Disney Round 2

 Disney Round 2

     Well Hello!....1 year later. I know I promised to update this blog more, but I got caught up with school. After applying to some professional internships and being NLIC for those, I decided to put my Disney Dreams on hold. Looking back, I applied to those Professional internships with very little experience and knew deep in my heart that I wouldn't get them so I was not disappointed at all when I was NLIC'd.

      This time round, I really want to keep this blog updated. I want to help answer questions and be a resource for anyone who wants to asks questions or the like. Just a reminder, if this is your first time visiting this blog or your fiftieth, my name is Whitney. I am a senior currently at Oakland University about to graduate in April. I have done one college program and I absolutely adored it. I participated in the Fall Advantage 2011 Disney College Program as a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique cast member at Cinderella Castle.

     I am currently applying for not only another Disney College Program but also a few alumni only Professional Internships. I can't wait! 

A New Year Full of Possibilities

Welcome to 2013 fellow Disney Lovers!

     Although I have not posted anything in a long time Disney has still been on my mind.Not so recently, I applied for several Summer professional internships. Most NLIC (No Longer in Consideration) right away, but one moved to in progress today. I also have two other in progress internships and one still says submission. A lot of people have been asking how the alumni only internships, management internships, and professional internships work. The answer...no one knows. Well, at least I don't know, but since this blog is both a learning experience for me and for all of you out there in the cyber world, I will try and find some information as best as I can.
     The thing about these internships is that no one knows for sure how they work. I am a part of a facebook group for 2013 professional internships hopefuls and it seems that everyone's story is different. Also, each department that the internship is for does their applications differently too. There is no straight answer.
    Alas! Do not fret though. If you are one of those lucky people who are waiting for their chance at a chance for a professional internship with Disney, you are not alone! Remember, no news is good news!
     Here is a useful site that will help you navigate your way through the Disney lingo on your dashboard...Enjoy!

http://frominterntodisney.wordpress.com/tag/in-progress/



Pixie Dust and Magic is All You Really Need

Alight, I have a cute story that I need to share about the Boutique since this blog is about my adventures that happened there. One time I had a princess that was five years old. She was not believing any of the stories I was telling her of the boutique. She told me I was just a girl in a costume doing her hair and that pixie dust was nothing but glitter. It really broke my heart that this little girl thought this way. However, this did not break my spirit, I continued to tell her that I was a Fairy Godmother in Training and asked me to show her some magic if I was a real. So I told her I would but she would have to wait a while since I was in training and only had a little bit of magic to use throughout the day. So she saw me put her comb that I was using in her chair and we talked and laughed and someone did her makeup and we moved on. At the very end, right before I revealed her in the mirror, I moved the comb to the other side of her chair. I turned her around and she smiled and laughed at how pretty she was. Right before she stepped down from the chair, I asked her to look for her comb. She looked to the place she saw me put it and looked at me shocked that it had disappeared. I then told her to look on the other side and her eyes got wide when she saw the comb. She was so amazed that I had done real magic and it made really believe that the "glitter" in her hair was in fact pixie dust. She gave me a big hug and kiss on my cheek. It was really cute and again this is just another reason why I loved my job.

 

 

Transportation

- Transportation -

Disney transporation is interesting. A lot of questions come about whether or not you should bring your own car down with you. Disney has there own transportation system to get you to where you need to be. Busses to and from work places (parks, hotels, downtown disney, water parks, etc)  typically run every 30-45 minutes. The bus system, run by American Coach, takes you where you need to go whether that be to work or to go play in the parks with friends.

 

 

First hand look at the bus systems

 

 

This link descibes the bus system and bringing your own car down with you. My roommate had her own car that she bought down fom Maryland. I did not have a car.

https://disneyprogramsblog.com/?p=279

  

Also tip number 5,509, make sure you make it your bus ten minutes before its scheduled departure time. I got lazy and because my building was so close to the bus stop, I would cut my time really close which sometimes resulted in me missing my bus. That is bad. Especially when you are trying to get to work by a certain time. Also, tip #5,855, don't get on the bus that will get you to work right on time. Go a few busses before that one so in case your bus is late or doesn't come on which happens more than you think, you still have time to make it to work on time! If this doesn't make sense now, don't worry, once you arrive and start using the system, it becomes very clear to you.

 

I did not have my own car and I got around fine. Again, since I lived at Chatham, I would just walked to the Outlet mall, less than ten minutes, and take either a city bus to where I wanted to go or take an I-Ride Trolley. The I-Ride Trolley was my first choice of transportation and it brought me all the main Orlando attractions including Outlet Malls, Internation Drive, Sea World, and Universal Studios. And because you are a cast member, it only costs 25 cents to ride it.

 

Events

Now, living at Disney housing isn't all about going to work and coming home. Don't worry. Disney does enough things that you will always be entertained. I will have seperate posts about everything they do, but popular events are Night of Stars and Grocery Bingo. Also, the bus system takes you to Walmart, Publix, and The Florida Mall. There are also field trips to various places throughout your program like to Busch Gardens. ^^

Disney Housing

Long Slide Warning!

 

- Housing -

 

Alright, back to helping people prepare for the Disney College Family. I just had to rant about the joy of Disney's Hollywood Studios. A lot of people also have questions on Housing options at Disney so I feel as if this is a pretty important part of the DCP. Now I will talk about housing options for the CP in Florida since that's what I have my experience in.

Housing is not scary. I am a only child who has never lived away from home before. My freshman year in college, I did live on campus, but I was twenty minutes away from home and never stayed over on the weekends. Disney makes you feel very comfortable, no matter where you decide to say. Security is very tight in fact. There are security guards stationed at every entrance of the housing complexes and you must show your housing I.D. to get through security. Even if you decided to bring your car with you, your car even gets its own identification badge on the window. You must sign in all guests which means they need to have I.D. with them and no guests are even allowed in after a certain time at night. Also security guards make rounds throughout all the buildings at different times in throughout the night.

 

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I stayed in one bedroom apartment in the Chatham Square Apartments which was the best decision I ever made. I loved them.I had a balcony and our apartment was huge. I just had one roomate who also worked at the Magic Kingdom Boutique (who currently is a campus representative at her college), and we lived a simple life. Also, it was a three minute walk from my apartment to the bus stop which was nice because I am lazy.

 

There are three housing Options that you can choose from. Tip number 5,202, find out all you can about your housing options before you go because once your check in date arrives, they ask you up front what housing complex you want to be in so make sure you know! You don't want to be placed in one that is not compatible with your personality. I know that sounds weird, but each complex has a reputation, so know what you are getting into.

 

1.  Vista Way  - Vista Way is the oldest and largest housing complex. It was the only housing complex for about 30 years until Chatham Square opened in 2000. It also has the lowest rent of any of the complexes. It has a pool, jacuzzi (don't use it!), and has a bad reputation as being the party complex. Now, I promised that I wouldn't be biased in the blog and just tell the facts, but the fact is that Vista Way shows its age in the upkeep in the complex and again, I cannot stress enough that this the parrrrtyy complex. I have friends that either loved this complex or hated it. There is no inbetween. A plus side of Vista Way is that they do have their own bus stop inside the complex and they are conviently located near some popular fast food venues and a Walgreens, which can always come in handy.  It also has a computer lab and a little library you can rent out movies and books from.

 

2. Chatham Square - I lovvved this complex! Every building is set up a little different and a lot of them have balconies. Some are even set up like townhomes which is really nice. Also, all the major events for the College Program like graduation and Thanksgiving Feast are held here out on the field. The bus stop is right outside the front gate so no matter where you live in Chatham, you are never a far walk from the bus stop. It's the second oldest and the apartments are beautiful. In terms of partying, it is middle of the road. My building was always super quiet. I also love the landscaping. Laundry buildings were spread out throughout the complex and you never had to walk far to get to them. It's just a nice complex. It is right across the street from Mickey's Retreat which is a  nice little recreational place for cast members and located inside the living community of Little Lake Bryan, which is about ten minutes away from Vista Way.

 

3. Patterson Court - Patterson Court, also in the living community complex of Little Lake Bryan, is the newest complex. Built in 2008, it is known as the most pristine of the complexes and as the retirement home of the Disney complexes and also has the newest appliances as well as the highest rent. The bus stop is at Patterson Court so you do have to walk to Chatham, but the walk is only about ten minutes. My good friend lived in Patterson and her apartment was beautiful, she just hated the walk. ^^

 

 

Alright, now again, everyone has their own different opinions of the aparment complexes. I am not a Vista Way girl. I don't like partying at all. I chose Chatham because of how close the bus stops was. I also like Patterson and Chatham because both are close to the International College housing complex, The Commons. I liked this because it was nice to be so close to international students and interact with people from all over the world. I also liked that Chatham and Patterson are both a few minutes walk from the Outlet mall which was nice for shopping, eating, and also transportation to other places other than Disney areas. I loved going to Universal Studios and International Drive on the busses that left from the Outlet mall. Now if you live in Vista Way, you too can come to this area, you just have to take a Disney bus to The Commons or Chatham then walk. Sorry, couldn't find a map that showed where all the College Program Housing is.But if you follow that road that winds past The Commons and turn left at the highway, Vista's about ten minutes away. Vista is right up the street from the main Downtown Disney entrance just to give you an area of where everything is.

 

Alright I found this on Wikipedia and I couldn't describe housing better myself....

"Each participant has the opportunity to choose to live in a one, two, three, or four bedroom apartment with two people sharing a bedroom. The cost of housing is deducted automatically from the student’s weekly salary. The cost of housing varies depending on the location of the student’s program. In Florida there is a program assessment fee of 100 dollar as well as a housing and administration fee for 200 dollars. In California the program assessment fee is 100 dollars, and a security deposit of 200 dollars as well as 560 dollars in housing and assessment fees. Students are expected to follow certain guidelines in the housing complexes, and the Disney Company has set up certain policies. Roommates are assigned by gender and age. If a student is under the age of 21 they are placed in a “Wellness Apartment”, or one that is deemed dry. All of the apartments are non-smoking in all areas."

 

Also, with the first initial housing fee, you do not pay your first two weeks rent because of that fee. Disney wants you to collect money before you are dishing it out for housing. I paid about $95 a week for my one bedroom in Chatham just to give you an idea of cost.

 

Here is a the link from Disney that decribes the Living situations too.

http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/program-components/living/

 

 

 

 



My Favorite Park

 

Alright, this post I know isn't very informative, but I have had a couple of questions on what park is my favorite at Disney World. Hands down, it would be Hollywood Studios although it will forever be known to me as MGM Studios in my heart.

When I was in middle school, I went to Disney World on a school field trip. We only went to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, but I always have had a love for HS. First of all, my favorite ride is Tower of Terror. I also love Rockin Rollercoaster, Indiana Jones, and pretty much every ride at HS, especially The Great Movie Ride. If I ever did another College Program, I would love to work attractions at The Great Movie Ride. I rode that ride so much that I could almost give the entire spiel.

 

 

However, like I said, HS is my favorite park. I loved the Pixar parade and I love the Citizens of Hollywood that would perform. They make me laugh every single time. Lights Motor Action is a blast and The Indiana Jones Show makes my heart race every time. Actually, the first time I saw the Indiana Jones Stunt show, I was picked to be a volunteer in the show. It was epic and I was mad I did not get a picture of me being a spectacular terrified Cairo citizen if I do say so myself.

Also, HS is home to one of the most popular rides at Disney World....Toy Story Mania! The fast passes run out by noon. As the name suggest, this is a 4D attraction as you ride with the poular characters of Toy Story doing mid way style shoot'em games. This ride is very popular with younger pirates and princesses,  but makes me sick unfortunately. It spins too fast. I am a wimp. I admit it.

I even bought these cute Disney ears to remember my time on Tower of Terror.


 

 

Another Apology for the Masses

Alright, I know I have said I was going to keep this blog up and running. I have neglected a few months. When I made the promise that I was.....well, that doesn't matter does it? Recently, I have had a lot of things going on. Between school and all the jobs I have at school (being an RA!), I have not had a single chance to think about Disney until recently.

One of my resident's friends is about to prepare for her interview tonight and I told her everything I knew about the Disney College Program and my expereinces with it. I also told her some useful links on facebook that will help with some of her questions and ease some of anxieties. It made me really want to update my blog about what has been going on.

 

Just some updates:

a. Unfortunately, I did not get the Campus Representative role at my school. The recruiter sent me a letter expressing the fact that there were no more available spots for the upcoming school year. Disappointed....yes, but I will apply again. If it's one thing Disney taught me, it's to keep trying until you succeed. Look at that, Disney taught me a listen.
 

b. I am for sure doing a professional internship with Disney. I just looked at their website and didn't know they offered so many PI oppurtunities. I think I am really interested in doing something with Human Resources. Dream Job right there.

 

c. I went on a trip to Disney World in May to visit my friends that still work for Disney. I went to all the parks, saw all the parades, and it made me miss being down there a lot. I also went to visit Universal Studios with the annual pass I still have from last year. It was a perfect week I spent there with everyone. To the end the week off on a high note, I even booked reservations at Ohana's with two of my greatest friends in the world and had breakfast with Lilo and Stich (my two favorite Disney characters). Hehehe...Stich kissed my forehead.