The College Program Questions thread

[Joanna71985]

Hey guys!!! I went to the presentation today and I have my interview tomorrow!! Most likely a "character" interview from what the lady said since that was my first choice! Any helpful hints or questions I could think about? It would be great!! Thanks!!! Muah

Good luck!

 

[dizlover21]

Would the amount of people that get accepted also be contingent on the number of apartments that are available? Speaking of which how much space is there for people to live in the apartments?

If anyone has a myspace feel free to join my CP related group. It's been steadily growing and it's been pretty active lately, so if your trying to meet new people and learn new info you can find it at:

Thanks I just joined the group! I hardly use myspace anymore these days, Ive moved onto facebook but..that gives me a reason to keep using myspace. haha I love all these groups and I cant wait to become a CP (hopeufully this Aug for fall 07)

 

[dizlover21]

I was on the College Program for Fall Advantage '04... I was there for 3 hurricanes. It was AWESOME! I was scared at first, but was so excited durring them and had an awesome time. Now clean up on the other hand REALLY sucks. I was a lifeguard at Blizzard Beach and for everyone who's ever been to BB, there are trees and plants EVERYWHERE!!! I watched the tree in front of building 34 @ Vista blow away durring Hurricane Charlie... Anyway, the apartment complexes are pretty quick at cleaning up, and you'll never even know when it got done, because you'll be at work cleaning up the parks! Anyway, it was fun... not scarey at all!

* Shari *

Thats good to know. I have never been in a hurricane (from OR) but my sis was going to come visit me in Aug (we're planning way ahead) and my dad said she shouldnt becuase of hurricane season!

 

[dizlover21]

So I went to the meeting they held last term for the CP and they said that you get paid $6.67/hour and .50 more for quick serve food and beverage. Overtime may be availbale. So does anyone know how much they pay for overtime? And if there is a limit or restrictions on that? Also why do you get paid more for quick serve? Is that because you don't get to keep your tips if you work in a restaurant?? Thanks to all for answering! I'm trying to decide which job to apply for in April..I'm for OR and I get paid a lot more than this..but I can sacrifice for Disney! Because it will help me in the long run!!

 

[orangekid13]

isn't overtime ALWAYS time and a half?

 

[london.coincidence]

Overtime
Any work over 40 hours per week, or 8 hours per day (unless otherwise noted at a work location), is considered overtime and paid at time-and-a-half.

 

[orangekid13]

Overtime
Any work over 40 hours per week, or 8 hours per day (unless otherwise noted at a work location), is considered overtime and paid at time-and-a-half.

I went to the presentation yesterday and they said some positions are 45 hrs/week... so consider it noted

 

[Sehsun]

I have some questions for CP alumni:

1) How close (~ how many minutes) is the Wal-Mart to Chatham? To Vista? (I have heard of people walking there) Is the Wal-Mart a regular one, or a Super Wal-Mart?

2) Do the Exploration classes require any textbooks?

3) (dumb questions) Do you get to keep your CM nametag after the CP is over? And character performers get nametags....right? (I'm asking this one because I'm just guessing one wouldn't get to wear one in the parks while they are onstage)

4) Should I bring my printer for my laptop? I know that they have just made a wireless internet lounge called Clubroom Thirteen501 - does anyone know which apartment complex this is located at? Is the printing free in the computer labs?

Thanks!

 

[princessgirl2238]

So I went to the meeting they held last term for the CP and they said that you get paid $6.67/hour and .50 more for quick serve food and beverage. Overtime may be availbale.

ahh lucky ducks! i did cp this past fall (advantage 06) and two years prior to (fall advantage 2004), the first program i was QSF&B so i made about $7 an hour. this past time, i was in entertainment we only made 6.50 an hour, but the whole summer i had lots of overtime, which was time and a half, but as much as i liked having money, character is a very exhausting role in the summer and early fall months due to heat and humidity. but it was managable to live off of, i lived at chatham in a 3 bedroom. just save up some extra money for the first few weeks that you are living there, you'll want to do everything possible and have some money saved aside (say like have your parents hold on to it till about half way through your program that way you get a nice little bit of spending money). good luck to all that have interviews and auditions coming up- i personally loved the audition i went to in chicago- i got to meet about 10 others that worked with me in entertainment and so that way i had some people as soon as i got down there to hang out with.

 

[princessgirl2238]

I have some questions for CP alumni:

1) How close (~ how many minutes) is the Wal-Mart to Chatham? To Vista? (I have heard of people walking there) Is the Wal-Mart a regular one, or a Super Wal-Mart?

2) Do the Exploration classes require any textbooks?

3) (dumb questions) Do you get to keep your CM nametag after the CP is over? And character performers get nametags....right? (I'm asking this one because I'm just guessing one wouldn't get to wear one in the parks while they are onstage)

4) Should I bring my printer for my laptop? I know that they have just made a wireless internet lounge called Clubroom Thirteen501 - does anyone know which apartment complex this is located at? Is the printing free in the computer labs?

Thanks!

1.) it is a super walmart and it's sort of close, but not close enough to walk to. i brought my car down with me and drove to if from chatham. also if you live in chatham, there is a publics (a regular grocery store) that is close by, some of my roommates walked there and back with groceries (and "borrowed the grocery carts"- which is a common thing)
2.) nope, i did the communications exploration class (the first group to do it and it was absolutely amazing! i loved the class and we got to see CMs that work in guest relations at epcot and mgm while they were dealing with unhappy guests.
3.) everyone gets their nametag at traditions- even the entertainment kids, cause entertainment kids will wear them on their first days of training and can wear them at classes (i wore mine to exp comm class cause it was the only time i got to)
4.) i brought a printer for my laptop, it was always so much easier that way- the computer lab at chatham was always crowded and the internet was sometimes slow. my apartment went in together and bought a wireless router for the apartment (we were there for 7 months), if you do this, put a password lock on it so that other apartment don't steal your internet. and then we gave the router to our roommate that stayed down for a professional internship.

-it sounds like you are going to be in entertainment (or you are hoping to be), if you have questions, feel free to ask me cause i was in entertainment(it was the best role of my life!)

 

[orangekid13]

is the internet connection in the apartments included? obviously it's not wireless but do you have to get cable internet hooked up or is it an apartment network?

 

[packwingfn]

I'm pretty sure that wireless is available.

 

[princessgirl2238]

internet is included in the apartments- which is wonderful because my first program we only had dial up internet (imagine 6 girls with one phone line trying to use the internet).
wireless in not as of janurary (unless they went in after i moved out in the second week of jan) available unless an apartment has a wireless router and they didn't put a password lock on it (which several of them didn't

 

[laclark]

Hi everyone! I've been reading this thread nearly all night and I'm still not done! My interview for Fall 07 just ended and now I have to wait three long weeks to find out if I made it. Thanks for all the advice and information!

 

[Sehsun]

-it sounds like you are going to be in entertainment (or you are hoping to be), if you have questions, feel free to ask me cause i was in entertainment(it was the best role of my life!)

princessgirl2238, thank you so much for answering the questions; it helped a lot. I will let you know if I have any questions about working in the Entertainment CP. I'm glad to hear that you liked it so much!

 

[RubyTurner]

Ok, I've got two pretty unimportant questions but they've been bugging me for awhile.

First... awhile ago when I was looking up information I saw something about a Disney Choir that the CM's could join in. Was I wrong? I'm thinking it could have been the DL program where I read that. I don't exactly remember.

Second... I heard that some of the CM that come from other countries to work in the World Showcase also do the CP and live in the same apartments. Is this right? Are there a lot of international people that do the CP? I think it would be very cool to be friends or live with people from other countries!

Ok, that's all for now. Thanks!!

 

[cam-89]

I have another question. After your initial seven month working period at Disney, is it possible to get a job in the entertainment field there, say as a musician? The reason I'm asking is because I'm an experienced guitarist and I was wondering how the players in the old Tarzan Rocks show got their jobs doing that. That'd be so cool!

 

[khancock]

...I saw something about a Disney Choir that the CM's could join in. Was I wrong? I'm thinking it could have been the DL program where I read that.

Disneyland may have a choir, but I know for a fact if you are on Fall Advantage you can be part of the Cast Choir for Epcot's Candlelight procession. Rehersals start late in the Summer, but before the Fall peeps arrive.

Second... I heard that some of the CM that come from other countries to work in the World Showcase also do the CP and live in the same apartments. Is this right? Are there a lot of international people that do the CP? I think it would be very cool to be friends or live with people from other countries!

They are on their own program that is similar to the CP. It is a lot longer, though. They also work at Animal Kingdom.
Info on this program is here:
http://www.disney.go.com/DisneyCareers/wdwcareers/international/index.html

 

[Joanna71985]

I have another question. After your initial seven month working period at Disney, is it possible to get a job in the entertainment field there, say as a musician? The reason I'm asking is because I'm an experienced guitarist and I was wondering how the players in the old Tarzan Rocks show got their jobs doing that. That'd be so cool!

The musicians from Tarzan Rocks were part of a group called Equity. You have to audition for that as well. And yes, you would have to wait until after the CP (CPs can't be in Equity).

 

[cam-89]

A big thanks to Sehsun and Joanna71985 for answering all of my questions! You've been a big help guys! Since I want to go down for the Spring program starting next January, does anybody know when I need to apply?