Roles - What can we do

Ok so i realised there isn't a thread totalk about what roles people can do on the ICP in detail. so i thought i would start one up as i know i have questions myself.

So when it comes to operations of rides, what does that include? does it involved doing the scripted parts of the jungle cruise and the great movie ride?

Is it hard to become a character's assistant? Does it help if you have a second language (including sign language)?

 

I think having a second language is a massive help and advantage for when you are interacting with guests. You can sit a test to have the language put on your CM pin

 

Hmm, maybe I should invest in some classes over the next year to increase my Spanish from A-level standard to a standard high enough to be able to interact with guests. Considering the area, I think that might be quite useful.

 

This is, inadvertently, a loaded question! Because the only ones who know exactly what roles will be available on the ICP09 is Disney.

Usually, though, the following are pretty much the standard...

Attractions - Working a show or attraction or anything in between (e.g.Jungle Cruise, Thunder Mountain, Soarin, Fantasmic, Dumbo etc.). You may or may not have a spiel, though if you do, it can be anything from a few seconds, to several minutes.
Main Entrance Ops - (may not be available this year, I wouldnt want to guess!) Working the turnstiles or parking lot trams at one of the theme parks and, I think, selling tickets for waterparks.
QSF&B - Working one of the quick service restaurants or outdoor food stands.
Merchandise- Working in a shop or outdoor stall.
Lifeguard - Self explanatory. Can be at the resorts or water parks.
Custodial - Janitorial work, plus a small fortune of super greeting!
QS Kitchen - Working in a kitchen
F&B - Working as a greeter at a restaurant.

Note that none of these roles are allowed to take tips.

Also, there can be other roles offered such as...
Character Performer - Getting to be "friends" with one of the characters. I'm pretty sure ICPs can only be fur characters (i.e. those in full costumes) and not face characters like princes and princesses.
Character Attendant - Bodyguarding for characters, queue management, etc.
Costuming - Working backstage in a costuming wardrobe location
Vacation Planner - Selling tickets and passes to guests.
Recreation - Working at boat/bike/etc. rentals
Housekeeping - Providing maid service at a resort.

These roles are, like everything at Disney, subject to change. So don't string me up if some or all of them aren't offered!!

You can find more info on roles at http://www.disneyinternationalprograms.com/summer/experience_roledescriptions.html but don't worry too much yet... You won't have to make a final decision till your face to face interview. Also, note the following... Once you've been assigned a role, it's hard to change. Not impossible or unheard of, but hard and discouraged nonetheless. Also, once you've been assigned to a location, it's VERY difficult to change and I haven't heard of anyone who was able to. For example, if you reeeeeeeeeally wanted to work at, say, Expedition Everest, but ended up working at It's Tough to Be a Bug, it's very much an uphill climb to get moved. Again, I havent heard of anyone getting moved.

As for language skills, Disney loves CMs who speak more than one language, and having conversational language abilities will be a big plus on your resume. So if you have 'em, flaunt 'em!

If there are any other question, lemme know and I'll be happy to help!
KC

 

Thanks KC, that is a amassive help. I was worried that if i did get accept to the phone interview/ F2F they would ask me what i wanted to do and i would have no clue which wouldnt look good to them as i hadnt done my research.

Can you ask if you want a spiel to speak?

 

I'm not sure what you mean... Do you mean can you request a role with spieling?

 

Yes, i would love a role with speaking, i do not know if i want to be a character anymore because they do not seem to have the same interaction with the guests as other roles do, so i may go for attractions or merchandise.

 

Well, I don't think you can necessarily say "OK, I want to work at the Great Movie Ride" and expect to get it... But by all means, tell them in your interview that you love speaking to large groups (if you have experience, all the better) and that you'd love a role that would reflect that.

You might not get it, but it can't hurt!

Also, you must remember that, for example, if you were in attractions, chances are you'd have some form of a spieling role. They might not be particularly long spiels (might even be as short as something like "welcome back, please gather your belongings, take small children by the hand, watch your step and exit to the right!") but if you have a desire to spiel, I'd definately let the recruiter know.

 

Cool, we did an installation for our final year project and i had to take a group on my own as a tour guide, trying to keep them entertained wasnt too hard it was waiting for the signal to move off without giving it away! I just kept asking them questions about where they came from (we did about the whole world had become toxic by the water).

I would still love to be a character as well as i have done mask work in the past which is always geat fun, I take a module in physical theater and it really is thrilling to do.

Sorry just realised i went on a random spurge of information there, i'm guessing i will be able to tell the recruiter this?

 

Yes, sounds all so exciting. I was a tour guide for our new school. It was really awkward when we stopped because we did not know what to say to the visitors as they did not want to ask anything and all we could say was "So, are you liking the new building so far?". It was great to answer the questions but we had to lie at some points "Do you like the new school?" "Ehh, yes, it is very modern." Was great fun. But i would love to have a spiel at Disney, ask anyone that knows me almost and they will tell you that i can spiel and rant on very quickly with no thought put in, it is quite scary. I also like doing role play where i am not myself and to act, it is great fun. I love acting.

Are there many roles for ICP's in Entertainment, say like to sing in a show? Or can we not do that?

 

I'm pretty sure that no international CMs are allowed to do the shows unfortunately :-\ That'd be awesome if we could but I'm guessing that they're actors on a specific contract or something and ICPs aren't there long enough for that plus it's probably a pretty intense audition process I'm guessing...maybe they need extras?? nah I don't think that's allowed either

 

Awww, i would have loved to have sang in one of the shows. My one talent and i cannot use it for any of my roles. Unless i just burst into song whilst working which i actually do, lol.

 

I'm sure lots of CMs do. I know I would haha especially during Wishes or the Fireworks lol

 

Wishes is amazing!

 

Right, heres the dealio...

ICPs can't sing or perform in the shows because the performers in those shows are equity actors (which means they have a seperate contract and union thingy from the rest of the entertainment cast. And because ICPs aren't recruited for those roles (which involve extensive auditions, I believe), we're ineligible. I believe we can be in the parades, but again, only as fur characters and even then, I'm not sure. I know of CPs who have been, but not ICPs. Doesn't mean they don't exist, just that I don't know of them!

As for randomly bursting into song while at work... Believe me, it happens more than you can imagine

 

haha that's good about the singing
can you volunteer to help out with shows in any way? that'd be fun to work on the set or something, just to be involved would be awesome

 

Not as far as I know. Maybe, if you were in entertainment and your manager loved you and had lots of connections, (s)he might be able to set something up, but my gut feeling is a no!

 

That would be so cool. I would have loved to have been in a show but nvm. I would love a scripted role, having a spiel. Working as a skipper on Jungle Cruise would be awesome. I have so many different roles i would like to do but i would not be able to do them all. Any recommendations on what is best?

 

Positions in attractions with spiels aren't rare, but they're also not guaranteed. I mean, just cos you're in attractions doesn't mean you'll definately have a spiel. A lot of attractions positions have one, just not all.

As for which is best, It's all a personal choice, really...

Personally, my heart lies in Attractions. Friends of mine, though, are F&B through and through. And I know a few people who wouldn't dream of working anywhere other than Merch. Ditto for lifeguards, housekeeping and even custodial.

There's not really a one role is better than another situation, because a lot of the time, it can be the people you work with more than the job. I guess you have to look at the roles available and decide which one you think is right for you.

 

That sounds awesome. I'm guessing we can talk to the interviewer about the different positions and get personal input?

its making me want to go in my final summer in the graduate programme...i really hope i get in!!!