Phone Screener

So this post is from September 12th, but because I didn't want to post it until later on. Update: I have not heard anything back. It was a very fun process though and I plan on re applying on my DCP!

So today (9/12) I had my phone screener. It was scheduled for 1pm and she called at 12:52pm, and it lasted 19 minutes. So always be prepared early! I am so glad they called early because waiting for the phone to ring is so scary! I also recommend scheduling your interview in the morning or early afternoon. If your interview is past like 2-3pm it will give you anxiety ALL day. This way I woke up, showered, relaxed a bit, and then had my interview. The questions were very basic and reminded me of the DCP interview.

•Why do you want to do a PI?
•Rank top 3 PIs.
•What do you think those PIs do/Why do you want them?
•Tell me your least favorite and favorite aspect of your current job?
•When have you had a leadership role?

Much easier than I expected. She said that I should know yes or no by late October, but she did not have an official date for me. I feel that late October is fairly early for the PI program. I had to do my interview in my car because there is no phone signal in my apartment. I was literally soaked in sweat afterwards because my notes were covering the vents on my car and it is like 90 degrees outside, and I was stressed out!

 I wore my Disney World 2014 castle tshirt for good luck!

Overall I feel pretty good about it, but only time will tell. Now I can just sit back and continue stalking my dashboard! My Alum only dash moved back to in progress after the interview, but I have heard this is totally normal.

Tips and Tricks: Epcot

My next Tips and Tricks is going to feature Epcot! Epcot is actually my favorite park at Walt Disney World. I LOVE Wold Showcase's atmosphere and the attractions in Future World.

FOOD

• My favorite snack in the world showcase is the sauerkraut in Germany. I used to get Bratwurst with it, but now that I don't eat meat I simply order the sauerkraut.  (I will discuss the beer in this photo later!)

• Another great place to get food in Epcot is the French Bakery! You can get a ham and cheese croissant for around $4. The bakery features lots of great sandwich type items for really great prices. 

• My favorite sit down restaurant in Epcot is tied between Le Cellier and Tutto Italia. Both of these restaurants are a bit pricy, but great if you are on the dining plan!

DRINKS

• My FAVORITE adult beverage in Epcot is the beer featured in the German pavilion. It is called Schofferhofer Grapefruit beer. This beer is so light and refreshing and great for a hot day in the parks. The only downside is that it is only 2-3% alcohol. So it is a bit pricy for what you are getting, but so worth it!

• Club Cool- This is the place to go for  Coke samples. You can try different varieties of Coke from around the world, for FREE!

• La Cava Del Tequila- This place is a hidden gem in Mexico. Tucked away inside the pyramid, this is the best place to go and cool off or avoid the rain storms at 3pm. I normally refuse to drink anything with tequila, but their coffee margarita is amazing. It tastes just like a frappuchino. My friend told me if you are sharing a drink with a friend to order it served in two glasses and you usually get more for your money. Also they always have specials at La Cava if you follow their Twitter page. Last time I was there you got a $5 shot or free chips and salsa for a Twitter follow. 

• Sangria- Ordering a pitcher of Sangira in the Tutto Gusto Italian Wine Cellar (another hidden gem) is the best bang for your buck. The sangria is pretty yummy, and one of the best deals in world showcase. 

Attractions

• The Dolphin Show in The Seas is amazing. I loved watching them do tricks for their trainers. This show happens periodically though out the day in the back corner of The Seas aquarium. 

•Test Track- If you are a General Motors employee you can get fast passes for Test Track!

•Figment- Don't laugh, but Figment is one of my favorite attractions. There is never a line and its always cute to watch. 

• Malestrom- RIP, this was one of the best rides in Epcot, and I am so sad to see it go to be replaced by a Frozen ride :(

•Mission Space-  The nice thing about Mission Space is that they now offer two levels for the ride. A more easy level and the more intense ride. After drinking around the world I highly suggest the easier level! 

Sick Day-Calling In

Since I am currently sick I figured I would make a post about getting sick and calling out. When I worked in the Bibbdidi Bobbidi Boutique I was constantly sick because of touching the little kids faces and hands. I also had an awful respiratory thing from the hair spray fumes. Hopefully I won't be sick as much this time around! So my very first week of training I woke up one morning with a high fever and found out I had strep throat.I was in a panic worried that I was going to be sent home for being sick. I called the managers and found out that if I got a doctors note I could miss a certain amount of days (I want to say it was 5-6) and it would only be 1 point ( you can only do this once). One girl however was sick at first and just didn't call or show up for a week. DONT do this or they will send you home. You HAVE to call!

 The point system works like this.
 1 second-2 hours late = 1/2 point
2 hours late- whole day = 1 point
 3 "no shows" (not calling in) result in being termed

 You can get 3 points in 30 days 6 in 60 etc before getting a reprimand. Upon a 4th reprimand you are termed. However to have a good rehire status for extending etc you cannot have more than 5 points or 1 reprimand. The system is kind of confusing, but once it is explained to you in person it makes more sense. When you get a reprimand you have to sit down with a manager and sign off acknowledging you know what could happen next if you continue on. Calling in was a simple process. You simply call the number Disney provides and state if the day is sick or personal. As a college program participant it doesn't matter if it is sick or personal, but they have to ask that because the system is a bit different for normal full time employees.

 However some of my friends in different departments called their managers directly to call in ( they were in Entertainment)

 Another concern people have is what doctor they will see. Unless you are from Central Florida your doctor obviously won't be nearby. I had to use the urgent care right outside of Downtown Disney. I do believe they have a shuttle that will pick up college program students with out cars as well! CVS also has a service called the minute clinic. This would be a good place to go for something simple like a strep test etc.

 Just make sure to take care of yourself, get rest, and wash your hands frequently and you will be fine! Wish me luck in feeling better :)

Making Your Work Costume Cute

When I did my college program I was always looking for ways to make my costume cuter. Since there are such strict "Disney Look" policies it is very hard to do so. Here are some recommendations on how to:

•Watch- a watch is one of the few pieces of jewelry you can wear to work. Having a cute watch can make your costume a bit more bearable. The watch just has to be "classic business style" I love This one!

•Earrings- Every day in the BBB I always had on a different pair of earrings. The rules were pretty simple. The earrings had to be smaller than the size of a quarter. I would rock pearls, diamond studs, little flowers, and little bow earrings. Disney Look just requires that the earrings match your costume colors or are silver or gold. These would be pretty in a color to match your costume!

•Hair Accessories- My work location was ok with tiny hair ribbons that matched my costume color.A few of my friends were also able to do this however some locations do not like the ribbons.
" Accessories no larger than one inch (approximately 2.5 cm) wide (approximately 2.5 cm) wide and four inches (approximately 10 cm) long are acceptable. Headbands, hair ribbons, or hair ties are acceptable, provided that they are no wider than one inch (2.5 cm).Accessories must be a neutral color (silver, gold, tortoiseshell, black, clear or pearl) or a solid color that matches the costume.No more than three small accessories may be worn at once." (Disney Look hair accessories guidelines)

•Rings- You are allowed to wear one ring on each hand (with the exception of a wedding band).  I know for Christmas I am asking for a pretty ring I can wear to work. Keep in mind the ring can't be anything too out there (no skull rings etc) This one is very pretty

•Shoes- Last DCP I made the mistake of picking super dorky looking shoes. Brands are coming out with more and more attractive shoe styles that still have comfort. Comfort is the first priority,but don't pick out a shoe you can't stand (like I did).

Tips and Tricks: Magic Kingdom

After living and working in Walt Disney World for 7 months I was able to accumulate some tips and tricks for each park on property. I am going to start with Magic Kingdom because I feel it is the common favorite for everyone.

FOOD

• Columbia Harbor House- This is my favorite hidden gem. There is always seating available upstairs,and they have the best fish and chips on property. Large dishes=sharing!

•The Plaza- If you want to sit down somewhere and be waited on, The Plaza is the place to go. You can get sandwiches and yummy dessert here
right off main street for a very reasonable price

•Pecos Bills- Omg the toppings bar is amazing. If you order something simple like chili or french fries you can fill it high with "fixins", I used to get chili and top it with mushrooms,cheese, sour cream, and onions. Great $4 small meal. 

•Casey's Corner- This quick service location off main street also has a toppings bar. They serve hot dogs, so if you order a plain hot dog you can top it with wonderful things (sauerkraut was my fav!)

•Dole Whip- This is the best snack on property. Located in Adventureland

ATTRACTIONS/ SHOWS

•The Laugh Floor- There is never much of a line for this show, and if you sit in the middle on the edge of a row you are more likely to get selected for the show.

•Any attraction- always take the left line when the line breaks. Everyone instinctively goes to the right.

•Disney's Electrical Parade- Best viewing location is in Liberty Square.

•Teacups- This one always has a fairly short line, and is one of my favorites!

•Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin- Rumor has it you can get the picture printed for free if you get a perfect score! Don't forget to grab an I'm Celebrating button when you get 999,999

Traditions- No Spoilers

Everyone has been asking me questions about Traditions. The problem is there are so many blog posts about it that really spoil surprises. I had those surprises ruined for me when I did my first DCP, so I promise this post contains no spoilers :) I just wanted to post something helpful for future cast members.

I had the early traditions session (it was done alphabetically and the cut off was around N I think). You will have to board the bus super early when it is still dark outside if you have the AM session. If I remember correctly our bus boarding was at 6:45am. Even if you brought a car you are highly recommended to take a bus to traditions (Honestly, maybe required)

Once you get to Disney University you go through a check in process and finally get your employee ID (because this is your first official day as a CM). Then you are broken into smaller groups, also alphabetical. One of my roommates was in my classroom group so that made it more fun for me. Don't worry if you are split up from friends for Traditions though. This day is a great opportunity to meet new people, and everyone is in the same boat.

The class is about  3 hours long and consists of videos, learning about Disney history, games, and basic training information. After the apprx 3 hour session there is some hands on type learning that takes about an hour.

In total the whole experience was around 4 hours long. The nice thing about the AM session is that you can get admission to the parks afterwards!

Notes:

 •Don't worry about packing a lunch, just pack a snack.

•Make sure you are dressed professionally. 

•Wear comfortable walking shoes.

•If you have tattoos, cover them.

•Ladies, bring a cardigan incase classrooms are cold

•Go in with an open mind and have fun!

Packing List

I officially will be in Orlando in 97 days! I am so beyond excited. Since I have passed the 100 day mark I felt it was appropriate to begin my packing list. I am very organized and OCD when it comes to packing. Making this list is helping me so that I don't forget little things here and there. If you would like to view the list you can view it HERE . Making this list is helping me stay busy until those 97 days pass!

Chatham Square

I know part of the excitement for the Disney College Program is selecting your housing complex. I am not too familiar with all of the complexes, but I thought I would share my insight about Chatham Square. On my college program in 2012 I lived in a 3 bedroom apartment in Chatham Square. The process back then was a little bit different. You went and waited in line at check in with your roommates that you wanted. The earlier you got there the better your chances were of receiving your first choice. My group arrived at 3:30am, and we were the first group to select our housing.

Roomies: L-R Top: Chelsea, Julia, Andrea Bottom: Morgan, Demi, Me

We got our first choice of a 3bedroom in Chatham Square. We were even able to request ground floor and a good location. Unfortunately with the system being all online now it is harder to make specific requests.

So about our unit!

When you walk in the unit you have the kitchen on your left and the den on your right. Right past the den was mine and Morgan's room. I loved our spot because we could keep our door open and still feel part of the action in the kitchen even if we were in our rooms. Our room was about the same size as the others, but a bit smaller than one of the rooms. Our closet had two stacked hanging racks (one up high and one down low) and then one long rack for dresses and longer things. We each took one of the stacked racks and shared the long one. Our Bathroom was decent sized. There was a medicine cabinet for extra storage. The shower/tub are standard size. 

Moving in my room

Outside of our bedroom was the nook with the kitchen table. Then down the hall there was another nook with a desk. On the right of the hall was one bedroom and facing the back of the hall was the additional bedroom. Something interesting about the other two bedrooms was the layout. The largest room had two bathroom doors. One led to the hallway and the other led to the bedroom. The additional bedroom was unique because the closet was in the restroom. 

My Room

For kitchen space we had a decent amount. We were each able to have one shelf in the pantry. The only area that was a struggle was the fridge. Most of my roommates enjoyed cooking so the fridge was always crammed. I would recommend a 2 bedroom unit if you enjoy cooking alot. 

Our Kitchen

The nice thing about Chatham is that you are convenient to the bus stop, classrooms, and housing events. We were right across from the building that had laundry. We were also next to the pool and mailboxes. I loved our location so much! (27103!)

My only downside to Chatham was the new ness. Our apartment was fine, but then when I saw Patterson I was bummed. My friends in Patterson appeared to have more of a "luxury apartment" feel. Their carpets and furnishings were much newer, simply because Patterson IS newer. The only downside to Patterson is their sinks aren't behind the restroom doors.

Overall, I loved Chatham and plan to return there for my upcoming DCP!

Just Keep Swimming

Today I got very exciting news! I was at work in the middle of a conversation and saw I had an email from Disney recruiting about an interview. Since I was in the middle of handling something I wasn't able to open up the email. Finally I was able to see what position the interview is for. It is for Alum Only Events "Screener". I was a bit confused at first because I already had my alum only screener, but apparently alum events has a screener too. My interview is scheduled for Thursday at 11am, and I couldn't be more excited!!!

Becky Got In!

My friend Becky and I met a few months back to catch up and grab dinner. Over the course of conversation we both learned that we wanted to work for Disney in Spring 2015. Then we decided we could both apply and live together! Long story short Becky now dates my boyfriend's roomie. Sooo I was at the boy's house the other night and everyone seemed to be up to no good. Becky hadn't heard back yet for her DCP and I had. So a few minutes into the evening Becky tells me to come look at this guys cake. So I walk over and read the cake. First off, it is pink, so that was odd thinking it was a guy's cake. Then I read it and it says: All I needed was faith trust and pixie dust..

 Then I tilt my head and think..what??? Then Becky screamed " I GOT IN!!!"

It was so exciting to finally be able to celebrate with her! She was accepted for the role of Merchandise and has the same dates as me. That evening we celebrated in style by wearing our mouse ears (she packed a pair for me) to Taco Mac.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Ok so I have been getting alot of questions about my past role, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Hostess (BBB for short). Another name I went by was FGIT (Fairy Godmother in Training).

My work experience: Many people ask what type of experience got me this role. I used to work birthday parties as a costumed character (Princess mainly). In the parties we did face painting, nails, makeup etc.. I also have been involved in theater and dance my whole life, so in my interview I also discussed how I would help the younger children backstage with their hair and makeup. I also had a ton of kids volunteer experience and work experience.

The Job: So being a FGIT is considered one of the best jobs on property. The main daily tasks included doing hair, makeup, and nails on girls aged 3-12. Every once in a while you would get a little prince. For their process you spike their hair and put this colored hair paint in it. The boys also get to keep a sword and shield with their transformation. Aside from working a chair (doing hair etc) you can also be placed on podium. The podium handles the front desk check in process. The clock in system randomly selects who will work podium for the day. Although, it seems the same ladies always got that role.

The Locations: There are 2 locations for the BBB. Downtown Disney and in the castle at Magic Kingdom. The DTD location (where I was) opens at 9am to guests. The earliest shift I ever had was 8:30am. When you arrive at 8:30 you help stock the supply carts and participate in the morning meeting.  The DTD location closes at 8pm. There is also a "night podium" position at DTD. This FGIT stays in the World of Disney until 10pm pixie dusting people and posing for pictures. This is really fun because most guests think you are a costumed princess or something! Magic Kingdom opens earlier but also closes earlier (and has no night podium) The MK location is almost impossible to get walk ins for. DTD can take some walk ins depending on the season. DTD plays pop type music and has an upbeat vibe. MK plays classical tunes and has a more posh sophisticated feel. DTD also has a daily princess parade through DTD. This is alot of fun and a nice break from the inside.

The Costume: The DTD location wears a red vest and the MK location wears a blue vest. Other than that the skirt and blouse are the same. Word of warning, the blouse doesn't breathe. You will wear black mary jane style shoes. Some girls wore ballet flats, but I think a strap across the shoe is preferred. Some of the girls were brave and wore character heels every day.  You will also have to wear a halo on your head each day as well. 

Packages: The basic package comes with hair and makeup. The next package adds nails (only $5 more) and the "Castle Package" comes with a princess dress, crown, wand, and then hair makeup and nails. All the girls get to keep their makeup kit and nail polish. There are a few different hair styles, but all styles involve either braiding,twisting, or high pony tails

The experience: The good of this job is endless. You are always covered in pixie dust (glitter), which I loved!! You get to make little girls into their favorite princess (As a FGIT you explain that you are 300 years old and you are training to be a real Fairy Godmother like Cinderella's. To practice for training you help the princesses get ready each and every morning) My favorite magical moment on my CP was when a little boy (about 3-4 ) came in a for a "knight package" (this is the boy one). He was such a happy little kid and enjoyed every second. During his transformation his mom asked if she could plug up his feeding tube, and of course I said go ahead! Then she started to explain to me that her son had extremely progressed cancer (I think it was brain cancer but I can't recall). When parents tell you about their struggles it makes it so hard to stay in character and continue the process. Her son was so cheerful and happy you would have never known that he could lose his life any day. His mother then proceeded to break into some tears while telling me this story. At this time I was about done with his hair. I told him that it was time to see his transformation (they face away from the mirror). I handed him his shield and sword and told him to yell CHARGGGE when I spun him around... 3,2,1 Charge! He shouted. He loved seeing his cool hair and new look. He enjoyed the spinning chair so much that he asked to spin again. I ended up spinning him around and letting him yell charger about 4-5 times. It was the highlight of his day. His mother told me that moments like this are so precious for their family because their moments with him are so limited. I will always remember that little prince!

Overall, working the BBB was such a fun experience. Like any job it has it's moments, but I do miss being part of such a magical environment. It was so wonderful seeing how you really brightened families days at the BBB. For my future CP I am going to be in the concierge role. I am looking forward to this because one of my favorite BBB questions from parents was about dining or what rides they should do etc..