My 7 Month Vacation as a WDW Intern: MINI UPDATE 12/10

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Hi Dis!!!

Many of you will recognize me from my college program trip report that I just finished. If you don't, Hi! I'm Megan and welcome to my 2nd (hopefully not last!) Disney journey!

Well, I told you that I would be starting another one and HOPEFULLY this time, I can keep up more and update more often!

If you don't know anything about me, here is a little history...

I'm 23 and a college graduate (May 11, 2007) from a school called Saint Vincent College which is south of Pittsburgh in PA.
After graduation, the day after to be exact, my family: mom age almost 50 , dad will be 50 on halloween and my brother who turned 21in march ...side note: it will be a big year for them..not so much for me
...well we headed to WDW for our millionth time and I lost track so I'll just call it millionth!

Disney has always been near and dear to our hearts. My parents both went a few select times as children but coming from families of 4, the money was just not there to take yearly trips. For my parents honeymoon, they had it at WDW and I guess you can say I was a Disney freak from the day I was born.

The first time I went to a disney park was DL and I was 2. The first time I went to WDW I was 3. I don't remember it at all but I love looking at the pictures!! Ever since I was three until about 6th grade, we went to WDW almost every year and after that we began going every other year. Since 2000, I've been to WDW 6 times which to some people is a lot, and for others, not so much!

Here is a picture of me my first time at DL..before the Princesses became soooo popular!

Here is a picture of my family from our May 2007 trip:

Every year that we go to WDW my dad "claims" we will not be going back, but we know not to take him seriously. In fact, since last year in May, my parents have been to FL twice since Jan lol.

Next Up:
---Whim #1 has changed my life...

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Well now that you know a little bit about me, I will take you from last May to about September. The summer after graduation, my best friend/roommate moved to Columbia, SC and had applied with Disney for the College Program (you can go up to a semester after graduation). It had been something her and I would have LOVED to do together but with my college tuition and student teaching, I couldn't go in the fall, so off she went to WDW leaving me behind in cold PA

A month into her program she decided to quit but in the meantime I had asked my parents if I could do the program using #1 excuse: I will never find a full-time teaching job in PA in the spring so this would look better than Walmart on my resume. Needless to say they agreed to let me apply.

I applied on a whim and I go accepted. Not only did I get accepted but I got my #1 job: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. At the time I was accepted, I did not know what BBB I would be at but I found out on night 1 that I was at MK!!!

I moved into my Chatham apt on Jan 7 and moved out on May 16 of this year.

Here are some pics from my CP:

Needless to say, I had a WONDERFUL CP. I did things on the CP that I thought I would never do. #1 of my list was to see the castle suite and of course it is #1 because as a recent college graduate, no amount of my small bank account could get me up in that suite and I was lucky enough to see what only few people are allowed to see!!!

A few other things that I did that I've never done before: Went to the P&PP, not once, but twice, I go to go to the Spirit of Aloha, Hoop Dee Doo, and ate at a ton of Epcot countries!


During my CP, at the end of Feb to be more exact, I kept thinking to myself: I'm not ready to leave. I LOVED everything about FL and WDW and I just knew my time with Disney was not over yet but how do you explain to parents that dished out tuition $$ that you don't want to teach for the moment, you want to stay at Disney. I had to come up with a solution and I had found one.

A roommate of mine (the roommate I was closest with) had been offered a Professional Internship (PI from now on) but had turned it down bc she did not want to jeopardize our apt and they told her she could reapply after her CP.

At the time, I figured as a college graduate of what would have been a year, that I was not able to apply for a PI. PIs were those who were still in college, nearly graduates but wanted that last bit of field training before graduation. I figured it was worth a shot to email some contacts to find out what I could do, if anything.

I got an amazing response from email, board msgs, and just simply looking it up and I found I was able to apply for animal programs at either Epcot or AK. The end of Feb, I went online..once again on a whim and applied for a PI. I applied for 3 and at the time, I did not know that all 3 were in one category so I applied for animal programs and 2 other disney learning center ones as an off chance that they would take a graduate.


Up Next: Whim #2....

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

After having applied for a CP, getting it, I figured my chances of getting a PI were good, not great, but good. I figured over anyone that has never done a CP, I shold have a strong advantage over them.

A week before my 23rd birthday (march 19), I recieved an email from Animal Programs at AK and they wanted to know if I was interested in a PI interview. I called the contact back to schedule an interview. The hardest part: deciding between a phone interview or an in-person one with a panel of people. I decided that since I was already in FL, I might as well do the in-person one. I figured it could be to my advantage!!!

So just days before my birthday, I went to AK (backstage) and had my interview. The waiting area inside the building was sooo cute and FILLED with all these aquariums of fishies. When I was taken into the room I was seated at this very large (20 person table) and on the otherside: 4 women that looked soooo terrifying to me!

After my 1/2 hour interview, I walked out feeling not confident at all. I was asked a TON of animal based questions which at the end they told me what I don't know from the classes I can call and ask..wow..

After the interview, I felt that I had blown my chances with AK so I went back and sent him my request for the learning centers..as a back up.

Weeks came and went. I shouldn't say weeks as in months, 3 weeks to be exact. I recieved a phone call the one day while I was at work and the msg said that PI had questions for me and to call back, so I did the next day.

After all these personal information questions. I asked the lady if I was being considered for the learning center PI and she paused and said..well..I guess now would be the time to tell you that WDW PI is offering you a position as Education Presenter at AK

So I guess I had not blown my interview that bad, they wanted me. Out of 5 roles to pick from, this was 3/5. The 2 before that were dealing with Orlando area schools and daycamps & tours. Those were 50% teaching 50% planning. Mine will be 100% teaching.

What is Education Presenter? If you have ever seen or taken your kids to the discovery kids clubs at AK thats what I'll be doing. It's 6 stations set throughout the park and the interns education the guests (mostly kids) on animals, insects, and dinosaurs (from what I've read about it at least).

Up Next: Trading my Pixie Dust for Insects...

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

After I was offered my PI, my recruiter told me I had 24 hours to accept. Now I know most people would just say yes right off the bat but this was a life changing event for me. I of course could not formally accept without telling my parents...the worst part: telling my mom that I won't be home for Christmas. The program will run June 20-Jan 2.

After calling both my parents, I formally accepted the following day.

I knew it would be hard not being home for the holidays..I mean, I KNOW it will be hard but how could I pass up such a wonderful opportunity?
My dad claims that they will be there Dec 28..I said thats good enough for me!

Now the only thing I had to do: find a place to live. During my CP there was 6 girls total in my apt. I kind of call them fate bc before my CP I had friended 2 other girls that I wished to live with and on moving day we were told no and ended up with 4 girls we didn't know. It ended up working out great and I have no regrets and I was very lucky. Anyways, out of 6, 4 were staying: Myself and another to do a PI, one to stay to go to a FL school after a year of establishing FL resident, and another to go full time at Disney and finding a teaching job in the meantime.


All 4 of us agreed to live together until we clashed. Myself and the "teacher" aka Katie can only afford $500 a month for rent, the other 2 were willing to pay $800-900...crazy I know!

Anyways when all is said and done, those 2 (one of them being the closest girl for me) split and went off to live with other people, leaving me with katie and a rent of $1000 a month which anywhere else but central FL would be good, but not for us , not furnished and not all inclusive.

After researching facebook and disboards, I came across 2 other girls that needed roomies and were willing the same rent and we all agreed to live in Coral Cay (off 192 by the walmart & Give Kids the World).

A month ago we signed the lease. Since Feb, I FINALLY felt settled and drama free!!!

Here are some pics of what our house will be:

*If you have facebook, all of the pictures are on there. These are older ones from photobucket.


So my CP has ended. I flew back to PA on May 17 and I've been home for a week (tomorrow). It's very odd to be at home bc I have been gone for so long, it almost doesn't feel like its "real" that I am home. I have been keeping busy during the days and I'm kicking myself for not hauling home my scrapbook supplies but I did get all my pics developed and into an album till I can work on my scrapbook.

I'll be flying back on June 17 (2 days before my moms 50th bday) and I'll be moving in the following day and checking-in with disney on the 20th.

I'm very sad to be leaving behind my Fairy Godmothers in Training and of course my pixie dust. It looks like I'll be trading all that for a pair of khaki clothes and some bugs haha..so elaborate huh!


I'm sure I will post updates throughout my time home. Thanks for reading so far!! I really hope you enjoy this TR, especially if you followed along during my CP.

--Megan

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Hey Megan! I'm on board with you! I can't wait to hear the next chapter in your Disney adventures. I loved reading all about your CP experience and look forward to your PI!

Wow! That is a great looking place you'll have to move into! Much better than my first apartment! Wooohoooo!

 

[Hedy]

I'm looking forward to hearing more! Maybe I'll see you at AK!

 

[MeMom]

We'll be there the 28th of June through the 7th of July, and we'd love to see you at AK. Let us know when you're working (when you know) and we'll come by for a quick Dis hello.

 

[sandybobandy]

How exciting. I can't wait to follow along.

I'm going to PM you for your facebook info!

 

[IATink]

I can't wait to read all about it! I think your apartment looks great!

 

[juliana_sd]

Congrats!! I really enjoyed your CP TR and can't wait to read about your new adventures!

 

[mistydoodles]

Hi Megan.

I am so excited to be following along your PI adventure. I am so happy for you and I am sure you will do a fantastic job. I can't wait to hear about it all.



We will be in Disney World for Thanksgiving. Maybe we will see you!!!!

 

[iluv2go2disney]

I'm here. I loved your CP report and I know I'll love this one also. Your apartment looks really nice. Is that a hot tub I saw on the porch? Will you be somewhere where we could come and say Hi when we're down there?

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

wow! I'm so lucky with all the quick responses I got!!!

I just got done watching the movie Game Plan if anyone has every watched it! It was sooooo cute. It had me crying at the end!


For those that asked, I will OF COURSE let you know where the stations are located in the park. Yes you will be able to come up to me and have your children or husbands educated! I'm assuming it will be easier to come up to me at AK than it was at BBB bc as many of you know, esp the ones that came to say hi, it is VERY busy inside BBB so hopefully I'll be able to chat some more at AK.

Thanks again for reading and have a WONDERFUL holiday weekend! I'm off to an amusement park that I worked at the past 2 summers tmw and Sunday I'm heading to Ohio to see my grandparents bc it will be late fall until I see them again

Take care, have a safe holiday & travels![/B]

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Hey Megan! I'm on board with you! I can't wait to hear the next chapter in your Disney adventures. I loved reading all about your CP experience and look forward to your PI!

Wow! That is a great looking place you'll have to move into! Much better than my first apartment! Wooohoooo!

haha my parents said the same thing when they went to look with me back in April! lol. I'm very lucky, of course I would not be able to afford anything in FL if I didn't have roommates to split rent with!

 

[CPer'sMom]

Megan ~

Have a great weekend and enjoy your time at home I'm looking forward to reading all your PI adventures!
A good friend of my DDs (they met during their CP) is finishing up his 2nd PI in two weeks and then starts his new full-time "real" job with Disney! He didn't start out thinking Disney career, but you never know what might happen!! I hope your PI turns out to be as wonderful as your CP was

 

[kors]

I am on board for another round!! So excited for you!! Loved the pics on Facebook...have a good weekend!

 

[kswm30b]

Yay! I can't wait to read all about your experiences! I'll be at Disney in Sept, hopefully I can stop and say hello!

 

[mebrm]

Hi Megan, I'm onboard for your newest adventure and I'll be looking for you in Aug when we visit

 

[disneyhockeymad]

Hey Megan, count me in! Can't wait for this next installment of your disney experience, your PI sounds awesome!
I'm in disney in July so I'll stop by and see you

 

[solgent]

Hi Megan

I just posted on your CP TR and I'm excited to join this one. I think the educator job you have sounds fantastic. I'm thinking that people will sort of self-select-- those who are interested will spend time with you and those who won't will stay away. And people won't come in with super-high expectations that they might at BBB or a restaurant. I bet you'll have lots of really positive encounters. I'm eager to read about your training and your experiences.

We will be in WDW in late August and hope we can learn something about bugs from you!

P.S. Your mom does not look anything near 50!! I know the photo was from a year ago but still!