College Program Questions Thread, Pt 3

[MissRiss89]

I've got a question about character attendants!

What kind of experience is Disney looking for- for character attendants?
I've heard very few CPs get it their first CP, but it's worth a try- right?

Someone told me they might look for people with summer camp or other kinds of work experience with kids- can anyone confirm or deny this?

Also- I've never had a legit job but I've done plenty of babysitting and I've volunteered at a summer camp. Think that might be helpful at all?

I was a character attendant on my CP (and I still am one, living down here and going to UCF.) I had heard from past CP'ers that I would have no chance at becoming a CP, that nearly all of the spots go to those who auditioned for entertainment. However, my interview was ONLY about attendant and I ended up getting it, so definitely go for it! I honestly don't know what type of experience they are looking for, but like you, I had a lot of babysitting and camp experience. Make sure you talk about your past experiences of working with kids

 

[barbiecruiser]

I have a few questions!!!

What is the statistic of students accepted. Is it 20% ,50%, 70% etc???

What kind of questions are asked on the online portion. I am so nervous I will get cut during this portion and not even get the opportunity to interview!

Thanks

 

[grlwonder]

I am planning on doing for sping 2012, and I've been hearing that the arrivial dates are sometimes in Feb. What do you do as you wait academic wise? For example, I found out that for my collge, spring semester starts early Jan., if I got accepted for the DCP and picked a date like in Feb or late Jan, what do you do to as in classes as you wait?

If that makes sense...

 

[Frizzbird]

Originally Posted by beckysmith
I've got a question about character attendants!

What kind of experience is Disney looking for- for character attendants?
I've heard very few CPs get it their first CP, but it's worth a try- right?

Someone told me they might look for people with summer camp or other kinds of work experience with kids- can anyone confirm or deny this?

Also- I've never had a legit job but I've done plenty of babysitting and I've volunteered at a summer camp. Think that might be helpful at all?

I was a character attendant on my CP (and I still am one, living down here and going to UCF.) I had heard from past CP'ers that I would have no chance at becoming a CP, that nearly all of the spots go to those who auditioned for entertainment. However, my interview was ONLY about attendant and I ended up getting it, so definitely go for it! I honestly don't know what type of experience they are looking for, but like you, I had a lot of babysitting and camp experience. Make sure you talk about your past experiences of working with kids

I was a character attendant on my first program. Although I did audition (and not pass) I don't think I got that role simply because of that. I have in fact never heard that all of the attendant roles go to people that have auditioned. I know many people who were CP attendants with me that didn't audition so I don't think you need to worry about that. I'm not sure what exactly they look for but I think outgoing personalities are a boon in that role. Also previous experience with positions that require dealing with unhappy people/difficult situations would be very helpful. I was a Resident Assistant at my university and I remember spending a good bit of time talking about that. I really think that experience helped my get that role and honestly really helped with dealing with unhappy guests. Experience with kids is good but the role deals as much with adults as it does with children. My suggestion is to talk about your experience with kids and really push your excitement, enthusiasm, and personality. Its an amazing role so good luck!

 

[Joanna71985]

I am planning on doing for sping 2012, and I've been hearing that the arrivial dates are sometimes in Feb. What do you do as you wait academic wise? For example, I found out that for my collge, spring semester starts early Jan., if I got accepted for the DCP and picked a date like in Feb or late Jan, what do you do to as in classes as you wait?

If that makes sense...

Most of the arrival dates are in Jan. Spring starts earlyish Jan (around Jan 10 or so). And Spring Advantage starts around mid/late Jan (around Jan 20).

 

[Practically.Perfect]

I am planning on doing for sping 2012, and I've been hearing that the arrivial dates are sometimes in Feb. What do you do as you wait academic wise? For example, I found out that for my collge, spring semester starts early Jan., if I got accepted for the DCP and picked a date like in Feb or late Jan, what do you do to as in classes as you wait?

If that makes sense...

you would need to arrange with your school to take off that semester, so since you wouldn't be taking classes you wouldn't have to do anything until you arrive. If you don't start till early Feb and you are taking on-line courses, that might be a good time to start them, but otherwise if you're taking off the semester, you wouldn't need to go to classes for those few weeks.

 

[grlwonder]

Most of the arrival dates are in Jan. Spring starts earlyish Jan (around Jan 10 or so). And Spring Advantage starts around mid/late Jan (around Jan 20).

you would need to arrange with your school to take off that semester, so since you wouldn't be taking classes you wouldn't have to do anything until you arrive. If you don't start till early Feb and you are taking on-line courses, that might be a good time to start them, but otherwise if you're taking off the semester, you wouldn't need to go to classes for those few weeks.

Thank you very much! I was't sure about how to deal with it, but I'll make sure to talked to my advisor about that. I don't really mind doing the Spring or the Advantage; I would like to stay as much as I can at Disney World.



Is taking online classes during the porgram a good idea? Or is it better to take their classes? I've never done an online class, so I don't know what the atmosphere is like doing that. Would I have to tell Disney to give me a schedule (like someone doing their classes) so that I can have time to do the online clasess?

 

[disdude89]

Im looking for some advice from former cp's or people that have done PIs:

So, i recently graduated with a bachelors in communication studies and i'm doing the merchandise cp for fall 11. After that i plan on applying for a Professional internship in either communications, marketing, merchandise, or human resources.

I was wondering if it was still possible for me to take classes that are certified for credit such as corporate communications or human resource management. I want to use them as a resume building experience to help me get the PI.

Am i allowed to take these classes even though i'm no longer enrolled in a college or university?

Does disney take into account that i'll be enrolled in these classes(even though i won't be able to complete the course until after i've applied) when looking over my application for the PI?

 

[beautybutafunnygirl]

Im looking for some advice from former cp's or people that have done PIs:

So, i recently graduated with a bachelors in communication studies and i'm doing the merchandise cp for fall 11. After that i plan on applying for a Professional internship in either communications, marketing, merchandise, or human resources.

I was wondering if it was still possible for me to take classes that are certified for credit such as corporate communications or human resource management. I want to use them as a resume building experience to help me get the PI.

Am i allowed to take these classes even though i'm no longer enrolled in a college or university?

Does disney take into account that i'll be enrolled in these classes(even though i won't be able to complete the course until after i've applied) when looking over my application for the PI?

You can still take the collegiate Disney classes- there's no requirement that you be receiving credit for them from somewhere. I don't know if being enrolled in them will help your application, but at the very least they could be valuable networking experiences and help with your PI goals that way.

 

[Pancakes]

Has the DCP ever interfered with anyone's student loans? I know some loans (I know mine do...) require you to take a minimum of 12 credits for approval. Has anyone been in this situation before? What should I do? I mean, I am doing the DCP no matter what happens with these stupid loans...I just would like to know what you did haha. Thanks!

 

[progroupie]

I had to have 12 credit hours to keep my insurance. I took online classes. Huge mistake, it was so hard to keep up with them and work and have a life. I ended up dropping most of them.

 

[cindyr222]

What is considered the best location to work QSFB? As in best manager and best hours? Are most positions inside or outside carts? What is better to work as in least stressful inside or outside? Thanks.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

Hi all, first time popping into the College Board! Interested in the possibility of Fall Advantage 2012! Just some questions...

I'm interested in being a Character...yes I know everyone wants that job and the auditions are crazy hard. But I have experience working as a costumed character(small time stuff, but I've done it!) and I'm wondering if the judges would look at my resume at all and if it would help my chances(yes I know I would still have to get the dance right and give a good audition). Also, would auditioning help my chances of at least being a character attendant if I don't get the part? I would love to do something relating to the characters.

Of course I won't limit myself to that and I'm willing to take anything but if anyone working in the character field has any tips to give at all let me know!

EDIT: OH I'm also wondering around what time of year they typically start accepting applications/releasing presentation schedules for fall/fall advantage programs? Thanks!

 

[Berlioz70]

Good luck on your audition. Unfortunately, they will not look at your resume, so it has no input on whether or not you pass the audition. The good news is that experience should help you have a stronger audition though!!

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

EDIT: OH I'm also wondering around what time of year they typically start accepting applications/releasing presentation schedules for fall/fall advantage programs? Thanks!

This past year's Fall/FA applications went up around January 19th. It's usually around that time of January.

 

[disdude89]

Has anyone thats already done the program know if they send you very many e-mails after the first few acceptance and confirmation e-mails? Like do you get anything when your arrival date gets closer? Idk i just thought it was weird that they don't send you very many updates or whatever...

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

Has anyone thats already done the program know if they send you very many e-mails after the first few acceptance and confirmation e-mails? Like do you get anything when your arrival date gets closer? Idk i just thought it was weird that they don't send you very many updates or whatever...

I got a couple emails that were informative things- like about the Disney Look and such. Nothing that can't be found on the CP website. And then the other day I got a "We'll See You Real Soon" email- but it went to a different email than the one I have as my "official" one. I think the emails are kind of crazy sometimes. Sometimes people get them, sometimes they don't.

 

[LaurenInNeverland]

Hi all, first time popping into the College Board! Interested in the possibility of Fall Advantage 2012! Just some questions...

I'm interested in being a Character...yes I know everyone wants that job and the auditions are crazy hard. But I have experience working as a costumed character(small time stuff, but I've done it!) and I'm wondering if the judges would look at my resume at all and if it would help my chances(yes I know I would still have to get the dance right and give a good audition). Also, would auditioning help my chances of at least being a character attendant if I don't get the part? I would love to do something relating to the characters.

Of course I won't limit myself to that and I'm willing to take anything but if anyone working in the character field has any tips to give at all let me know!

EDIT: OH I'm also wondering around what time of year they typically start accepting applications/releasing presentation schedules for fall/fall advantage programs? Thanks!

I'm not sure how much they look at your resume, but at my audition back in March the casting director encouraged us to staple our headshots and resumes (if we happened to have them) to the paperwork we filled out at the audition site. I'd say bring it; you have nothing to lose.

I'm pretty sure that acceptance as a Character Attendant and performer auditions are two separate entities. I had already been accepted as a Character Attendant before my audition, so I can't really say for sure.

For Fall/Fall Advantage 2011, applications and presentation schedules opened up around mid January. I applied the last day of January, heard back in February, auditions were mid-to-late March, and we all heard back in April. Hope that helps!

 

[disdude89]

I got a couple emails that were informative things- like about the Disney Look and such. Nothing that can't be found on the CP website. And then the other day I got a "We'll See You Real Soon" email- but it went to a different email than the one I have as my "official" one. I think the emails are kind of crazy sometimes. Sometimes people get them, sometimes they don't.

ha i just read an old e-mail that explained everything to me... i should've looked it up and not have been so lazy. Thanks anyway!

 

[Joanna71985]

What is considered the best location to work QSFB? As in best manager and best hours? Are most positions inside or outside carts? What is better to work as in least stressful inside or outside? Thanks.

I worked at Casey's Corner when I was in QSFB. I enjoyed it there. The hours could be late at times. But I loved getting to see the parade and fireworks every night. Plus, it was great getting to be inside during the summer (and the costume was fun too).

As far as QSFB goes, I want to say there probably are more ODF (outdoor foods) positions.