Former Cast Member: New to the Board!!!

[Princess Polamalu]

Hello everyone! I am a former Disney Cast Member.....I worked at the Coral Reef @ Epcot back in 1999 during the Milleniumn Celebration. I also worked at Disney's Board Walk Resort @ the Front Desk into 2000. Back then I was a young college student pursing a hospitality degree. Now I am the mother of a 7 year old son. I have a basic understanding of how Disney works but its been quite some time since I have visited. I am taking my DS on his first vacation in May 2010!!! Really excited! I am also a single parent and just the two of us will be traveling so any tips in this matter would be helpful! Thanks in advance and I look forward to meeting everyone.

 

[Disn3y]

Welcome to the DIS! Your son is going to have a great time!

 

[Disneydonnam]

Welcome to the Disboards.

 

[Metro West]

 

[magicaldisney]

 

[mickeymouse108]

Hi Welcome to the boards.

 

[StephyDee]

welcome! I'm a newbie myself! And you were a cast member? Sweeeeet! Now we can get some inside info...

.....or not.

 

[tinkerbell60]

Hello everyone! I am a former Disney Cast Member.....I worked at the Coral Reef @ Epcot back in 1999 during the Milleniumn Celebration. I also worked at Disney's Board Walk Resort @ the Front Desk into 2000. Back then I was a young college student pursing a hospitality degree. Now I am the mother of a 7 year old son. I have a basic understanding of how Disney works but its been quite some time since I have visited. I am taking my DS on his first vacation in May 2010!!! Really excited! I am also a single parent and just the two of us will be traveling so any tips in this matter would be helpful! Thanks in advance and I look forward to meeting everyone.

Welcome, I am sure you will find a LOT of help here. Just curious, where did you get your hospitality degree? My DD16 is interested in the same thing and also wants to be a cast member - we are from Pittsburgh too!

 

[patches07]

to the Disboards.

 

[DisAmyK]

 

[kbheap]

Welcome!

 

[Princess Polamalu]

Welcome, I am sure you will find a LOT of help here. Just curious, where did you get your hospitality degree? My DD16 is interested in the same thing and also wants to be a cast member - we are from Pittsburgh too!

I attended the University of Florida.....Gainsville. In the Pittsburgh area Robert Morris University offers a hospitality degree in Moon Township. Also CCAC offers an associates. Just off hand I am also aware of hospitality programs at Purdue University, Johnson and Wales (Rhode Island), Universtiy of Massachusetts (Amherst)...not sure about the main campus....Cornell University, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I believe Penn State University Park has a program as well. As far as being a cast member the best thing to do is apply to the College Program any summer after your sophmore year. I believe they opt for juniors and seniors but some sophmores are also chosen. Recruiters come around to the colleges in the spring and interview various students and then selections are made. They provide various positions that are paid as well as housing in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Disney also provides bus transportation for college program students, though it is helpful to have a car to get around the Orlando area. Rent is very reasonable and is taken directly from the paycheck....everything included. If you have any other more questions I would be more than happy to share my experiences. It was truly the greatest experience in my life next to giving birth to my son.

 

[tinkerbell60]

Thank you so much! I will pass that info along to my daughter. That is helpful to know that they generally take juniors and seniors.

Enjoy your trip planning - that is the best part!!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Welcome. Would you happen to be related to Prince Troy?

 

[Princess Polamalu]

Welcome. Would you happen to be related to Prince Troy?

If I was related to pricne troy I would probably be living in Cinderellas Castle!....LOL! No he is just my favorite player.

 

[lphillip459]

Hello everyone! I am a former Disney Cast Member.....I worked at the Coral Reef @ Epcot back in 1999 during the Milleniumn Celebration. I also worked at Disney's Board Walk Resort @ the Front Desk into 2000. Back then I was a young college student pursing a hospitality degree. Now I am the mother of a 7 year old son. I have a basic understanding of how Disney works but its been quite some time since I have visited. I am taking my DS on his first vacation in May 2010!!! Really excited! I am also a single parent and just the two of us will be traveling so any tips in this matter would be helpful! Thanks in advance and I look forward to meeting everyone.

I have a special memory of the Coral Reef in 1999. We were having lunch there when they announced that they were closing WDW for the very first time due to an incoming hurricane! I've never seen so many people SO concerned!!! (We all got through it fine, though)

Being a single parent myself - I can tell you that traveling to WDW with just me and my DD is a great experience. Seeing the park through you child's eyes is the best!! I hope you have lots of fun!

 

[noahdove]

Welcome and be sure to visit the other great areas on this board. Really check out the disign thread too, make shirts for you and your son...I made several for 2008 and a few for last August..You may become addicted to this board, but, it's ok, we will all understand Enjoy your planning and the trip itself..

 

[Princess Polamalu]

I have a special memory of the Coral Reef in 1999. We were having lunch there when they announced that they were closing WDW for the very first time due to an incoming hurricane! I've never seen so many people SO concerned!!! (We all got through it fine, though)

Being a single parent myself - I can tell you that traveling to WDW with just me and my DD is a great experience. Seeing the park through you child's eyes is the best!! I hope you have lots of fun!

OMG I remember that Hurricane. It was awful. I am a northern girl and had never experienced such a thing. I remeber them closing for the first time ever. I talk about that experience all of the time. But as you mentioned we all made it through ok.

 

[pittsburghmarc]

Hi Princess! Love the name!

 

[pittsburghmarc]

I attended the University of Florida.....Gainsville. In the Pittsburgh area Robert Morris University offers a hospitality degree in Moon Township. Also CCAC offers an associates. Just off hand I am also aware of hospitality programs at Purdue University, Johnson and Wales (Rhode Island), Universtiy of Massachusetts (Amherst)...not sure about the main campus....Cornell University, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I believe Penn State University Park has a program as well. As far as being a cast member the best thing to do is apply to the College Program any summer after your sophmore year. I believe they opt for juniors and seniors but some sophmores are also chosen. Recruiters come around to the colleges in the spring and interview various students and then selections are made. They provide various positions that are paid as well as housing in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Disney also provides bus transportation for college program students, though it is helpful to have a car to get around the Orlando area. Rent is very reasonable and is taken directly from the paycheck....everything included. If you have any other more questions I would be more than happy to share my experiences. It was truly the greatest experience in my life next to giving birth to my son.

Purdue hospitality grad here. I've hired some grads from RMU recently and they are doing very well.