have 2 young girls they bring to D for a vacation a couple of time a year.

Fri, May 02 - 6hrs. 12hrs this qtr, 46.75hrs -1 qtr – 59.75hrs -2 qtr – 49.25hrs -3 qtr -- total 167.75hrs last 4 quarters

When I found I was working Sunday, 27Apr, I called a couple of cast members and asked them to put a note in the break room indicating my desire to pick up a shift for Saturday, 26Apr. It turns out I was able pick up two shifts for the following week. Today it was a monsoon at D. Only the dig site was open in the Boneyard. We were even able to cover up the Mammoth before the end of the day due to the limited number of guests.

The Mammoth had been put to sleep for the night.

Sat, May 03 – 6.25hrs. 18.25hrs this qtr, 46.75hrs -1 qtr – 59.75hrs -2 qtr – 49.25hrs -3 qtr -- total 174hrs last 4 quarters

Today was a better day, the rain seemed to end and by about 2pm we were able to open the slides. I spent some time talking to a family from PA suggesting they move to FL and work at D. He was in construction, working outside, and was concerned, rightly so, about the heat. She was a teacher looking for a job. I suggested they would have to live without the city, township, and state income taxes, common in PA. I also tried to convince a retired couple who lived 50 miles away they needed jobs at D.

Week 20 – 05/04/14 – Sun, May 04 – 9.25hrs. 27.50hrs this qtr, 46.75hrs -1 qtr – 59.75hrs -2 qtr – 49.25hrs -3 qtr -- total 183.25hrs last 4 quarters

This is the first time I’ve worked 3 days at D in a couple of years. One of the cast members in the theater, my trainer 5 years ago, told me they were so over staffed and a lot of the CT employees were not able to get their 150hrs per year and were let go. Today was an absolutely perfect day at D. Except for a couple of kids who kept coming back to the dig site without shoes (I’ve found collector pins in the dig site), kept crawling up the slides, trying to slide down the rough wood railing on the steps, sliding down the up only rope ladders, and climbing up the walls, it was a great day. I spent some time taking to some guests from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Canada, Malabar, and Tampa. The wife of the couple from Malabar had worked for D for 23 years and finally decided to quit and become a stay at home mom. The couple from Tampa had been married 42 years and getting close to retirement. He was in insurance sales and was looking for a part time fun job when he cut back to working only a couple days of the week. I obviously had a suggestion for him.

Week 21 – 05/11/14 – I am available for work and I also made myself available on 05/17/14. I was not scheduled to work but put a note up in the break room asking for a shift if anyone wanted to give up a shift. I received no calls.

Week 22 – 05/18/14 – Sun, May 18 – 6hrs. 33.50hrs this qtr, 46.75hrs -1 qtr – 59.75hrs -2 qtr – 49.25hrs -3 qtr -- total 189.25hrs last 4 quarters

I was available and was scheduled. Since I was starting work at 2:30pm, I went by the Orlando Mall to the Microsoft store to get my PC fixed, again. I had purchased a PC there in Nov 12 and have had many, many problems with it. Anyway, it was a beautiful day in the Boneyard. I worked every position. It was a lot of fun talking with the guests from Texas, Chicago, Pennsylvania, and Wales. A family from Wales was here with two children and the daughter decided to walk around and help with me when I was “ground roamer” to help greet guests, answer their question, and look for unsafe activities. All it all it was a great fun day.

Sat, May 24 – 8.5hrs. 42.00hrs this qtr, 46.75hrs -1 qtr – 59.75hrs -2 qtr – 49.25hrs -3 qtr -- total 197.75hrs last 4 quarters

Another cast member was going to CA and called me last week and I agreed to pick up her May 24^th shift. It was a hot, crowded day. I was one of the two cast members to open the Boneyard. Part of the opening is to take all of the slides to make sure they are safe. First time I’ve done that in years. Another activity I was assigned was to select a VIP family. I’m not sure exactly what that task is, but I spent some time talking with a lady from Tampa. She was here for the weekend with her kids. I suggested several places they should go on Sunday when they went to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I also suggested she should get a part time job at D.

Week 23 – 05/25/14 – Sun, May 25 – 10.50hrs. 52.50hrs this qtr, 46.75hrs -1 qtr – 59.75hrs -2 qtr – 49.25hrs -3 qtr -- total 199.75hrs last 4 quarters

I was available and was scheduled. Today was a long, hot, hot, hot day. I worked every position and during parts of the day two extra positions were added to the rotation to handle the crowd. Long about 3 pm the rain and lightning came and most of the Boneyard was closed. I ended burying the mammoth in the dig site at the end of the day – a lot like shoveling snow when I lived in Chicago, only not as cold. During the day, while working the entrance/exit position, I spent some time talking with a man from Louisiana. His daughter, while working at D several years ago met her husband, another cast member, married him, and then moved to Chicago. After this last year in Chicago, the daughter’s family is moving to Louisiana. I have heard Chicago had 66 inches of snow this year

Week 24 – 06/01/14 – Sun, Jun 01 – 9.75hrs. 62.25hrs this qtr, 46.75hrs -1 qtr – 59.75hrs -2 qtr – 49.25hrs -3 qtr -- total 209.50hrs last 4 quarters

I was available and was scheduled. D was conducting a company wide employee survey which I took. With all of D’s various businesses, I feel the company wide survey was a little absurd. It again was hot and rained off and on starting about 2pm. Talked for sometime with a fellow Illini (U of IL). He and his family were from Springfield, IL and talked about the brutal winter they had. With another couple visiting with their kids from Melbourne FL I spent some time trying to convince them to come and work at D as a CT employee. As I was checking into Motel6 last night, I met Chantal who came to the US from France just for the StarWars week at Disney’s Hollywood Studies. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/hollywood-studios/star-wars-weekend

I provided Chantal with a ride to DAK where she was able to catch a free D bus to Hollywood Studios.

Week 25 - 06/08/14 – I am not available for work. When concerned I was not going to get 40 hours this quarter, four weeks ago I changed my availability to work anytime during the week of 25May. I was not selected to work any of the additional days, however after picking up a couple of shifts, and being scheduled for my regular Sunday availability, I found I had many more hours than I needed. Thus as soon as possible, I change all of my availability, but ended up working more hours anyway since scheduling is done 3 weeks in advance

Week 26 – 06/16/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 27 – 06/23/14 – I am not available for work

Week 28 – 06/30/14 – I am not available for work. This is the first D work week of the 3^rd quarter. I went to the Magic Kingdom (MK) with the grandkids this week. By scheduling a character breakfast before the MK opened, we were able to enter the MK and get an early start on the day.

Week 29 – 07/06/14 – I am not available for work since I was leaving for Japan.

Week 30 – 07/13/14 – I am not available for work since I was in Japan.

Week 31 – 07/20/14 – I am not available for work since I was in Japan.

Week 32 – 07/27/14 – Sun, Jul 27 – 6.25hrs. 6.25hrs this qtr, 62.25hrs -1 qtr, 46.75hrs -2 qtr – 59.75hrs -3 qtr -- total 175.00 hrs last 4 quarters

This week I ended up working with a student from Mexico, a student from China, the spouse of a Marine Corp retiree, a student from Drexel in Philadelphia and several other cast members. This was the last week of the program for the Drexel student. He is returning to school to finish his degree in mechanical engineering. The semiweekly publication for employees called “Eyes&Ears” has an article indicating that there are 215 students from Shanghai China and surrounding areas in Asia as part of the 2014 Summer Cultural Exchange program at WDW. The Shanghai Disney Resort is scheduled to open at the end of 2015. I’ve been to Disneyland in California, Tokyo Disneyland, and of course WDW. One of these days I’ll have to visit Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and later Shanghai Disney. BTW if you own 100 shares of the Oriental Land Company (OLC) (symbol 4661 on the Tokyo stock exchange) they will send you a ticket to Tokyo Disneyland twice a year. OLC own Tokyo Disneyland which D operates.

D claimed the employee stock purchase plan had a very low participation and canceled the program this month. I was able to find about the program after much research and think if D had advertised the program, participation would had been higher.

Week 33 – 08/03/14 – Sun, Aug 03 – 6.00hrs. 12.25hrs this qtr, 62.25hrs -1 qtr, 46.75hrs -2 qtr – 59.75hrs -3 qtr -- total 181.00 hrs last 4 quarters

Today was very hot and humid in the Boneyard. About 4pm the rains came and we had to close the slides and rope ladders. I spent some time talking with another D cast member who supports the dining reservations on the D web site. They live on the road behind the Magic Kingdom, and spend almost every weekend at D. At the end of the evening I was working with a recent graduate from the University of Illinois who was leaving the next day, a student from Arkansas who was leaving in 2 days, a student from Shanghai who was leaving at the end of the month, and part time cast member who moved and was looking for a CT positon so she could continue to work at D but less often

Sat, Aug 09 – 8.75hrs. 21.00hrs this qtr, 62.25hrs -1 qtr, 46.75hrs -2 qtr – 59.75hrs -3 qtr – total189.75 hrs last 4 quarters

When I logged on the computer last Sunday (03Aug) and found I was working next Sunday (10Aug), I put up a note on the break room bulletin board asking any cast member for a shift they did not want for today. Monday I found a shift I could pick up on the Hub and signed up for it. Later I received a text from a cast member but had to tell her I was already working. Today was again hot and humid. About 2pm with rain and lightning, we completely closed the boneyard and only the back entrance to the Dig Site was open. I spent some time talking to a family from Egypt, Canada, and Merritt Island. I tried to convince the family from Merritt Island they should get a job at D. By the end of the day, the slides were open again, but the rope ladders will still too wet to climb.

Week 34 – 08/10/14 – Sun, Aug 10 – 6.00hrs. 27.00hrs this qtr, 62.25hrs -1 qtr, 46.75hrs -2 qtr – 59.75hrs -3 qtr -- total 195.75 hrs last 4 quarters

Since I was working both yesterday and today, my wife joined me for the trip to D, arriving late Friday and, since I was working until 7:45pm today, we left Monday morning. Today we spent an hour at Cast Connections, a discount store for employees where D sells items generally not sold in previous years. After that we went to Shades of Green, the D military resort for lunch, and I got to work at 1pm, about 45 minutes early. I clocked in 15 minutes early (D does not allow any earlier) and picked up a position. One of the interesting guests I met was a family with friends (about 12 total) from Haiti. The family worked as missionaries in Port-de-Paix and had been to D before but their friends were here for the first time. About 3pm we closed the Boneyard due to lightening and rain in the area. About an hour later we opened the Boneyard again because the lightning quit and the rain never came. About 15 minutes later, the rain came and we closed the Boneyard again. Today there was a trainer training two new cast members. At almost every position I worked, they showed up later to work and learn that position. I would then return to the computer to get a new assignment and would end up “straightening strollers” most of the time.

Week 35 – 08/17/14 – Sun, Aug 17 – 6.00hrs. 33.00hrs this qtr, 62.25hrs -1 qtr, 46.75hrs -2 qtr – 59.75hrs -3 qtr -- total 201.75 hrs last 4 quarters

I was scheduled to work today at 1:45pm so I left home about 8:30 and spent some time reading my email on the computers at Shades of Green. I received a call from home that D had called, left no message, and no number to call. I asked my supervisor how to contact D in cases like this. She said the same number used to call in sick. I pointed out I’ve never called in sick – she told me the number. Today was a normal day at the but the Sundays do not seem as crowed in Aug as previously. I ended up talking some with a guest wearing a shirt from the Maldives Islands. We discussed the fact that at high tide, the Maldives were only about a yard above sea level. He indicated he had visited there but was born in Pakistan, raised in Nigeria, lived in England, and now with his family works in Saudi Arabia. His wife expressed the observation that life was different there. At the end of the day, before we started covering the mammoth in the dig site, I was discussing D with a guy from New York whose kids were digging.

Week 36 – 08/24/14 - I am available for work but not scheduled for work this week. However, on Tuesday PM I noticed the Boneyard now had shifts available on Wed, Thu, Fri, and the following week Sun, Mon, Thu, Fri, and Sat. Those available shifts were not available as recently as Tuesday AM. So since I needed more hours, I signed up for Friday 29Aug. That will give me 40 hours so I cancelled my availability for the week of Sep14 and Sep21. Sep07 was too soon to cancel.

– Fri, Aug 29 – 8.25hrs. 40.25hrs this qtr, 62.25hrs -1 qtr, 46.75hrs -2 qtr – 59.75hrs -3 qtr -- total 210.00 hrs last 4 quarters

I was signed up to work today at 9:45 and left home about 5am and spend some time on the computers at Shades of Green. The crowds at DAK today were lighter than the last couple of Sundays. About 4pm the monsoons with lightning came so major portion of the Boneyard was closed but the Digsite remained open. About 5pm the rains stopped and we were asked to open the Boneyard again. However the standing water in some areas was too deep. I found out that the reason there were several days of work available was due to the end of employment for a cast member from Shanghai. Two of the new cast members were from Japan – Tokyo and Osaka.

Week 37 – 08/31/14 - I am available for work but not scheduled for work this week.

Week 38 – 09/07/14 – I am available for work but not scheduled for work this week.

Week 39 – 09/14/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 40 – 09/21/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 41 – 09/28/14 – I am not available for work – 4^th quarter starts this week and I submitted my 4^th quarter availability.

Week 42 – 10/05/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 43 – 10/12/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 44 – 10/19/14 – Sun, Oct 19 – 8.25hrs. 8.25hrs this qtr, 40.25hrs -1 qtr, 62.25hrs -2 qtr – 46.75hrs -3 qtr -- total 157.5- hrs last 4 quarters

Today was a beautiful day in Orlando which resulted in a lot of local D guests in the afternoon. I was able to greet some guests from Ohio, Kansas, Canada, and the local D community Celebration. The Ohio lady worked as a virtual assistant with clients throughout the world and can basically work from anywhere in the world. The Celebration father worked for a major retail store and spent most of his time traveling.

Sat, Oct 25 – 6.00hrs. 14.25hrs this qtr, 40.25hrs -1 qtr, 62.25hrs -2 qtr – 46.75hrs -3 qtr – total 163.5 hrs last 4 quarters

When I logged on to the computer last Sunday (19Oct) and found I was working next Sunday (26Oct), I continued to search the D web site and was able to pick up this shift. As I left early today to arrive on time for my shift which started at 1:15pm, I tore a hole in my D pants on a car hinge and so dropped by costuming to get a replacement. The costume warehouse has row after row of DAK costumes hung on 2 levels of rods. Another room in the warehouse is a very large rehearsals room. As I went by it, a large group of talented performers were practicing for what looked like a Thanksgiving show. Arriving at D always puts me in a good mood as I start feeling magic associated with D. Watching the show practice just added to the magic. At the end of my shift, I went over to EPCOT to purchase something for my daughter. I had forgotten one of the cards I needed enter free as a cast member, so I went to guest relations. At guest relations I purchased a one day ticket, entered EPCOT, did my shopping, returned within 2 hours, and received a full refund on the cost of the ticket. The 2 hour shopping deal is available for everyone. Just do not stay more than 2 hours or you do not get a refund of the ticket cost.

Week 45 – 10/26/14 – Sun, Oct 26 – 8.68hrs. 22.93hrs this qtr, 40.25hrs -1 qtr, 62.25hrs -2 qtr – 46.75hrs -3 qtr -- total 172.18- hrs last 4 quarters

It was a normal fall day in Orlando. The number of guests visiting D was normal and increased in the afternoon. DAK was open until 8pm today and by the end of the day the number of guests declined. I was able to talk to a lady from Orlando and I think talked her into applying for a job at D. The wife of another couple I tried to recruit said she would rather just enjoy the benefits she received from her husband who worked in D online travel support. The nice thing about the Boneyard is that there is no equipment to break, no lines to get in, no rides, and no guest trying to tell you their child was tall enough to take the ride last year so he should be allowed to ride this year even though he is not tall enough now. One of the problems is having to continually remind the kids that slides are down only and the rope ladders are up only.

Week 46 – 11/02/14 – Sun, Nov 02 – 10 hrs. 32.93hrs this qtr, 40.25hrs -1 qtr, 62.25hrs -2 qtr – 46.75hrs -3 qtr -- total 181.75- hrs last 4 quarters

On my drive up I stopped by EPCOT. On windy days, the walkways on either side of the big golf ball are like wind tunnels. And it was cold. When I awoke the next morning, the temperature had set a new 02Nov Orlando record low of 44 degrees. I was scheduled to work 6 hours today, but when I signed in, I asked for an extension of my quit time. If I’m going to be working, I might as well get as many hours per day as possible. I ended with a 10 hour work day today. During the day I talked to many guests from Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, United Kingdom, and Indiana. The common theme was that they came to Florida to get warm. They could have stayed at home and been in the cold. The only consolation was that home was even colder. It was extremely crowded because as one local resident told me, everyone locally came out figuring the cold would cut attendance. That did not happen.

Week 47 – 11/09/14 – Sun, Nov 09 – 10.75 hrs. 43.68hrs this qtr, 40.25hrs -1 qtr, 62.25hrs -2 qtr – 46.75hrs -3 qtr -- total 182.93- hrs last 4 quarters

As soon as I found out I was scheduled to work today and it would give me more than 40hrs this quarter, I cancelled my availability for the rest of the quarter. One thing I have yet to figure out is why gas costs 3.24 in Jupiter and only 2.82 in Orlando – price at the cash only, cheap stations. Arriving on the Osceola Parkway (turnpike exit 249) I found most of it in D was closed due to a marathon which was ending. So I went over to Shades of Green (SOG) where I met a lady from Michigan. It seems she and husband were retired Air Force and had owned a CPA practice just west of Lansing which they sold last year. Their vacation, with 11 family members, many from Denver, had been set up and reserved in May. A few weeks before arrival SOG called her and asked her to change her vacation dates because they needed the rooms for an FBI conference on cyber terrorism. She said no and that the FBI should have made the reservations in May when she did if they wanted the rooms. The Boneyard was cold but not as cold as last week. I talked to guests from Canada, Michigan, New York, Chicago, Connecticut, and Ohio. They all seemed to be happy that D was not as cold as home.

Week 48 – 11/16/14 – I am available for work but was not scheduled.

Week 49 – 11/23/14 – I am not available for work.

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Week 50 – 11/30/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 51 – 12/07/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 52 – 12/14/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 53 – 12/21/14 – I am not available for work.

Week 01 – 12/28/14 – 1^ST quarter 2015 starts this week.

It seems at D there are 3 types of cast members, full time, part time, and seasonal (also called casual temporary (CT)). If you decide something like this would be fun for you, go to http://wdw.disneycareers.com and apply for a seasonal position. You can also call the Walt Disney World Job line at 1-407-828-1000. As you go through the application, please remember that Dave Flynn DAK 448044 is the cast member who recruited you. Also, as you can read in my 2008 story, things change; seasonal does not mean a season, 6 to 8 weeks is not always 6 to 8 weeks, full availability does not mean 5 days, the hiring procedure this week is not the same as last week, the jobs available this week are not the same as last week, my hiring experience will not be the same as yours, etc. My job category is Operations (was Attractions) and it took me months from the time I first went to casting until a position opened up (Dave in Disney 2008). I accepted the position before I knew what it was; again read about my application process in my 2008 story. Also remember, Dave Flynn DAK 448044 recruited you.