an odd ? for any CMs out there

[pooch]

DD is planning to audition for Disney entertainment on our next trip. There is an audition for stage work on Sept 21st at noon at the Animal Kingdom Rehearsal facility with special consideration given to Musical Theatre majors. DD graduated with her degree in May. My questions are:

1. Where exactly is this facility.
2. Can it be reached using WDW transportation?
3. Our flight arrives at 10:25am that day, what is the fastest way to get her there (we're scheduled to use ME)?
4. Any helpful advice?

TIA!!!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

DD is planning to audition for Disney entertainment on our next trip. There is an audition for stage work on Sept 21st at noon at the Animal Kingdom Rehearsal facility with special consideration given to Musical Theatre majors. DD graduated with her degree in May. My questions are:

1. Where exactly is this facility.
2. Can it be reached using WDW transportation?
3. Our flight arrives at 10:25am that day, what is the fastest way to get her there (we're scheduled to use ME)?
4. Any helpful advice?

TIA!!!

1. It's located near AK Lodge, on Sherberth Road.
2. It cannot be reached using Disney Transport.
3. Once you get to your resort, Taxi.
4. Smile!

 

[clkelley]

With a 10:25am landing, if you are even a few minutes late, I would put your daughter in a taxi directly from the airport. It will be more expensive, but being late for the audition would be more expensive. Have one of the party ride DME so you don't have to fool with your luggage. At an average of 70 minutes with DME, then having to get a cab at your resort, that is cutting it close.

 

[pooch]

who'd a thunk! Ok, I thought she might have to take alternate transportation from the airport. Now I need suggestions as to who I use, town car or taxi. Any idea of the relative cost of each?

And, next, she is also trying to go to the character audition later in the vacation. Should we take WDW transportation to AKL and a taxi from there?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Good catch... i didn't even see the audition time.

Yes, definetly a car service or taxi directly from the airport, while someone else takes DME.

For the other part of the trip, bus to AK park or Lodge would be about the same taxi fare.

With a 10:25am landing, if you are even a few minutes late, I would put your daughter in a taxi directly from the airport. It will be more expensive, but being late for the audition would be more expensive. Have one of the party ride DME so you don't have to fool with your luggage. At an average of 70 minutes with DME, then having to get a cab at your resort, that is cutting it close.

 

[Edd]

Seriously, Disney does not think highly of auditioners that are late. Do not push it. Personal experience. If you are within an hour from reporting time put her on a taxi and have her carry the directions because a taxi driver may not know the location of the audition facility, it is not in the regular traffic scheme. I have known auditioners to be barred from the audition because they were 5 minutes late.

 

[NotUrsula]

If she is serious about this I'd have her change her flight and get there the night before, so that she can rest the morning prior, rather than try to dance right after spending several hours traveling. You are traveling in what is still peak hurricane season, and even a small delay might easily make your arrival too late to get her there.

 

[Lewisc]

I agree, try to either change the flight or the audition time. Can't do either. Take a cab or reserve a car service. You can't count on the 70 minute average time for DME and a cab can probably get her there in 30 minutes or so. The only reason to take a cab, as opposed to a car service, is so you can take DME if your flight is so delayed that she's going to miss her audition.

Ed--I think DME is a good choice for most situations but this isn't one of them. I know you think some of us aren't willing to admit when an alternate form of transportation makes sense.

 

[pooch]

We can't really change the flight time. We already have the first flight that day and can't leave a day early. Is there some way we can get a late audition time before we get down there? Anyone know someone she can call? The E-mail she got said "show up before auditions start as we don't take anymore once we begin" It looked like a generic e-mail and not directed specifically at her questions. I told her to e-mail again as sometimes persistence pays off. I appreciate all the advice!

 

[Edd]

When Disney sets up auditions it is usually for a bunch of dancers. At the appointment time the doors are usually closed with no admittance or excuses after that. Disney does not change audition times unless your daughter is a more special dancer or that is a solo audition. More than likely they will have 50 other dancers in the audition.

I am sure if you are landing in the morning you will pretty much get there with no delays. However, here is one extra tip. Find a car service who will do a "meet and greet" at the escalator. The driver will be waiting right there. If you land at 1035, you can be at the escalator about 1045, see your driver and head to the vehicle. By 1100 you can be headed to Disney. It is about 35 to 40 minutes to the audition location. You and your daughter could go with the driver to his vehicle and your husband and son can go to DME. Also I would get in touch with the driver, ahead of time, and make sure he or they know where the facility is located. If the driver is lost or has to call for directions you will lose the 15 -20 minutes leeway you have.

Lewis, I understand about DME. I agree with you there has to be some extra special attention given to this situation.

 

[NotUrsula]

I didn't mean for the entire family to leave a day early, just your daughter. She could catch up to the rest of you after her audition.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I didn't mean for the entire family to leave a day early, just your daughter. She could catch up to the rest of you after her audition.

I agree that your daughter should go a day early if at all possible if this is important to her. Unfortunatley, the internet boards are full of those complaining about missing important job interviews due to delayed or cancelled flights.

Best of luck to your daughter -- Suzanne

 

[pooch]

Thanks for all the advice. DH & DS are not joining us on this trip so It's just DD & me. She's leaning toward just going to the character audition on the
27th. Feels she has a good chance of being hired there and then can audition for the theatre portion either in New York or when she's already working down there. She wants to be at her best and not sure this will be the right time. I'll keep you all posted and thanks again for your help and support!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

I don't mean to put more butterflies in your daughter's stomach, but there is just no way in the world I'd EVER fly to a town with a job interview scheduled for 95 minutes after that.

A late flight crew, a mechanical glitch, bad weather, cows on the runway ... lots of things can potentially delay a flight. If she is serious about getting this job, then she will take an earlier flight even if it means spending more money.

When I was in charge of hiring and firing for my company, I accepted NO EXCUSES for lateness to interviews. The jobs I was hiring for required perfect punctuality as well as good judgment and common sense. Showing up late to an interview shows neither. I don't say this in a mean and judgmental way, I say this in a supportive way, to explain my opinion of why she should help herself out and fly in at least the day before.

As a former amateur stage performer, I'll also share this opinion. If I'm going to a BIG audition, the last thing I want to do is wake up very very early that morning, sit for a long time in a cramped airliner breathing in stale overly-dry air, then rush to ground transportation, then sit for another 40 minutes, then rush into the rehearsal hall and have to get right down to business, all the while with my mind and my stomach cramped up with worries that I might be late to the audition. I won't be at the top of my game, as compared with waking up at a normal time after a good night's sleep, having a normal breakfast and my normal morning exercise, and taking a leisurely taxi or car service ride to the rehearsal hall with the intent of arriving at least 30-45 minutes EARLY, to help keep my nerves calm that even if there is a traffic snarl or a flat tire that I'll still make it in plenty of time to be in top form and nail the audition.

If she really wants the Disney job, she'll rethink her plans. To you I'll say "Good luck," and to her I'll say "Break a leg."

 

[Edd]

Let me put my two cents in here and because I am well familiar with dancing kids. My boy danced professionally in Nassau, Paradise Island for 4 years, auditioned for Disney three times and fulfilled his somewhat dreams of being a dancer.

Disney does not audition to your convenience. You have to jump at the chance to get an audition. Many kids that your daughter may meet have gone through the same tribulations your daughter will trying to get to the auditions. Next to "Do you think you can dance" and "American Idol" Disney is the best at helping kids with their dreams. This girl didn't dance from 6 - 18 years old and than 4 years in college to be stopped by a little tiredness or possibly not making the audition on time. Auditions don't come frequently and specifically with Disney. Dancers are used to the criteria she will go through making the audition and more than likely she will make it to the audition well motivated. Who knows she may even make all the cuts.

I think if your daughter wants the audition you should try every means possible to get her to it. She will understand if she doesn't make it, but if you don't try you will always hear, "but I could have made it if we tried."

Go for it, it is her dreams even though she has grown up.

 

[pooch]

DD is used to getting up at 4AM, driving from Providence RI to New Haven (2hrs), CT, catching a train for Grand Central (1hr 40min), walking to a small, cramped, obscure studio (20min) standing around for another 2 hrs to get a 5 min audition and then getting back to Prov in time for a 4 hr evening rehearsal. She rarely stresses over them. So I don't think the trip that morning will be too stressful on her. We are going for a vacation, the audition was just going to be convenient. If she really wants to go for it, we'll take your advice and a taxi. If not, Disney has auditions all the time whether in Forida or New York and she can go another time.

And I, too, do the hiring for my company and I understand that life sometimes intervenes in the best-laid plans. I try to give applicants the benefit of the doubt as long as they have called to explain their tardiness with what I feel is a reasonable excuse. I can usually tell who is just too lazy to get there on time and who really tried.

Thank you all so much for your care and concern. I truly LOVE the DIS!!