The Adventure of a Lifetime

Note: This is a short summary post of my entire CP and my reflections on it.  I may post new entries covering everything I can remember that happened each of the seven months I was in Disney, including pictures and video.

It has been so long now; I look back at my adventures while in the college program and only see a big blur. I experienced both good times and bad times; happy times and sad times; closeness and loneliness.

The life of a cast member working at Disney was enjoyable for the most part. Any workplace one works at throughout one's life is full of those that cause drama and are just overall unkind to others. Disney's work environment is no different. It is full of workers whom make others business their business and form cliques with each other thus giving some worker's a feeling of being an outcast. Overall, it is like being in high school. However, I try not to dwell on the negative experiences and focus on what made me happy.

Things that made me happy and enjoy the time I had included:

• Meeting Pluto and giving him many hugs.
• Pluto is my favorite character and 95% of the time I enjoyed the interactions I had with him. I may have met him more than I should have at the beginning of my program but I was just so excited to see him after not getting to visit as a child. I mainly met in an attempt to make friends since the group I had formed before the program slowly diminished, or at least I diminished from it. I also met Pluto, though, because I loved receiving warm hugs from him and getting to have some fun (and share that fun with Pluto's friends).  Also, thanks to a good friend, I got to meet Pluto pre-CDCT parade once and post-Christmas parade once.

•  Meeting new friends.
• I made some enemies.  Those cliques I mentioned before weren't very fond of the amount of times I visited Pluto.  But through some of these interactions I made some friends.  One of which I met through another friend.  He and I did a lot together towards the second half of my program and I would have been lost and lonely without him.  Thankfully, I still have some of those friends today.

• Getting to experience entertainment unlike any I'd ever seen before.
• I saw the fireworks spectacular Wishes several times and the wonderful show Fantasmic! a lot as well.  These coupled with the various parades and, of course, the characters were really enjoyable.

• The work was something I truly enjoyed.
• Even though my work involved a lot of heavy lifting and sweating, I fully enjoyed it.  I got to create joy in others, whether they were young or old.  No matter the age, I treated everyone the same and made sure everyone had a smile at the end of the day.  That's all I wanted to do...create smiles and happiness.

So even though I had some bad times, I had good times.  These bad times could have been avoided if I had just fallen in line and conformed to what others think, but I chose not to and would rather be myself any day no matter what some rumor-mongering coworker says.

All in all, I'm glad I did the program as it provided me work experience and more importantly, life experience.  Will I do another program someday? I don't know yet, but it's always a possibility.

Accepted or Rejected?

Chapter 3

After the audition, there was a tremendous amount of waiting. Naturally I was nervous but after about two to three weeks and trying to keep my mind off of the impending acceptance/rejection email, it came. I nervously opened the email and read the first line:

"Congratulations! You have been selected to participate as a Character Performer Cast Member on the Disney College Program in the Fall Advantage 2009 Season."

I nearly fell out of my chair from excitement. The feeling I had at that moment was indescribable. Here I was reading an email telling me essentially that my dream had come true. Sure a long road was ahead of me full of many mountainous climbs, but I definitely felt accomplished. I couldn't wait.

I shared the news with my fellow group, all who got into the program as well. And thus from that point on we embarked together going over the website gathering necessary things we needed.

So we all kept talking and packed and packed and packed until May 20th arrived. The first day of the next seven months of adventures we would each have. Both with each other and apart.

Audition

Chapter 2

My audition took place sometime during January, if I remember correctly.  It was still snowing and super cold.  Knowing this, I showed up in Chicago with shorts and a t-shirt on.  Worst. Idea. Ever.  But I wandered inside the dance studio where they were holding the auditions and waited in the crowded room with all the other entertainment hopefuls.

Eventually they allowed us to head deeper into the studio to a room where we had to sign in and get our numbers.  They then measured us (to the appropriate Disney height) and introduced us to a really nice choreographer and some other entertainment cast who went through what the rest of the day would be like.

First we had to go through two animation exercises that we would be judged on.  Animation is key in entertainment.  You have to be able to animate things very largely and also very simply.  That's the key: keep it simple, keep it large.

After practicing these exercises, we were taught a dance combination which varies between auditions.  It starts out simple and as it progresses, gets slightly more difficult.  (It's 8 counts, for any of you into dance.)

All of this is done in a large group and after running through the combination several times, they break you up into two large groups to do it.  After this, you line up in a hallway based on your number.  They take four/five into the room at a time to animate and do the combination in front of entertainment cast members that will judge whether or not you make it through into entertainment.  You won't find out this day if you make it in but try to relax and get ready for a long wait.  (It feels long but it's about 1-2 weeks before you find out.)

These judges will also pick aside those that they feel could go for a face role, that is become friends with princesses and princes as well as the other popular characters in movies.  If you feel you are able to become a face character, before the audition date arrives you will be informed to bring some head shots (though these are optional).  I think mostly, as mentioned above, they set aside people they feel would fit those roles. (Don't quote me on this information as I don't really know much about face roles.)

After I finished my audition, I had a wave of accomplishment rush over me and was just glad to be done with it.  Now I had a long wait ahead of me before I found out if I was accepted or not...


Note: If you have any interest in being a cast member in the entertainment department at Disney World or any of the Disney Company's parks or on the Disney Cruise Line, check out their audition site.  You don't have to be in the college program to get into entertainment.  I wish you the best of luck if you pursue this option.  It's definitely a fun role to be in.

WoWW #2

Yes, it's time for another Words of Wisdom Wednesdays!

"I dream, I test my dreams against my beliefs, I dare to take risks, and I execute my vision to make those dreams come true." - Walter Elias Disney

Dreams are very important. This quote signifies, at least to me, that dreams are a road full of challenges. You have to take the rise to the occasions that are presented to you upon your path to making your dream come true and overcome the obstacles to get to your dream. Sometimes paths involve taking chances and risks. With dreams, though, the rewards reaped are more than the risks involved to get to them.

This quote says that dreams are something you must work toward and that while the path may not be easy, making those dreams come true is possible. All it takes is a little faith, trust and pixie dust.

Words of Wisdom Wednesdays

While most people would rather post pictures today and let the reader become inspired by those, I would rather use quotes.  Quotes have always been something that inspires me to keep going even through impossible circumstances.  Quotes may also be interpreted in any way that the reader sees fit. 

One such quote that I always found inspiring is this one:

"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long there is imagination left in the world." – Walter Elias Disney

While in this case Walt Disney is specifically talking about Disneyland, the underlying message is about how all it takes is one’s imagination to keep things growing and expanding.  Imagination is a powerful asset to everyone in the world.  It is a drive that keeps us going toward our goals, hopes, and dreams.

Not everyone chooses to embrace the imagination that they hold but for those that do, they can become inspired at a very young age.  When I attended elementary school, with every chance we got to write, I wrote fictional based stories.  So even at a very young age, I used my imagination.

This is hardly surprising, though.  Most every child uses their imagination.  Whether they pretend to be a pirate or a hero, the evidence of imagination is apparent.  As we grow older, however, we tend to lose that imagination in the rush that is adulthood.

This quote by Walt Disney should be inspiring to those that have begun to lose their imagination and should convince them to retake their imagination and embrace it.  When you have an imagination, it is far easier to feel like a child once more.  This feeling is something that adults continue to wish they could embrace.  

The constant phrase, “I wish I was a kid again” comes to mind.  While you cannot be a kid again, you certainly can feel like one.  All it takes is a little courage to pursue that little feeling your inner child gets and overcome the “adult complex” to once again feel like a kid again.

Imagination is powerful.

If you liked the quote above, feel free to check visit this website and look around for more inspiring quotes.

Helpful Tips

If you are headed down to Florida (or California) in the near future to participate on the Disney College Program, congratulations!

I know it may seem overwhelming right now as you are preparing, but try to keep calm and go over everything in your mind.  By following some the following tips, I hope you are able to be stress free both before the program and during.

• Create your own checklist.
• I recommend creating your own checklist of what you think you will need.  Try not to pack too much, though, if you are flying.  (Gotta keep that cost for luggage down!)  There is a list on the Disney College Program website that lists what you will need (some of it obviously optional) as you pack for the journey of a lifetime.  I recommend waiting until you get to Florida/California before buying most if it.  There are buses to and from Walmart (or you can drive, of course).
• Set of linens and bedding (beds are twin size and rather uncomfortable; I recommend getting a foam mattress pad)
• TV, VCR, DVD player and a coaxial cable
• Stereo (small)
• Toaster
• Coffee Maker
• Phone card
• Answering machine
• Cordless phone (The phone provided in the apartment has a cord.)
• Cell phone (Check with your current provider for coverage information.)
• Alarm clock
• Beach towel, suntan lotion and/or sunscreen
• Camera and media storage cards or film
• Casual clothing
• Professional clothing (Please refer to the Disney Look Guidelines for assistance.)
• Sweater or jacket
• Dress shoes
• Combination lock for the locker in your bedroom
• Computer with Ethernet card
• Original employment eligibility documents
• Cosmetics and toiletries
• Credit card and traveler’s checks (if available)
• Health insurance information
• Personal medications, including prescription drugs, if needed
• Writing paper, envelopes and pens
• Renter's Insurance Information
• If you are able, bring your own car. It makes traveling so much easier.
• Otherwise, they do provide buses from the complexes you will be living at to all work locations.  There are several buses and sometimes they can be quite full.  Sometimes even so full you will have to take the next bus.  If you work at Epcot, after your shift be ready to wait a while as this location has many employees.  The buses run for all locations at around two or three throughout every hour.  You'll get a schedule of the buses on day one.  Make sure to arrive at least 5-10 minutes before the the bus is scheduled to arrive as they do leave early sometimes.
• Pay attention on day one!
• There are buses that will take you from location to location but you are able to drive to the places yourself.  I recommend taking the buses if you are not so adventurous.  My friends and I got lucky finding the casting building we were supposed to go to.  
• Find roommates beforehand.
• Go on Facebook and find the group that relates to the season in which you are going to be arriving at Disney.  (For instance here is the group for Spring 2011.)  This will provide you with a lot more information than I could possibly give you on this blog as well as many people's opinions of the program overall.  Find or create a roommate thread and try to form a close group of friends who you could be roommates with. (There are one bedroom apartments up to three bedroom apartments; two people in each room.)
• Amenities are included.
• This includes wireless internet, but you do need a router to connect to it! 
• You cannot enter the parks until after you go to this class called, Traditions!  
• This is on day two.  A semi-formal attire is required.  So men, bring a tie and slacks. Women, a nice dress.
• Keep within Disney Look Guidelines.
• This is very important, as managers are allowed to send you home from work if your hair is too long or does not follow the guidelines.
• There are places to get a cheap haircut backstage at the different park locations.
• Also make sure to keep your costumes you get from costuming (locations will be explained to you throughout training) clean and tidy.  Make sure to follow the guidelines for costumed men and guidelines for costumed women explained on the Disney Look Guideline page. 
• Get College Credit!
• If you are doing the program, it is more than likely you are able to get credit in your department for doing this internship.  It varies by department what they may have you do to get credit, but make sure to ask your advisor.
• There are also some classes that can earn you college credit.
• I recommend taking some classes or doing one of their exploration series classes.  These classes can definitely help you in your ascent into the Disney company and overall they help ready you for a future career.

That's about it for now, I'll keep coming back and updating this post with anything else I may find beneficial.  If you have any questions let me know.  Make sure you check the Disney College Program website first.  Just go through the tour of the complete website in the student section and you are sure to find your answer.  If not, though, I'm here to give an answer to the best of my knowledge.

It's Really Not So Scary

Currently at the Disney parks, there is a Halloween event going on.  It’s titled “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” and it is an annual party held each year from September 14th, 2010 until November 1st, 2010*.  Quite a long time for Halloween to last, don’t you think?  Even so, the parties that Disney throws are always spectacular, no matter how long they last.

Each party is filled to the brim with as much entertainment as Disney can pump in.  Some of the events include:

• Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade
• CANDY!
• Everyone’s favorite characters dressed up in their Halloween best
• Side note: Pluto is dressed as a spaceman-erm...-spacedog
• A special castle show featuring everyone’s favorite villains
• The spectacular fireworks show, “Happy HalloWishes”
• Did I mention candy?
• And much more…

Most of these parties can be quite packed.  I recommend going to the earlier parties, such as the ones in September.  All you have to do is show up at 7 PM with your tickets and you will be able to get in and start enjoying the festivities.  The party lasts until 12 AM, so hopefully all that candy will keep your energy up.

Shortly after this party ends on November 1st, be sure to get your tickets soon afterwards for the first party of "Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party."  They start setting this one up right after they finish taking the Halloween decorations down.  So get to Disney and celebrate Christmas in November!

*All dates and entertainment subject to change.