Oh Dear...(kinda off topic...kinda not...)

[Cinderella89]

Alright.
So y'all remember Corey talking about the Disney College Program a few months back?

Well...Wish me luck!!:scared:

I have my phone interview tomorrow morning and I'm nervous as heck!
Has anyone done the college program or does anyone know someone who did the program?

:scared: :scared: :scared:

[WDWCPAlumni]

I did it back in 1997, I cant believe it was that long ago.
I remember being so nervous for the phone interview and it was really nothing!

I also remember they told me if I get a big package I would be in, if I get a letter they are saying no thanks.
I got a letter, and almost didnt open it!
Inside the letter it said, we are full for the season you requested, will you please come in the spring!
I was so excited!!!!!


Good Luck, open the package or the letter!!!!

[Cinderella89]

I hope they won't be filled. They aren't coming to my school until November 5th so I kinda cheated(?) and did the e-presentation they've only had up for a month or so...So...I'm hoping they won't be filled for the Spring season! Hehe!

[safetymom]

Good luck!!! My daughter did the program twice and loved it. I can remember how nervous we were waiting to hear if she made it into the program. Please let us know how it goes.

[TXYankee]

I am a little too old to have applied for the college program so I can not tell you about that.

Maybe you can PM CorEy for some tips.

I am sure you will do fine. Be your wonderful self. Since you are a Dis'er I bet you have alot of knowledge and love for WDW.

Let us know how it goes so we can support you.

You go Girl!!!

I am sending a truck load of Pixie Dust and positive thoughts from Fort Worth TX!pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: :hippie:

[Cinderella89]

It's bad...I've already started jumping around and shaking. I'm more nervous for the interview than for the results at the moment. I have 3 years of customer service under my belt and I absolutely love Disney. I've been wanting to work there ever since I can remember.

But I will definitely let you know in 2 to 3 weeks. The slowest 2 to 3 weeks of my life....

[calypso*a*go-go]

Good Luck Alyssa! :thumbsup2

[Lavender_Blue]

Oooh, you and me both have something to be antsy about. I have an in-person interview for the professional internship at Animal Kingdom on Saturday at 8:30am!

My fiancee helped me get the interview. I've been having a hard time trying to get hired here in Orlando (we relocated here because DF got the very internship that I'm interviewing for). But as luck would have it, as he started the internship a lot of people dropped out (about 4 people) and now they're short-staffed and need people. Luckily for me I have a fiancee who was willing to ask for me and I've met all the supervisors and interns at their barbeques and get-togethers so I'm comfortable with the people.

But that doesn't mean the prospect of an interview still doesn't make me nervous. =P

And it's funny...I never thought to apply for this internship initially because I thought I had to be a zoology major (I'm an Environmental Science major) - but my fiancee told me there's no handling of the animals at all. Now I'm sooo happy and excited knowing there's something I can do at Disney!

PS: I'm sure you'll do fine! Like someone said: You're a DIS'er! But I wish you the best of luck all the same.

[Cinderella89]

Good luck to you too!!

Maybe we'll run into each other if/when we get our respected internships! (Dis'ers need to take over that place and cover it in lime green...unless we changed the color...?)

I was supposed to do an in-person, but I got super antsy. I'd rather know in October if I got the gig than December. Great x-mas present...but...I gotta know!!!!!! Ahaha

What does your DF do exactly?

[Lavender_Blue]

He's doing the education presenter internship over at Animal Kingdom - and that's what I'm trying out for too.

The interns for this wear the khaki shorts, red shirt, and khaki safari vest. They mostly do the Kid's Discovery Club, but they also do other presentations in Harambe School, Conservation Station, in front of dinosaur Sue and they'll stand in front of some of the animals (the macaws, gibbons, and siamangs) and tell guests information about them.

What CP are you doing?

[Cinderella89]

That sounds like a lot of fun! I'm sure I've seen them around with how many times I've been there. Lol

I'm signing up for four things: Attractions, Character Attendent, Merchandise, and a Fairy Godmother-in-Training. I'd be happy doing anything in the park, but those are my four top choices when it comes to roles.

[simonkodousek]

Wow, this thread is making me so excited! Only five-or-so years until I can join the WDW college program! :woohoo:

GOOD LUCK ALYSSA!!! :) :) :)

[Cinderella89]

Awe! I remember being that age! I see you're going to WDW in 2009. Talk to some cast members about the DCP, that's where I got most of my information this past year. They'll be more than willing to answer any questions and who knows...You may be lucky enough to talk to a manager about it while waiting in line or something.

[Lavender_Blue]

Oooh, I'd love to do the Fairy Godmother-in-training!

...I kinda like the costume. =P

Oh, I wish you good luck! Hopefully I'll be able to get a job with Disney after the internship ends in Jan - then I'll be able to possibly see you around the parks!

[Cinderella89]

That'd be cool to stay in FL. But I'm from Michigan originally so...I think I'd miss everyone if I stayed. Hopefully I'll be able to work for the Corp after I finish college up, but...whatever happens, happens.

Fairy Godmother-in-training looks like it'd be SO much fun. I love kids too, so I'm sure that helps. Ahaha!

When would you start your internship if you got it?

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

How exciting and good luck. Pixie dust coming your waypixiedust:

[Cinderella89]

I'm getting a pixie dust tan!!

*Dusts some off on Lavender_Blue*

[Lavender_Blue]

Woo-hoo! Love me some pixie dust! :goodvibes

Anyhow, I'd start my internship immediately and finish Jan 2nd. I'm replacing the interns that quit before their term was up.

A lot of the interns from out-of-state feel the same way you do. In any case, I think having Disney on your resume is always a smart thing to have - so it makes the temporary move VERY worth it.

Me - I've moved around before. I used to live in Texas, then I went to California for a job, and then finally moved here. It took all that moving, I think, to really find what sort of place I want to settle in. So I'm here to stay.

Plus, my fiancee really loves it here and working for Disney. He'd probably stay on with the program (the coordinators are so helpful about helping you out if you wish to continue working for Disney), but he realized by doing the education internship how much he really likes interacting with people and performing - and he can't really do that as an animal keeper (which would be his next step in the Disney job ladder). So he's hoping to apply to SeaWorld and perform with the dolphins.

As for me, I love Disney so much that I'd do whatever job I could. =P Plus, Animal Kingdom is more right up my alley with the conservation stuff.

[Cinderella89]

We'll have to see how it works out. I do have some family in Ormond Beach, but I also have a little sister who'd I miss terribly. But...I could always go to FSU after finishing up community school. I'm just worried about the lack of pay and how much it costs to live. But I last time I researched employee wages was somewhere around five years ago so they could have changed it since. :confused3

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good luck to Allyssa Marie and Lavender Blue. You'll both do us proud!

[Lavender_Blue]

Well, what is definately helpful is rooming with someone. Once you're in the program, you can pick up the cast member magazine, Eyes&Ears and look at the classifieds OR you can look it up on the Hub. Cast members post up their listings looking for a roommate.

OR, if you do a professional internship, Disney can supply you with housing and they take the rent from your paycheck. You're rooming with someone and the place comes fully furnished. However, I've seen the area and though the apartment is really nice, the neighborhood....eh, not so much.

But there are nice areas like Broadwater apartments and Hunter's Creek - and there are plenty of people to room with and share rent.

That's what my fiancee and I are doing right now. We'll be looking for a new roommate soon, though. Not that there's anything wrong - we just want to move to Broadwater.

The pay isn't so bad, but definitely come here with some money saved up for any emergencies. It's not spectacular pay, but you get some nice perks. Never underestimate the power of a Disney discount - it sometimes applies to stores OUTSIDE the park. And I don't mean downtown Disney.

[froggy5657]

:wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard:
:goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes

[Cinderella89]

Really? I didn't know that.
I was planning on staying on at the Disney houses just for the fact that it was convenient. My job right now has very limited hours so I'm not making that much to begin with to save. Plus I still have to take college courses here on top of the work week (Which I hear is sometimes 40+ hours from a CM that I spoke to last week) and the Disney Community College(?) thing they have going for us in the DCP. :confused3
I just hope I can bring my car! Lol

[TXYankee]

Lavender Blue.

I am sending a truck load of Pixie Dust and positive thoughts from Fort Worth TX! pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust:

[MenashaCorp]

Lots of pixie dust and very good luck to both of you!!!



Um.... is there an "Eighteen Years Out of College" Program?? :laughing:

[Cinderella89]

I think my mom wishes. Lol

That would be cool though, to give everyone a chance to be part of the Disney Magic.

[SamSam]

Wishing both of you lots of luck with your interviews. I'm sure you will do fantastic! Who knows, Dh and I may run into one of you on our next trip. :goodvibes

[Lavender_Blue]

Really? I didn't know that.
I was planning on staying on at the Disney houses just for the fact that it was convenient. My job right now has very limited hours so I'm not making that much to begin with to save. Plus I still have to take college courses here on top of the work week (Which I hear is sometimes 40+ hours from a CM that I spoke to last week) and the Disney Community College(?) thing they have going for us in the DCP. :confused3
I just hope I can bring my car! Lol

Animal Kingdom Park has better hours. At least for the PI's. They get to leave at 5:15pm every day. I'm not sure how it is for the others. But Animal Kingdom is never open that late anyways. I think it's probably the best park to work at.

And thank you everyone for your pixie dust! :lovestruc

[Cinderella89]

*busks in the pixie dust*

Only 30 more minutes until my interview!!! I think I've forgotten how to breathe!!:scared1: :scared1:

[wishspirit]

If Corey is reading this.....

DO A SEGMENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE PROGRAMME! You promised ages ago, and never got round to it. I am slowly running out of time!:rolleyes1

[SweaterInJune]

I did the CP in Spring '07! It was the time of my life... I had such a great time that I'm moving back to work FT(in a different position though) in January. I wanted to do a PI, but I'm already finished with school, so no dice! Anyhow, I finsih my contract in Germany mid-November, then I'm home for the holidays, and onto FL! I have to stay w/friends until I can find a roommate... that's an inconvenience, but I'm sure it won't take too long. I was hoping to go it alone, but it's just too expensive solo.

Good luck!

Another good resource for questions, comments, or commiserating with other CP-hopefuls, is the college board on here if you haven't been to it yet... a lot of questions are answered! I'll be happy to answer whatever I can as well... Hope to see you both down there... :goodvibes

[Cinderella89]

Oh wow...I'm shaking so hard right now.... Has any one ever thrown up during a phone interview? :rotfl2: :scared: :scared1: :eek:

[aGoofyMom]

no throwing up on the phone - you don't want to disconnect it or short it out!

pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust:

[SweaterInJune]

No, no! You'll be just fine... Remember to smile, take deep breaths, and rememebr your best Disney memories...

Trust me! The interviews aren't bad. In fact, I think they're fun...
Just think of it as talking to another Disney fan...or one of us on the boards! No big deal...they usually try to make them casual... don't worry...think of it as a conversation--NOT an interview...

Good Luck!:cheer2:

[timmac]

Be sure to let us know how it goes... we'll all be here watching the board waiting for your reply :)

[Cinderella89]

Well...that was rather painless.
I couldn't answer one question though. Ugh. Oh well. I don't think I'll be getting the role of character attendent. But it sounds like I might be working food service at the MK if I get in. :goodvibes

As long as I work at WDW. I'm happy. :cloud9:

Thank you everyone! pixiedust: pixiedust: pixiedust: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks:

[exwdwcm]

good luck Ladies!

i did the program in the fall of 1996. i know, over 12 years ago, seems like yesterday. I worked at hollywood and vine cafeteria at MGM (we just did breakfast and lunch cafeteria style). i lived at vista way and had a blast. best experience of my life and i did 3 other internships outside of disney (marketing).

i can say, whatever past experience you have is where they will most likely place you- if you have retail experience, you will probably be put in merchandise. I requested everything except food/beverage, but i got stuck there since i had waited tables in college for years. it was my LAST choice, but they put you where you have related experience whether you like it or not. And you take what you get, since you are just so happy to go. lol :cool1: :thumbsup2 I hear FGIT is the most difficult to get right now. of course that wasn't an option for me back in the day.

Just be personable, know your strengths, weaknesses and the disney way of customer service- the guest first!

oh and just for record- i had 5 roommates- 6 of us sharing a 3 bedroom. of the 6 of us- only 2 actually went back and finished college. so much for the 'college program'. lol 2 of my roomies were already on their second program. one still works for disney 12 years later- she contracts out with kodak at the imagination pavilion as that mad scientist camera act after the ride. she also does a variety of shows/parades etc. She worked characters when i was there. The other roomie ended up in guest relations, then the american ambassador and then disney weddings. her ex girlfriend is now the disney world ambassador (only one chosen!!), very cool! another roomie we lost touch with (she was in culinary) and the other two are now teachers and mothers. But funny how 2 out of 6 stayed at disney. I wish i could have, but i was about to graduate.

btw- we did have a few older students in our program. They went back to school and still got on the program! These were students in their 40s and 50s. not sure they still offer that, but i can't see why not, since the original point of the program was basically to find more available labor.

[Cinderella89]

Oh thank god!

She asked me a question about if I were busing tables, there was a spill, and guests asking questions. I said that I would mop up the spill and answer costumer questions before busing since guests and guests safety comes first.

[exwdwcm]

:wizard: We'll have to see how it works out. I do have some family in Ormond Beach, but I also have a little sister who'd I miss terribly. But...I could always go to FSU after finishing up community school. I'm just worried about the lack of pay and how much it costs to live. But I last time I researched employee wages was somewhere around five years ago so they could have changed it since. :confused3btw- i just got out of debt about 3 years ago and most of it was accumulated while on my program. when you are making min wage and they are taking your rent/utilities out of your check, you are left with VERY LITTLE. barely enough to buy groceries and really not anything for fun or shopping. So my CC was my best friend, especially when we got the special cast member holiday discount in december (50% off!). i went a little nuts. It is NOT a money making experience by any means, in fact you will probably come out in debt or need some help. save up now to supplement. it is so worth it no matter what though. the experience itself can't be counted in dollars or cents. I still have it on my resume at the very bottom even after I now have 10 years of work experience and I still get questions about it. Employers are impressed by it. in fact i start a new job in 2 weeks as a Director of Marketing and they asked about it in my interview. :thumbsup2

[SweaterInJune]

They take CPs of all ages still :)

It's such a great time... I can't wait to get back and begin working for the mouse again! I'm just trying to decide what I want to do. I worked attractions last time and had a blast, but I need to make a little bit more than $7.25 an hour...although, if I recall there is a premium if you work a spieling attraction, so that could work as I've already worked in that caliber of attraction.

Otherwise, I'm considering Front Desk(I hear it's a good step towards Guest Relations which is where I want to be, aside from imagineering). Also, looking at Cosmetology. I have experience with wigs and make-up...this could help me to connect with people in Imagineering if I get assigned to work on the animatronics. Possibly BBB, but I don't know if I'd be best-suited there...

I guess I need to call casting and discuss this with them...and have some questions answered before I set my heart on something... :confused3

[timmac]

Well...that was rather painless.

The anticipation is always much worse than the actual thing. :)

I couldn't answer one question though. Ugh. Oh well. I don't think I'll be getting the role of character attendent. But it sounds like I might be working food service at the MK if I get in. :goodvibes

What question couldn't you answer? Any particular reason(s) you think you can't get character attendant? Just curious.

[Cinderella89]

The anticipation is always much worse than the actual thing. :)



What question couldn't you answer? Any particular reason(s) you think you can't get character attendant? Just curious.


She asked me "What does integrity of the character mean."
My nervousness caused a lapse in my vocabulary and I blanked on the meaning of inegrity so I asked if we could come back to it. We never did. So...That is why I don't think I'll be keeping families from suing when they say "Tigger punched my kid!" Lol

[Cinderella89]

They take CPs of all ages still :)

It's such a great time... I can't wait to get back and begin working for the mouse again! I'm just trying to decide what I want to do. I worked attractions last time and had a blast, but I need to make a little bit more than $7.25 an hour...although, if I recall there is a premium if you work a spieling attraction, so that could work as I've already worked in that caliber of attraction.

Otherwise, I'm considering Front Desk(I hear it's a good step towards Guest Relations which is where I want to be, aside from imagineering). Also, looking at Cosmetology. I have experience with wigs and make-up...this could help me to connect with people in Imagineering if I get assigned to work on the animatronics. Possibly BBB, but I don't know if I'd be best-suited there...

I guess I need to call casting and discuss this with them...and have some questions answered before I set my heart on something... :confused3

Call 1*800*722*2930 for information. The CMs were SUPER nice with questions.

[SweaterInJune]

She asked me "What does integrity of the character mean."
My nervousness caused a lapse in my vocabulary and I blanked on the meaning of inegrity so I asked if we could come back to it. We never did. So...That is why I don't think I'll be keeping families from suing when they say "Tigger punched my kid!" Lol

Sending you a pm about that question...

Don't worry...you never know where you'll end up. You're applying early, so that's in your favor :)

I'll get around to calling the jobline eventually...maybe I should do it now. I've been meaning to all week...

[tinkbutt]

I always wanted to do this but while I was in college my dad was working there so it didn't make sense to pay that much a week when I could have just lived with him! So I never got to do it!:sad2:

[Lavender_Blue]

I did the CP in Spring '07! It was the time of my life... I had such a great time that I'm moving back to work FT(in a different position though) in January. I wanted to do a PI, but I'm already finished with school, so no dice!

You don't have to still be in college to do a PI. We have a few interns who have recently obtained their bachelor's. But then, maybe it depends on the PI? Or maybe they're going back for their master's? But still, I didn't think you needed to be a college student to do the PI.

[SweaterInJune]

You don't have to still be in college to do a PI. We have a few interns who have recently obtained their bachelor's. But then, maybe it depends on the PI? Or maybe they're going back for their master's? But still, I didn't think you needed to be a college student to do the PI.

All of the PI requirements say 'currently earning a degree'. It can also be the semester just after graduation, but I did my CP the "semester" after I graduated, so it messed it up. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is. If you hear anything to the contrary for certain, I'd be glad to know though...not that it matters much at this point. I really wanted the GR internship though... *sigh* Me and most others...

:sad1:

[SweaterInJune]

I always wanted to do this but while I was in college my dad was working there so it didn't make sense to pay that much a week when I could have just lived with him! So I never got to do it!:sad2:

Katie...not a help after the fact, but on occasion they will make housing exceptions in those situations. They don't like to because the 'living' aspect really is a unique experience...way different than college for me, but valuable just the same. My roommates were the best...except for one, but she got replaced with an amazing one, so all was well!

[Cinderella89]

How'd your interview go!?!?!:cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

[Lavender_Blue]

Thanks so much for all the support everyone - you guys are so great!

I had my interview yesterday at 8:30 am. I think it went really well! I wasn't nervous or anything and so I really do think I gave the best answers I could (except for one question where I started off good, then I rambled into nonesense because I wanted to sound smart =P) But at least I answered the most traumatizing question without a hitch. For anyone curious to know, it's "what does biodiversity mean to you?"

One question that did throw me off was "what does integrity mean to you?" I was only used to "What does keeping the integrity of the character mean to you?" So I had to think for a moment.

Everything else was just peachy. She asked me about my major and it turns out my major was her's too. That made me feel really good too because it felt like I was in the right place.

She said twice to me that I had an edge over the other applicants because I'm familiar with the program (via my fiancee) so training would go faster with me.

BUT as much as I'd like to let that go to my head, I won't. I've had great feelings about interviews before and then never gotten a call back about. But hopefully I'll get that phone call within a week!

Also, to get back to SweaterInJune - I asked about the PI and being finished with college and I think you're right. =\ They said you either had to be obtaining a degree (bachelor's or master's) or join within six months after graduating.

One of the interns who works with my fiancee has a husband in guest relations...if you have any questions I'd be more than happy to get some info for you.

[SweaterInJune]

Glad to hear it went well! I hope you get the internship! :)
Be sure to keep us posted...

I would love any info about GR! Specifically, if there is one particular area they seem to pull people from when hiring...how often, etc. Can GR CM's be seasonal/limited? I'm trying to get my teaching license, so I would only be available some evenings, weekends, and breaks. Also, any recommendations on getting there...

At this point I know it would be, at earliest, June before I could apply, so I'm just collecting info...

Thanks for whatever you can find out for me! I appreciate it...

Good luck in waiting on that phone call! We're all rooting for you!:cheer2:

[Cinderella89]

That's great!

You have a shorter wait than me. Lucky. I'm hoping for the best for you!!:banana: :banana: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

[NDM#1]

Lots of pixie dust and very good luck to both of you!!!



Um.... is there an "Eighteen Years Out of College" Program?? :laughing:

Yes, inquiring minds want to know . . . . except I would only be ten years out.