Question: Does working in the CP ruin the Disney experience?

[crazytp93]

So my name is Tom and I am a freshman in HS. I am thinking of the CP in a few years but had one question. Does working in the CP spoil the disney experience after you leave it?

 

[fall08CP]

I was worried about this too and have heard different opinions.
I have two friends that have done it. The first one worked in MK doing stroller duty (?) and really didn't like it. She said she encountered some really nasty guests and the other CMs behind the scenes were rude. When she first saw a character without its head, she totally freaked, and that was it for her. She cannot go back and enjoy the characters anymore.
My second friend did hospitality and loved it. She told me that although you learn more about the behind the scenes stuff, it was totally awesome. It made her want to learn more and more about Disney. That's all she talks about now, and she wants to move there after graduation.
So yeah, it can go either way, and I'm sure some of the others on here will be willing to tell you their experiences too. Since Joanna and LaMagique (sorry if I butchered that) are going back, it can't have been too bad

 

[Joanna71985]

So my name is Tom and I am a freshman in HS. I am thinking of the CP in a few years but had one question. Does working in the CP spoil the disney experience after you leave it?

It hasn't for me. I will be doing my 4th program in May, and I still love everything about Disney.

 

[lamagique]

It changes the Disney experience.

For some people, maybe it does ruin it.

But for others, it enhances the experience.

It's hard work and maybe not magical 100% of the time, but it's awesome to give back to a place that has had such a hand in cultivating my imagination and providing happy memories to me and to other people. When things got tough, I just remembered that part. That it was for a greater good, for something I believed in. And I think it made me a stronger person.

 

[crimsontide27]

It certainly didnt hurt my Disney experience. I may have been the ones that now has an "enhanced view" of it.

I have seena charecter with his head off in the tunnels before and it didnt phase me at all, since I knew they werent real anyways.

The magic of Disney to me was the guests. There were days I absolutely hated my job, but then we would all head to the parks and my perception changed quick.

Stand there at Wishes, Fantasmic, Illuminations, the Stunt Show, or anything pretty much and watch little kids eyes light up with fascination and joy and you get a deeper sense of appreciation for what you are doing.

Everyone here plays a role in the guests experience, no matter how insignificant you may feel it is...but it all adds up.

When we had rough days at work, a trip to the park is all it would take to cheer me up. Watching all the little children having the time of their life made it "magical" to me.

So what If i know what Rock n Roller looks like with lights on, so what if Im "friends" with half the Disney charecters....they all provide a dream that becomes reality to millions of people.

That is what Disney Magic is to me.

 

[IrishGoofy1986]

Ture we will have someday that are bad, but will not riun it.

 

[boo2you]

The CP didn't ruin it... Staying and working another 2 years did!

 

[csaribay]

It will change your perception of the Disney experience.

It hasn't ruined mine. I actually think that I'm a little more appreciative now, since I know how much effort it take to pull things off. Working at Disney is hard, sometimes very challenging work. The benefits were worth it, though.

 

[RR0206]

The only thing it has "ruined" for me is my tolerance for peak periods of business, and that had already been pretty frayed by 30+ visits to WDW in my earlier childhood.

I haven't been to the parks in three weeks because of the hideous crowds...I spend my free days at SeaWorld =P. Being here in the quiet months makes the busy periods just godawful

 

[shastatikipunch]

The only thing it has "ruined" for me is my tolerance for peak periods of business, and that had already been pretty frayed by 30+ visits to WDW in my earlier childhood.

I haven't been to the parks in three weeks because of the hideous crowds...I spend my free days at SeaWorld =P. Being here in the quiet months makes the busy periods just godawful

I'm going in July and I can just imagine how bad the crowds are gonna be then. I'm going with somebody who's done the CP before so I'm sure he knows all the ins and outs of the parks at peak capacity.

 

[BigPigletFan]

So my name is Tom and I am a freshman in HS. I am thinking of the CP in a few years but had one question. Does working in the CP spoil the disney experience after you leave it?

I can understand this concern and you aren't the only one to have it.. but I feel its only enhanced the magic.

Good luck and I do recommend looking into the Program. As others have said, your experience will be unique to you. Although this internship isn't for everyone, you also need to remember that what you put into it is what you will get out of it. That's the key with any internship really, especially at Disney with the things they have available for you as interns and Cast Members.

 

[Sorahana]

It has for me =/. But I guess thats because I realized I sort of made a mistake coming here, but that's just me. Seeing the magic that happens for children cheers me up, but for me personally it isn't that magical anymore (well AK isn't lol).

 

[FoundinWonderland]

It has for me =/. But I guess thats because I realized I sort of made a mistake coming here, but that's just me. Seeing the magic that happens for children cheers me up, but for me personally it isn't that magical anymore (well AK isn't lol).

You made a mistake? Can you elaborate a little so I don't make the same one?

Thanks

 

[CelebrationNM]

I would offer that it really depends on what the Disney Experience means to you. To me, 55,000 WDW cast members working together to operate the most popular vacation destination in the world is magical. I've been backstage Main Street, USA and I know how the parades are controlled, but I didn't think about any of that while I watched Spectromagic the other night.

There's that Jungle Cruise line "And enjoy the rest of your day at the place I like to call...work." While that may be true after doing a CP, I think it's still easy to get caught-up in the magic because, as other have said, you have an apprecation for what it takes to pull it all off.