5 months in the Most Magical Place on Earth...my College Program TR

[spiroff.natasha]

Thanks for the advice! I really want to do the drive but I get back from a trip to Hawaii on the 11th and check in the 20th which doesn't leave much time for a cross-country trip. But the more I think about it and hear stuff like this the more I want to do it... Hmm we shall see. Thanks again

Sounds like you are going to have an AMAZING August! Are you going to put in any location requests?​

 

[spiroff.natasha]

I'm back with another post about working CRT I had mentioned before that I would do a post that goes into detail about the different positions you can work as a "CRT Seater" so that's what I'm going to do!

There are two main shifts that you can be assigned when working at CRT...either a breakfast/lunch or dinner (sometimes you would get lucky and get a lunch/dinner ). When working at night (my favorite) you would clock in an immediately go on your lunch break because the restaurant was closed during this time between lunch and dinner. This took a little bit of getting used to at first but I quickly learned to love it because the seaters/servers became really close and it was great to spend your break with everyone else

Towards the end of the lunch break we would have to clock in and get an assignment. We all had our favorites (and least favorites) so it was always fun to see what everyone got and watch everyone's reactions to their assignment. Victory dances and foot-stomping were not uncommon

Here are the different positions that we could receive...

Podium (1 or 2) -- I really liked podium, especially when assigned with one of my friends (which was really everyone except for 1 or 2 people). In this position you were down at the podium (go figure haha) checking people in for their reservations and answering questions. Most of the time it was nice to be outside. The only downside to podium was that you didn't get to go fold napkins between rounds (I know, that doesn't seem like a downside but we always had fun up there!)

Greeter -- Another "downstairs" position. This was great when you had friends on podium. The job of the greeter was to consolidate the line to meet Cinderella , keep the waiting room relatively in order, and call out the names of the "royal families" when their tables were ready.

Greeter Assist -- There wasn't always a greeter assist. I had a love/hate relationship with this position. If one of my friends was a greeter, I loved it because we got to work together and I did like watching the excited families wait for their princess meal! I hated it because you were essential the bouncer for CRT and couldn't let anybody up the stairs without a royal invitation and standing there for your whole shift got pretty boring.

{Annie and I pretending to be greeter on one of our days off...not sure why it's so tiny }

Breezeway Greeter -- Like greeter assist, this position didn't always exist. When you got assigned it, it was like hitting the lottery. ESPECIALLY on an AM shift. Your job is to walk around Fantasyland and answer questions for guests. If there are open reservations at CRT, you ask families if they are interested in dining in the castle. Seriously THE BEST. One of my favorite CRT memories is when I got assigned breezeway greeter on an AM shift and I stood on the drawbridge looking down Main Street and listened to the park opening show. As soon as the park was open the families started running in, holding hands and you could just tell that everyone was in an amazing mood and excited for their day at the Magic Kingdom! It was seriously so magical, I just stood there, took it all in and cried like a baby!

Seater (1 or 2) -- This is probably the most dreaded position. As soon as both seater 1 and seater 2 were assigned, all your hesitations of clocking in melted away The seaters were stationed at the top of the stairs and are the ones to bring the guests to their tables and hand out the wishing stars and menus. The guest interaction was great but there was a lot of downtime and the turns went by verrrryy slowly.

Seater/Setter -- Kind of a weird position but you would help seat people when there were a lot of families coming up at once (usually at the beginning of a turn) and then you would help set tables when a lot of families were getting up.

Updater -- I loved being the updater. You would clear tables, add high chairs/boosters/etc, set tables, sprinkle pixie dust, etc. The updater wore an ear piece that the assignor (an extra trained position) would talk to them through and let them know what needed to happen and where. It was fun

Set-Ups -- loved dinner set-ups, hated breakfast set-ups. As the set up person you were in the "dungeon" aka corner of the kitchen making trays of plates, silverware, and napkins for the updater and seater/setter to take out. It was fun to be back there and as soon as you had made enough set-ups for the next round, you got to go down to the breakroom and fold.

{Annie in set-ups}

In between rounds, most positions got to go fold napkins and that was always really fun when you had a bunch of people. Before everyone could go home at night, there had to be a certain number of bins (I can't remember how many...it's been too long!! ) folded so sometimes it was better to not have a bunch of people down there cause we did more talking than folding

{having too much fun folding napkins}

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[blessedby3]

Thanks for giving us all that information! I love finding out all the behind the scenes stuff of how things work. I would have never thought there were so many positions at CRT alone!

 

[francis6306]

I think it is a good thing when your favorite thing to do is hang out with your coworkers and fold napkins!

 

[TinkerbellinNY6]

Congratulations!! I can't tell you how excited I am for you (and insanely jealous ) What role did you get?!​

Thanks I am really excited! I got the Photopass Photographer!

 

[spiroff.natasha]

Thanks for giving us all that information! I love finding out all the behind the scenes stuff of how things work. I would have never thought there were so many positions at CRT alone!

Glad you enjoyed! I felt like I was rambling Yea, there were TONS of positions at CRT. Other There are three more positions that I didn't list because they require additional training so you don't get scheduled them that often. They are stocker (where you are in the kitchen all day, filling ice machines, keeping soup fresh, bringing clean dishes to servers, etc.), assignor (assigns the tables to families once they check in at the podium), and GT (the general teller who is in the kitchen closing out checks). I got trained for stocker and assignor but like I said, didn't work them too often.

Other restaurants, like Kona for example (where my roomie Lisa was) didn't have quite as many positions and was organized very differently.​

I think it is a good thing when your favorite thing to do is hang out with your coworkers and fold napkins!

I guess it is! I was really blessed to have such amazing co-workers. With the exception of 2 people that didn't really mesh with everyone, I still talk to them everyday! ​

Thanks I am really excited! I got the Photopass Photographer!

Awesome! Let me know if you think of any questions along the way ​

 

[shan23877]

I've worked in restaurants forever, so I find it fascinating how many positions there are at CRT! It's funny that you loved folding napkins, because in most other restaurants, that's a dreaded activity!

I think that the job wandering around Fantasyland would be amazing! How great to be at work and having so much fun!

 

[LMKerins]

a) Thank you for posting the most attractive pictures of me ever in the roomie post.

b) At Kona, we had, what? Oh that's right. 3 positions. Seater, greeter, and assignor. Updater. Pssh. Sprinkling pixie dust for a shift. Hahaha we did real work at our restaurant.

c) BAHAHAHAHAHA Brent in the last picture is hilarious

 

[spiroff.natasha]

I've worked in restaurants forever, so I find it fascinating how many positions there are at CRT! It's funny that you loved folding napkins, because in most other restaurants, that's a dreaded activity!

I think that the job wandering around Fantasyland would be amazing! How great to be at work and having so much fun!

Yea, I really don't think you can beat getting paid to walk around Fantasyland talking to guests. Miss it everyday!

And I agree, I never liked folding napkins/rolling silverware at the other restaurants I worked at...Disney really is magical ​

a) Thank you for posting the most attractive pictures of me ever in the roomie post.

b) At Kona, we had, what? Oh that's right. 3 positions. Seater, greeter, and assignor. Updater. Pssh. Sprinkling pixie dust for a shift. Hahaha we did real work at our restaurant.

c) BAHAHAHAHAHA Brent in the last picture is hilarious

a) You are so welcome, just wait til your coffee bean costume pictures come out!

b) making magic is real, don't hate on my pixie dust!

c) BAHAH I KNOW! That costume...the pants...the broach! :rotfl​

:

 

[mrsxsparrow]

Sounds like you are going to have an AMAZING August! Are you going to put in any location requests?​

I haven't decided yet. I was going to, but then I figured I'd leave it up to the Disney gods But I have a feeling they're going to stick me on a spiel ride, I mentioned in my interview I was on the debate team in college and spoke at competitions with lots of people. My interviewer was awfully curious about that experience.

I wish I could send a request of where I don't want to work instead!

 

[POOHDRMR]

I just wanted to say that I love your report and I have been telling my 10 yr old dd about the college program for awhile now and she was reading this with me and she said she really wants to do it when she goes to college!She also saw the picture of your friend that was the life guard at Poly and we remembered her from our last trip-my dd thought she was so pretty and one day she was walking by her and told my dd she liked her bathing suitShe was so excited she came over to me to tell me the cool lifeguard liked her bathing suit!Can't wait to read about the rest.

 

[Glennie5]

What an incredible way to experience WDW. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us!

 

[spiroff.natasha]

I haven't decided yet. I was going to, but then I figured I'd leave it up to the Disney gods But I have a feeling they're going to stick me on a spiel ride, I mentioned in my interview I was on the debate team in college and spoke at competitions with lots of people. My interviewer was awfully curious about that experience.

I wish I could send a request of where I don't want to work instead!

Yea, it will be really exciting that way! Sounds like you have really great experience for a spiel attraction -- those are the most sought after so that would be awesome if you got one ​

I just wanted to say that I love your report and I have been telling my 10 yr old dd about the college program for awhile now and she was reading this with me and she said she really wants to do it when she goes to college!She also saw the picture of your friend that was the life guard at Poly and we remembered her from our last trip-my dd thought she was so pretty and one day she was walking by her and told my dd she liked her bathing suitShe was so excited she came over to me to tell me the cool lifeguard liked her bathing suit!Can't wait to read about the rest.

How neat!! I will definitely let Katie know that you guys remembered her. It's a small world (after all)
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What an incredible way to experience WDW. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us!

Of course! Glad you are along for the ride ​

 

[spiroff.natasha]

By the end of February/beginning of March I was really missing mommy! {and I'm pretty sure she was missing me too } At home, we have lunch together a few times a week so it was weird not having her around. I had read about an awesome cast promotion on the hub {the cast member website where you get your schedule, pick up extra shifts, and can basically look up ANYTHING} with resort stays & the dining plan so I booked us a quick trip and she flew out to see me!

For 2 nights we had the regular dining plan...1 TS, 1 QS, 1 snack...you know the drill. Then, for 2 more nights we tried the quick service dining plan!

I was really excited for this trip because:
(a) I missed mommy so much
(b) I had never done the dining plan before and had been wanting to try it forever!
(c) it was so cheap! I think the TS dining plan was $27.99 /person and the QS was $17.99/person -- so worth it!

For the first part of our stay we were at the All Star Music resort (since our favorite, Pop Century, was unavailable) and the second half of the stay we were at Pop Century...yayyy! When we had to move resorts, it started raining...not fun!

The two places that we used our TS credits were Boma and Cape May Cafe. We already knew that Boma was one of our favorites and were pleasantly surprised by Cape May! We looooove crab legs so the fact that they were all you care to eat was great! We also had a lot of fun coloring on the table cloth...it's ok to be childish, we were at Disney! haha

We only spent one day at the parks because we wanted to save three of my park passes for when my family came in May! We chose to hit up Magic Kingdom and Epcot! Lisa joined us at Magic Kindom for a while before she had to go to work We rode some of our favorite rides and then had lunch at Cosmic Rays. Later on, we needed to use some of our snack credits so I got cotton candy (YUM) and my mom got a funnel cake...it definitely looked better than it was.

At Epcot, we of course stopped at La Cava for our favorite margaritas! Here is the after picture...

We spent a lot of time at the pool and on the beach at the Poly just relaxing. It was a really fun mini vacation and I'm so glad mommy was able to come see me! Here are some more random pictures from the trip...

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[JanetMom]

At Epcot, we of course stopped at La Cava for our favorite margaritas! Here is the after picture...

Thanks for posting some more great pictures!

What are your favourite margaritas?

We will be at WDW in 10 short days. We are staying at the Yacht Club so I know we will be making a stop or two at La Cava! Mmmm

 

[spiroff.natasha]

Thanks for posting some more great pictures!

What are your favourite margaritas?

We will be at WDW in 10 short days. We are staying at the Yacht Club so I know we will be making a stop or two at La Cava! Mmmm

How exciting! I'm definitely green with envy

In that picture we had the jalapeno and the blood orange -- both are really good. My absolute favorite though is the avocado margarita. It sounds so weird but is DELICIOUS. I'm not even a huge avocado girl so I was skeptical but it tastes more like a melon than anything. YUM

Will you be there on a Monday? I recently read on the Disney Food Blog that they are doing Margarita Monday specials there where you can get a featured margarita for cheaper!

Let me know what you think when you get back!​

 

[JanetMom]

How exciting! I'm definitely green with envy

In that picture we had the jalapeno and the blood orange -- both are really good. My absolute favorite though is the avocado margarita. It sounds so weird but is DELICIOUS. I'm not even a huge avocado girl so I was skeptical but it tastes more like a melon than anything. YUM

Will you be there on a Monday? I recently read on the Disney Food Blog that they are doing Margarita Monday specials there where you can get a featured margarita for cheaper!

Let me know what you think when you get back!​

I'm definitely going to try the Avocado margarita.

Because I am a natural born Diser, I do have a fully planned spreadsheet for our upcoming trip. I just checked my Monday plans and in the supper slot I wrote "La Cava or counter service supper". So, given Margarita Mondays, it looks like it will definitely be La Cava - it seems like it is destiny for us to be there then!

 

[francis6306]

Awe! Mommy-Daughter time! I hope my girls are as close to me when they are your age!

So you have a limited number of passes for family and friends during the program? That must have been hard to limit yourself and "budget" those days!

How is your brother adjusting to life in the CP?

 

[jenseib]

Do you get those days off then when your Mom came down? I remember that trip....and some of those pictures!

 

[spiroff.natasha]

I'm definitely going to try the Avocado margarita.

Because I am a natural born Diser, I do have a fully planned spreadsheet for our upcoming trip. I just checked my Monday plans and in the supper slot I wrote "La Cava or counter service supper". So, given Margarita Mondays, it looks like it will definitely be La Cava - it seems like it is destiny for us to be there then!

It definitely is!!! You will have to tell us all about it So glad it worked out that way ​

Awe! Mommy-Daughter time! I hope my girls are as close to me when they are your age!

So you have a limited number of passes for family and friends during the program? That must have been hard to limit yourself and "budget" those days!

How is your brother adjusting to life in the CP?

I looove my mommy! We have a lot of fun together. Looks like you get to take your girls to WDW a lot so I'm sure that will always be your "happy place" like it is ours!

Yes, as a CP you get 6 main entrance passes (they work as park hopper tickets) and for each of those 6 passes, you can let in 3 people. It was kind of hard to budget them when people came to visit because I didn't want to use them all up at the beginning of the program but it was hard to stay out of the parks when I knew I could get in everyday!

My brother is doing really well! It's been about a month now and he is adjusted well to the routine. Just worked the One More Disney Day extravaganza last night which was an experience to say the least His shift was from 1045PM to 830AM ​

Do you get those days off then when your Mom came down? I remember that trip....and some of those pictures!

Yes! When I found out she was coming down I requested the days off on the Hub and was granted all of them How fun that you remember some of the pictures Doesn't seem like a year ago huh?
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