Q: IT at Disney

[Larry]

OK, folks. Larry's got another question for the folks at ES.

I'm hoping that somebody out there can give me some information about possible IT careers at Disney. Both as in "what kind of stuff do they use there?" and "what kinds of things do they want?"

(Specifically, I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to enhance my possibility of getting some kind of IT job there, in a few years, when I'm free.)

Example: I know (because I've seen them) that they use a lot of HP printers. I have a lot of experience repairing HP printers. But there's things I don't know. For example, I don't know if Disney repairs their own printers, or do they contract it out to some other company, or do they have some kind of deal where if Disney buys HP printers, then HP assigns HP employees to support them?

(And I'll freely admit that it, frankly, doesn't take much of a tech to repair HP printers. So even if they do have their own in-house repair staff, I'd bet they don't get paid much.)

My brother (who's in charge of IT for a large law firm in Portland) suggested that I work on some Cisco certifications. But I don't know if Disney uses Cisco. (Although I'd bet the odds are pretty high.) (OTOH, I don't know if they require college degrees for those jobs.)

I know, it's a long shot. But I've been surprised, before, at the breadth of knowledge that is ES' membership.

[Stophovr6]

There might be someone with that knowledge on here. But wouldn't it be easier to contact Disney and find out first hand the answers to your questions?

https://disney.recruitmax.com/main/c...ortal/help.cfm

[Larry]

There might be someone with that knowledge on here. But wouldn't it be easier to contact Disney and find out first hand the answers to your questions?

https://disney.recruitmax.com/main/c...ortal/help.cfm

Been there, looked at it. (Got it bookmarked.)

But I don't see advice there. I see "post your resume and maybe we'll call you".

What I'm looking for is advice about "What would I like to have on my resume, two years from now?"

[Titaw]

There might be someone with that knowledge on here. But wouldn't it be easier to contact Disney and find out first hand the answers to your questions?

https://disney.recruitmax.com/main/c...ortal/help.cfm

I was about to post the EXACT same link!

[Stophovr6]

Been there, looked at it. (Got it bookmarked.)

But I don't see advice there. I see "post your resume and maybe we'll call you".

What I'm looking for is advice about "What would I like to have on my resume, two years from now?"

Do you mean, "what should I have on my resume two years from now to be considered?"

By contact I mean have you tried calling and getting a hold of someone that can actually give you answers. It's hard to get through to anyone at a big company I realize, but you do have two years to figure it out.

[Burgold]

Disney won't do informational interviews?

[Larry]

Disney won't do informational interviews?

Right now, I'm handcuffed to Mom. It's tough to go to the grocery store. It's tough to be on the phone. (She's demanding and has dementia. Tough combination to work with.)

Heck, lately, I've been postponing showering because I don't want to leave her unattended for five minutes.

OTOH, if there's any kind of self-paced training I can get, then frankly, I have a real talent for IT-related things. I've self-taught myself several certifications, including Novell's CNE (now just about worthless), and certifications on HP and Novell warranty certifications.

[wshngtn1]

I thought all of Disney's IT services were outsourced to ACS (Affiliated Computer Services). I don't know that all of it is for a fact, but I'm pretty sure ACS does some of it. Not sure if this helps you at all though...

[Burgold]

Right now, I'm handcuffed to Mom. It's tough to go to the grocery store. It's tough to be on the phone. (She's demanding and has dementia. Tough combination to work with.)

Heck, lately, I've been postponing showering because I don't want to leave her unattended for five minutes.

OTOH, if there's any kind of self-paced training I can get, then frankly, I have a real talent for IT-related things. I've self-taught myself several certifications, including Novell's CNE (now just about worthless), and certifications on HP and Novell warranty certifications.

I did the same thing with my grandmother when a hospital and nursing home messed up her with medication and cognitively wrecked her. That combined with dimentia and osteoporosis created such problems for the family, esp. when we realized that care for her was going to cost way more than her salary. I was able to retrain her to walk and talk and recover about 80% of herself, but it did force me out of my former life and into my present.

I have tremendous sympathy/empathy for what you are going through... find a way to do a few things for yourself too. It is hard to be selfless if you never recharge your own batteries.

As to Disney, are you looking for things you can do remotely (at your home) or are you looking for your next transition?

[Larry]

As to Disney, are you looking for things you can do remotely (at your home) or are you looking for your next transition?

What I'm looking for is "What can I be doing, now, that will help me, (I estimate two years from now), when I'm not chained to Gainesville?"

Edit: Besides posting on ES?

[Burgold]

Okay, I used to know some people who used to know some people. I'll check my rolodex and see if they still are in contact with any Disney folks. I think they were more on the entertainment side, but I can check.

This may take a couple of days... also these are more aquaintences than friends, so I really can't promise anything whatsoever.

[GibbsFactor]

I always wanted to work on the stuff under the parks. Amazing tech they got out there. I wanted to be the guy that programs the ghosts in their haunted mansion.

Check out History Channel's Modern Marvel Episode - Disney Tech.

http://shop.history.com/detail.php?p=69285&pa=sli&v=All

It goes over all the tech involved in the place.

[TMK9973]

Larry - sending you a PM

[Dictator]

Larry,
check out disboards.com
Plenty of former and current cast members there.

[Huly]

Have you looked at Pixar's website? Also there is a show on how Pixar saved Disney. I can not remember the name but it had a lot of information.