Semester after graduating q's/moving to FL for DCP/etc

Hi all,

I have gone back and forth on whether or not I want to/should apply for the DCP. I've had a long and strange college journey and I think I might (probably will) finally graduate next year. I will be nearly 26 at that time and would turn 26 during the DCP if I went in during Fall '16.

My first question has to do with living arrangements. Since I would be graduating, one thing my boyfriend (at that point we'll probably be engaged) and I have talked about is moving down to FL. He went to school down there, so he has many friends that live there, and I love being down there as well. WDW is just a supplement to the other reasons I love it, which are many, so it's not like we'd be moving just for WDW. We've talked about it and we thought that if I happened to get into the DCP that that would be a great way for us to "try out" Florida. I know that there are 6 and nine month apartment rentals, and my BF's job can travel, so it seems pretty perfect. Does anyone know if that would be allowed, or do you have to have lived in FL for a certain amount of time to not have to live in the dorms?

Second, I have a few common questions that I just wanted to ask again because I like hearing as many answers on them as possible. 1) Has anyone experienced the DCP over 25? 2) What are people's experiences with the newer interview and being a soon-to-be graduate? I actually have a good answer for how it would prepare me for the future- I want to be a social worker and go to grad school after the DCP, so working with the public would be amazing preparation for that. Is that an answer they're looking for? 3) I know the interview is very different than it used to be in terms of work experience and not listing three roles as well. My work experience is kind of odd and sporatic. Is that going to be a problem?

Finally, on a related note, I once got fired from a job after only a few shifts years ago. No reason was given for the firing at the time and I was devastated, but I later found out that the company (a small, family run restaurant in my hometown) does not hire people with mental illness. I have bipolar disorder- which has been under control since I was about 13- and they somehow found out. No jobs I've applied to since have found out about it but I live in fear every time I fill out an application. It's bad enough that I got fired but the reason is worse- I'd hate to have to admit something so private about myself if a job interviewer found out. Will Disney be able to see this on my record and reject me?

I think that's it. Thanks for any help anyone can provide! (And sorry for the longwinded post...)

To answer your first question, no, ou don't have to have lived in Florida for a certain length of time in order to opt out of housing. Anyone can do it. You may have to prove that you have alternate housing, but even that may not be necessary.

I was 22 when I did my CP, so I can't specifically answer the "over 25" question, although I know that it's not uncommon. It WAS after graduation for me, and that didn't pose any problems. With that said, I haven't participated in the "new" interview, since my CP was back in the days when they actually did on-campus, in-person interviews. Nobody can predict what answers they are looking for, but your answer sounds like it's probably good. You may want to focus a little bit more on how, specifically, working at Disney will help you, and why you working for them will help Disney.

I imagine that having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder would qualify as a protected category under the Americans with Disabilities act. You can google "Bipolar ADA" and that will probably give you some more information about what specific protections and accommodations you are enabled to. (Keep in mind, being protected under the ADA does not mean you can't be rejected/fired, but it does mean that you can't be rejected/fired because of your protected condition.)

I'm literally planning the SAME EXACT THING, and I will be 26 as well! I keep going back and forth about it because of my age as well but I've finally decided that it doesn't matter because it is what will make me happy.
We should keep in touch!

You may be interested in these videos. This girl shared her experiences in the DCP and also has bipolar disorder. Good Luck to you on this next chapter of your life:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTsDXQjE77bo2RHu0iBHdaQ

If they ask you to fill out an application with your job history, you have to include it. Also, if they ask on the application if you've ever been fired you'd have to disclose it. Unlike a resume, a job application is basically a legal document. If no reason for termination was given at the time you were fired, just state that where it asks you to explain your termination.