After the initial joy of getting accepted starts to dull (if that really happens...) you have 10 days to accept or decline your offer.
ONLY DECLINE IF YOU HAVE A LEGITIMATE REASON! I declined the first time because my advisor said I could miss a Fall semester, but not a Spring one due to the classes I need for graduation. That's a legit reason. Because your scared of being away from home is not a good reason! Don't let fear hold you back from this exciting once in a lifetime opportunity.
So you've accepted. YAY! Now come the logistics. Fees, program dates, and additional information.
Before you even apply, make sure you will be able to pay the program fees as soon as you accept your invitation. You only have 3 days, I believe, to pay the program fees after you have accepted the invitation. Fees are just over $300 and it must be paid in one credit card payment.
$100 of it goes towards events and activities scheduled by the housing people. Once I get there, I'll let you know if it's worth it.
$200 goes towards your housing costs for the first few weeks of the program before they can take it out of your paycheck.
Once your payment is submitted, you have to then figure out when you want your check-in date to be. Your program and role will help determine your check-in date. I had the option to check in mid-May (which would have been days before my 21st birthday) or a few different dates in August. I landed on August 26th so that I wouldn't be put in under 21 housing. *Hint: You get housed in whichever housing based on your age on check-in day* This put my check out date at January 3rd.
Once all that was submitted, I had a few additional details to fill out. Things like my birthday, etc.
Now I wait for further instructions. The great thing about Disney is if you are having problems, you can call them and they will help you out no questions asked.
So from here on, you'll get to follow me step by step through my adventure. I think my next plan of action will be preparing for check-in day. Booking transportation, packing, goodbyes, all that jazz.
But for now, I'll familiarize myself with the company by watching Disney movies :)
Have a Magical Day!
Green Terror CP
Monday, March 25, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Step 2: Phone Interview
So I don't think I stopped shaking the entire time I was doing my phone interview. I received the e-mail asking me to set up a phone interview less than 24 hours after completing the online portion.
I made sure to set the interview for a time that was convenient for me and a time that I would be able to be in a quiet place. I made sure to tell all my roommates to be quiet at the time because of it. I set the interview for 10:30am, which really only meant I needed to get up extra early to get coffee in me before getting on the phone.
I gladly got up and had coffee out of my Cinderella mug. Finally 10:30 rolled around and I was compulsively checking my phone like a crazy person. A few minutes later, it rang! Sitting on my bed was probably a good idea because I was able to sit comfortably while I was extremely nervous.
I talked to the cast member for about 20 minutes. She asked me about my previous job experience, why I wanted to work for Disney and why I was interested in certain jobs. During the online portion, you'll choose your top three positions you'd like to have in the parks. Then, they will ask you about each one of those. For example, I put a high interest in Character Attendant so my interviewer asked me, "if a small child comes up to the front of your line and is scared of the character, what do you do?"
Make sure you think about what you say before you say it. That does not mean you should lie to get the job. It only means that you should not loose your professional manner just because they can't see you. I found myself sitting up perfectly straight and smiling the entire time. It is a little strange to say but they can hear a smile. And we all know a smile is a very important part of being a Disney cast member.
But then comes the worst part... "Look forward to hearing from us within the next two to three weeks on the status of your application. If you don't hear from us in three weeks please do not hesitate to call us."
The waiting game is probably the least fun game in the world. But, the wait is worth it when you finally get the decision.
Have a magical day,
Green Terror CP
I made sure to set the interview for a time that was convenient for me and a time that I would be able to be in a quiet place. I made sure to tell all my roommates to be quiet at the time because of it. I set the interview for 10:30am, which really only meant I needed to get up extra early to get coffee in me before getting on the phone.
I gladly got up and had coffee out of my Cinderella mug. Finally 10:30 rolled around and I was compulsively checking my phone like a crazy person. A few minutes later, it rang! Sitting on my bed was probably a good idea because I was able to sit comfortably while I was extremely nervous.
I talked to the cast member for about 20 minutes. She asked me about my previous job experience, why I wanted to work for Disney and why I was interested in certain jobs. During the online portion, you'll choose your top three positions you'd like to have in the parks. Then, they will ask you about each one of those. For example, I put a high interest in Character Attendant so my interviewer asked me, "if a small child comes up to the front of your line and is scared of the character, what do you do?"
Make sure you think about what you say before you say it. That does not mean you should lie to get the job. It only means that you should not loose your professional manner just because they can't see you. I found myself sitting up perfectly straight and smiling the entire time. It is a little strange to say but they can hear a smile. And we all know a smile is a very important part of being a Disney cast member.
But then comes the worst part... "Look forward to hearing from us within the next two to three weeks on the status of your application. If you don't hear from us in three weeks please do not hesitate to call us."
The waiting game is probably the least fun game in the world. But, the wait is worth it when you finally get the decision.
Have a magical day,
Green Terror CP
Steps to Working for the Mouse!
STEP ONE: THE APPLICATION
So my original plan was to do the program this semester (Spring 2013), however, I had to decline the first offer I got due to academic reasons. So when I applied this semester for the Fall I got to go through a quicker application.
To get to the application go to the DCP website. The application usually goes live in February (for Spring application) or September (for Fall application).
The first time you fill out an application for Disney, you have to go through all the boring fill-in-the-blanks with your personal and professional information. Then you also have to fill out an online interview type application, which is basically a bundle of questions that is going to let Disney know what kind of employee you are.
Do not try to pick the answer you think Disney wants to hear. Be completely honest with your application. If you are cut out to be a Disney cast member, then you will be without having to change yourself or your answers.
Yes the program is very competitive but its always worth a shot.
So the online interview questions are things like "how comfortable do you feel working with other people," or "how confident are you when given a task to done in a fast moving environment?"
I believe they are all multiple choice questions. Take your time answering them so you are sure that the answer you choose best shows your work personality.
If you apply a second time (whether you declined a previous offer or are trying for a second time) you will not have to go through the online interview portion again, at least, I didn't have to. I had to input all my information again but once that was finished all I had to do was wait to see if I got a phone interview.
And that's step one. After all the written online information and answers are completed, you then have to wait for an invitation to do a phone interview.
Happy waiting!
Have a magical day,
Green Terror CP
So my original plan was to do the program this semester (Spring 2013), however, I had to decline the first offer I got due to academic reasons. So when I applied this semester for the Fall I got to go through a quicker application.
To get to the application go to the DCP website. The application usually goes live in February (for Spring application) or September (for Fall application).
The first time you fill out an application for Disney, you have to go through all the boring fill-in-the-blanks with your personal and professional information. Then you also have to fill out an online interview type application, which is basically a bundle of questions that is going to let Disney know what kind of employee you are.
Do not try to pick the answer you think Disney wants to hear. Be completely honest with your application. If you are cut out to be a Disney cast member, then you will be without having to change yourself or your answers.
Yes the program is very competitive but its always worth a shot.
So the online interview questions are things like "how comfortable do you feel working with other people," or "how confident are you when given a task to done in a fast moving environment?"
I believe they are all multiple choice questions. Take your time answering them so you are sure that the answer you choose best shows your work personality.
If you apply a second time (whether you declined a previous offer or are trying for a second time) you will not have to go through the online interview portion again, at least, I didn't have to. I had to input all my information again but once that was finished all I had to do was wait to see if I got a phone interview.
And that's step one. After all the written online information and answers are completed, you then have to wait for an invitation to do a phone interview.
Happy waiting!
Have a magical day,
Green Terror CP
(Photo credit: Disney College Program)
McDaniel Goes to Disney!
So here is a little bit about me...
I am a junior at McDaniel College (our mascot is the Green Terror *hence the name*)and I have been given the magical opportunity to work in the happiest place on Earth, Walt Disney World. I am an English major with a writing minor and I have a passion for theater, dance, and of course, Disney.
Why write a blog? I got accepted to the Disney College Program! Working for the Mouse is something I have always had on my bucket list of careers, now it's going to be a dream come true!
I'm going to use this blog to keep track of my experiences. Everything I've looked at from former participants says it's an opportunity of a lifetime so I want to make sure to keep track of everything I possibly can!
Follow me on an adventure of a lifetime as I start, what I hope to be the first of many positions I hold with the Walt Disney Company!
Cheers to the Mouse!
Have a magical day,
Green Terror CP
I am a junior at McDaniel College (our mascot is the Green Terror *hence the name*)and I have been given the magical opportunity to work in the happiest place on Earth, Walt Disney World. I am an English major with a writing minor and I have a passion for theater, dance, and of course, Disney.
Why write a blog? I got accepted to the Disney College Program! Working for the Mouse is something I have always had on my bucket list of careers, now it's going to be a dream come true!
I'm going to use this blog to keep track of my experiences. Everything I've looked at from former participants says it's an opportunity of a lifetime so I want to make sure to keep track of everything I possibly can!
Follow me on an adventure of a lifetime as I start, what I hope to be the first of many positions I hold with the Walt Disney Company!
Cheers to the Mouse!
Have a magical day,
Green Terror CP
(Photo Credit: Disneystore.com and McDaniel College)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)