Tales of a Disney College Program Hopeful -- Vlog #7

Until next time, have a magical day!

My Top 5 Hollywood Studios Work Locations

Here's the last work locations Top 5! I decided to end the work locations marathon with my favorite park. Disney's Hollywood Studios. I would honestly work anywhere in this park, but these are my top 5 favorite locations. Thanks to studioscentral.com for the photos! Check out http://www.studoscentral.com/ for an amazing comprehensive guide to Dinsey's Hollywood Studios. I was very impressed with it!

5. In Character

In Character is a costume shop located in the Animation Courtyard where "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" is found. It's a costume and accesory shop for little kids. I think that would be so much fun!

4. Indiana Jones' Adventure Outpost

I'm a HUGE Indiana Jones fan so to get to work in a place themed after it would be absolutely wonderful! I would love to work here.

3. It's a Wonderful Shop

This is a Christmas shop with a name that's a play on the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". How could I NOT want to work there after that? It's just so adorable!


2. Mickey's of Hollywood

This is the big store for Hollywood Studios like the Emporium, Mouse Gear, or the Mombasa Marketplace. It would be big, crazy, busy, chaotic fun to work in any of the larger stores. So of course this one is on my list.

1. Tatooine Traders

I'm a BIG Star Wars nerd. No lie. I love the original trilogy so much. I would be in fangirl heaven if I ended up working in Tatooine Traders. I really would be.

Well that's all for today! I'm not sure what or when the next top 5 will be as my Spring Break starts this week. I might do a vlog sometime this week and you might see some more Flip Video adventures, lol. My mom and I are supposed to go on a roadtrip over Spring Break one day, and a friend of mine is coming to visit so we'll see what kind of trouble I can into while they're here.

Until next time, have a magical day!

My Top 5 Magic Kingdom Work Locations

5. Agrabah Bazaar

It's Aladdin themed, and I love Aladdin. That's really all I need to know, lol.

4. Tinker Bell's Treasures

Again, I love Tinker Bell. I collect Tinker Bell merchandise so this just seemed like a natural pick to me. Plus it's in Fantasyland! My favorite!

3. The Emporium

Everyone kept telling me to pick this one, and I have but it's not my top choice. I'm sure it would be fun and crazy and full of lots of awesome guests which is why it's number three, but I really want to work in one of the smaller shops for some reason. I feel like the smaller shops have really awesome themes.

2. The Briar Patch

Who wouldn't want to work near Splash Mountain everyday? I think working at the Briar Patch would be so much fun!

1. Fantasy Faire

This is by far my favorite little shop in Fantasyland. It's right next to Mickey's Philharmagic and is absolutely adorable. Working here would be fun and have lots of guest interaction because they HAVE to walk through the shop to leave the attraction, lol.

Anyway, that's all for today!

Until next time, have a magical day!

My Top 5 EPCOT Work Locations

Okay, so today is my Top 5 EPCOT locations. Let's just jump right into it.

5. Heritage Manor Gifts

Heritage Manor Gifts is the shop in the America Pavillion. I remember it being a really cute store and I definately wouldn't mind working there. Plus, I'm American so I would totally fit in, lol.

4. Mission Space Cargo Bay

This is one of my favorite rides! It would be so much fun to work there! I've also heard that the Mission Space costumes are really comfortable. So that would be enjoyable as well.

3. Inside Track

A shop for another great ride that I would be very excited to work near. I just think it would be lots of fun and give me lots of opportunities for guest interaction.

2. Pooh Location UK

This store doesn't really have a name, but it's across from the "British Invasion" gazeebo with the Beatles impersonators. It's a shop full of Winnie the Pooh items and the characters drop in for a visit every now and then! That would be a TON of fun!

1. Mouse Gear

The biggest store in all of EPCOT, why wouldn't I want to work there? That's basically all I have to say about that.

That's all for today!

Until next time, have a magical day!

Top 5 DAK Work Locations

Hi everyone! Today I'm not feeling so well. I called into work and am only going to one of my classes today (because I have to.) Today's Top 5 is going to be about my top 5 work locations in the Animal Kingdom. I don't have any nifty pictures for today as I haven't really had time to find them. I may go back and add some in later, but as of right now there are no pictures. Also, keep in mind that I've only been to Animal Kingdom once.

5. Dino Institute Shop

I could be mistaken but I think the shop is attached to the Dinosaur ride and if not I at least know it's in Dinoland USA. I really have no particular reason for this one, I just think it sounds like a fun place to work.

4. Island Mercantile

Just one of the general mechandise shops at DAK that I think would be nice to work at.

3. Disney Outfitters

Last time I was in DAK I remember buying a really awesome shirt here, and I enjoyed the environment.

2. The shop outside of Expedition Everest.

I don't know what it's called but I know you get off the ride and exit through a gift shop. I love Expedition Everest so I would adore working in it's gift shop. I think it would be tiring and fun and give me an opportunity for great guest interaction.

1. Mombasa Marketplace

This is DAK's Emporium basically. It's a HUGE store that's seperated into two areas, and because it's so huge it would be insanely busy and crazy fun at the same time. From working at the little store we have at Camp I know that the best moments are often the most insane ones.

Well, that's all for today folks!

Until next time, have a magical day!

My Top 5 Downtown Disney Work Locations

Again, I'm operating under the assumption that I can be placed anywhere so if you're out there and you've done the CP before and you're thinking, "Oh, she can't be placed there." Please don't feel the need to comment and tell me. I don't know where I can and can't be placed, so I'm just fantasizing about where I would like to be placed.

Today, we're going to look at my Top 5 work locations in Downtown Disney.

5. Pin Traders

Working as a pin trader would be so much fun! I get to interact with the kids and wear shiny pins! I think it would totally be worth standing at an outdoor kiosk for long periods of time.

4. Team Mickey Athletic Club

I'm not very athletic myself (I do enjoy swimming and volleyball), but this store just looks like all kinds of fun. I would definately work there.

3. Disney Tails

I don't exactly know what this store is, but I'm willing to bet it's a pet store. It's more than likely a Disney themed pet accesory store. And if that's the case, I would LOVE to work there. I love pets, and I love Disney so bring it on!

2. Tren - D

This little pre-teen Disney fashion store looks like a lot of fun, and I've spent most of my past jobs working with the age group of girls that shops there so I would definately be in my element.

1. World of Disney

THE BIGGEST AND BEST DISNEY STORE EVER! This place would be a crazy insane blast to work in. I've heard that working Merch anywhere is crazy, but I bet it would be really crazy here. There's nothing I love better than chaos and crazy!

Thanks to AllEars.net for that image of Disney Tails!

Well, folks, that's all for today!

Until next time, have a magical day!

Top 5 Resort Work Locations

So I realized last night that the reason I couldn't narrow down any dream locations was because I was thinking too broad. I was trying to look at the entire park. That's too much. So, I sat down and made Top 5 lists for each category of Disney Property. Now I don't know where we can or can't be assigned so I just assumed that if it was listed on Disney Website then we could be assigned there for the most part. I scoured the Disney website for Resorts that had shops in them and here are my top 5 favorites.

5. The Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

There are two trading posts on this resort and campground that carry a little bit of everything. Character merchandise, cameras, groceries, sunscreen, etc. If you forgot it at home then they have it for you to buy. I think this would be a fun resort to work out. Most of the guests that stay at this resort are families. I have a soft spot for families as I come from a very large, very close family. I think I would enjoy working at this resort.

4. All Star Movies Resort

All Star Movies is home to Donald's Double Feature. A shop that features character merchandise and other little items guests might need during their stay. It also features items like tote bags and things that might make walking around the park for extended periods of time easier. Again, because this is a value resort it would be home to younger families. I think this would be fun, and the theme is awesome! I love movies so why not work in a resort themed after them?

3. Port Orleans -- Riverside

This resort has a shop called Fulton's General Store. I have always wanted to visit this resort. I think it looks like a fun and beautifully themed one. This store carries much of the same things as the previous stores I mentioned. Almost all of the resort shops carry the same merchandise.

2. The Polynesian

The Polynesian has two shops and I would gladly work at either of them. There's Trader Jack's which isjust like all the other stores I've mentioned and then there's Bou-tiki. Bou-tiki has more clothing items and has a fun name! That's just fun to say. Try it! "Bou-tiki" These shops are at a long time guest favorite resort which I've personally never visited, but I would LOVE to work there. The guests that stay at the polynesian are definately there for the full immersive Disney experience.

1. Old Key West

Don't pretend like you didn't see this coming. You totally did. Old Key West is my Disney home. The resort my family stays in when we travel to Disney. I've spent lots of time in the Conch Flatts General Store. It's a great store at a great resort. I know the service at this resort to be outstanding and very friendly. In fact the last time I was at Conch Flatts my mom and I talked to the girl working the counter at the store for a bit and she was a CP. She said she LOVED working the CP, but then again I was a guest at the time so it's not like she could tell me if she WASN'T enjoying the experience.

Well, that's all for today!

Until next time, have a magical day!

My Top 5 Work Locations!

The Top 5 lists are BACK! Yay! So, I thought today I would tell you guys my top 5 work locations, but the problem is that as I was looking around I realized that there are SO MANY COOL PLACES that I couldn't give you guys a ton of specifics. But here's the list I came up with:

5. Resort shops

If I'm going to work at a resort though I would want to work at my Disney Home. Old Key West. The Conch Flatts General Store. Love it. :)

4. World of Disney in Downtown Disney

This is the most amazing Disney Store ever, and if I can't work at any of the parksI would LOVE to work there. So awesome.

3. Mouse Gear

I'm not a huge fan of Epcot. I like it, and enjoy going there but if I only had two days at WDW and could only go to two parks it's not one I would visit. But Mouse Gear is a really cool store! I spent hours in there last time I was in Epcot. I bought a whole bunch of Tinkerbell stuff at that store. It was awesome. I would definitely work there.

2. Any Disney Hollywood Studios shop

DHS has so many cool shops that I honestly would work at ANY of them. No lie. It's my favorite park so I would flip if I was assigned to work there.

1. Any Magic Kingdom shop

I would LOVE to work at the Magic Kingdom. It's not my favorite park, but it certainly is the most magical! I love all the shops at this park too. I would love to work at the shop in Cinderella's Castle. I just think it would be cool to say, "Yeah, I work in a Castle all day." Hee hee, that would be fun.

Until next time, have a magical day!

[INFOPOST] Purple Folder and Job Description!

Okay so my role is Merchandise. Which means I'll be working at a retail store on Disney property. For my friends and family that follow this blog and don't know what my role entails I'm going to paste the DCP website's info in this post so they'll know. So here are the basic things my job includes:

Merchandise


Responsibilities may include:

•Demonstrating and selling merchandise in indoor and outdoor areas

•Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers

•Stocking and cleaning shelves and carts

•Receiving/putting away stock and deliveries

•Stroller/wheelchair rental - including repetitive lifting, stacking, and pushing strollers and wheelchairs

•Preparation of food/candy

•Selling of alcohol and tobacco

•Providing information to Guests

•Approaching Guests and engaging them in conversation

•Preparing packages for shipping/delivery

•Working independently or as part of a large team

•Standing for extended periods, working outdoors
 
Additionally on Saturday my actual purple folder came! YAY! To me this folder is a precious thing. It's amazing. It's got the "Living, Earning, and Learning" basic overview information, and the letter letting me know that I'm in and my role and my pay rate. Then there's a sheet about the Disney Look, and a "Parent Fact Sheet." There's also 3D glasses for me to use on this game they have on the DCP website that you can play once you accept your role and pay your fee (which I've done.)
 
Here's a picture of me and my folder (I might take another one later, this picture isn't my favorite of me ever):
 

Until next time, have a magical day!

No School, No School, La La La La La La!

Hopefully when you read the above title you picture the hyenas from the Lion King singing and dancing as they did in "Be Prepared", lol. I know I do! I tried to find a video of it to add to the post for effect but all I found was this multilingual vid that showed the scene over and over again in different languages. Well, the university closed today due to snow! YAY! I managed to finish all of my assignments and e-mail the people I needed to this morning still though, so now I'm blogging.

I told my self last time that I wasn't going to blog until Friday, and now it's Friday!

My family is supposed to get together at my grandmother's house tonight. We do this thing called "First Friday" where on the first Friday of every month we all get together for dinner and a movie at my grandmother's. This time I can't go, and I'm sad about that. But I've told dad to have every one Skype me if they end up going over there so I might still get to talk to my family tonight.

Alright, some of you who are my friends on facebook might have seen my minor freak out from yesterday. Let me explain. I was looking around disboards.com and I found this thread where people talked about rejections. That was my first mistake. As I read through I found out that some people were rejected because they only selected 5-8 roles. I immediately panicked because I only picked 5. I continued to freak out for a couple of hours until my cousin and some hopeful CPers snapped me out of it.

I realized I could do one of two things:
1. tell the recruiter at my interview that I would be open to more roles than the ones I checked.
2. I could go back to the college program site and revise my check list. (Yes, you can do that if you haven't had your phone intervew. Which I haven't had mine yet. 2 days to go!)

I chose to revise my checklist. I took another look at the roles and decided to check all the roles that I would be willing to do and not just the ones I was incredibly eager to do. This took my checked roles total up to 11. I was happy with that so I saved it, printed it, and looked over it again to see if that changed my top roles. It really didn't. Over the past couple of days I had rearranged it anyway but this really only drastically changed one thing...my number 5 slot:

1. Character Attendant
2. Merchandise
3. Hospitality
4. Concierge
5. Attractions

As you can see vacation planning has been bumped from my list. I just decided that I wouldn't be able to handle the sales goals very well. I would stress myself out. I work at a daycare so I can handle children, guests, and lots of things going on at once, but I know I could not take the pressure of sales goals. So, vacation planning was bumped in favor of attractions. I think it would be a real learning experience for me to do that role, but I doubt I'll be asked about it in my inerview. I'm banking on being asked about my top four so that's what I've prepared for.

Side Note: I downloaded some things to spiffy up my next Vlog! Which will hopefully be posted on Sunday night after I've had my interview. I'll try to remember as many details as possible for you guys!

Until next time...have a magical day! ;)

Dear Readers, I'm Spoiling You...

Don't expect a blog everyday because I know me and I know I won't deliver a post everyday. I told myself I wasn't going to post today, but then Boone got all this sleet and every body's operating on a 2 and a half or 3 hour delay. My 9 AM shift at the daycare became a 10:30 AM shift. So here I am...

This is the world outside my window right now:

Look at all that snow...and you can't tell but it's sleeting on top of that!

Let's hope it keeps sleeting and I don't have to go to work or class, but knowing my school that will never happen. I suspect it's run by a bunch of yankees who don't freak the heck out when it snows like us southerners do.

I honestly believe that I'll have to catch the bus at 10 for work and go to all of my afternoon classes, but I'm daring to hope that at 9:30 I'll get an e-mail saying that at least 12:30 and 2:00 classes are cancelled. That would mean I only have to go to one class today. So, cross your fingers.

Cross your fingers on your other hand though because your other fingers should already be crossed. You know in reference to a certain purple folder I'm DYING to recieve.

So, let's talk about planning for acceptance or rejection from the DCP.

Here's the plan if I'm accepted:
1. Pay fee
2. Send in necessary paperwork to the program and the school
3. Wait to go

Here's the plan if I'm rejected:
1. scrounge around for an apartment!
2. rush to schedule the classes I need.
3. Wait to apply for Spring 2011

So since I really don't want to have to go insane searching for an apartment in Boone at the last minute OR stress myself out trying to get into the courses I need to graduate AFTER everyone's registered let's plan on me getting in. Good plan right?

Also I reprinted my appliclation and my Role Check List last night so I know everything I told them on my application. Which is good because I had totally forgotten. I was too excited to remember. But now I know for sure that I applied for the following roles:

Mercahndise
Hospitality
Character Attendant
Vacation Planner
Concierge

and the order of their rank goes as follows:

1. Character Attendant
2. Merchandise
3. Concierge
4. Vacation Planning
5. Hospitality

I've heard they ask for your top three, but I've also heard they're very selective about the role of Concierge. I also know that Character Attendant is a really hard role to land because so many people apply for it. But we'll see how it goes on Sunday, and believe me I will blogging about it immediately after!

Until next time! Have a magical day! ;)

Some Interesting Reads...

Hi again!

No, I haven't scheduled my interview yet because it is, in fact, Sunday. It's killing me to have to wait to schedule my interview! I'm going crazy! I've been trying to distract myself by posting on disboards.com but the boards aren't really busy right now. So I went exploring for other blogs! I found a really interesting one by someone who JUST finished the program. If you would like to give it a read it's called "The Happiest Internship on Earth" and HERE is the link. It's really helpful for someone like me who is just starting this process. She talks about decisions she had to make and dealing with the work schedule and being away from home for the holidays. She brought up some things I hadn't really considered at every step of the program.

Also I found two blogs from other people who are also applying: "Working for the Mouse" and "Magic Magic Mousketeer"

If you're reading this and you have a College Program blog too, let me know! I'd like to read it!

So I've finally decided on how I'm going to rank the roles I want:

1. Character Attendant (I really really want this one, but there's a lot of people applying for this one.)
2. Merchandising (I want to interact with guests while they're in the park.)
3. Vacation Planning (I LOVE planning vacations. I really enjoy finding deals and utilizing benefits.)
4. Concierge (Again, I'm looking for guest interaction and service.)

I'm fairly certian I checked all of these, but I was very nervous and excited while filling out the application and can't really remember everything I checked. I'm sure, if I didn't, I could add them during my interview. I don't think that would be a problem. I've also heard that they ask people if they would be willing to work "Quick Service Food and Beverage", and I've decided that I will tell them "If you really need people for it then I would be willing to have that role, but I feel I would learn the most from the roles I have already chosen."

I've been thinking about and exploring possible interview questions. I think I'll be pretty prepared for it. I'm actually really looking forward to it! That's all for today folks! Enjoy!