We're officially at the ten-day mark. I'm back in Auburn, trying to finish packing all of my stuff. I don't know about everyone else, but really seeing just how much stuff I have kind of makes me sick. I wish I wasn't leaving most of it at my parent's house so I could just sell all of it online while I'm down in Orlando. I do have a few boxes to start with, but there is so much more I need to get rid of.
Here's a picture from about the half-way point in boxing things up. And most of this is just essentials! My holiday (mostly Halloween) decorations are where I'm on overload. I really should pare down, but it's just so hard to get rid of such awesome stuff. Especially when you get awesome stuff on clearance! Man..
Anyway. I'll be going to back to Birmingham for New Year's Eve and then staying for a few more days. Then it's back to Auburn for a final day of packing. Let the exhaustion begin.
I got quite a few Disney-themed Christmas gifts this year! Lots of Hallmark ornaments, a few small things (like band-aids), and a calendar. But my favorite gift was this wonderful gift from my sister:
The knife set was another gift from my sister, but the Mickey waffle maker was what she got me for Christmas! I'm so excited to use it! I've been wanting one for so long!
The day after Christmas, my sister and I began and ended our day with some wonderful Disney films! I'm going to miss our Regal Cinemas so much. I love that theater.
Saving Mr. Banks was absolutely wonderful. The end is a real tear-jerker and the credits are just amazing. The Sherman brothers casting was perfect and the details in Walt's office were fantastic (Hello, Haunted Mansion and Florida Project concept art!).
I really enjoyed Frozen, too. I wasn't a huge fan of how the trolls looked or their song, but Elsa's "Let it Go" sequence makes up for everything I didn't like about the movie. There's no telling how many times I've listened to that song since I left the theater.
Now it's time to leave Birmingham and head back to Auburn to finish packing for the move!
I know this is different for everyone, but I just wanted to show the timeline for when I received certain e-mails between the time I was accepted (September 20) and the day I checked in (January 8). So here's what's happened so far:
September 13 - E-mail about character auditions with locations, dates, and times September 22 - E-mail requesting program fees to be paid September 23 - E-mail requesting to select program arrival/departure dates September 23 - E-mail requesting for additional information for human resources, payroll, etc. September 23 - "Welcome to the Team!" e-mail containing candidate ID and Onboarding website information October 21 - E-mail from my school's campus representatives, congratulating me on my acceptance November 7 - Invitation from my school's campus representatives to the We're All Ears information session November 8 - E-mail about The Disney Look November 11 - Confirmation e-mail for my class registration indicating course expectations and other information November 20 - E-mail containing the New Hire documents link and log-in information, followed by a separate e-mail containing log-in password November 20 - "Share your good news!" e-mail containing graphics to use on social media sites to show off your acceptance into the program - also contained tentative dates for the next round of applications in the spring November 23 - E-mail containing information about education opportunities on the program December 4 - E-mail from my campus representatives, thanking those who attended the We're All Ears event, and giving a list of all of their contact information December 8 - "Prepare for Your Arrival" e-mail, reminding us to check out all the information on the Onboarding website and to secure employment eligibility documents (driver's license, birth certificate, social security card, etc.) December 18 - "See Ya Real Soon!" e-mail, reminding us to complete New Hire documents and check out all the information on the Onboarding site December 23 - "Disney Housing Pre-Registration" - a two-part e-mail with DORMS (Disney Onsite Management Resident Management System) information December 25 - "Action Required" DORMS e-mail, reminding me of the pre-registration time frame closing in 48 hours December 26 - "Final Notice" DORMS e-mail, stating that pre-registrations closes in 24 hours December 27 - DORMS Boarding Pass e-mail December 28 - Another "FInal Reminders" e-mail, reminding me to check out all the information on the Onboarding site before check-in January 3 - DORMS Domestic Arrival reminder, indicating when to arrive, what to bring, and how to dress
And that's all that's happened so far! I'm not sure if there are any other important e-mails left, but I'll continue to update this post until check-in day!
I know I won't get to do everything on this list (especially dining), but I'm going to try my darnedest! I'm going to section it off into categories to make it a little more readable:
Disney College Program
Attend at least one housing event
Shadow someone who works for the Disney Event Group
Visit Company D, Property Control, and Cast Connections stores
Do a backstage tour of The Haunted Mansion
Find a way to get a peek inside the Cinderella Castle Suite
Be a Disney VoluntEAR
Meet Joe Rhode
Work in a different resort than the one I am assigned to.
Create a magic memory for a guest.
Earn a Guest Service Fanatic card
Attend graduation
Theme Parks
Take at least one behind-the-scenes tour in a park
Attend Star Wars Weekends
Participate in Dapper Day
Collect paper Fastpasses for any rides still using them before they're done away with
Meet any characters I haven't met
See any shows I haven't seen (that I want to).
Magic Kingdom: Enchanted Tales with Belle
EPCOT: Off-Kilter
Hollywood Studios: Beauty and the Beast
Animal Kingdom: N/A
Ride/experience any attractions I haven't been on.
Magic Kingdom: Enchanted Tiki Room (original), Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
EPCOT: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure
Hollywood Studios: Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow
Animal Kingdom: The Boneyard
Dining
Get a Dolewhip (They're vegan now!)
Eat at the following resort restaurants:
Jiko and Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Kouzzina at the Boardwalk
Maya Grill at Coronado Springs
Trail's End at Fort Wilderness
1900 Park Fare and Citricos at the Grand Floridian
Boatwright's at Port Orleans Riverside
Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge
Eat at the following park restaurants:
Magic Kingdom: Be Our Guest, Cinderella's Royal Table
EPCOT: Coral Reef, Biergarten, Chefs de France, La Hacienda de San Angel
Hollywood Studios: Brown Derby
Animal Kingdom: N/A
Recreation
Characters in Flight
See Cirque du Soleil La Nouba
Rent a watercraft in the Seven Seas Lagoon
Learn to surf at Typhoon Lagoon
Go bowling at Splitsville
Resorts
Visit all the resorts by having themed Value, Moderate, and Deluxe exploration days!
Attend Chip and Dale's Campfire Sing-a-Long at Fort Wilderness
Take a dining tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Stay at the Yacht or Beach Club for one night so I can finally swim in Stormalong Bay!
Watch the geyser erupt at Wilderness Lodge
Orlando Area
Visit Busch Gardens
Take a class with the Orlando Trapeze Federation
Buy a season pass to the Universal Orlando Resort
Attend the opening ceremonies for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - London
I had my very last final on Friday and yesterday was my graduation ceremony. My family came down to celebrate with me and we went out for pizza afterwards. My husband, Jon, also graduated, but his ceremony was before mine and we weren't able to attend each others. Here are some photos from yesterday:
"I did it!"
The tassel switch.
Me and my grandparents.
Me, my parents, and my grandparents.
Me and my cat. Just trying to take a nice photo before I left for the ceremony!
I graduated Summa Cum Laude (GPA 3.8+), earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University! War Eagle!
Now I can solely focus on packing, the holidays, and the big move!
In exactly one month, I will be finding out which one of these amazing Walt Disney World resort hotels I will be working at.
Additionally, I will be living approximately five miles away from Disney's Animal Kingdom park! I can't even wrap my head around this. It's all going to happen so fast over these next few weeks.
This Week: Finals, a paper, and graduation The Next Week: Packing The Next Week: Christmas The Next Week: Loading everything up and moving to Orlando The Next Week: Check-in day!
Just got back from my campus' We're All Ears info session! You should make sure you're in contact with your school's campus reps when doing the program to see if they host one of these, because I highly encourage you to go! It was a lot of fun getting to meet everyone else from Auburn who is doing the program, finding out their roles and majors, and playing against them in Disney trivia Jeopardy!
When I got there, the campus reps were still setting up. But there were DCP balloons, snacks (including a Mickey-shaped cheeseball!), photos from previous programs that the reps had participated in, and they were all wearing their Disney name tags. Everyone introduced themselves to me and I was able to find out what role they had participated in. There was very little overlap! Between the reps and the Spring '14 participants, we had Concierge (me!), Lifeguard, Quick Service F&B, Attractions, Custodial, Merchandise, and Main Entrance Operations. So lots of variety there!
Once we got situated, everyone went around the room and introduced themselves (name, major, year in school, role on the program). Then we started out the evening with a game of Disney Trivia Jeopardy. There were a few tricky questions, such as "What are the names of Daisy Duck's three nieces?" (not nephews)! The answer was April, May, and June (who knew?!) I got to answer a "Name That Tune" that just so happened to be from my favorite Disney animated film, Hercules. They gave out prizes like pens, screen cleaners, and a DCP drawstring bag. We also got some sweet DCP car decals, as you can kind of see in the photo above!
After the game, the campus reps got into the main presentation and Q&A session. They talked about the Living, Learning, and Earning and encouraged questions throughout the event. I didn't really learn anything new necessarily, but it was nice to hear some of the facts in person rather than randomly over the internet. They definitely went more in-depth during this than during any regular DCP info session open to the entire school.
Overall, I thought it was a great event. It was nice to meet like-minded Disney fans who go to Auburn. I really wish I wasn't graduating this semester so I could come back and be a campus rep! What a great job! (With some seriously awesome perks!)
Here are a few more photos from tonight:
As you can see, I even received my official Disney name tag! ; )
Tonight my university's Disney College Program campus representatives are holding an information session called "We're All Ears!" So I'm just sitting around in the student center, waiting until it's time to leave for the event.
From what I understand, this event is held so that accepted students from the university can meet each other and ask DCP alumni any questions they may have about the program. So I'm going to come up with a list of questions I would like to hear their insight on!
What is the best way to network while on the program?
How can you get in contact with someone in the department you want to eventually work in? Is it acceptable to ask if you can shadow them for a day or two?
What should I know about living off campus? (Does it make things harder, etc.) Any secret shortcuts for driving to work from the Davenport area?
Which of the DCP events should I really try to go to?
How can I get an electronic transcript for when I apply to the professional internships in the spring?
How and when do you request for an extension of your program or for a full time position?
I think that's good enough for now. Maybe when we're all talking I'll be able to think of some more.
From what I had been reading online, all Professional Internship decisions were supposed to have been made by November 25.
So you can understand my surprise when on Tuesday, November 26, I received a voicemail from someone at the Disney Institute in Celebration, Florida, stating that they had ended up with my resume and were calling to see if I would be available for and interested in a Professional Internship. I called back to see what the job was about and it turns out it was for some sort of consulting position with the Account Director of the Disney Institute. Definitely nothing I applied for myself! But I thought it couldn't hurt to practice interviewing and to use this as an opportunity to see if this would be something I'd be interested in after the College Program. So I set up an interview for the following morning at 9:30 AM, Central, with the Account Director of the Disney Institute.
This man was very nice and explained the job very thoroughly for me. Basically, I would be acting as an assistant to the Account Director, coming up with proposals, and assisting in training sessions with the companies that come to Disney for advice on how to run their business. He made sure to mention that they were looking to hire for the long-term, as they were experiencing tremendous growth and wanted people who they could keep on as full time employees after the internship period. That part I liked! However, he also mentioned that once full time, there would be travel involved - such as going out and meeting with businesses at their own locations, all around the country. While I would probably be interested in that if I were single and had no pets, I just can't see that being my lifestyle at this point in time.
He told me that if I was interested in the position, I should get online and find the application to fill out by Friday. He said they were looking to make a decision very quickly and that the two chosen applicants would find out this week if they were extended an offer.
After carful consideration, I decided not to apply. I was called again yesterday to inquire about my application status, but I just don't think I'll be following up. While it does seem like a great job to have with Disney, I'm not quite ready for that kind of business atmosphere just yet. I've wanted to do the Disney College Program for the past seven years and I just couldn't bring myself to even chance giving up my dream role as a concierge in a Walt Disney World resort. I want to be trained to give the best possible customer service to guests and have the chance to interact with fellow Disney fans from all over the world before I settle down at a desk job.
However, I am pretty honored that I was even called and offered a chance at this internship with the Disney Institute. It has definitely made me feel more confident going into the next round of applications for Professional Internships in February, especially getting to see how different people conduct the phone interviews. Definitely eases the stress a bit.
So, that's that! I'll update soon about our apartment-hunting trip we took to Orlando the weekend before Thanksgiving!
Well, yesterday I got an e-mail saying I was NLIC (no longer in consideration) for the Park and Event Ticket Sales internship. Not surprised in the least - I really just didn't put much effort into getting a professional internship this time around.
But here I come, Professional Internships Fall 2014! I'll be applying again when applications come out in the spring! : )
I got the classes I wanted! Finally, after hours and hours of trying to get through to the registration site, it let me through around 5:15 this morning (I set three alarms to wake up throughout the night and check on the status of the site!)
The site originally said that registration would be open at 12:00 am on Monday, November 11. Well, many of us thought that meant Eastern time and some of us thought it meant Pacific time (which, it did for the Disneyland CPs - they had a different site that specified the time zone). But 12:00 EST came around and nothing happened other than a loading circle showing up on the page. Many of us thought this meant the page was just being bombarded with people trying to register, but I think it all had to do with a time issue. I woke back up to check at 3:00 am Central and nothing had changed. Then I woke up at 5:00 am and was able to get through with no wait and no problems. So I would definitely suggest NOT staying up the night registration opens because it simply isn't worth it. Go to sleep and get up a little early to do it. Trust me - all the classes were still available and you'll be able to register hassle-free!
To log in, you will need to enter your Last Name and E-mail Address. On the following page, you will need to enter your Cell Phone Number and choose from a drop down menu your Type of Program (College Program/International College Program) and Check-In Date.
After that, you will be shown the same list of course descriptions that was available on the regular DCP site. Here is a quick listing of all the classes offered:
Please note that this is NOT the page where you actually register for classes. Many people were getting confused, as there is nothing on this page that allows you to choose a class. This is simply the page that gives a description of the courses one more time.
After that, I was prompted to show my interest in certain additional educational opportunities (which, of course I am!). They make sure to note that these are not guaranteed events or workshops and that this is just to gauge interest.
Finally, you are taken to the actual registration page! It is a long page, consisting of all the courses and all the times they are offered. All classes are offered multiple times per week, but only once per day as far as I saw. The prices I saw for the collegiate courses were $9.99, $23.99, and $29.99. If you choose to take one of these courses, you will need to pay at the time of registration and will need a credit card.
However, I was only interested in the Disney Exploration Series courses and these are FREE!
I debated on whether or not to take one class on Monday and one class on Tuesday, because I have heard that you are almost guaranteed to have your class days off of work (unless they are early in the morning and you have the rest of the day to work) and I really want those days off. But, in the end, I decided to take both of my classes on Monday since they are in the same location and only have a three hour gap. That way, I'm guaranteed one full day of nothingness per week!
So, drumroll, please...
I'm taking "Exploring Guest Service" on Mondays from 11:00-1:00, followed by "Exploring Disney Heritage" from 4:00-6:00!
I think this will be great, considering I won't have to get up super early on these days. I could even spend a few hours in the morning at the parks and be done with class to go back and enjoy some nighttime entertainment! Plus, it's only 8 weeks of the program, spanning from February 10 - March 31. So that's gives me three full months on the program class-free! I can definitely handle that.
I am SO excited about these classes! Less than two months until I check in!
So, apparently, course registration opens tonight! I've had an idea of the classes I'd like to take for a while now, so I think I'll stick with those. (Although I did just read through all the course descriptions and syllabi again, just in case!) :)
If you are on either the Fall or Spring programs, you are allowed to take two classes during your time with Disney. If you're on an Advantage program, you're allowed to take a total of four, but may only take two at a time. The classes are free, however some do have a small fee ($10-30) for course materials that you must pay for at the time of registration.
There are two main types of courses offered: Collegiate Courses and the Disney Exploration Series.
The collegiate courses are accredited and many schools accept these for college credit. They are set up like normal classes and include homework, tests, quizzes, and projects. These are likely the classes that will have a materials fee attached to them, so be ready with a credit card when you go to register. The Disney Exploration Series classes are not accredited and they do not have any homework or grading systems in place. To me, that makes them "just for fun" classes!
Since I will be graduating in December, I won't need any classes for credit. Therefore, I plan on taking two classes from the Disney Exploration Series: "Exploring Disney Heritage" and "Exploring Guest Service". Here are their descriptions from the DCP website (which I've provided a link to, above):
Exploring Disney Heritage Take a journey back in time discovering the roots of Disney. Learn about Walt's vision through exploring historical milestones.
Exploring Guest Service Discover why Hospitality is the hallmark of the Walt Disney World®
Resort. Throughout our theme parks and resorts, we strive to satisfy
and delight our Guests in the world's most hospitable vacation
destination.
The "Exploring Disney Heritage" class seems to be the most popular class on the program, so I'm crossing my fingers that waiting around for the registration time tonight will get me into the class! I'm hoping to take "Exploring Guest Service" because I think it will really help me when applying for a Park Operations or Guest Services Professional Internship in February - plus it fits in with my Hospitality major!
The DCP website states that registration for Spring 2014 classes will open at 12:00 am on Monday, November 11. There was no time zone specified, so I'm assuming it means Eastern. That means I'm waiting around for 11:00 pm Central time on Sunday, November 10, which is in one and a half hours! Eep! I always gets excited when registering for any type of class. I love learning!
I'll be sure to make a post about my experience while registering for classes afterwards.
Yikes. I just had my first Professional Internship interview. Like many people, I found it hard to prepare for this since there is very little information available about the process.
So far, I have applied to the Park and Event Ticket Sales Internship and the Catering and Convention Services Internship. I was listed as "No longer in consideration" for the latter almost immediately after applying and had my interview for the former this morning.
First, there are some things you should be prepared for long before the application season even begins. All of the internships are different and require different materials throughout the process. But some things you may be asked for are:
- Resume (all)
- Cover letter
- College transcripts
- Portfolio
As a rule of thumb: If they don't ask for it, there is no need to provide it. Read the job listing very carefully. Make a note of the Application Deadline and the Materials Required. Some of the internships require a cover letter and some do not - you will find out during the application if you will be required to upload one, so be ready to write those.
I won't be able to apply to a few of the internships just because I haven't been able to figure out how to get electronic transcripts from my school. So definitely get all that figured out beforehand so you can start the application process when it opens. Additionally, if you will be applying to any type of creative role, go ahead and start working on an electronic portfolio well in advance so that it will be ready in time.
Here is the timeline for the two internships I applied for:
Park and Event Ticket Sales
9/9 - Applied
9/26 - Invited to schedule a phone screening
9/28 - First phone interview
Catering and Convention Services
9/26 - Applied
9/27 - No longer in consideration
The phone rang 8 minutes after my scheduled 11:15 interview time, at 11:23 AM. My interviewer introduced herself and explained that this would be different than the CP interview in that she would be typing all of my answers. So I shouldn't be worried about any silent pauses after my answers because it is just her finishing up typing. She also explained that, in this interview, when she asks a question, she is looking for me to answer the question and then go into detail explaining that answer and giving specific examples from my experiences.
Goodness, I don't think I did well at all. She talked very fast and it was a bit intimidating, but I also just wasn't prepared for the interview. I had to schedule it so soon after I got my e-mail and I really just wasn't prepared at all. You should be prepared to explain what you want to get out of this internship and what from your previous experience qualifies you for that particular role.
I don't think I was asked more than 5 or 6 questions before we went over the Disney look and my interviewer said "that was it" after TEN MINUTES! My interview only lasted ten minutes! I was prepared to make it last a bit longer, so I asked her a few questions.
I asked if Professional Interns were offered any educational courses or opportunities, similar to the College Program. She said that there weren't any, as most PI's are recent graduates or are working in a department or position directly related to their field of study. The CP courses are there to offer more relatable studies since most CP's aren't working in a field related to their major.
I also asked if she had any advice on what I could do to better qualify myself for a PI before applying in the spring (if I wasn't offered an internship this time around, of course!). She told me the best thing I could do is to network. I should talk to my leaders while on the College Program, try to get in contact with the Catering or Convention Directors at whatever resort I'm working at, and look for volunteer opportunities. I was surprised to learn about event volunteer opportunities, but she told me that it isn't "true" volunteering, since they are paid positions that can just be picked up by any current cast member. But Disney apprarantly lists these opportunities for events that they need extra help at, such as the RunDisney events. She said this would be a great way to meet people from different departments.
I then asked her how she started with the company (she did the CP and worked as a Jungle Cruise skipper!). After that, she was a DCP campus representative and then worked in the fashion industry in New York for a while. But she decided to come back to Disney and now works as a recruiter. She said that, while she doesn't get to have much guest interaction, she can walk through the parks and see cast members making people's days. So she gets the satisfaction in knowing that she might have hired that particular cast member! I thought that was a really cool viewpoint.
So, that was my interview. It kind of sucked, so I'm not going to hold my breath for an offer. But I am more than happy to start my career with Disney as a Concierge on the Disney College Program. I am beyond excited about my role and can't wait to get started! I'm also looking forward to being able to apply to the Alumni-Only Professional Internships in the next round. At least now I have an idea of what I'm getting into with the Professional Internship applications!
I've paid my program fees (Total: $304.50) and I will be starting my new Disney adventure as a Concierge on Wednesday, January 8, 2013! There was only one check-in date available for the concierge role. I'm wondering if that's because we have a more lengthy training period? Either way, I'm glad my departure date is at the very end of May! More time with Disney! (Maybe I'll finally get to go to Star Wars Weekends!)
Regarding the housing fees and living offsite: I got an e-mail earlier today saying that I still have to pay all the fees upfront to accept my offer. I also have to "petition" for offsite housing. Once the request is approved and I've completed a full 30 days on the program, I will be reimbursed for the $200 housing fee. So, that kind of sucks. But I guess everyone else is having to pay all this, too.
You know, to anyone saying that I should be looking for a management position right out of college instead of taking an entry-level paid internship: That's just not the way things work for everyone. Even if I was offered a management position somewhere, I don't know if I would take it simply because I don't have enough job experience to be a good manager at this point in my life. Sure, I've learned all the concepts and psychology behind quality guest service, but how could I guide others in a position that I haven't even had much experience in myself? The hospitality industry appreciates people who work their way up. That's how people get to where they want to be.
As a concierge, I am going to be going through lengthy, in-depth training with the Walt Disney Company. I am going to learn about the front desk, sales, guest service, and so much more. I will be able to apply that knowledge and those skills to many other positions within the company after the program ends. Additionally, I will have the opportunity to network with so many cast members in leadership positions and may even have the chance to shadow someone in a department that I'd be interested in working for.
Since I am only doing the Spring program, my role will be ending in May of 2014. I will be looking at a few options at that point. First, I will be applying to the alumni-only Professional Internships. Additionally, I will be looking at staying as a full-time employee (or whatever I can get to stay on as a regular cast member). If neither of those options work out for me, I will also look into extending my program through Spring Advantage, which lasts until August. Then I will start the process over again.
And if none of that works? There's always Universal!
I personally think this is a great opportunity for me and I see a lot of doors opening up after this experience. I know I won't be making the big bucks upon arrival, but I think I could eventually earn a comfortable living if I stay with the company.
Below is an image showing the timeline of the e-mails I received from Disney, regarding the DCP.
September 5 - Applications open
September 6 - Applied, invited to take the Web-Based Interview
September 7 - Web-Based Interview, invited to schedule Phone Interview
September 17 - Phone Interview
September 20- Accepted into the program!
I can't tell you how thankful I am for only having to wait three days to hear about my acceptance! I definitely feel like one of the lucky ones, as many applicants who applied the first day still haven't received an invitation for the Web-Based Interview! I can't say if my timeline is average, as there are many different situations that other applicants are speaking of, but I thought I would share my personal experience.
Still waiting on a reply about the housing fees before I pay everything and accept my offer. I received an out-of-the-office automatic reply when I sent the e-mail, so I'm assuming they won't get to it until at least tomorrow (Monday).
My fiance, Jon, has passed his WBI and has his phone interview later this week! He's also applying to a position with Universal Orlando. I would love it if he worked for Universal and I worked for Disney. We could share so many cool stories!
FLIPPING OUT, YOU GUYS! I got Concierge! I didn't realize just how much I wanted this role until it was actually mine! I can't wait to go through training and learn all there is to know about the new MagicBands, Fastpass+, the dining reservation system, etc. I'm so, so, so excited! I think having "Concierge at the Walt Disney World Resort" on my resume is going to open so many doors and I can't wait to see where this will take me!
Here is my role description:
• Completing check in/check out process for concierge club-level guests by inputting and retrieving information from resort computer system;
• Proactively greeting guests, exhibiting the expected high level
of Disney show quality, often times interacting with VIP’s,
celebrities, and executives;
• Creating individualized ticket packages;
• Being comfortable in a strong sales environment;
• Making reservations and handling any special requests from guests;
• Handling cash and other forms of payment, including foreign currencies exchange;
• Maintaining cleanliness of common guest living/dining areas within concierge club-level;
• Assisting with luggage and other deliveries to guest rooms;
• Working concierge buffet line which can include maintaining
overall cleanliness of buffet area and replenishing food, washing
dishes, serving alcohol, maintaining inventory of liquor, and
partnering with culinary team to ensure food quantity;
• Partnering with property VIP tour guides.
I have ten days to formally accept my offer. One of the steps to acceptance is paying the $100 program fee, which covers all the special DCP events (and I think the classes, too), and a $200 housing fee, which covers the first few weeks of rent while you're waiting on your first paycheck. I've sent an e-mail regarding the housing fee, since I won't be living onsite. I also mentioned being told that I needed to have that approved first and asked what I needed to do about that.
So I'm waiting to hear back from Disney, and then I'll be accepting, paying my fees, and choosing my check-in date!
I just had my phone interview! I was very nervous and excited about the interview beforehand. I've read potential questions for the interview online for years and have always had answers stored in the back of my brain. However, even though I had a full ten days to prepare for the interview, I actually didn't even write any notes down until that morning! Oddly enough, I think that helped me because I don't think that my answers sounded scripted.
I was fine for about an hour leading up to the interview, but then when the 15-minute waiting period came, my chest started tightening up, my stomach was in knots, and my mouth started going dry (as it usually does before an interview, in my case). But these were extreme jitters. It was such a surreal moment. I had been reading about these interviews for years, and it was finally my time!
To calm my nerves and pump me up, I listened to the "Go the Distance" reprise on repeat for about five minutes straight. Don't judge me, that's my jam.
The phone rang four minutes past my interview time, at 2:34 PM. As soon as the interview began, I felt fine. My interviewer started out by introducing herself and making sure this was still a good time for the interview (Um, yes! I've set aside a five-hour period for you!). We first went through my employment history, with her confirming that I had worked for the company before (Disney Store). I was asked to go through my previous positions and talk about my responsibilities.
Next we spoke about why I wanted to work for Disney and what I hoped to get out of the Disney College Program. I told her that I've wanted to work for Disney my entire life and that, when I was a kid, I wanted to either sell popcorn on Main Street U.S.A. or be a princess. Now that I am older, my career goals have changed a bit, but the company I want to work for has remained the same. I told her that I would love to use the program as a stepping stone towards a career with Disney and that I would be using the opportunity to network with individuals in the departments I'm interested in, such as the Disney Event Group. She said that was wonderful and that she wished me luck!
I was then asked a series of the typical questions that everyone else is asked. Here are some of the questions and my answers, to the best of my memory:
What pace do you prefer to work at? Generally fast, as it helps the day go by faster and I feel like it helps me to be more efficient. However, I do like for there to be a few slower periods throughout the day to regain my composure.
Are you comfortable working in all types of weather conditions? I've been in all types of weather conditions as a guest in the parks, so I definitely think I could handle it as my job. However, I am fairly susceptible to heat exhaustion and would prefer working indoors, if possible.
Name a time when you had to deal with a difficult guest. Told a story about dealing with unorganized and unprepared group leaders when I worked in group sales at a water park this past summer and how I resolved the issues.
How would you deal with repetitive tasks? While there are repetitive tasks in any job, no day is ever the same for me. There are always unique situations that come up and every guest is different and deserves customized service and reactions.
Regarding attractions, I was asked if I have ever had to memorize long spiels of dialogue. Mentioned being comfortable with public speaking, but that I had only done so with notes in the past. If you had a lot of tasks to do throughout the day, how would you go about getting everything done? That's basically all I do at school - professors always tend to schedule assignments and tests around the same time, so time management and prioritizing tasks is something I'm very familiar and comfortable with. I am always making lists and making sure everything on them gets checked off. I always get things done.
Do you think your past experience will help you in any of your selected roles? (Yes. Hospitality major, love planning vacations, lots of guest service experience, and am very familiar with the property.)
Do you work best individually or as a team? I think I work more efficiently as an individual, since I don't have to worry about the performance of others. However, I do think working in a team environment is beneficial when you're new at a job or if you have a lot of tasks to accomplish. You're able to help each other and work together to get things done.
Would you be able to stay calm in an emergency? Yes. I don't get frazzled in high-stress situations while on the job. I think things through rationally, go through the steps that needs to take place to deal with the situation in my head, and then act in an appropriate manner.
Are you comfortable with being interupted? Yes. That's what I'm there for. If I were already with a guest and someone came up to me with a simple yes or no question or simply needed to be pointed in a certain direction, I would go ahead and tell them and apologize to the orginal guest I was helping. However, if a guest came up to me with a lengthy situational issue, I would explain to them that as soon as I was done helping the original guest, I would be happy to help them.
We confirmed all of my role choices (High - Hospitality, Vacation Planner, Concierge / Moderate - Attractions, Photopass) and I was then asked about my top three and why I wanted to do them.
Hospitality - Because I want a role that ties in with my major and would earn me more experience in the industry. Vacation Planner - Because I love planning vacations and would love helping other guests plan their own. Concierge - Because I feel that it is a very respectable role, since you are expected to know everything there is to know about the property.
I was never asked any real situational questions for any of the positions, and we never even mentioned Photopass.
She then asked if I was familiar with the Disney look, if I had any tattoos/piercings that were viewable outside of a one-piece swimsuit, if I knew about the pay rates and availability, etc.
She then said that that was all the questions she had for me and asked if I had any questions for her. Earlier in the interview, I was asked about living with roommates. We talked about how I would be getting married before the start of the program and that I would be bringing my cat with me, so we were looking into permanent relocation to the Orlando area. She told me about the process of having to e-mail the program to get that approved. I also expressed my concerns about attending the housing events while living offsite, and she told me that I would definitely be able to.
I then asked her if, since I would be done with school and wouldn't be getting credit for anything, if she would still recommend taking any of the courses that are offered within the program. She said absolutely, especially the Disney Heritage series since I am wanting a career within the company. She mentioned all the networking opportunities, and I told her that was one of the things I was most looking forward to.
After that, I took the opportunity to express my location requests! I told her that, while I know it's not guaranteed, if I am placed in a hospitality-related position, I would love to work either at Pop Century, the Polynesian, or the Boardwalk. She confirmed that neither an offer nor a work location is guaranteed, but she asked me to repeat the locations and definitely wrote them down! So here's hoping!
After that, the interview was over. She thanked me for my time, and I thanked her (by name!) and we said our goodbyes. My entire interview lasted 17 minutes and 20 seconds, according to my phone.
I just fell back into my chair after that and took a big breath. It was over! I had no feelings regarding if I did well or not - I was just completely neutral. And I still feel that way. There's no telling what the outcome of this will be, but I remain confident in myself!
I completed my Disney College Program application last night and just passed the Web-Based Interview this morning! The next step is scheduling my phone interview. This is so exciting!
For roles, I picked the following:
High Interest
Hospitality
Concierge
Vacation Planner
Moderate Interest
Attractions
Photopass
I have selected 5-6 Professional Internships that I will be applying for, as soon as I figure out how to get an electronic transcript. The website I need to order it from is very confusing, so I will be calling them sometime today.
So, that's my big update for now! Hopefully I'll be back within the next week with more news.
Edit: My phone interview is for Tuesday, September 17, at 2:30 PM! Ten days is a bit of a wait, but it was the day I was most comfortable scheduling.
Sunset Boulevard, of course. Where else can you get such a wonderful view of The Hollywood Tower Hotel?
Attraction (Ride)
Tower of Terror.
Attraction (Show)
I guess I'll have to say Fantasmic, just because it's the only place I'll ever be able to see Megara :'( But I also love Voyage of the Little Mermaid and the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.
Table Service Restaurant
Tie! 50s Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre. I love being able to get non-dairy milkshakes at these places and they both usually have a pretty decent vegan entree available. I really miss the tofu entree they had at Sci-Fi, though.
Quick Service Restaurant
Backlot Express. Lots of fun props to look at around the restaurant.
Snack
Well, let me tell you. They used to have this awesome apple-cinnamon stuffed pretzel that was vegan. But no more! *sigh* I guess popping into the Tune-In Lounge at the 50s Prime Time Cafe for a milkshake counts as a snack, right? I'll go with that.
Character Meet and Greet
The random greets they have in the Animation building.
Live Entertainment
Nothing really sticks out, other than what I've already mentioned.
Merchandise Location
Tower of Terror gift shop! Even if all the girl shirts suck.
Relaxation Spot
The Tune-In Lounge at the 50s Prime Time Cafe. I love sitting at the bar with a non-dairy PB&J milkshake and some fries, enjoying the retro decor.
Hidden Gem
One Man's Dream. What a tearjerker. And the Art of Disney Animation class! Also, all of the props in and around the Backlot. And that stupid Singing in the Rain umbrella that took me -forever- to find. Oh, and just the general movie references you can find throughout the park. (Sorry. Went a little overboard.)
Attraction Music
Star Tours! Love it!
Building/Architecture
The Hollywood Tower Hotel. Nothing can compete with its beauty.
Fountain/Statue/Eye-Grabber
The Miss Piggy Statue outside Liberty outside of MuppetVision 3D.
Smell
I'm going to change this one to my favorite feeling, because no smells are standing out to me. Ok. It's that feeling of the temperature change when the doors open up in the Tower of Terror to push the car out into the drop.
Sound
The sound of the Tower of Terror car being pushed out into the drop area : )
Asia. The theming is just amazing - the weather-beaten flags, the bicycle tracks in the cement.. A+ all the way around!
Attraction (Ride)
Expedition Everest. Everything about this attraction just blows me away. (Except for the Disco Yeti. Kind of bums me out.) I also really love that little bird that pops up when the track ends.
Attraction (Show)
Festival of the Lion King! Duh!
Table Service Restaurant
TUSKER HOUSE/HEAVEN. I'll eat so much freaking food here. It's ridiculous. And they'll usually give us non-dairy ice cream for dessert and some vegan cookies that we can throw in our backpack for later! I really wish they hadn't turned it into a character meal throughout the day, though.
Quick Service Restaurant
I don't really have a favorite, but I love the theming of Restaurantosaurous.
Snack
Since Animal Kingdom is always so hot and humid, I usually get a strawberry bar from one of the frozen treat stands. So I guess that.
Character Meet and Greet
I'm not even sure if he's still there.. But this one time, I got to meet Flik and Princess Atta and I just about DIED from happiness. I honestly teared up when I saw them for the first time. I love Flik so much.
Live Entertainment
DiVine. Oh, DiVine.
Merchandise Location
I'm gonna have to look this one up.. Ok, it's Island Mercantile, that one right by the Tree of Life. I also really like the Expedition Everest store and the one you enter after Dinosaur.
Relaxation Spot
The Sounds of the Rainforest booths at Rafiki's Planet Watch. I could absolutely go to sleep in there... until the chainsaw kicks in.
Hidden Gem
I would say Sounds of the Rainforest again, but I'll go with the live animal cams at Rafiki's Planet Watch. I also really like the goats at Affection Section. ...And the tigers on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. I don't care if they're always sleeping. I could watch those cute kitties sleep forever.
Attraction Music
I'll have to go with Festival of the Lion King.
Building/Architecture
I *love* the Tusker House building. The openness and all the natural light is just so inviting.
Fountain/Statue/Eye-Grabber
The yeti statue that is the same shape of the Forbidden Mountain.
Smell
Walking into Tusker House and smelling all the great food I'm about it eat.
Sound
The background music and sounds in Asia. It's very calming during the misty morning walk to the Forbidden Mountain.
Pop Century! Specifically, the 50s section, Building Two, on an upper-level. You get a great view of Hourglass Lake and it's such a lovely sight to wake up to. Plus, we're very close to the parking lot and can get up and go in the mornings.
Moderate Resort
I've only stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort and I *loved* the pirate-themed rooms! However, I really think I would enjoy the Port Orleans Resort. I'd love for them to finally get those Haunted Mansion rooms built in!
Deluxe Resort
I've never actually stayed at a Deluxe Resort, but I've visited them numerous times. I'm going to have to go with a three-way tie here: Polynesian, Boardwalk, and Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Table Service Restaurant
Oh, man.. There are a good many I haven't tried and would really like to. But, from restaurants I've been to, I'd have to say that Boma and 'Ohana are my favorites. Boma is good any time. I haven't been back to 'Ohana since Chef TJ stopped working there. (I'll probably make an entire post about him eventually.) But all you can eat food with lots of vegan options?! Sign me up!
Quick Service Restaurant
I love The Mara at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Their falafel is awesome. I also really love the Pop Century food court. I've been able to get vegan milkshakes, vegan cheese pizza, sitr-fried noodles and veggies, vegetable soup, and plenty of vegan snacks.. Plus it just has such a lively atmosphere and it's a great place to relax midday or late at night.
Snack
I *love* the hummus at Pop Century. I do have to bring my own pretzels to enjoy it with, though.
Dessert
Vegan banana split at Beaches and Cream. I just about died the first time I had it. Vanilla Tofutti ice cream, halved banana, sliced almonds, Hershey's syrup, and maraschino cherries. IT'S SO WONDERFUL.
Entertainment Offering
I really like watching the Boardwalk entertainment - the jugglers, mimes, magicians.. It's just such a nice way to spend an evening!
Themed Pool Area
I've never actually been able to utilize them, but I love Stormalong Bay at the Yacht and Beach Club, as well as the Volcano Pool at the Polynesian and the main pool at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Relaxation Spot
The beach of the Polynesian at night. I could sit there for hours, and possibly go to sleep.
Building/Architecture
I love the Polynesian Resort's architecture, inside and out. The openness, the waterfalls, and all the tropical plant life really makes it feel like you're in Hawaii. I also love the Animal Kingdom Lodge lobby and the overall look and feel of the Boardwalk Resort.
Fountain/Statue/Eye-Grabber
I'm going to have to say the giant decade numbers outside of Pop Century. Pulling up and seeing them just makes me feel like I'm home.
Smell
Probably the areas around the waterfalls at the Polynesian.
Sound
This may sound weird, but that really quiet -swoosh- sound as the monorail passes by in the resorts. Also, the monorail resort spiel.
