Like the title, this update is long overdue.
I'll (Alex) give you a brief update of some things that have gone on since we arrived. In a week or two I'll post another update with a little more details.
When we arrived, we drove home and spent some time with friends and family for a week before Suzette needed to start in her new role at Disneyland. We were able to unpack a few things, and pack some other things from the old apartment. Just stuff like pots, pans, sheets, blankets and towels. All the things we sacrificed back in Orlando.
We booked rooms via Priceline and Hotwire for the first week and a half while we looked for an apartment. After staying at Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn right by Disneyland, we booked our last few nights at Holiday Inn in La Mirada. The staff here were awesome. Since we were staying for 4 nights, they upgraded us to a bigger room. Then, the door of our room had to be replaced because of an issue with the key card reader. So, they upgraded us again. This time we were staying in an executive suite with a view of Knott's Berry Farm, and a glimpse of the Disneyland fireworks from a distance.
After looking at almost 10 apartment complexes, we decided on staying at a complex just a few miles East of Disneyland. It's a small studio, but it works for what we need, and we'll only be here for a year. It also helps to be so close if I get another job with Disney.
I've applied to several jobs with the company, but there's one that I really want. It's a Parade Support Driver at Disneyland. This role would enable me to also facilitate with Disney Youth Education Series.
A little background on Disney Youth... I've talked with a few managers about how I can work with Disney Youth Groups, and many of them have told me that they primarily recruit from within the resort since the programs are so small. They have also said, because of the ease of working with scheduling managers, the cast members are primarily from the Entertainment department. So, by being a Parade Support Driver, I'll be within the Entertainment department.
When I applied for the role, I was rejected just after about 30 seconds. So, I contacted Casting, and they told me they would call me back on Monday or Tuesday after the weekend. I didn't hear anything from Casting after a week. I called them back regarding the issue, and they said, "It has come to our attention that we are no longer looking into this issue. Please follow whatever it says on our Disney Careers website."After explaining my situation to the girl on the phone, she told me she would speak to her manager. She returned on the line to tell me that her manager told her they were reviewing the applications manually due to a "technical glitch."
I emailed some of the managers I've been talking too, and everything was beginning to get put into action. They set up an interview for me with the manager who oversees the Parades and Maintenance on the West Coast. And, after continuing to deal with Casting...No Names...one of them told me that due to the technical glitch, they've eliminated applicants, and opened a new role with a correctly set threshold. Unfortunately, because I've already applied within the past 6 months, I'm not eligible to apply again.
This cast member told me about how these things happen often, and have been happening more now that the new careers page was launched. It's heartbreaking to hear about the 1,000s of people who apply to roles with Disney and fall through the cracks.
