Pros
- Employee discounts and free access to the park - Retail union was great compared to other places I've worked (read: Disneyland) - A very open environment among employees, you're allowed to feel negative without being shamed in the back for it - Guests are SO MUCH BETTER than the ones who go to Disney - People are really hype for Harry Potter and it's easy to make them happy - The park has programs in place to upwards and lateral movement. I was promoted to the Team Lead position and offered a position in Labor Relations within 3 months of starting. I had prior theme park retail experience, but good work and attitude can get you in the right direction. - Fun work perks, like the summer bash and team member only events for new attractions. - A foot in the door for the NBCUniversal Page Program, heard some great success stories every quarter. - Union dues for retail are very fair compared to what was negotiated. The probation period is fair, sick time accrues pretty quickly, and the union doesn't ask you to pay a withdrawal fee (don't do that if you've in the Disney College Program. You most likely won't join that union again and they ask everyone for different amounts. It's kind of a scam. Never ever pay a union withdrawal fee.) - After Disneyland, Universal feels less emotionally constipated. I really got along with my coworkers and orientation group. Yes, management plays favorites, but it's usually based on how well you work over how much they like you as a person. My interview for Team Leader consisted of a manager telling me that I wasn't ready to be a Team Leader and it felt like a test of my character rather than a criticism. As you can see, I was promoted and that manager later congratulated me/remained professional and treated me the same as any other Lead despite his attitude in the interview or opinions about my status. Personally, it felt like my work was rewarded and I was recognized for the effort I put in.
Cons
- If you're not good at upselling, you probably won't go far in retail - If you work in Harry Potter, you can't take the clothes home so it adds at least an extra hour onto your entire shift just to get changed and walk to the check in - When it's slow, it's slow. Early January to early April and late August to September can be really rough, especially if your store comes in under sales goals. - You can't be a Team Leader in Harry Potter and get cross-trained in Transformers. It's not fair. I want magic and sci-fi. Both is wonderful. Let us do BOTH. - Can easily get overwhelming during peak season. - If you're a Honeydukes lead, you will be place in the Hogsmeade Station. There is no AC. Winter isn't too bad because of how much you can walk around, the general temperature, and how heavy the costume gets (all suede, 3 layers over your chest to keep you toasty). During the summer, many leads got dehydrated or suffered heat exhaustion even when drinking their weight in water. Also, the chocolate frogs melted. - It's probably a compliance for food safety, but you have to damage out every baked good that doesn't sell, especially past the expiration date. Donuts from the Simpsons are indeed made daily, but they mean daily. You have to toss them. Feels like a big waste of food.
