Just Got Done With The College Program Any Questions?

[disneyworldluvr349]

Ask away!


Robin

 

[mr224]

I have tons! I just applied and I am so curious. To start off, what position did you have? How was your overall experience? Did you enjoy it? How was the housing situation.

Also, do you still have the same feeling towards Disney as you did before you started? Or is is more positive or negative?

 

[xoSamma]

what were some of the discounts you got for being a cast member?

 

[Michelle<3sDisney]

How hard was/is it to get in? What was the phone interview like? How long did it take for you to find out you were accepted?
Thanks so much, I'm so curious about this program and am hopefully applying for the fall '12 session! I hope you had a magical time <3

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

I have tons! I just applied and I am so curious. To start off, what position did you have? How was your overall experience? Did you enjoy it? How was the housing situation.

Also, do you still have the same feeling towards Disney as you did before you started? Or is is more positive or negative?

I worked as a merchandise cast member at the World of Disney in Downtown Disney. My overall experience was not what I expected to be completely honest. You have to go into the program expecting to work hard. It's no cake walk, and even though you are young, and possibly even taking college classes at the same time, you will be up until 2 and 3 in the morning waiting for the buses to come and pick you up from work to take you back to the apartments. You are on your feet for more than 8 hours a day.

My overall experience is a hard one to answer. During my time in the program I had some family issues, and I also met my current boyfriend and I actually ended up moving with him at the end of it.

There are three apartment complexes Chatham, Patterson, and Vista Way. Vista Way is beyond a doubt the worst apartment complex. It was very dirty and it's only redeeming quality was it's close proximity to the bus stop. Patterson and Chatham are both very clean, Patterson you have to walk to the bus stop (it's about a 8 minute walk and in the rain it's really terrible.)

I love Disney always have always will. They are always good about making sure the guests have the ultimate experience but they truly work all of the CPs to the bone.

what were some of the discounts you got for being a cast member?

It depends on the time of year.The standard is a 20% discount for merchandise and for sit-down restaurants. The discounts don't apply to counter service restaurants. You also get free access to the theme parks and to the water parks for a certain amount of time.

How hard was/is it to get in? What was the phone interview like? How long did it take for you to find out you were accepted?
Thanks so much, I'm so curious about this program and am hopefully applying for the fall '12 session! I hope you had a magical time <3

It wasn't hard for me to get in at all. The phone interview is very simple, they mostly ask you questions about what kind of a person you are, and how you would respond to certain situations. There is also a web interview before that. On each interview my best advice is to be honest and to be yourself. It helps on the phone just to smile it really does make a difference. I found out that I got accepted about 2 weeks after I applied.

Hope that helped! Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[SpaceMania]

What are some things you're not allowed to have in housing? Is it just alcohol(wellness) and candles?

Also, do they ever work you, say, until 2 am and then have your next shift start at 7-8am the same morning? or are they good about giving you time to sleep?

&Did you take classes? Or know what the homework load is like?

thanks!!

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

you can get 20% when not blacked out at the hotel counter service locatoins such as Capt Cooks, The Mara, Everything Pop etc but its blocked out due to free dining til Sept 26th

 

[DizFrek <3]

Thank you for doing this! I just started thinking seriously about doing this for spring 2013, but don't know a lot of the details.

1) What course where you in?
2) Is there anything you can do ahead of time to make yourself stand out?
3) Do you get days off?
4) What do you mean by "you also get free access to the theme parks and the water parks for a certain amount of time" Are their times they don't allow you to go?

Thanks!

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

What are some things you're not allowed to have in housing? Is it just alcohol(wellness) and candles?

Also, do they ever work you, say, until 2 am and then have your next shift start at 7-8am the same morning? or are they good about giving you time to sleep?

&Did you take classes? Or know what the homework load is like?

thanks!!

Things you aren't allowed to have in the apartments:

-No alcohol in the wellness apartments, period.
-No weapons of any sort. (This means lightsabers, plastic guns, and plastic swords too.)
-No candles.
-You can only put one new whole in the world for a poster or cork board.
-No illegal drugs.

Disney has to give you 9 hours in between shifts. Now this may sound fine, but when you get off of work at 12am and you start work at 9am, you aren't getting home until close to 1am, and you have to leave at 8am or earlier depending on the bus schedule.

I didn't take classes while I was there, but my boyfriend did. His homework load and his work schedule collided on numerous occasions and actually was really detrimental to his grades in the classes.

Thank you for doing this! I just started thinking seriously about doing this for spring 2013, but don't know a lot of the details.

1) What course where you in?
2) Is there anything you can do ahead of time to make yourself stand out?
3) Do you get days off?
4) What do you mean by "you also get free access to the theme parks and the water parks for a certain amount of time" Are their times they don't allow you to go?

Thanks!

I am not sure what you mean by what course I was in... I did the Disney Career Start which is the same exact thing as the college program only I didn't have to currently be enrolled in college. The program is now discontinued though.

I think the best you can do is be prepared on both of your interviews, and fill out your application as soon as possible.

Usually you get two days off per week, but they are never usually on the weekend. Also, your days off may change on a week to week basis. Mine were usually Monday and Tues, my boyfriend's Tuesday and Wednesday. But it changed frequently. Also when it gets to be busy you will be cut down to one day off.

There are "blackout dates" for the theme parks and water parks that usually occur around holidays when the parks are going to be extremely crowded. The 4th of July was all blacked out for cast members and this means that you can't use your maingate or cast id to gain entrance. You must purchase a general admission ticket.

For me, I wasn't able to get into the water parks for free after June. There was a discount on admission but it wasn't free access. I don't know if this will be the case or is the case for the programs now or for future programs.

Hope I helped! Feel free to ask more!

Robin

 

[jeenyus720]

We had 40% merchandise at Epcot for a couple months while i was there.

 

[mickeygaga]

First of all, thanks for offering your help. My question is exactly how long will the CP member have to wait to receive the room and ticket discounts. I would love to book our vacation at the same time. I heard it is after traditions, but how many days into the program is this? Also, does the student have to do all the room booking too? Thanks

 

[Joanna71985]

Disney has to give you 9 hours in between shifts. Now this may sound fine, but when you get off of work at 12am and you start work at 9am, you aren't getting home until close to 1am, and you have to leave at 8am or earlier depending on the bus schedule.


Usually you get two days off per week, but they are never usually on the weekend. Also, your days off may change on a week to week basis. Mine were usually Monday and Tues, my boyfriend's Tuesday and Wednesday. But it changed frequently. Also when it gets to be busy you will be cut down to one day off.

That doesn't always happen. On a couple of my programs, I was scheduled with less then 8 hours in between shifts (and once, it was 5 hours exactly).

Also, not necessarily. On my 4th CP, my days off were Fri/Sat. And I know other CPs who have gotten weekend days off.

 

[SpaceMania]

That doesn't always happen. On a couple of my programs, I was scheduled with less then 8 hours in between shifts (and once, it was 5 hours exactly).

Also, not necessarily. On my 4th CP, my days off were Fri/Sat. And I know other CPs who have gotten weekend days off.

and theyre allowed to do that!??!?!?! holy crap i would like pass out.

do you get to pick which days you have off or do they tell you?

 

[Joanna71985]

and theyre allowed to do that!??!?!?! holy crap i would like pass out.

do you get to pick which days you have off or do they tell you?

I don't if it's allowed, but possibly it was a scheduling error (especially for the 5-hour gap. Luckily the role was easy).

You are given your days off

 

[SpaceMania]

I don't if it's allowed, but possibly it was a scheduling error (especially for the 5-hour gap. Luckily the role was easy).

You are given your days off

What role did you have? Did you like it?

 

[Joanna71985]

What role did you have? Did you like it?

For that CP, I was in custodial (and I didn't mind it at all). I've also done merchandise, QSFB, character attendant, and attractions (at Toy Story Mania, Great Movie Ride, and MuppetVision 3D).

 

[SpaceMania]

For that CP, I was in custodial (and I didn't mind it at all). I've also done merchandise, QSFB, character attendant, and attractions (at Toy Story Mania, Great Movie Ride, and MuppetVision 3D).

Awesome! How many CPs did you do? Which one was your favorite?

 

[Joanna71985]

Awesome! How many CPs did you do? Which one was your favorite?

I did 6 CPs in total. My favorites would be a tie between character attendant and Great Movie Ride

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

That doesn't always happen. On a couple of my programs, I was scheduled with less then 8 hours in between shifts (and once, it was 5 hours exactly).

Also, not necessarily. On my 4th CP, my days off were Fri/Sat. And I know other CPs who have gotten weekend days off.

I know with my boyfriend they schedule him to work until 1am and had him coming in at 8am. It was ridiculous. However their general rule is 9 hours in between shifts.

I wasn't saying that it is set in stone that you will not a weekend day, but that is isn't that incredibly likely.