WDW CP: The Good, The Bad...ok, mostly the Good

[jimaok]

My daughter completed the Cp program last Aug thru Jan 2007. Here are my observations.

If you're going to make money- forget it. You will make minimum wage, work long hours and live in a small apartment with 5 other people. You may get a job you like or you may not. She had her good days and bad days serving up sandwiches at the Wilderness Lodge. You WILL ask your parents for money. She took her car, which helped alot. But one speeding ticket took her entire weeks earnings $180.00. (55 in a 45 right outside Vista Way). She went with the expectation of getting college credit- she took took courses- went to them faithfully and got her graduation tassel ears upon graduation- the only problem was, the 2 courses she took did not transfer to Kent State University. If you're taking classes make sure they are accepted at your University and get youre transcripts BEFORE you leave Disney.

On the other hand, if you want to make lifelong friends, get into the parks every day for free, get some nice discounts on merchandise and rooms then you should go. She was able to get us great rates on Disney rooms and park hopper tickets(free) for our three visits down to see her. She says she had a great experience although a little "pixie dust" is gone. She does not regret going and having the chance to do it over again she would.

 

[Joanna71985]

Actually, that's not always true about asking parents for money. On all 3 of my CPs I did not ask for any, and always came back with money. In fact, my 2nd CP I came home with over $2000.

 

[Jules76126]

I think that the Cp was the best experience of my life and I cant wait to go back. I made the most awsome friends that I could have ever hoped for and I am still in touch with them to this day. I loved my job and all the people I worked with. I had a wonderful romance and wouldnt trade my experience for the world. It is so hard to explain because it is so surreal. You are having the best time of you life and you know that you will never get back these times and you make the most of it. We all had our good and bad days but mostly good and even the bad days werent that bad, you're in Disney world. I made no money but thats because I went out constantly. I went to Universal a lot, ate out at lot and whatnot but I would rather have fun than work like crazy and make money. It all depends what you want to do. I didnt have a car and the bus worked okay but I usually got a ride from my friends or boyfriend so I would recommend a car. I plan on bring mine on my next program.

 

[AladdinJay]

Just my opinion real fast for the people asking if they should go for the CP or not and asking all about what it's like. Honestly, 99% of how successful your program is depends on your roommates and the job/location you get. In other words, things you will have no idea about until you get down there!

But, I totally agree with everybody else, you won't be making much money at all, but the CP is quite an experience!

 

[dizchick]

The CP was one of the best times of my life. I did mine about 5 years ago and still keep in touch with people that I met on the program. Yes, you will work long hours sometimes for very little pay. There is also a chance that you will NOT like your roommates, but you can make friends at your job or just in the apartment complex. Luckily, I had great roommates and we would have a blast at the parks on our days off. The pay is dismal, but don't go down expecting to bring a lot home. I actually took about $3000 with me to help me get through the program since I knew I would be making so little. By the end, I had used most of it. But, I got to do really cool things and visit fun places in FL and eat at great restaurants that I might not have had the opportunity to otherwise. I was really fortunate that I was in a situation where I was able to do that.
Otherwise, if you're just surviving on the Disney pay, you'll be ok! Just sign up for some extra hours here and there and don't go out all the time to dinners, bars, movies, etc. There are plenty of free or cheap things to do to have fun! Enjoy it - it'll be one of the best times of your life.

 

[travlrmel]

To TheJackAttack21 and others -
- Thank you for your post. Is this an assessment of the CP program? Does it cover the PI program as well - or does anyone have any additional input for the PI experience?

Thanks!

 

[tar heel]

Like Joanna, my son has not asked for money and says he's saved a good bit. He's scheduled a lot of hours in the dreaded quick service food and beverage role and has gotten overtime many weeks. He also isn't much of partier, so his money goes further than it does for his roommates (or would have for me )

He does not have a car and says the transportation is awful. He says the job has good days and bad days. Overall, he's glad he did the program, but he doesn't want to extend.

It's safe to day he's a lost a little pixie dust, too, but he still loves the parks.

 

[darby01_2007]

I'm going there no expecting to have much $$$$, and much like every job, there are good and bad days!!! But jut to work at Disney and make friends from all over the world is a dream come true

 

[thejackattack21]

To TheJackAttack21 and others -
- Thank you for your post. Is this an assessment of the CP program? Does it cover the PI program as well - or does anyone have any additional input for the PI experience?

Thanks!

No problem! Glad you're enjoying it/finding it helpful. This post is just about the CP- I haven't done a PI, and from what I understand, the experiences are quite different.

 

[wishspirit]

Anyone come out of the CP and come back with more pixie dust??

I have been considering working at disney after i graduate uni for a year 'out' before doing a teaching degree. I would love to work there but am worried about a few things you guys might like to help me clear up
- The heat. I am an English Girl, who is used to cold and rain, does it get unbearably hot out there and if so is there anything i could ask to do to keep in the cool?
- Accomidation- Do you share your room with other people or just the flat? Is it one person to a room, i quite value my privacy?
- Transport- I can drive, but would i need to A) get a Florida Driving licence B) be able to buy a car fairly cheap? Anywhere sell second hand cars??
- Nightlife- Is it huge or is it fairly small?

Thanks so much if you could help!

 

[Joanna71985]

Anyone come out of the CP and come back with more pixie dust??

I have been considering working at disney after i graduate uni for a year 'out' before doing a teaching degree. I would love to work there but am worried about a few things you guys might like to help me clear up
- The heat. I am an English Girl, who is used to cold and rain, does it get unbearably hot out there and if so is there anything i could ask to do to keep in the cool?
- Accomidation- Do you share your room with other people or just the flat? Is it one person to a room, i quite value my privacy?
- Transport- I can drive, but would i need to A) get a Florida Driving licence B) be able to buy a car fairly cheap? Anywhere sell second hand cars??
- Nightlife- Is it huge or is it fairly small?

Thanks so much if you could help!

I don't know about more pixie dust (as I have always been a HUGE Disney fan). But I have done 3 CPs (so I guess that counts for something). As for your questions:
1) Yes, during the summer it can get really hot. The only thing to do is wear light clothes and drink lots of water.
2) In the apartments it is 2 people per bedroom. So a 1-BR is 2 people, a 2-BR is 4 people, a 3-BR is 6 people, and a 4-BR is 8 people.
3) I don't think you would need a FL licence. However, there are buses for the CP so that helps.
4) Nightlife is not too bad. A lot of people go to DTD and PI.

 

[Andrusi]

- The heat. I am an English Girl, who is used to cold and rain, does it get unbearably hot out there and if so is there anything i could ask to do to keep in the cool?

Well, you could set the air conditioning in such a way that your apartment gets ridiculously cold, especially in the bathroom where the vent goes directly into the shower, causing roommates to nearly die of hypothermia every morning. But then you would be my roommates, and since I'm male, I think we wouldn't be allowed to room together.

For a serious answer: Yes, it gets pretty hot down here. (Even now it's rather warm! It's been cold-ish in the mornings, so I've been wearing a pullover, but it's uncomfortable in the middle of the day.) To keep cool:

-In your apartment, the air conditioning tends to be pretty powerful, as I suggested above. If you'd rather not stay cooped up inside all day, you can always go to the pool. (Though I don't trust that pool after some of the stories I've heard about it. Let's just say doesn't quite cover it.)

-At the parks (and other places), dress for warm weather and bring a water bottle. Use it. Once it's empty, start getting drinks. (You're at Disney World! You're supposed to buy overpriced things!) If you're feeling too hot, go inside! There are usually plenty of places that have air conditioning, or at least some shade and a fan. Speaking of fans, if you get one of those little misters (basically a spray bottle with a battery-powered fan on top--you turn on the fan and then squeeze, and end up spraying mist), it'll feel great in the heat.

-At your workplace, it'll depend mainly on what your role is. But if you're doing something that keeps you outside most or all of the time, your trainer will probably have some appropriate tips to pass on to you.

- Accomidation- Do you share your room with other people or just the flat? Is it one person to a room, i quite value my privacy?

As Joanna said, you'll have one person in the room with you. Depending on how things work out, you may be sharing a bathroom with just that person or also with the people in another room. Vista Way apartments, for instance, have one shared bathroom, and then another bathroom that's in one of the bedrooms. (Mine! )

How much privacy this will give you depends a lot on what your roommate is like. I've actually had two: one who tended to hang out in our room with another one of the people in the apartment (and both guys were rather annoying), and one who seems to use the room purely as a place to sleep, keep his stuff, and talk loudly on the phone. If worse comes to worst, the closets are roomy enough to change in pretty comfortably unless you're claustrophobic.

- Transport- I can drive, but would i need to A) get a Florida Driving licence B) be able to buy a car fairly cheap? Anywhere sell second hand cars??

Not being a licensed driver myself, I am not entirely certain where you could get a car or for how much, but I've never known any populated part of the U.S. to suffer from a shortage of used car lots.

As for a driver's license, I'm not certain, but my five-minute Google research suggests: The US recognizes English driving licenses, but you're required to have certain types of insurance in Florida, and insurance companies tend to demand US licenses.

Be careful about using the bus transportation. Often they can somewhat reliably get you to where you're going at more or less the scheduled time. Some routes are better about this than others--the A bus seems to run like clockwork most of the time, while the K bus pretty much comes and goes as it pleases, with the schedule being only vaguely similar to reality.

- Nightlife- Is it huge or is it fairly small?

All CPs have easy access to Downtown Disney, and therefore to Pleasure Island.

This is either really convenient or really inconvenient. Which one it is depends largely on your work schedule, and specifically on whether you need to get up early in the morning. The same question, this time asked of your roommates, is also a factor.

 

[sugahappy]

Anyone come out of the CP and come back with more pixie dust??

YES! I read the earlier posts on this thread about people leaving the CP with a little less pixie dust. But this is not the case for me. I have always been in love with Disney but since being a CM I love it even more. I was worried that seeing the "other side" of WDW the magic would be diminished but somehow that didn't happen. AND I was a custodian, so I promise you as a CM I saw some very, very unmagical things.

I love coming back to WDW as a guest with the knowledge of a CM. I don't really know how to explain it....but that's how it is for me at least! The only downside is that when I come back as a guest I wish I was still a CM so I could be there all the time; it makes me sad to know my visits are just temporary now.

 

[wishspirit]

Thanks you guys, has been very helpful!

I am thinking about doing the international programme first (for 3 months over the summer) and see how i like it, then maybe do more when i take a gap year.

oooh, planning!

 

[sugahappy]

Thanks you guys, has been very helpful!

I am thinking about doing the international programme first (for 3 months over the summer) and see how i like it, then maybe do more when i take a gap year.

oooh, planning!

Go for it! I did the summer-only CP and I worked with several people who were doing the 3 month international program, one guy from England, a few from Mexico, and a few from France. They all seemed to like it a lot! The guy from England was definitely able to handle the heat too, but he put like 40 layers of sunscreen on every day!

 

[zulemara]

YES! I read the earlier posts on this thread about people leaving the CP with a little less pixie dust. But this is not the case for me. I have always been in love with Disney but since being a CM I love it even more. I was worried that seeing the "other side" of WDW the magic would be diminished but somehow that didn't happen. AND I was a custodian, so I promise you as a CM I saw some very, very unmagical things.

I love coming back to WDW as a guest with the knowledge of a CM. I don't really know how to explain it....but that's how it is for me at least! The only downside is that when I come back as a guest I wish I was still a CM so I could be there all the time; it makes me sad to know my visits are just temporary now.

/agree!!!!

After working at Disney, it has only made my desire to go back THAT much stronger! I came home kicking and screaming. I miss the days of being bored and deciding I'd just go to the parks cuz it's free entertainment. The only thing that gets me more than my upcoming visit is the fact that I'll have to leave after 10 days /cry


also to the original poster, your assessment is right on. I'm a campus rep and I ALWAYS tell people you get out of it what you put into it and don't accept a role you know you won't like!

 

[wishspirit]

The guy from England was definitely able to handle the heat too, but he put like 40 layers of sunscreen on every day!

Hehe!

That will be me, im fair skinned too, so lots and LOTS of Sunscreen!

 

[SweaterInJune]

Just to echo the already overwhelming sentiment--you only get out what you put in! It's true...

I consider it the best thing I've ever done with my life and so happy I waited until after graduation to do it (even though I had previously been cast as character performer). I'm more than likely moving to Orlando and going full time in a year, when I return from living in Germany. I can't imagine not having Disney in my life. I wasn't planning on leaving, but I had to tend to some other things and dreams, or I'd never forgive myself.

The work is sometimes tiring and I had what people consider one of the best roles. I agree with that--amazing experience, but yes there are good days and bad--like everywhere.

I made friends for LIFE. I've never felt that way in my life aside from a few people. I know that at least 4 of the friends I made are now a part of my family--forever. There are many many more I still stay in contact with quite regularly.

There is nothing like Disney magic--but you have to find it and embrace it-- and this whole experience was way beyond my expectations. Things didn't always go the way I wanted them to, but it was worth it in every single way to participate...

You live, you learn--earning not so much, but that is the most important learning experience for many--Yes! you can live on a CP salary...

One word of advice, if you make friends with anyone on the International Program, particularly those F&B workers in Norway--don't ask how much they make in one day. You DON'T want to know... ;-)

Have the time of your life--the CP will be, if you let it...

 

[Tide27]

I am the one that started this format a long time ago after my experiences here at Disney didnt match what my expectations were.

Looking back at it now, I still have the same opinion.

Its all about expectations.

I saw the college program as something that could help build my resume and be a faster track into management here at Disney ( or elsewhere should I choose )


This of course is not what happened, and I only realized once I got here, that those expectations were not going to happen.

Having said that, I can also say that I met some wonderful people here and done many fun and exciting things.

Ive met the young lady of my dreams, I made a difference in many peoples lives , I had a wonderful time traveling around southern florida, etc etc etc..

Do I regret the CP? No I just let myself down by having expectations that were not met and promised. Had I come down here to just have a blast, meet tons of people, and take a vacation from classes for 8 months...then I would have had a much better time.

However I came down here to advance professionally, and thats not what the CP is for.

Come down here and have a blast. Im sure you will.

We all liked it so much that we stayed here in Orlando ( Not at Disney though )

 

[khancock]

I saw the college program as something that could help build my resume and be a faster track into management here at Disney ( or elsewhere should I choose )


This of course is not what happened, and I only realized once I got here, that those expectations were not going to happen.

However I came down here to advance professionally, and thats not what the CP is for.

I find it interesting that you say this. The management internships require the CP as a pre-requisite to apply for them.

Looking at the event pictures on the CP site, they are still doing the alumni speakers series stuff with various areas. I'm also sure that there are alumni managers out there (even ones on the management internships) that would have been willing to talk to you about those positions if you were interested.

You didn't go into if you sought out those converations/meetings or not so I don't know if you made an effort (or big effort) and got discouraged or expected things to come to you directly. There are people that do both.

As an older alumni, I will also say that you probably got more out of it than you realize at this point too. You are still too close to just leaving.

Your comments about expectations are on the mark. I think message boards and some alumni (especically campus reps) tend to build up unreasonable expectations and excitement levels. I don't think Disney does it as much itself. If you look at what is on the site, they say stuff is available, but they never flat out promise anything.

Walt Disney World is a business pure and simple. Front line Cast Members at Disney are just cogs on that wheel just as front line employees are in any business. That may be the biggest learning of all for anyone who hasn't been out in the workforce for any amount of time.

When it comes to the College Program, it is really nothing more than a staffing strategy for Disney. That's the business side of it. They extend offers to just about everyone who applies. It isn't competitive. Disney can't hire people in Orlando, so they have to import them from all over the place.

But from a participants perspective, they need to take advantage of everything that is available to them as early as they can. It isn't easy and one can easily get discouraged, but it is possible.