GreatLakes5
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2007
You aren't incorrect. Your first batch of figures had me making $80 an hour, though, which is wildly inaccurate. And I'm not saying that it's not a proper wage. It is. Well, it is until next year when the gratuity comes off of the DDP. But, like I said, Disney doesn't employ many full time servers. Most of us work part time. I just moved from Michigan a little over a year ago. My husband worked in the automotive industry. (now you understand why we moved). Housing prices here are quite a bit higher than in MI. The house that I sold for $120000 simply can't be had here. Prices start at about the $200000 mark. My husband makes about 1/2 what I do. He's full time. I work in a tipped position so that we can afford to live. That's quite typical of Disney employees. Lots of families where both mom and dad are working for the mouse. Yes, we do it by choice. We do it because my husband's health (though he's in his early 30's and looks fit as a fiddle) was failing under the stress of his job. We came to Disney because we wanted to make other people happy. Because we wanted to make the magic for you folks that other CMs had done for us on our vacations. We could make other choices. We could be "smart" and leave Disney for better paying jobs. Maybe we'll have to, unless guests step up to the plate and take care of us like they know they are supposed to. Think of it this way..... yes, you tipped me. Yes, I made a decent wage. But, what you really did was make it so my husband could still spread magic over at the front desk somewhere and not have to worry about the fact that he doesn't really make all that much.
People on these boards talk all the time about how they figure Disney servers are making 6 figures. I know a lot of full timers and even they aren't bringing home 6 figures. Half that is closer. There might be a few full timers at CRT and the dinner shows who come close to that, but most of us are treading water.
I really appreciate your taking the time to explain this. I am a Michigan gal (still) & it's interesting, but your area is one of the first we lose employees to because the market is good there for builders....we are contractors and have lost at least 5 guys to the Orlando area in the past months. I guess it depends on the field one is in....
(First set of $80/hr figures weren't mind BTW...anal accountant here... )