alyceinwonderland1

[alyceinwonderland1]

🌞 Enjoying days off poolside at Patterson Court 🌞 #Disneycollegeprogram #disneyinternationalprogram #disneyculturalexchange #disneyicp #disneycp #disneyalumniassociation #pattersoncourt #disneyhousing (at Patterson Court Apartments)

[alyceinwonderland1]

The very first time I stepped into Magic Kingdom for "Welcome to Entertainment" training ❤ #mickeysroyalfriendshipfaire #disneyinternationalprogram #DisneyICP #disneyworld #waltdisneyworld #disneycp #disneyculturalexchangeprogram #disneycollegeprogram #disneyalumni #disneyalumniassociation (at Disney's Magic Kingdom)

[alyceinwonderland1]

What I loved most about being a Character Attendant was getting to be so involved with guest interactions and making lasting memories with guests #Christmasday #disneyinternationalprogram #disneyicp #Disneycollegeprogram #Disneycollegeprogram2016 #disneyicp2016 #disneyworld #Hollywoodstudios #waltdisneyworld #disneyculturalexchangeprogram #CharacterAttendant #minniemouse (at Disney's Hollywood Studios)

[alyceinwonderland1]

Traditions at Disney University was truly a "Dreams Come True" moment #disneyicp #disneyicp2016 #disneycollegeprogram #Disneycollegeprogram2016 #disneyuniversity #Waltdisneyworld #WDW #Hollywoodstudios #CharacterAttendant

[alyceinwonderland1]

Well, it’s safe to say I was beyond useless at documenting my time at Disney!

Just like many people who gave entered the program, I went in bright eyed thinking that I was going to document and film everything. However, the reality when you arrive is that you are so busy embracing all of the different opportunities available, that blogging/vlogging is just too time consuming of an activity (you also feel like a massive idiot walking around talking into a camera)!

So, here I am just over a year after my program completion (insane!), and I figured why not share some of the stories I have as they might be helpful to someone.

A quick update on where I’m at in my life: I returned to Australia after the program ended and finished my degree. I am now living in Canberra working in Project Management for a Fortune 500 company.

Now for the million dollar question, did the College Program actually live up to its claim of being a “resume enhancing experience” despite my role having nothing to do with what I was studying? The answer is a resounding YES! At every interview I have attended since, they have always been extremely interested in my time at Disney, and for a very good reason. As a cast member you learn so many transferrable skills, especially in a role as customer facing as a Character Attendant. These include skills like time management, communication, conflict resolution, team work, and individual work, along with many others. It also becomes a great talking point when networking, as most people associate fond, nostalgic memories with the Walt Disney Company, and they love to hear the stories of what it’s actually like working there.

Overall, other than the great time you will have just from being in the program, you will also benefit from it in the long term.

So anyway, starting from now I will be beginning to finish and upload some old content that never saw the light of day, but if you have anything in particular that you would like to see covered please let me know because the ICP is a topic I could passionately talk about for days. If you are in the application or acceptance process, check out some of my older posts where I go into great depth about paperwork and financial details as well as suggesting youtubers and vloggers who are very helpful.

[alyceinwonderland1]

First day in the parks. We went to Epcot and LOVED it!

[alyceinwonderland1]

Officially a Cast Member!

[alyceinwonderland1]

My home for the next 5+ months!

[alyceinwonderland1]

Off to Florida to start my Disney program- Bye Melbourne!

[alyceinwonderland1]

Update

Hi Everyone! Apologies for my complete uselessness with posts over the last couple of months. I have been finishing up uni, which as most of you know takes all of your time and happiness. I arrived in Florida yesterday! However, I have confined myself to my hotel room until I have finished my final assignment. Once I have finally finished, I will have plenty of content to update and add to this blog and if I can figure it out, I will be experimenting with a vlog also.... so we’ll see how that goes. But for now I am looking out my hotel window at Disney Springs and seeing fireworks in the distance, knowing that when I finish this one-last-assignment I will be free to go and play. - Alyce

[alyceinwonderland1]

Hey, Im from Sydney, doing the exact same program, leaving in August :) Have you had much respondence from Disney after the DORMs thing? I haven't heard much, and how are you going choosing your apartment block?

Hi!That’s awesome :) I haven’t had any correspondence about housing yet, but from what I’ve read you don’t get asked to submit your housing preferences until a couple of weeks before your program date. At this point the focus is just on paying all of the fees and organising the Visa.However, my preferences will be:1) Chatham or Commons2) Patterson3) VistaI’ve been speaking to some really lovely ladies who are in this intake, it’s going to be such a good time!

[alyceinwonderland1]

In your post about costs you listed two lots of health insurance, are these two options you had to choose between or did you need to get both?

Hola! You only need to get one of these options, one is slightly more expensive and more comprehensive than the other :) 

[alyceinwonderland1]

hi! i've applied for the january 2017 intake and was just wondering how many of the roles you expressed interest in??

Hi! I put Merchandise, Seater, Attractions and Character Attendant as “High Interest”. I only put two as “No Interest” and they were Lifeguard and Character Performer because I can’t swim and I can’t act haha. The rest I put in “Moderate Interest”.I did however make clear in my interview that although Merchandise was my top choice, I would really be thrilled with anything they had available. Just make sure you’re somewhat honest with yourself as well. If there is a role that you know you would hate, don’t feel like you have to express interest in it or you won’t get in... They completely understand that not every job is for every person.Good luck with your application :) :)

[alyceinwonderland1]

Costs

Hey everyone!

 Firstly, I realised that I never said what role I was offered with Disney in my acceptance post… I will be a Character Attendant! It was pretty unexpected given the direction my interview had taken, however I’m sure it will be great. Anyway, I just wanted to do a quick overview of the costs I have incurred so far, so if anyone from Australia is thinking of applying you can be prepared because this program is expensive.

Before Arrival * Program application fee- US$354.5/AUD$489.1 * Return flights Melbourne-Orlando flying Air New Zealand- AUD$1800      - Note: I won a $200 gift voucher, so it actually came to AUD$1600 * Student Flights essentials package (to change flights if needed)- AUD$99 * Federal Police Check- AUD$42 * SEVIS Fee (For Visa)- US$35/ AUD$48.61 * Visa Application Fee- US$160/ AUD$224 * Reciprocity fee (For Visa)- US $105/ AUD $145.43 * Health insurance policy option #1- US$2.67/day- AUD$690.71 total (This is the one that I chose) * Health insurance policy option #2- US$3.33/day- US$632.70 total 

Total: ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS!

 So save, save, save people and be prepared! 

 - Alyce 

** Note: I will continue to edit this as I continue to get bills so it stays updated and in the same place :)

[alyceinwonderland1]

Oh my goodness!! This looks so beautiful. And I adore the original soundtrack so I’m so glad that Alan Menken is doing the music for this adaptation. Also, I’m happy that the beast is actually a child in the portrait in this version, that little plot hole really frustrated me in the original!

[alyceinwonderland1]

I can now finally say..

I GOT IN!!!! I am going to be living and working at Disney World…. It still doesn’t feel real. This has been such a crazy, stressful week at uni- but this is definitely my silver lining :)

Now just to fork out the $$$

- Alyce

[alyceinwonderland1]

Update

Hey Everyone! Just a quick update on my application progress. So, the Australian August 2016 applicants were told at the interviews that we would find out by the start of May if we had or had not been accepted into the program. Naturally, everyone has been checking their emails and dashboard 50 times every day for the last week, and there has been plenty of speculation about when we would finally get *that* email. Well, at 12:30 am on Friday, we finally got one from Disney...

This wait has been so painful! But heck, I’ve waited half a year, what’s a couple more weeks really?