Interview a CP: Kayla (World of Disney)

Kayla in front of her store, World of Disney!

Ever wonder what it's like to work in the largest Disney store in the world? Kayla spent time to tell us about her experience at World of Disney during her college program!

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I was accepted into merchandise for the Spring Advantage 2011. I was placed at the World of Disney (WOD) in Downtown Disney, which is the biggest Disney store in the world! It’s over 50,000 square feet!

What was a typical day like at work?

I would know ahead of time if I was going to be on a register or if I was going to be stocking merchandise for the day. If I was on a register, the computer would tell me to go to a specific terminal or go interact with guests by passing out stickers or playing with merchandise. I would do that for a few hours, then go on break, and then get a new assignment. This would repeat until I went home.

If I was stocking, I would check where I was- and there were a lot of spots! WOD has 13 rooms, so I could be in any room or backstage organizing merchandise that needed to be put on the shelf. I also got the same amount of breaks as if I was on a register. I worked anywhere from 6 AM- 2AM for between 6-12 hours a day. I usually requested to have more hours so I worked the longer shifts for the most part and averaged 55 hours a week in the summer.

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?

It was my third choice (actually my third choice was attractions but I messed up in my interview and said merchandise). My first choice was concierge and my second choice was the Bibbidi Bobbiti Boutique, but I didn’t meet some of the requirements. I am so happy I worked at WOD. It is my favorite place I have ever worked!

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

I loved talking to guests. Slow days (or parts of the day) were the best because I could give each guest more individualized attention. My least favorite part… well that’s a hard one. I didn’t like stocking certain rooms, especially the jewelry room. In this room specifically, there were so many products that all looked very similar it was hard to find where everything went, and it got messy very easily and very fast so it was hard to keep up on some days.

Any specific magical moment you want to share?

I remember I was checking out a family and we were talking and I found out that they had their camera stolen while they were in the parks. Luckily, security found it but all their pictures had been erased. I asked if they had used PhotoPass on their vacation and they had, so with the help of my manager we let them pick a frame out so they could keep the happy memories of their vacation. That was the first time a guest asked if she could hug me. It was magical for both of us.

What made you want to do the DCP?

I applied my very first semester of community college. I didn’t know what I wanted to major in so when I heard about the DCP I said that’s perfect! So I took some time off school and found out what I wanted to do with my life- work at Disney!

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?

Yes, you really need documentation with your name on it to get your parking sticker. And there is a free car wash in Patterson, you just need to bring your own soap and sponge. I didn’t wash my car for a year because Orlando is a tourist town, there are no car washes. It’s gross.

Kayla with Mickey and Minnie during DCP graduation

What advice would you give to those who want to participate in your role?

Have fun! Pick up shifts at other locations! Since merchandise cast members can pick up shifts almost anywhere, it’s a great opportunity to meet new managers and get a change of pace from your location. I went to 7 different locations besides WOD and there were things I liked about all of them.

What advice would you give to people who are interested in doing the DCP?

Be careful, you might just want to spend the rest of your life at Disney. In all serious though, it is such a great opportunity to learn about how to work with people and how to network. All I ever heard was network-network-network, but I didn’t know how. Near the end of my program I found out that the Service Center at Vista has some great resources for this, so I would check them out.

If you can, take the Disney Exploration Classes, you learn so much and all you have to do is show up and participate and you will get so much out of it. If you can’t, take the individual classes that are offered in one 2 hour block or so if they still have them.

FOLLOW THE RULES. Is Disney strict on what they expect from you? Yes. Do they also tell you exactly what the expectations are? Yes. Don’t do stupid things and you will be fine and have the most magical time of your life.

If you're a current or past college program cast member and would like to share your experience, email your name and role to thedisneyden@yahoo.com to participate!

I hope everyone has a magical day!

Interview a CP: Amy (Goofy's Candy Company)

Amy all smiles at work!

I was excited when Amy messaged me to participate in an interview because she has a very popular Youtube channel for her DCP that I recently began watching! An example of her videos and her entire experience is at the bottom of the page, but first let's hear about her experience working in a candy store!

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I worked in Merchandise at Goofy's Candy Company in Downtown Disney! 

What was a typical day like at work?

I'd take the F bus from Chatham to Typhoon Lagoon and then to Downtown Disney. I usually arrived early because I always took an early bus to avoid being late due to the unreliable busses. If I arrived early I'd usually hang out in cast services, get a coffee and read a book until it was time to walk over to Goofy's. I'd head over and clock in. There were two different kinds of shifts I could work at Goofy's: a kitchen shift or a floor shift. My schedule indicated which kind of shift I had on which days. We had to know in advance because the costume varies slightly depending on the shift. (We had to wear an apron, hair net and hat for a kitchen shift). If I was working a kitchen shift I'd spend almost my entire shift in the onstage kitchen! Possible positions I could have been assigned were "Caseline" (asking guests what treats they'd like from the case and wrapping them for them), "Production" or "Production Assist" (looking at what treats we were short on and then making them and stocking them), "Dip Station" or "Dip Assist" (making the custom orders guests fill out at the dip station), "Caramel Apples" (making, you guessed it, caramel apples), or "Cotton Candy / Candy Apples" (making cotton candy and candy apples). If I had a floor shift, then I'd spend my shift out on the floor. For a floor shift I could be assigned any of the following positions: "Register" (there were 5 registers in Goofy's and depending on the specific register I was placed at, I could be ringing up guests, bagging purchases, greeting guests, pouring icees, getting coffee, or wrapping up treats), "Heart of House" or "HOH" (making sure the floor is stocked / stocking the shelves with product from the back), or "Merchantainer" (handing out samples, waving at guests with a Mickey glove or wearing a Goofy hat and greeting). I always had fun at Goofy's. Because there were two different kinds of shifts, it never got boring! I always felt like I was doing something different! 

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?

Merchandise was my second choice. My first choice was Concierge/ Front desk. Part of me still really wishes I had gotten the experience of working as Concierge. I feel like that would have given me the opportunity to learn so much about the property. And I adore the resorts, so I've always wanted to work at one. However, I am absolutely thrilled with my experience in Merchandise. Looking back on my program I would not change a thing. Goofy's was such an amazing location and I had a blast everyday. Plus, there is so much room for guest interaction in Merchandise, and I'm so appreciative that I was able to take advantage of that! 

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

My favorite part about working at Goofy's was learning to make all of the candy treats! When I was in the kitchen I loved having people, especially kids, watch me make the treats through the glass. Making fishy faces at the kids always resulted in special funny moments! My least favorite thing about Goofy's would probably be working on the registers. There were days I had great floor shifts, but then there were the days when ringing up the same items over and over made me a little crazy. But that's just me being nit-picky! I really did love my location and I find it hard to find ANYTHING to complain about at Goofy's. 

Amy with an adorable candy apple!

Any specific magical moment you want to share?

There are too many to choose from! There was the time I was greeting with the glove and Goofy hat on and a little boy (maybe 3 years old?) pointed and yelled "Goofy!" because apparently the hat was enough to make me look like him! I always loved making cotton candy in the kitchen because we were allowed to give away as many handfuls of fresh cotton candy as we'd like. So there were dozens of times I'd notice a kid or two staring at me drop-jawed through the glass as I whisped fresh cotton candy out of the machine and into the bags. It was always very fulfilling to be able to grab a fresh handful and pass it out of the kitchen to them as a magical moment! On slow days on the floor I would ask princesses for their autograph and give then a sample of our Goofy Glaciers (or icees) in return. One day in the kitchen a young man told us he was planning to ask his girlfriend to prom in a few days and wanted a way to make it magical. I grabbed a cookie and wrote "Prom?" on it  in cursive with white chocolate, then coated it in sprinkles so it looked nice and pretty. He LOVED it! He was so appreciative and told us he was planning on giving her the cookie during the fireworks at Magic Kingdom (AWWWWWW!) When you work with candy there is no limit to the kinds of magical moments you can make, and I'm so thankful for that! 

What made you want to do the DCP?

I first learned about the DCP during the summer before my sophomore year of highschool. My family and I were on vacation. We were riding the boat from the Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom when the captain (Captain Bruce, I remember him to this day) walked up to us and started chit chatting. He & I instantly started talking Disney heritage, swapping stories and sharing trivia. He paused for a moment and said "you just seem like the type of gal who could make all kinds of magic here in Disney. Would you ever want to work for the mouse?" And of course I've ALWAYS wanted to work down in Disney World. It's my favorite place! I told him that, and he proceeded to tell me about the Disney College Program. From that day on it became something that I wanted to do. I dreamt of it all through high school. I arrived at college as a pre-med major, and even though there was no connection with the DCP and my career choice, I was still determined to find a way to make it fit into my four years of undergrad. And I'm so pleased that I made it work! 

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?

YES. No one warns you how bad your FEET hurt for the first few weeks! From hitting up the parks, to traipsing all over Magic Kingdom during Traditions, to walking all over your work property during orientation, to being on your feet for 6 - 12 hours a day at work... your soles will take a HARD hit at first. Invest in some Dr. Soles insoles IMMEDIATELY. They don't have to be fancy! I purchased some $12 ones and they lasted in my work shoes throughout my entire program! You'll leave Orlando with about a half inch of callus on the bottom of your feet, I swear to you. My dogs have become INVINCIBLE! 

What advice would you give to those who are going to be participating in your role?

The good news is that merchandise is an EXCELLENT role to have experience in, especially in Disney World!  Retail is a huge sector of employment so if you're looking for a summer job or something part time while you're in school, apply for a retail position and let them know that you worked merch for Disney... boom, I guarantee you they'll hire you on the spot! As far as advice: be prepared to stand. a lot. Behind or in front of a register usually. But there are ways to make the best of that! Merchandise gives you so much potential for guest interaction. Stand in front of your register and greet the pirates and princesses that walk by. Ask where people are from. Cheer when you see a family sporting your hometown's sports gear! (I always clapped for Phillies hats or Flyers shirts that made their way through Goofy's). Take advantage of the fact that you get more face time with guests when you ring them up than an Attractions cast member gets as they group families into rows or a Quick Service cast member gets as they plate orders. That being said, there will also be the busy times. Spring Break was crazy and so are the Holidays from what I've heard. Just remember that for every exhausting, repetitive, long shift you endure, there is another shift that is pure magic! Every role has its ups and downs, Merch is no exception. Just go with the flow and try to remind yourself: you're in the most magical place on earth! And you're MAKING the magic! How lucky are you? 

What advice would you give to people who are interested in doing the DCP?

Do it. Do it. Do it. DO THE DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM! It doesn't matter what kind of career your'e interested in for the future, you can learn something from the DCP no matter what. I learned so much about myself, how to live with other people, how to handle conflict... the lessons go on and on and on. There are so many different roles and so many different experiences that go into and come out of this program that there TRULY IS something for EVERYONE. Not to mention you have unlimited access to the most magical theme parks, shopping destinations, resorts and waterparks the world has to offer. Yes, it's true, you work a lot and you may endure many stressful weeks... but the positives completely outweigh the negatives on this program. And each negative has something to teach you. So go for it! It's a fascinating and eye-catching thing to put on a resume, and it's a life-changing and incredibly fun learning experience that I guarantee you will always cherish!

P.S. I also kept a vlog before and during my entire program! If you want to take a look at some of the amazing memories and experiences my roommates and I shared during our time with Disney, take a look at this video:

I made it after I got home from my program. It's a big compilation of all the clips and photos I had from my program! It gives a great idea of everything I accomplished and all the amazing memories I'll have from my program... Think of it as my DCP condensed into 20 minutes!!! And if you like that video, feel free to check out my other vlogs here! I made at least 1 or 2 each week of my program!

Thanks again everybody! Remember, if you can dream it, you can do it!

If you're a current or past college program cast member and would like to share your experience, email your name and role to thedisneyden@yahoo.com to participate!

Interview a CP: Melissa (Recreation)

Melissa hard at work!

Earlier last week I interviewed Caitie, who was involved in the children's activities aspect of the recreation role. Melissa had a different role for recreation, boat docks/marinas! Here's what she has to say about her experience as a resort recreation cast member:

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I am Recreation! I worked the Sassagoula Region, which includes Port Orleans Riverside and Downtown Disney.

What was a typical day like at work?

My typical day is closing docker. Like most cps, I close almost every day...(which is fine by me because the marina is only open until 7pm!) I'll come in around noon, speil and load guests into boats, bring boats in, fuel up some searaycers, maybe break the cashier and be tormented by the lakers. Especially be tormented by the lakers. 

Other things included in our role is cashiering, surrey bikes/regular bikes, and fishing hole.

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?

Originally when I saw Recreation, I was hoping for Children's Activities. But I actually really really enjoy my job and the people I work with. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else :)

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

Pros:
Constant hours. The marina hours are constant. No extra magic hours. Marina closes at 7...latest I work is 8:30. No force extensions. I also love mostly everybody I work with. Everybody has a great sense of humor, and they are a lot of fun to work with. At Port when it's slow we play games like corn hole, jenga, and four square. We blow bubbles, hula hoop, dance, whatever we want. My coordinators are like the older brothers you've always secretly always wanted. They squirt me in the eye with water guns, throw footballs in my face, and almost run me over with their pargos...the list can go on. I also really like that I work in two locations and I love both locations for different reasons. Downtown Disney is the busiest marina in all of Walt Disney World, and it definitely holds true. Some days, you blink your eye and its over. Port is more slow paced, and you get way more guest interaction. You can talk to the families a little more and get to know more about their vacation which also means that there are more opportunities to create magical moments. At Downtown, you're always on the go, so it's a little harder to give every family special attention. All in all though, I really do enjoy my job. Also, I sometimes get to go on a boat. It's a good day when they take you out on a lake patrol boat.

Cons:
If you're a docker, you're outside for a very very very long time out in the sun. You are doing a lot of physically draining work in that humid Florida sunshine. You are running up and down the dock loading and unloading families, making sure children don't run off the dock into the lake, trying to direct in pontoons with crazy, clueless drivers without being knocked into the lake, starting and spieling large groups of seayracers at once, etc. etc. Its just a lot of hustle and bustle in the heat (especially in Downtown!) and sometimes it's hard to just stop and take a drink of water. Another con are the guests that don't speak english. We have to go through a very important safety speil before we send each family out. (How to drive the boat, what to do if you need help, what to do if the boat stalls, waterway etiquette, etc) and a lot of times, these people will have absolutely no idea what I am saying which is incredibly dangerous, especially if they have never driven a boat before. It's definitely a huge inconvenience.... this also goes out to the guests who don't want to listen to your speil! It's like you're talking to a wall! Also, fishing hole at port. Blech. And checklists. We have lots and lots of checklists. 

Melissa with some fellow cast members!

Any specific magical moment you want to share?

There's only one I can think of right now.... I was cashiering at Downtown and a dad and his son (around maybe 6 years old) just came back from going on a searaycer. So I was doing the usual 'welcome back! did y'all have a good time? yadda yadda' and the little boy was like "My dream just came true!" and I was like "Oh yeah? What was your dream?" and he said "To go on a boat!" And I just gave him like 100 mickey stickers and he was adorable. 

What made you want to do the DCP?

The moment I heard about this program I knew this is where I needed to be. I love everything about Disney, and I knew since high school that this is where I belong. 

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?

No, I did my homework before coming! :) 

What advice would you give to those who are going to be participating in your role?

• Drink LOTS of water
• Wear sunscreen
• Be prepared to be outside for 8.5 hours
• Thunderstorms are your best friends
• Bring two pairs of shoes & socks, and two shirts. (If it rains, it's nice to have a dry pair of sneakers to change into. Also, two shirts because there are a lot of birds who like to use the dock as their potty and sometimes the dockers get in the way...)
• Accept the fact that you'll probably fall in the lake atleast once.
• Searaycers are going to be a pain in your butt. But they do get easier. I promise. 
• Know your spiel. You're going to get audited, and just know your spiel because audits are scary. 
• Also, don't wear expensive sunglasses. You'll go through about 50 pairs. 
• Be prepared for an awful farmers tan.
• Know your knots! 
• During lightning storms, cps are sent out with metal rods to go see how close the lightning is. CP sacrifices are common. (jk :P )

What advice would you give to people who are interested in doing the DCP?

 Be prepared to work! Don't come here expecting just to party and goof off. You will work a lot and you will work hard. Not all days are going to be magical. Just come with an extremely open mind. If you come with certain expectations and aren't willing to try to accept things are the way they are, of course it's going to suck. I wasn't totally excited to work at a marina at first, I was pretty bummed about it. But I had an open mind and did my work, and eventually I grew to love it. And be prepared to meet your future best friends.  I grew to love a lot of people down here who changed my life for the better. This program changes you and your whole life. This experience molded me into who I am today, and I am forever grateful for this experience and everyone who made an impact on me. This program will truly change things (hopefully for the better).

If you're a current or past college program cast member and would like to share your experience, email your name and role to thedisneyden@yahoo.com to participate!