Hi, I am applying for spring 2013 and was wondering if I wanted to be a creative costumer or imagineer and work my way up if costuming was the best option or if I could do something like attractions and still get a professional internship after college.
I'm a theater design major with an emphasis in costuming
If you want to go into Creative Costuming, then doing your DCP in Costuming is your best option as we work very VERY closely with Creative.
If your focus is imagineering, then I would recommend something else on stage. Not a lot of Imagineers are hired out of the CP, as those are very specialized roles in design. In truth you'd have a better chance working for a professional theater and building a portfolio of professional work.
So even if I requested Entertainment Costuming and got it, I would have to spend time in Operational? How long?
And then what would my task be-like, handing the characters their costumes backstage when they need to change or bringing their costumes back to be cleaned?
I want to be as close to the characters as possible, and costuming is starting to sound better and better!
You would go back and forth between the two, your time in Ops never technically ends. Most DCPs will spend their first two weeks on the Ops floor, then get trained on the character floor. Based on skill, some get selected to learn delivery tracks or shows/parades. Also, if you have your own mode of transportation, you could also be trained in Resorts.
The more skills you get, the more areas you can be scheduled. And if you get trained in an area that has a high need (meaning not many people are trained in that skill) then you would find yourself being repeatedly scheduled at that location.
CPs may get 3 days with Characters and 2 days with Ops in one week.
Or you may have 2 weeks of Entertainment, then randomly a week of Ops.
CPs main purpose is to fill in where FTers are not available; so FT Vacation will largely effect where you'll be scheduled.
As a heads up, there are a lot more training opportunities in the fall advantage program. Sign ups for Holiday events typically happen in June/July so people who start in August miss the sign up period for the specialty parades and shows.