An Offer Has Arrived

About a week after my phone interview for the Fall Disney College Program, I was extended an offer to once again work at the Walt Disney Company.

Fall Quick Service Food and Beverage at Walt Disney World.

I was excited to get accepted, but I had a nagging feeling inside of me. I love experiencing new things and going new places. As far as I was concerned, accepting this offer would accomplish neither of those things. I would be in the same place as before, working the same role.

Now, don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved my experience working QSFB during my last program! It was, hands down, the best six months of my life. However, as I have advanced more in my academic career, I am ready to do something that is more pertinent to my career goals.

This is why I have declined this offer from Disney. But I have since applied for four more professional internships, so I am determined to get back to working for the mouse! In the meantime, I will keep my fingers crossed and just keep swimming.

Withdrawals

Disney is an addiction.

For the last year and forty-seven days, I have been going through withdrawals. Minus that one week I visited Walt Disney World last August. Guys, I don't think I can handle this much longer, which is why I have applied for...

1 Fall Disney College Program,
1 Alumni Summer College Program, and
2 Professional Internships!

I have already had my phone interview for the fall DCP, and am currently in progress. For the alumni CP and PIs, I am currently in submission. The two PIs include the Disney Gift Card Projects Internship and the Disney Cruise Line Revenue Management Internship, both in Orlando.

I will be sure to keep you all updated as I hear back from Disney about these positions! I am especially nervous about the PIs. Is the interview process the same as the DCP - application, web-based, phone interview? Comment below, I'd like to know!

DCP Housing

All the Fall CP's will be starting their programs in August. Exactly a year ago, I was in the same place. I remember having so many questions running through my head because I had no idea what to expect. For example, where am I going to live?! When the time comes closer to the start of your DCP, you will be able to rank the top three complexes you would like to live in. Here, I will do my best of giving a brief run down on all the possible places you can live at the WDW College Program.

Patterson Court
This is where I lived, so naturally I know the most about it. It is quiet, calm, and there is never anything too crazy going on. Like all the other apartments, it has a nice pool and gym. I lived in a three bedroom with six girls total. The apartments are very spacious, have a full living room and kitchen, and all the bedrooms have their own bathrooms and walk in closets, which I loved! The only part that sucks is that you have to walk across the street to Chatham Square to catch the bus to work or the parks. It's only a 4-5 minute walk, but sometimes that makes all the difference when you're about to be late. Also, when it comes to groceries, I always went to Publix, which is about a 15 minute walk from Patterson or Chatham - probably 20 from the Commons. This kind of sucks because of the fact that you then have to carry all your groceries back, but the security office does rent out small wagons if you'd like to take that. You could also take the Walmart bus - it's more time consuming, in my opinion, but it's good if you want to buy a ton of stuff.

Chatham Square

Though I didn't live here, most of my friends did, so I spent a decent amount of time in this complex. The apartments are set up the same and are just as spacious. It also has the field where all the Housing Events take place, so that's convenient. It is right across from Mickey's Retreat, where you can take your family and friends to play games, go kayaking, or just hang out (I never went, which I regret, so I don't know a lot about it). And, like I mentioned before, the buses stop right in front of this complex, which is nice. If I could do the program again, I would definitely cross my fingers for Chatham, though Patterson would be a close second.

The Commons
This is the newest of all the complexes, as well as the most expensive. This is where the housing orientation/welcome meeting takes place. Other than that, I never went here often. Originally, this housed only International College Program participants (ICP's), but it recently opened up to everyone. However, because of this, it is still ICP's that live here. It has it's own bus stop, but some routes do not stop at the Commons, so you may have to make the 8-10 minute walk to Chatham in that case. A huge plus is that they have washers and dryers in the units, while the other complexes have a public laundry room. Also, it is right across the street from the outlet mall (which is where much of my paychecks went on more than one occasion). Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Starbucks, Papaya, Coach, Fendi, North Face, Saks Off Fifth Ave. You dream it, they have it.

Vista Way
I know that this is the most infamous complex, but I will admit that I do not know much about it. This is where some of the classrooms are if you take a class through the DCP (the other classrooms are at Patterson). It has its own bus stop, but while the other three complexes are clustered together, Vista Way is farther away from the rest. However, it is right across the street from Walgreens and a couple restaraunts, which is convenient. I heard the hot tub (which I would never step foot in, judging by the stories I heard) was recently taken out, which sucks for them. But yes, this is where the youger, wilder CP's stay, from what I've heard and seen. I went into a VW apartment once, and it definitely was not as nice as the other complexes, though that can be attributed to the fact that this is the oldest complex. This will be your first stop of the DCP, though, because this is where you check in and find out where you will be living and working!

5,000 Views!

Thank you to everyone who has supported this blog. I just barely celebrated the one year anniversary of All Roads Lead To Disney, and now we are celebrating 5,000 views. Thank you, and I look forward to continuing to post content about all things Disney!

As May comes to an end, that marks the time of year when all our Fall Advantage college program participants are settling down in either Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Congratulations to you all for making it this far - your journey is just beginning! I remember my first week as a CP. I got thrown into an apartment with five strangers, and we all ventured off to resort hop since we had not yet received our main gate passes that get us into the parks. This adventure brought us to Beaches and Cream at the Disney Yacht and Beach Club. Our group of six had grown to ten, then twelve, then fifteen. It was the perfect size group to devour two famous Kitchen Sinks.

So to all you new CPs - get out! Explore! Meet new people and live a little. These six months will be over before you know it.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

One thing you notice while working for Disney is that holidays last at least a month. As soon as mid-November rolls around, it is Christmas during select nights in the park until the end of December. Pinocchio’s Village Haus was not open during the Halloween parties, so this was the first holiday event that I worked. If you saw MVM on your schedule – welcome to working Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party in the Magic Kingdom!

These shifts start later in the day, around 4 or 5 pm, and can last until after midnight. Lucky for us, PVH closed a little earlier than other food and beverage locations, so we were usually out by midnight. But the work is simple – after regular park hours are over, you hand out hot cocoa and cookies to guests that have bought tickets to this special event. It seems odd at first to be wishing people “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” in November, but after working a few parties you get used to it. Disney themed holiday music is played throughout the park, and the castle show is, as usual, amazing! But let’s not forget the lovely costumes that cast members get to wear:

Flattering, I know. But to be honest, I miss putting on that hideous tree blouse and candy cane striped apron and head bow every other evening! Though some nights are long and difficult to manage, there’s nothing that brightens your day more than being filled with Christmas spirit and sharing that with all the guests in the park! But be warned – you will be asked to pose for many pictures, or be caught off guard as the flash of the camera captures your laughable costume. And of course, my favorite question from a guest during the Very Merry parties:

Funny, tired, sarcastic old man: “Do you sell rum and coke here?”

My automatic, equally sarcastic response: “No, unfortunately, but let me know if you find somewhere that does!”