Disney College Program #1: Merchandise, World of Disney
International College Program/Cultural Exchange Program:
May 2013- August 2013 When on vacation I would look at all the name tags that the cast members were wearing and ask how they got the chance to work at Disney and thats how I found out about the Disney College Program. After years and years of waiting, I was finally eligible to participate in my first Disney College Program!! After being accepted to the Disney College Program for my first time I felt nothing but excitement during the months leading up to it. I was accepted as a Merchandise cast member and having been in retail my whole life I was so excited. A few weeks before I moved, Disney sent me an email where I was allowed to submit my housing complex preferences as well as any roommate preferences I had. I had met a girl named Alicia at my interview and we had kept in contact throughout the long drawn out waiting period. We decided "hey, I don't know any other people either lets live together!" so when I checked in I found out I got my first choice in housing which was Chatham Square and I was living with Alicia! Not only was I living with my new best friend but we found out we would be working together in merchandise at Downtown Disney's (newly renamed and refurbished Disney Springs) World of Disney, the country's biggest Disney store! I loved working in this role and location even on my first day, I had an amazing trainer (shoutout to Seema) who introduced me to amazing coworkers (who became like family), and showed me the ins and outs of the place. However, Alicia did not have the same experience I did and unfortunately left the program just a few days later. I spent a few nights on my own in my apartment until my new roommates arrived, but lets not talk about them. We had good times and we had bad times lets just say that. It didn't even matter because I made such amazing friends working at the World of Disney who I spent all my extra time with whether it was a trip to the beach, a night spent at the club or just days at the parks. They were my family and I still consider some of them my best friends today, 4 years later. Walt Disney World is all about making dreams come true and its so easy to do that in merchandise. As a merchandise cast member it is easy to meet families and get to know them and what brought them on their vacation. You also get to trade pins, give insider vacation tips and if you're really lucky... make magical moments for the guests! As a merchandise cast member you are also able to pick up shifts at almost any other merchandise location which gave me the opportunity to work in my favourite park, the Magic Kingdom during the Monstrous Summer All Nighter where the park was open for 24 hours straight (luckily I didn't have to work any crazy hours while I was there). My favourite part of merchandise was when I would be given a task to "make magical moments," in those cases I would be able to play games, or colour, or do whatever I think would be fun for the kids visiting our shop! Overall the summer of 2013 was one of the best I have ever had. Of course there are things I wish could have been done differently but in the end, I had an amazing time and made so many memories and friendships I will cherish forever. |
The first picture is of me wearing my Fantasyland costume.
The second one is of me wearing my World of Disney costume. Please feel free to ask any questions about my experience as a DCP Merchandise Cast Member here:
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Disney College Program #2: Attractions [Mission Space] and Quick Service Food and Beverage [Sunshine Seasons]
For starters I would like to say that I went to school to major in Sexuality, Marriage and Family studies but while on my first DCP a professor from my university emailed me. He informed me that he was starting up an academic exchange program with Disney, which if you are from Canada... you will know that those are quite rare. When I found out that I wasn't eligible because I was not in the right program, YOU BEST BELIEVED I CHANGED MY MAJOR (but only in time for the second year of the program). Some people may think that is crazy but those people do not know what kind of person I am, I can honestly say that it was the best decision I have ever made for more reasons than one.
Basically, if you attend Brock University, Wilfred Laurier University, and the University of Waterloo you are eligible for this academic exchange program with the University of Florida (GO GATORS!!). The program begins in April with online classes through the University of Florida taught by the professor who is basically in charge of the operation of the program. The classes are small because it is only the 15-20 people who have been accepted to the same program and they focus on hotel management. At the end of June the real party begins when you leave for the exchange and arrive in Gainesville for a little over a week. During this week you live on campus in a residence with your fellow UF/Disney Family. Activities range from riding around a natural lazy river at Ichetucknee Springs, hotel tours at a Ritz Carlton, touring the historic St. Augustine and working on your final group projects from your online courses. After spending over a week, 24 hours a day with these people you realize that you have this family for life. After your time in Gainesville you are brought to check-in at Disney where you find out where you will be living and with who! The way Disney does rooming assignments is by of course what is available (you send in your preferences a couple weeks before you arrive) and typically room you with people who have similar arrival and departure dates. In my case I was roomed with two girls on the same program in the one, the only..... VISTA WAY! (and almost everybody who came on the UF/Disney Program roomed together as well). Once checked in at Disney it is almost like any other College Program where you attend your housing meetings, immigration meetings if you are foreign, and then Traditions right into training. My first role was in Attractions and I was located at Mission Space in Epcot. I HATED the ride Mission Space and was a little disappointed I wasn't at something like The Seas with Nemo and Friends. However, Mission: SPACE grew to have its own special place in my heart. Working here has honestly been the highlight of my life this far. It sounds sad... but the people I met, the friends I made and the memories I cherish are not replaceable. Needless to say, I was more than a little upset when my time at Mission: SPACE was ending. The exchange that I was on was 6 months long and unless you received a role as a lifeguard or front desk you were to switch roles half way through. I was going from Attractions to Quick Service Food and Beverage, not impressed. Quick Service Food and Beverage has always had kind of a negative connotation with it so I did everything I could to not have to switch. Of course, I ended up going but I stayed very close with my Space family and picked up shifts whenever I could. I was transferred to Sunshine Seasons, the quick service location in The Land pavilion beside Soarin'. As much as I disliked being in food, I couldn't have been more blessed with my location. Sunshine Seasons isn't like any other quick service location and the people I met there are still my close friends today. I could honestly go on and on about my experiences during my 6 months here or how it is the best time to be on a college program because you get to participate in things such as Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, and winter formal. To this date, these were the best 6 months of my life. I met amazing friends from all over the world that I keep in contact with daily, I truly believe every experience I was blessed to have during this time made me a better person. |
The first picture is of me in my space suit from Mission: SPACE.
The second picture is my unfortunate chef costume from Sunshine Seasons. As much as I would love to express every detail of my Academic Exchange, I don't want to bore you either. Message me if you want to know anything about Attractions, Quick Service Food and Beverage, Vista Way... anything :)
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Disney College Program #3: Character Attendant, all over the world!
After having worked in merchandise, attractions AND quick service food and beverage I wanted to try something different. Being an alumni I did not have to attend an in person interview this time leaving me to have to charm the Disney reps over the phone. During my phone interview I went on and on about how I would make a good character attendant and then... I got my wish!
There was so much bringing me to Florida this time around since it wouldn't even have been 6 months since I left my previous program. I had friends, a boy, but mostly.. I missed my home! This program I had met a girl using the Facebook roommate page and we were lucky enough to live with 3 other amazing girls in Patterson (3/4 apartment complexes down!) When I checked in I learned that I would be character attending in Epcot, my home park!! I was absolutely thrilled because this meant I would be working in the World Showcase and the newer attractions with Baymax and Joy and Sadness. The great thing about being a character attendant is that you can pretty much work with almost any character without additional training. My goal was to work with as many characters in as many locations as possible. Luckily for me I ended up working with: Mulan, Snow White, Belle, Alice, Joy and Sadness, Baymax, Daisy, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Tiana and Naveen, Woody and Buzz and that is only to name a few. I also got the opportunity to work at Mickey's Backyard BBQ, Minnie's Summertime Dine, Chip and Dale's Campfire Sing-A-Long, The Incredibles Dance Party, and Mickey's Royal Friendship Fair. These were only a few of the many different locations you can get placed in as a character attendant. On June 17th 2016 Epcot opened Anna and Elsa's new meet and greet location at their Royal Summerhus and I was lucky enough to be a part of the opening team because it was in my home park. It was an honor to take part in a big moment for the Epcot family and one I will never forget, especially with help from this Inside the Magic video (find me at 2:19). |
The first picture is of me working opening day at the Frozen Summerhus.
The second picture is when I spent my day on Main Street working Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire during opening week. The last picture is of my time spent at Headquarters with Joy and Sadness (where I spent most of my time as a blueberry) Please leave any questions or comments you may have about my time as a blueberry here:
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This program pretty much had me focusing on my boyfriend, my friends from my previous program but mostly I gladly spent my time working because I truly loved my job. Needless to say working as a Character Attendant was by far the best role I could have imagined. The compliments and encouragement I received from guests really made me feel like it was something I was meant to do. I will never forget my time working with my character friends and I can only hope that one day I will go back to being my blueberry self.
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