#dcpspring2019

[dcpstory]

#disneycollegeprogram #disneycollegeprogram2019 #dcpspring2019 #dcp2019 #disneycollegeprogram2018 #dcpfall2018 #dcpspring2018 #dcp2018 #wdwcp #waltdisneyworldcp #waltdisneyworldcollegeprogram #disneyinterns #disneyintern #disneyinternship #disneyintermships #disneycollegeprogramalumni #disneycp #dcpmemes #dcp #dcpalumni #cpalumni https://www.instagram.com/p/B0RHPBcgZ9r/?igshid=6cmjoe072m2m

[alexandralegr8]

Making Moves???

Well, I have some news! This past Friday, I finally got my WBI!!! I went straight home with my already accepted bestie and she helped me ace my WBI and I immediately scheduled my PI!!! It’s tomorrow (Monday) at 11:15, and I am beyond excited and also extremely nervous. I’m afraid that I won’t get QSFB, Merch, or Attractions, or even get the 28th as my move in day. I am hoping to be Kirsten’s roommate and with a good role for myself. Attractions and Merch are my top choices, but QSFB is an extremely close second to those, and I would be so happy to get that! I know QSFB the best, hence my work history, and I have a feeling that that is what I’d get, but now they’re saying that roles are limited, along with arrival dates. I am terrified that they’re going to give me custodial or lifeguard. I’m just praying and praying over here, along with Kirsten of course. Pray for me!!!!!

[im-a-mickey]

I leave in 9 days 😊

[magicalthingsbykimmy]

🖤 The only one since day 1 to the very end. Love ya Beth. Also RIP Vista Way. 5/2/19 & 5/22/18 & 8/19/18 🖤 . . . #vistaway #disneycollegeprogram #disneycollegeprogram2019 #disneycollegeprogram2018 #disneycollegeprogramalumni #dcp #dcp2019 #dcp2018 #dcpalumni #dcpfall2018 #dcpspring2019 #disneyprograms #disneyalumni #disneycastmember #disneycastmembers #wecreatehappiness (at Vista Way - Disney Housing) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ_O4nxD6T-/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lexiirawrrsatyou]

❤ The best way to spend Valentine's Day ❤ . . . #HappyValentinesDay #MyValentine #ILoveYou #baeventures #EPCOT #FestivaloftheArts #Orlando #Florida #dcpspring2019 (at Epcot International Festival of the Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt356N5lAtc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=593lpuuk1xfl

[villiansarepeopletoo]

The Disney College Program: FAQ Before Becoming a Cast Member

After spending weeks staring at the hours, minutes and seconds countdown I had rolling on my phone, my mom and I made the 8 hour car ride from North Carolina to Orlando to start on the biggest journey of my life thus far. All the Disney themed Christmas and Graduation gifts I received just made me burst into tears because I was so ready to be a Cast Member. But I didn’t know true euphoria until my very first day of training, which Walt Disney World refers to as the start of Earning Your Ears. There really aren’t a lot of resources out there that go into detail about what you should expect in the beginning of your program. It can be really nerve racking going to work for such a large company, especially when you know they have such high expectations for their employees. So I really just want to answer some of the biggest questions I had before I left.

What are the apartments like? How do they match you with roommates?

Truthfully, the apartments aren’t perfect. But they provide every basic thing you may need during the time you’re going to be there, except a coffee maker.. The layout is different in each of the four apartment complexes, The Commons, Patterson Court, Chatham Square, and Vista Way (which I have listed according to how expensive they are), but generally they all have a shared living space, bedrooms that all have their own bath and house 2-4 people, along with a full kitchen that does come with pots, pans, and plates. There are pros and cons to literally every housing unit, and even if you put one as your top choice, you still may get your last choice. They do it a lot like colleges do it, when you fill out your housing info you will rank your options from lowest to highest. I won’t go into too much detail on the individual units in this article, but I’ve included a link on the listed names that will take you to the official Disney Programs blog (my opinion is biased anyways because I loved my apartment, they are honestly like being sorted into Hogwarts houses and the loyalty is fierce #PattersonForLife).

As far as roommates go, you CAN choose your roommates! But there is also an option to go random, just like in college! I linked up with all my roommates on the Disney College Program Spring 2018 Facebook page. Almost every class that comes through makes a private Facebook page for people who have applied, and once acceptances go out everyone starts pairing up as roommates. There will be a universal post that will travel around which has you fill out your likes and dislikes and your living habits. Its honestly online dating…and it’s SUPER awkward. But you just have to make the most of it. I was lucky enough to connect with 5 amazing girls all around the same age and we got along super great! None of us were from the same state so it was really awesome to get to know everyone. So once we found each other and agreed to live together, we designated one Leader, in our case we chose my friend Brooke because this was her second program and she was the only one who knew what she was doing… When you receive your acceptance to the program and pay all your fees, Disney gives you an ID number. When Brooke began filling out her housing information, she linked all of us up using our ID numbers and we accepted the invitations confirming our housing requests to be roommates. It’s a pretty easy process once you start filling out your paperwork but if you ever have questions you can always contact housing or recruiting, they work for Disney so they’re naturally super helpful and they’ll get back to you in a few days. (wdw.college.recruiting@disney.com)

Is there anything specific that I should pack? What should I leave at home?

It really is personal preference, but if you’re a shopaholic like me and want anything and everything Disney, definitely pack light. My entire life changed when I found out about the Cast Discount Store, Cast Connections. They sell everything for an insanely low price after it’s gone out of season. All the ears are $5. I went into my program promising myself I wouldn’t purchase a single pair of Minnie ears, but I had to make room for 11 pairs in my car when I was packing up my apartment.. I was still finding ears under my seats when I moved home… #NoRagrets… I also started a mug collection…you just never know what you’re gonna end up getting into. I would definitely advise against bringing any kind of warm clothing aside from like one blanket and one sweatshirt. I think I wore jeans once during my 6 month program. The kitchen is mostly provided for, pots, pans, cups, plates, and bowls should already be placed in the cabinets when you get there. If they are not, go to the Club House of your complex and let them know and they’ll give you a checklist of everything you’re supposed to have. Be sure and fill out a form with what you don’t have during your first week or they won’t replace it.

I would also talk with your Bedroom roommate a little. You’ll need the essentials such as bedding, bathroom stuff, a bath mat, shower curtain, and hangers for the closet. We split up the shelves in the pantry for food, but I suggest having a bin to put food and produce in. Luckily most of the closet space is great! I didn’t have much problem with storage for clothes. My roommate, Morgan, and I found the plastic drawer sets from Target were really helpful though just for another option if you need something extra. In my apartment, the extra closet space around the living areas were first come first serve so don’t be shy. Claim your spaces and just go with it.

What is Traditions?

Traditions is Disney’s fancy way of saying Training and Expectations. I’ll publish a complete article later on with the expectations of Traditions. A lot of sources will talk about how scary this process can be, but I promise it’s just like any other on-boarding process. You’ll basically just go to Casting and get your finger print and background check done. BE SURE AND BRING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, PHOTO ID, AND PASSPORT, just to be safe. I thought I didn’t need it, but I was very wrong and had to go to the social security office in Orlando at 4:00 in the morning. It was a terrible experience. I got to know Snow White pretty well though.

After your legal stuff is done you’ll watch some very wonderful videos about how much magic Disney brings to the lives of guests and everyone sits and cries together…Then they give you a super short tour of FantasyLand in Magic Kingdom. I won’t spoil all the surprises, but it was one of the best days of my life. It’s long and you spend it in a classroom, but its just amazing. It’s the first day you feel apart of the company and close to the magic. It’s also the day you receive you’re Name Tag. PLEASE DO NOT STRESS OVER WHAT TO WEAR. The Disney Look may sound intimidating, but if you feel comfortable wearing in front of your grandma, then you can wear it in front of your trainer.  (I’ll publish another article about the Disney Look.)

When can I go into the Parks?

Contrary to popular opinion, your first 3 to 5 days in Orlando YOU CANNOT GO INTO THE PARKS (unless you purchase a ticket or have an annual pass). After you complete Disney classical training (Disney Traditions), you will receive, what Cast Members call, your Blue Card. It’s nothing super fancy, just a small bright blue credit card with your name on it and a tiny picture of Mickey Mouse, but when you get it, it basically represents the Disney version of a Hogwarts Letter. It is your access to ALL the magic: The Parks, Free Parking, your Cast Member Discounts on food and merchandise, and it is the tool you’ll use to clock in for work in order to get paid by the big cheese himself. So don’t lose it.

What kind of Discounts and Perks do College Program Kids get? How much do you get paid?

Disney College Program Kids get paid $10 per hour. Very little exceptions to this. VERY LITTLE. So be sure you have a little bit of help, financially, when you go. We don’t often get the chance to work overtime and when you do, don’t hold your breath that you’ll always get compensated for overtime. Be prepped for $10 per hour at 35 hours a week (unless you’re merchandise or attractions, then you’ll have a ton of hours).

We get 20% off merchandise except during the Holidays (We get 40% off), which begins around Thanksgiving and continues through Valentine’s day. So Spring Kids, BUY EVERYTHING YOU CAN IN YOUR FIRST MONTH. Just so you know. The restaurant discounts vary, but there will be a newsletter in The Hub (Disney’s Employee Info Spot) telling you what locations have the best deals, and it’s updated frequently.

How much free time will I have?

I had two days off every week and it was perfect. They weren’t always back to back which was totally fine with me. You always have the option of picking up shifts (though not always outside of your location). If you know ahead of time that you need specific dates off, officially request it through the Hub, which you’ll become super familiar with after a week or two. If you have questions ask your Leaders (Managers). I was blessed with some pretty amazing superiors and I never felt uncomfortable asking questions or even sharing a concern. But I had friends who didn’t have that luxury. I know a lot of people say that your College Program experience has a lot to do with who your Leaders are.

There’s no ignoring that College Program Participants get the crappy shifts and work a lot. Go in with low expectations for your free time, but you’ll get at least one day off a week and it’s easy to make the most of it when you’re in such close proximity to the parks. I was placed at the Contemporary Resort across from Magic Kingdom and took the monorail to work on many occasions after playing in the park all morning. Or me and my favorite coworker would sprint through our closing chores to make it to 9:00 Fireworks on time and ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin until close. Again, the best advice I ever received was to not skip out on something just because you’re tired. You’ll always be tired when you spend every day making sure everyone else is having a “Magical Day in Walt Disney World.”

[carlotta-arianne]

Guess who's staying at the Magic Kingdom till July 25th? #Extension #dcpspring2019 #SigoMisSueños (at Disney's College Program) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpTLpi_DmDJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ppywyaadi53

[shrunken-savs]

We start our journey today! #dcpspring2019 here we come! I can't wait to share this experience with you all! — view on Instagram http://bit.ly/2RoQLNf

[lionelnosacka]

yeehaw #disneycollegeprogram #dcpspring2019 #springadvantage #dcp https://www.instagram.com/p/BpVOPwunTOG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1w1n8v8f90o65

[dcpstory]

Inspired by @andi.in.the.parks #disneycollegeprogram #disneycollegeprogram2019 #dcpspring2019 #dcp2019 #disneycollegeprogram2018 #dcpfall2018 #dcpfall2019 #dcpspring2018 #dcp2018 #wdwcp #waltdisneyworldcp #waltdisneyworldcollegeprogram #disneyinterns #disneyintern #disneyinternship #disneyinternships #disneycollegeprogramalumni #disneycp #dcpmemes #dcp #dcpalumni #cpalumni (at Walt Disney World) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7pthf8A4D0/?igshid=ur2sqmcwy0e

[magicalthingsbykimmy]

✨ My second Service Celebration that I went to straight from work. Very classy and very put together. 3/13/19 ✨ . . . #disneycollegeprogram #disneyprograms #waltdisneyworld #disneycareers #dcp #disneycollegeprogram2019 #disneyalumni #dcp2019 #dcpspring2019 #servicecelebration #disneycollegeprogramalumni #wecreatehappiness #disneyhousing #lifeguard #lifeguards #disneylifeguard #dcplifeguard (at Disney Internships & Programs Service Celebration) https://www.instagram.com/p/COF904iBvXm/?igshid=jq9w8b939m5w

[zillustration28-blog]

I WAS ACCEPTED!! I'm part of the #spring2019 term, I've been dreaming to go to the DCP since I was in 8th grade! . . . . #dcp #dcpspring2019 #disneycollegeprogram #custodial #custodialsquad #custodialpride #disney #disneyworld https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn2gf4uDeup/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13xvbncuqiid8

[villiansarepeopletoo]

This was the biggest decision I ever made, and one of the best. Like all things, it comes with pros and cons. Only 4 days left to be a part of the DCP Spring 2019 Class!

[shrunken-savs]

Less than 24 hours until I drive down to Florida to start my #dcpspring2019 !! I’m so excited to finally start my journey (but i definitely still need to pack… 🙊🙊🙊) — view on Instagram http://bit.ly/2VLAX5P

[magicalthingsbykimmy]

⭐️ I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now. 7/6/18 ⭐️ . . . Except in this case because this sundae was SO GOOD! Remember Edna Mode’s “No Capes Just Crêpes” Nutella Crêpe Sundae from Auntie Gravities Galactic Goodies back in 2018? I wanted to get it for WEEKS before I finally got it one night in Magic Kingdom with my girl @carolyn.delany and of course we watched fireworks while eating it. Happy #NationalIceCreamDay ! . . . #IceCreamDay #DisneyCollegeProgram #DCP #DCP2018 #DCPFall2018 #DisneyCollegeProgram2018 #DCP2019 #DCPSpring2019 #DisneyCollegeProgram2019 #DisneyCastMember #CastMember #DisneyAlumni #DisneyPrograms #DisneyCP #WaltDisneyWorld #WDW #DisneyWorld #Orlando #DisneyParks #Disney #DisneyGram #igers_wdw #DisneyPhotography #DisneyofInstagram #Tomorrowland #IncredibleSummer #EdnaMode #IceCream #MagicKingdom (at Tomorrowland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1OoUGjCRe/?igshid=veijl7qqn82r

[magicalthingsbykimmy]

✨ A little castle magic for you today. 6/9/18 ✨ . . . #DisneyCollegeProgram #DCP #DCP2018 #DCPFall2018 #DisneyCollegeProgram2018 #DCP2019 #DCPSpring2019 #DisneyCollegeProgram2019 #DisneyCastMember #CastMember #DisneyAlumni #DisneyPrograms #DisneyCP #WaltDisneyWorld #WDW #DisneyWorld #Orlando #DisneyParks #Disney #DisneyGram #igers_wdw #DisneyPhotography #DisneyofInstagram #InstaDisney #DisneyPhoto #MagicKingdomPark #DisneyInsta #DisneyMagic #MagicKingdom #CinderellaCastle (at Cinderella Castle) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCy2KLaDjWW/?igshid=1ag9r6mhhutnc