Bonnie40
<font color=red>Sweet tomatoes, yum<br><font color
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2002
- Messages
- 1,224
Ive put off starting to write my trip report from last week because Im a tad intimidated by the AMAZING trip reports flying around here lately! 
Cast of Characters:
Bonnie (me) 42
Ria (my mom) 65 (hadn't been to WDW since 1980 and had never taken a trip with just me!)
Jarrett (my DS) 14 (easy-going, excited to see his sister!)
Shayna (my DD) 20 (CM extrodinaire! Working at Disney for all the right reasons!)
PRE-TRIP REPORT (BACKGROUND)
Not to turn this into an unfolding drama, but to give you some background on why I was taking this trip, my super-wonderful, Disney-obsessed daughter Shayna (whos 20) decided in January 2006 to apply for the ICP program at WDW. She was completing her first year of university and had broken things off with her steady boyfriend of 4 plus years and was commenting on how it would be a dream fulfilled if she landed a summer job working for Mickey!
Well, what would any Disney-obsessed mother do, but jump right on it and get her application into the hiring agency here in Canada!
She had to await word by telephone whether she would get an interview in Toronto in March. This was all before I found a wonderful website that supplies tons of information on the program and what to expect, so when the call came and I gave Shayna the message (she was away at school in Waterloo 30 minutes from home) she called and spoke to the woman without realizing that it was a telephone interview! Probably better, because she wasnt nervous just answered her questions and was then told she would have the interview in Toronto. I believe what clinched the interview was her answer to the question Why do you want to work at WDW? Shaynas answer was that she wanted to have the opportunity to spread the magic to guests the way it had been given to her over the years! Great answer!
Fast forward a few weeks where we traveled to Toronto on the Sunday before the Monday morning interview. You know when everything seems to fall into place and you just have a good feeling about things? Well, thats how the time in Toronto was. We had never gone and done something like this together without the guys and we had a fun dinner and bought chocolate and watched the Oscars. It was a fun time together and I remember thinking that even if she doesnt get the job, it was a great memory!
Her interview in the morning was interesting A large group presentation, and then they organized interviews with 2 people at a time! Thankfully I had read something about that, so Shayna was prepared for it and it didnt throw her. She was really confident about how it went, and was told she would her within the next 3 weeks.
She went back to school, and the days dragged by. It didnt help that on this ICP website, a couple of people were posting that they had gotten the call and were offered jobs. Shaynas confidence started to crumble, and it was getting tense. She had sent out a bunch of resumes as a backup plan, and had gotten a call about working at a local golf course for the summer. I had to run and pick her up on a Wednesday for a 2 p.m. interview. She had the interview, but commented that her heart really wasnt into it. Made the comment that if she didnt get the job, she would probably resent Disney a bit she knew she was a great candidate and was wanting to go for all the right reasons (Its amazing how many kids go for all the wrong reasons!)
I just had a funny feeling about the day, and suggested that because she was already in town, that she come home and have some dinner before we took her back to Waterloo.
We got home after running a few errands, where the whole time Im thinking we need to get home. We walk in the door and my son looks like the cat who ate the canary! He makes some casual comment about a message for Shayna and at first I didnt believe him thought if he was joking, I was going to kill him!
It was the call and the most crazy bedlam broke out let me tell ya! I have never experienced such an instant, thrilling high before in my life! I actually gave myself a headache. The joy for her was more than I have ever experienced!
She made the call and was able to get all the details. She was told that her interview went so well, that she was offered a special Customer Service position that the hiring agency didnt know much about because they dont hire Canadians for it very often. Told her it was the job of a lifetime there and that they would have to make some calls to get the details and that it would all arrive with her papers and such. Can you just imagine how excited we were?
We jumped through all the hoops, and awaited the package. When it finally arrived, it was also her last day of university, so when we finished moving her stuff home, she sat down to check it out.
Youll never guess what happened .when she looked at the paper with the details of her job, it was welcoming her to CUSTODIAL not CUSTOMER SERVICE! OMG!
You can only imagine what kind of drama unfolded! My husband said it was just a typo, but I knew right away what had happened. In the process of doing her paperwork, someone (whether the agency or WDW) accidentally keyed Custodial instead of Customer Service alphabetically they would follow each other. It was late on a Friday and we couldnt do anything until the Monday. A weekend of hell, let me tell you. You dont tell someone that theyve been chosen for an extra-special position and then tell them theyre going to scrub toilets! Not good! She always said shed be happy picking up Cinderellas garbage, but when you hear youre getting an over-the-top job and then garbage duty, it sucks!
When we finally touched base with the agency, they looked into it and admitted that someone had made a keying error, but hoped that Shayna would enjoy her Custodial position. Huh?
Not a good way to get this Disney adventure started thats for sure
We actually pushed the envelope and asked if she could be switched to at least a job that was in her top 3 choices. They were able to switch her to Operations/Attractions which was her 1st choice, but we never quite understood why they couldnt just switch her back to what they offered her. I know shes still a little bitter about it
Got her on a flight on SW out of Buffalo with a guy who also was accepted. I didnt know whether to fly down with her or not, especially since she had never flown before! I decided to wait and travel down to see her after she had settled in (hence the trip report!)
Gotta run guys if youve read this far, Im impressed! I will continue to post and keep the drama going
Cast of Characters:
Bonnie (me) 42
Ria (my mom) 65 (hadn't been to WDW since 1980 and had never taken a trip with just me!)
Jarrett (my DS) 14 (easy-going, excited to see his sister!)
Shayna (my DD) 20 (CM extrodinaire! Working at Disney for all the right reasons!)
PRE-TRIP REPORT (BACKGROUND)
Not to turn this into an unfolding drama, but to give you some background on why I was taking this trip, my super-wonderful, Disney-obsessed daughter Shayna (whos 20) decided in January 2006 to apply for the ICP program at WDW. She was completing her first year of university and had broken things off with her steady boyfriend of 4 plus years and was commenting on how it would be a dream fulfilled if she landed a summer job working for Mickey!
Well, what would any Disney-obsessed mother do, but jump right on it and get her application into the hiring agency here in Canada!
She had to await word by telephone whether she would get an interview in Toronto in March. This was all before I found a wonderful website that supplies tons of information on the program and what to expect, so when the call came and I gave Shayna the message (she was away at school in Waterloo 30 minutes from home) she called and spoke to the woman without realizing that it was a telephone interview! Probably better, because she wasnt nervous just answered her questions and was then told she would have the interview in Toronto. I believe what clinched the interview was her answer to the question Why do you want to work at WDW? Shaynas answer was that she wanted to have the opportunity to spread the magic to guests the way it had been given to her over the years! Great answer!
Fast forward a few weeks where we traveled to Toronto on the Sunday before the Monday morning interview. You know when everything seems to fall into place and you just have a good feeling about things? Well, thats how the time in Toronto was. We had never gone and done something like this together without the guys and we had a fun dinner and bought chocolate and watched the Oscars. It was a fun time together and I remember thinking that even if she doesnt get the job, it was a great memory!
Her interview in the morning was interesting A large group presentation, and then they organized interviews with 2 people at a time! Thankfully I had read something about that, so Shayna was prepared for it and it didnt throw her. She was really confident about how it went, and was told she would her within the next 3 weeks.
She went back to school, and the days dragged by. It didnt help that on this ICP website, a couple of people were posting that they had gotten the call and were offered jobs. Shaynas confidence started to crumble, and it was getting tense. She had sent out a bunch of resumes as a backup plan, and had gotten a call about working at a local golf course for the summer. I had to run and pick her up on a Wednesday for a 2 p.m. interview. She had the interview, but commented that her heart really wasnt into it. Made the comment that if she didnt get the job, she would probably resent Disney a bit she knew she was a great candidate and was wanting to go for all the right reasons (Its amazing how many kids go for all the wrong reasons!)
I just had a funny feeling about the day, and suggested that because she was already in town, that she come home and have some dinner before we took her back to Waterloo.
We got home after running a few errands, where the whole time Im thinking we need to get home. We walk in the door and my son looks like the cat who ate the canary! He makes some casual comment about a message for Shayna and at first I didnt believe him thought if he was joking, I was going to kill him!
It was the call and the most crazy bedlam broke out let me tell ya! I have never experienced such an instant, thrilling high before in my life! I actually gave myself a headache. The joy for her was more than I have ever experienced!
She made the call and was able to get all the details. She was told that her interview went so well, that she was offered a special Customer Service position that the hiring agency didnt know much about because they dont hire Canadians for it very often. Told her it was the job of a lifetime there and that they would have to make some calls to get the details and that it would all arrive with her papers and such. Can you just imagine how excited we were?
We jumped through all the hoops, and awaited the package. When it finally arrived, it was also her last day of university, so when we finished moving her stuff home, she sat down to check it out.
Youll never guess what happened .when she looked at the paper with the details of her job, it was welcoming her to CUSTODIAL not CUSTOMER SERVICE! OMG!
You can only imagine what kind of drama unfolded! My husband said it was just a typo, but I knew right away what had happened. In the process of doing her paperwork, someone (whether the agency or WDW) accidentally keyed Custodial instead of Customer Service alphabetically they would follow each other. It was late on a Friday and we couldnt do anything until the Monday. A weekend of hell, let me tell you. You dont tell someone that theyve been chosen for an extra-special position and then tell them theyre going to scrub toilets! Not good! She always said shed be happy picking up Cinderellas garbage, but when you hear youre getting an over-the-top job and then garbage duty, it sucks!
When we finally touched base with the agency, they looked into it and admitted that someone had made a keying error, but hoped that Shayna would enjoy her Custodial position. Huh?
Not a good way to get this Disney adventure started thats for sure
We actually pushed the envelope and asked if she could be switched to at least a job that was in her top 3 choices. They were able to switch her to Operations/Attractions which was her 1st choice, but we never quite understood why they couldnt just switch her back to what they offered her. I know shes still a little bitter about it
Got her on a flight on SW out of Buffalo with a guy who also was accepted. I didnt know whether to fly down with her or not, especially since she had never flown before! I decided to wait and travel down to see her after she had settled in (hence the trip report!)
Gotta run guys if youve read this far, Im impressed! I will continue to post and keep the drama going
more!
My daughter is there doing the summer College Program and absolutely loves it. 
She's working custodial at Cirque and picking up some other jobs around the resort. Her roommates have been great, and they have made friends with others. She made dinner last night for about 8 of them, and they hang out together when they're not working. 
Basically if she wasn't working, she was playing in the parks with her co-workers most all the time. She rarely hung out with her roommates, but formed very close friendships with others working on the boats. In fact this summer she's living and working in the Keys with 4 of her Disney friends. They also stayed on as "seasonal" cast members and go to WDW every few months to work for a couple of days. 
