The Official Spring/Spring Advantage 2010 Thread!

[MaryPoppins86]

Why not?

oh because my high school decided to be lazy bums & send in my transcript to the college i applied for one month before classes start. so i have yet to even finish filling out paper work and register for classes. without my transcripts, i can't do any of that stuff. so now i just have to suck it up & wait for everything else to fall through. i just don't want to apply, interview, and have disney call the school to find out that i'm not officially a student there.

 

[thatbelle]

^ they were talking about the Disneyland College Program. On the DLR website it says their applications aren't available until September. I'm not sure if the person who e-mailed was talking about DLR or not, but that's the website that says Sept.

Hmmm....thats interesting. But why would DLR have a different time period for accepting applications than WDW?

 

[spectroaddy]

I could be wrong, but I spoke to my recruiter on thursday and she told me, I could apply for WDW CP on Aug. 18th and the PI on August 21st.

 

[Pure_Imagination]

Hmmm....thats interesting. But why would DLR have a different time period for accepting applications than WDW?

I was wondering about that, but it seems like DLR does things differently than WDW so maybe they're just different. WDW seems like it's a bigger program so maybe they need to start recruiting earlier.

I guess now would be a really good time to make a final decision on what I want to do, lol! On the way home I was like "Concierge does sound really cool!! Maybe they'll start accepting more people for that this year." Who knows...

 

[ashliejere]

Haha. I'm trying to figure out what I want to do too, Pure. I finally sat down and went through all of the roles to narrow it down. I'm still trying to figure out what I want my top three to be. The roles I'm looking at are: Concierge, BBB, Costuming, Hospitality, FSFB, Character Attendant, Merchandise. Does anyone have any Pros and Cons are experiences that could help me narrow down what my top three could be?


I can't believe we only have 2 days. Time has really flown by.
DL does have a smaller program and they take fewer people so it would make sense if they recruited later.

However, since we haven't been e-mailed and there hasn't been any advertising anywhere to apply...which I imagine there would be.I'm going to assume WDW is going up the same time as DL. So that if applications aren't up in 2 days I won't be disappointed.

 

[Pure_Imagination]

I think I've read before that people were not e-mailed about the presentation going up until after it went up.

I have some experience in retail, so I can help you out there:

Pros:

- it gives you retail experience, and therefore if you need a job back at home that can look GREAT on a resume for a retail place

- you get to hang out with little kids all day and make them feel special for the cool toys, costumes, etc. they're getting

- you have a good chance of being inside, in air conditioning

- working in retail can give you a good look at the business world. While retail is a different kind of business you still get good experience with meeting goals, company policies and objectives, and the corporate world. This may be a little different at Disney World, but it definitely has given me a different view of retail

- you will learn to have complete respect for anyone you meet who works in retail, lol!

Cons:

- because you work in retail a lot of people think that means you have no power and your status as an adult and well, as a human, lol, means nothing to them. They'll treat you however they want to, talk to you however rudely they want you, and expect you to go along with whatever they want you to do. If you don't they'll want to talk to management, who will make you look like the bad guy after they go along with the customer.

- when it gets busy it can get really stressful. While it's not your fault customers may still hate you.

- most of your day might be going up and starting conversations with people and talking to them about merchandise. This can be hard sometimes because a lot of people don't want to talk (again, could be different at Disney), and it can be an awkward job. Sometimes I just find myself wondering around, feeling stupid.

I've had different retail experiences depending on where I worked. Working at a department story was miserable, but working at a mall is fun. I imagine working at Disney is fun too

Even though I just listed the pros and cons I can think of for you, this still doesn't help my own decision! I'm beginning to think I'm not going to put merchandise as my top choice because I can do that at home anytime, and I probably will all through college. Plus I might get tired of it since I've been doing retail for awhile.

Customers will treat you rudely sometimes no matter what job you have, so that will always be a con with anything customer service. Don't forget there will always be those angels who come into your store and will make your day, and you'll remember them forever. I love it when I've checked someone out at the register and I'm truly able to say "It was nice to meet you!!" Sometimes I'm even sad that I'll never talk to that person again.

I think FSFB would be kind of fun. I dunno, lately I've been attracted to restaurant positions. I think that's because of my boredom with retail, lol!! This is another position that could give you good experience so that if you needed to get a restaurant job back home this would be great for that. The only thing I wonder about this is if FSFB mostly consists of doing the same thing all the time- it seems like there's only so much depth the job can take you to, and I almost want to say that it would feel more like a job, job then a job that you can have fun with. I know hard work is involved with the DCP, but it seems like you can really have fun with a lot of the jobs, so I don't know how that would work with FSFB

That's just my guessing and thinking, though.

Concierge sounds like a lot of fun!! The only thing that worried me was that there was something mentioned about being in a sales environment and keeping up with goals. I've had to deal with that with retail, and I hated it. I'm also wondering how selective the concierge role is going to be. They might only be putting in people with hotel and vacation planning experience because they won't want to take any chances with their VIPs. Then again you never know, and it would be fun to just go for it and give it a shot.

BBB requires direct experience, and I think if you don't have it they won't consider you for the role.

I think I really want a role that's in the parks, right in the middle of everything. When you're doing hospitality aren't you normally meeting people at the beginning of their trip and then just at the end when they leave? Everyone's all excited and ready to go have fun, but I think I would like seeing everything going on in the parks better. On the other hand, hospitality does seem like it would be a fun role! There's a lot to learn, and it seems very interesting.

I'm trying to sort through my own thoughts too. I think I might just put Attractions as my top role, and if I'm accepted (or if they ask where I want to work), I'll request to be put in Hollywood Studios. I really want to try out a spiel ride.

 

[ashliejere]

Thank you for the reply! It was really helpful. I spent all day going over the roles and narrowing them down but I was still just a tad on the fence and your post helped me out!
For two years I worked at my college's bookstore...I did the cashier position, I helped students find their books, I worked in the back (shipping and receiving) and pretty much every other position. So, I have experience-ish in merchandise but not in retail. I figure if I put merchandise in one of my top slots I can at least have that as a catch all. Since I've had experience. Plus, I think it'd be fun. And bigger plus it has air-conditioning. I'm all about that. I was worried about putting merchandise down too (since I can do it anywhere) but if it was that or nothing...I would def. want that. You could always put it down but express to your interviewer in passing that you would love to do (Fill in the blank role) because it is something new and unique that you can't do anywhere else.


I have heard a lot of good things about FSFB, actually. I was debating with my third choice being either hospitality or FSFB and FSFB got 4th place b/c of the confinement of the role. I think as a hostess I would miss interacting with my co-workers. Granted, you are not totally by yourself and I've seen hostess and servers interact a lot in restaurants but I think I'd find myself wanting to wonder around. Not a trait I think they are looking for in that position. ha. But, I have heard a TON of great things about this role. As far as the depth of the job, this blog has a section detailing what FSFB does http://chrissaribay.com/disney-blog/ and it sounds like it can be redundant but it also sounds like there's a little room for growth.

I had the same thought about Concierge and I noticed today that in the list of duties is tending to the buffet, serving food, washing dishes, serving alcohol. It sounds like a do-all role so far. They may narrow down the responsibilities once they have some concierges but it sounds like, to me, that there would be fun moments and then a lot of fill your time with chore-like responsibilities moments.

I had the same thought about hospitality too! I would love to be right in the middle of the parks and the action and in hospitality I would be kind of cut off from that, it seems. But, I was talking to someone who has done hospitality before and they mentioned that you could also be trained as a runner. Where, you go and grocery shop for guests, get passes in the park for guests, pick up guests at the airports, etc. So, there is a chance of park interaction and Orlando interaction it seems.


Attractions sounds like a fun role. I wouldn't love the role enough to want to do it if I didn't get a spiel role and so I crossed it off my list. I've heard before if you want a spiel role tell your interviewer that you have done speeches or plays in the past (if you have) and how comfortable you are at talking in front of large crowds.

What were your thoughts? Are you not sure about attractions? What other roles were you looking into?

 

[Pure_Imagination]

The only reason I'm unsure about attractions is because I'm afraid it won't be what I hope it is. It seems like it can really be a hit and miss, depending on the attraction. Spiel rides seem like fun, and I think I can handle the challenge. There are also other rides I think would be fun to be around -ToT, Pirates, Space Mountain (still closed??), pretty much any space themed ride or Hollywood Studios movie ride. I'm just worried that I'll regret not putting attractions down, and that merchandise will be too similar to the retail I'm already working and that I'll get tired of that very soon.

I guess I'll try to order my list again, lol, because I need to make a final decision already!!

Attractions

Okay, I tried to make a list but I got stuck after that, LOL! I'm terrible at making decisions!!!! I began to think that maybe hospitality wouldn't be so bad after all. I would get to learn a lot of new information and be in a completely new environment. I've been trying to consider experiences and roles that would be worth moving down to Florida for, and learning to become a part of a WDW resort would definitely be on that list.

I'll think about the order, but I know I'm at least going to check off:

Attractions
Merchandise
Hospitality
FSFB
Concierge
Recreation
Main Entrance Operations

I hadn't thought about that about FSFB. I think you're right- I would also get tired of not having much interaction with my co-workers. I tried to make my top 3/4 roles that I would be at least somewhat qualified for. I know you can go into this without any experience, but I don't want my top three to be something like 1.) BBB 2.) Lifeguard 3.) character performer, or another combination of roles that I don't really have experience in and would need a lot of training for. Some of the people who didn't get in, on various websites, listed what their top three had been, and for some of them I thought bad choices of roles had eliminated them when Disney began to get too many applications. Or whatever it was that happened.

Recreation sounds like fun too! Working at a water park also appeals to me. It would be fun to be in that outdoors, water park and recreation environment. Main entrance operations wouldn't be so bad, either. I decided to check off those roles since I wouldn't mind doing them if I needed to.

 

[khancock]

Hmmm....thats interesting. But why would DLR have a different time period for accepting applications than WDW?

DLR's application/interview process is significantly different than WDW's (just about everything about DLR's version of the program is different). That could be a contributing factor to it.

 

[ashliejere]

My advice for attractions would be to consider this scenario: you didn't get a spiel ride and your working with the operation portion attractions. Are you still happy with that role? That and the spiel side of the attractions are both attractions and by applying for attractions you have a possiblity of getting the the side you don't want. Take the worst scenario and ask yourself if you'd still have fun doing the role. I crossed attractions off my list b/c I knew that I would hate going to work every day if I got the operations side of attractions. I don't love the role enough to do that. So I picked roles that even in the worst circumstances I would have fun being there.
Another piece of advice for attractions: you can always get the role that you don't list as your first choice. If your worried that the role won't be what you think it will be, bump it down a slot. When you do that/if you do that, look at your other roles and look at their pro's and con's. See if any other role has the possiblity of taking the first slot that attractions was in. I did this with my list the other day. I was SET on costuming as my number one and BBB as my number two. I decided to really look at the roles and how they would fit with me. When I bumped those two roles out of the top spots and really looked at the roles, I ended up with a whole new list. Costuming and BBB are now 6 and 7 on my list.

 

[Pure_Imagination]

Thanks for the advice!! I think I'm actually afraid of not liking merchandise more than I'm afraid of not liking attractions. I dunno. Part of me just wants to put down a top three (in no particular order), and let the interviewer decide if they think I'm good for the program and where they think I'll be good at.

So did you decide on merchandise as your top choice?

 

[ashliejere]

So don't put your choices in order. When your interviewer asks just say three choices w/o giving one top priority. I've always been a believer of what is meant to be will happen. I decided to put merch in my top three. CA is my first, Merch and then either FSFB or Hospitality...those two keep switching spots. ha. But, when my interviewer asks I'll just list CA, Merch, FSFB/Hospitality w/o saying .....is my first choice.


While we're on the topic of interviewing, I think I lost a step in the application process. When apps come out...I'll watch the e-pres, write down the code but then who do I call to set up my interview? I didn't realize until today that I don't know that. Will the number be on the e-pres?

 

[Pure_Imagination]

Yeah, I believe the number is at the end of the e-presentation. Speaking of which, I'm excited just to be able to watch the presentation, lol! I really hope the applications actually do come out tomorrow. If not then who knows, will have to find out what's really going on!

ONLY A DAY AWAY!

 

[ashliejere]

I guess the app is supposed to come up at midnight. A ton of people are waiting till midnight tonight and then trying to apply. If it doesn't come up tonight/tomorrow then it shouldn't be that far away. 2 weeks, max.

 

[krisTXyn]

i'm nervous, like, really nervous. i feel as if i haven't researched enough, or looked up enough stuff. but anyways
ONE MORE DAY! gah

so far my list goes kind of like this

attractions
merchandise
concierge/hospitality
character attendant

and thats all i have
but idk if i want it in that order
i'm really hoping that i'll get attractions, but hopefully a ride with a spiel, i think that the fact we used to, at my old job, have to have long spiels all the time, and that we have them at my work now, so maybe it'll give me a leg up? idk

oh! and i have another question, this is kind of stupid that i don't know this, but whats the deal with the pins? like i know a lot people want to work merch just for the pins, and when i used to work at chuck-e-cheese our nametag was a lanyard with pins on it, and we'd always have people tell us "do you trade them?" and i never got it, but they said it had something to do with disney, like at the parks and such....

 

[Pure_Imagination]

^ yeah, that should give you some great experience for the job! You should definitely mention that in your interview!!

I don't know much about pin trading either. All of a sudden my friend started talking about it, and I was like "wait, what?". It's just these pins that Disney sells. There's tons and TONS of them with all kind of different themes and characters. In Merchandise you can choose to do pin trading, in which you'll get some pins to trade with guest (I think). Guests can come up and ask for any pin they want, and you have to give it to them.

I'm not really sure about how it actually all works out, though, but that's the little I know.

Also, I know how you feel. I planned to do so much research on the parks and rides, but I never did. Once I fill out the application and know when my interview date is I might do some more research. I did read PLENTY of blogs. I have a good idea of what questions to expect, but I haven't been answering any of them yet. I've been thinking about answers but again, when I find out the interview time I'll do that.

Oh wait, I just realized. Even if the presentation comes up at midnight and you fill out the application you're probably not going to be able to schedule an interview until the next day. Even with different time zones the offices probably won't be open that late.

I really hope it comes up at midnight! I dunno if I'll still be up that late, but I'll definitely be up early tomorrow morning. I just don't want to be waiting around all day while nervous about the applications not coming up! Did they come out on midnight for other seasons??

And yeah, if not tomorrow at least the date shouldn't be too far away. But I really REALLY hope it's tomorrow! I want to stop thinking and dreaming and saying "IF", I want to know!! And tomorrow's the start of it all!! (hopefully!!!!)

 

[krisTXyn]

^ yeah i'm like gahhhh! i know i'll be up late, so i hope it comes out midnight, but i work tomorrow at 5:30 i need to make sure i can watch it before that and have enough time and whatnot. i'm just like....its all come down to this.

i'm gonna have to make a to-do list. so here it goes.

1) read about roles again and make a final list
2) look up more blogs and read
3) decide spring or spring advantage
4) go thorugh possible interview questions and practice answers
5) look up parks and figure out rides and whatnot i would like

ughhh thats all i can think of right now

 

[Pure_Imagination]

^ yeah, that's about how my list has been. Don't forget to think of movie characters who are like you! I think I've heard of them asking which character or which princess is like you.

 

[krisTXyn]

^ yeah, that's about how my list has been. Don't forget to think of movie characters who are like you! I think I've heard of them asking which character or which princess is like you.

hands down esmeralda, shes such a free spirit but she stands up for her beliefs

 

[ashliejere]

Hey guys!! Haunted Mansion is a ride, right? It has been about 12 years since I was at WDW (wow. I can't believe it's been that long) so I don't remember a whole lot of the rides and when I get asked "what's your fav. ride" I was going to say HM. But, I haven't been on that ride since I was little and I remember seeing the HM but I don't remember if it was actually a ride. So, before I tell my interviewer it's my fav. ride...can someone let me know that it's actually a ride?? ha.