Category Archives: Disney College Program

Joe’s Disney College Program – Packing Tips

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Joe’s Disney College Program – Packing Tips

-By Joseph Green

The Bare Necessities

I wouldn’t take anymore than you need to be entertained when you’re not working and have free time by yourself (almost never). The ONLY entertainment I brought for myself was my computer so I could watch Netflix and my guitar because out of all the musical instruments I could take, it seemed most logical. I mean, it’s Disney world. You’re not going to be spending much time in your room alone so there’s no point in being excessive as far as packing is concerned.
You probably think you need to take as many clothes as you can carry… you don’t. Odds are, 6 days of the week you’re going to be wearing a costume, so there are not as many opportunities to wear “regular clothes” as you’d think. Taking more than you need will only be more of a hassle on you when you’re moving. If you’ve never been to Disney World, or if you don’t go regularly, you’re going to buy lots of souvenirs, if you buy lots of souvenirs you’re gonna need room to take them home, if you take too much stuff to the DCP you’re not gonna have room for your souvenirs, and if you don’t have room for your souvenirs you’re probably going to need a glass of milk to go with that regret.

Honestly, before you get out your suitcase, make sure you have these things (they’re truly the most important)!

  • Patience
  • A good sense of humor
  • The ability to be flexible, cooperative and get along well with others
  • Solid time management skills
  • Most important of all, a strong work ethic

When packing, use the less-is-more philosophy.

Clothes:  I took some casual clothes, a couple of business casual outfits and a sport coat for training, some layers like sweatshirts and jackets, work-out clothes (there was a gym and plenty of places to run).  Some people like to dress up a little for housing functions and get-togethers, but I didn’t.  I packed running shoes, dress shoes, and casual shoes for walking around the parks.  Don’t worry about work shoes until you get there.  I received my work shoes with my costume and didn’t have to shop for those.

I also took bedding (twin xl), mattress topper, pillows, and towels, some basic cleaning supplies and laundry detergent, toiletries, and a coffee maker.  That was all I really needed right away.  Do you need apartment decorations and a fancy shower curtain?  Nope.  Do you need extra pots and pans?  No, you don’t, but what you will need is cheap plastic food storage containers.  I cooked things like pasta and other meals that made lots of leftovers I could enjoy for several days, so those containers were the first thing I bought after I moved in.

You can borrow an iron and ironing board, vacuum, broom, mop, games, DVDs and lots of other stuff from housing – don’t bring those things.  Remember – the more you bring, the more you have to haul home at the end of your program.  Tons of stuff gets left behind or thrown away.  Unless you spend all your free time in your housing unit (do not do this!), you won’t need to treat it like a dorm room.

About a car

I know it’s not feasible for everyone to bring their own vehicle, but I was very (VERY!) glad I had mine.  I never used the Disney bus transportation.  I was happy to give coworkers rides to and from work and occasionally, a lift to the airport.  I have a thing about being on time and if there’s any chance I’m going to be late for anything, it stresses me out.  Don’t get me wrong, using the bus system works for many people, but I was happy to know, barring anything unforeseen, I’d be on time for work every day.  Plus, when my hours got long during Spring Break (12-15 hours per day), I didn’t have to add bus-waiting time to the length of those days.

That’s it!  Pack light and be ready to work hard and have lots of fun.  Check back for my next post about making the most of your Disney College Program experience and thanks for reading…Joe.

Joe’s Disney College Program – My Role in Quick Service Food and Beverage

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That elation over being accepted into the Disney College Program didn’t last long before being replaced by anticipation over that all important question…what would I be doing?  Would I be in a park?  At a resort?  Wide World of Sports Complex?  Parking lot?  Finally, I was notified that my assigned role would be….QSFB!  That’s DCP-speak for Quick Serve Food and Beverage.  This didn’t sound too bad and when I realized I’d be working in Animal Kingdom, I got really excited.Disney College Program - Quick Service Food and Beverage

Joe’s Disney College Program – My Role in Quick Service Food and Beverage

-by Joseph Green

My prior work experience consisted of strenuous summer farm labor as a child (just kidding, Dad, it was great!), working in a big-box pet super-store doing everything from ordering live fish to ringing up customers to stocking shelves and cleaning up dog “accidents” in the aisles.  My last job before the DCP was as a bank teller…great hours, lots of responsibility, and tons of customer service and cash handling.  I feel like that combination of work experience came in extra-handy when I joined the ranks of the thousands of Disney park employees who cook, serve, and clean up at all those counter service restaurants and kiosks.Disney College Program - Quick Service Food and Beverage

After the general DCP on-boarding training, I was sent to DAKlamation to get acclimated to DAK (Disney’s Animal Kingdom).  This training was interesting and fun.

TIPS for On-the-Job Training:  I highly recommend wearing something comfortable that doesn’t make you too hot. No jackets, if it can be helped. It will need to business attire or close to it at least. You’ll be walking around your location (resort, park, etc.) for a large portion of the day and some people who wore jackets or long sleeves were very obviously uncomfortable from the heat and the amount of walking. And on the first day of actual job training, expect to be sitting in front of a computer for several hours. Computer training comes first and prepares you for what to expect when you go to your actual work location. The computer is where you’ll first be introduced to things like handling currency and proper hold times and temperatures for food.  If your location serves alcohol, you’ll be required to learn about how alcohol affects the body and signs of intoxication.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Pigdon Twitter @Method2TheMagic

When I reported to my work area in Harambe Market, I was trained on some very basic duties (emptying trash, greeting guests and handing out menus) first.  Then as time went on, I learned how to assemble orders, ring up guests, and work at other locations like the Harambe Fruit Market (I roasted a lot of corn there).  I enjoyed the fact that I was able to train in different locations, and given the chance I highly recommend it. I’m not sure how much availability there is for cross-training around the parks and resorts and other areas, but I found it very refreshing. Being able to move to different locations throughout the day gave me a much-needed change of scenery and kept tasks from being too monotonous.

The fact that I had trained in multiple locations also allowed me more opportunities to extend and pick up shifts because I wasn’t limited to just Harambe Market, I could move to the Fruit Market, Kusifiri Bakery, or Tamu Tamu Refreshments when I was needed.

Being familiar with your park (or other location) is also extremely helpful. Not just your work area, but the whole park, resort, complex, etc.. Spend time in it, get to know it. Learn the fastest ways to get to each area and experience all the shows, shops, and attractions. Develop an honest opinion on the shows, rides, and dining options because you will be asked. You will be asked about things outside of your role MUCH more often than you think. I spent many of my breaks walking around Animal Kingdom just enjoying the scenery and people watching.

I always felt like guests really appreciated my honest opinion when they asked for it, and I was able to give that to them because of the time I’d spent in the park. If someone asked me where they could get a beer I wouldn’t just point them to the closest place that sold beer, I’d ask them, “what kind of beer do you like?” If they liked Bud Light I knew just where to send them, if they wanted something a little different I could tell them to check out the Dawa Bar by Tusker House and have Steve hook them up with a Golden Monkey.

Things like that create a really personal experience for you and the guests. It’s really unexpected for them and they honestly appreciate you taking the time to ask about what they want and what they like because it shows that you genuinely care about helping them. I’ve had many guests come back to find me after I sent them somewhere just to thank me for my recommendation because they really enjoyed it.Joe's Disney College Program - My Role in Quick Service Food and Beverage

If you have any questions about DCP roles, ask away and I’ll do my best.  Come back soon for more information about my experience including what to pack, how to stay out of trouble, what to expect day-to-day, and more.  Thanks for reading…Joe.

 

 

 

Joe’s Tips for Disney College Program Hopefuls – Application Process

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I’ve just returned from an amazing Disney College Program experience.  I was prepared to be homesick, work incredibly hard, and have lots of fun and still there were many unexpected twists and turns I never saw coming.  I’m ready to share everything I learned about the Disney College Program and today I’m going to start with the very first step in the process.

Joe’s Tips for Disney College Program Hopefuls – Application Process

– By Joseph Green

Before Applying

Research everything.  It’s easy to find great information online.  Find and read about other DCP participants’ experiences, watch their YouTube videos, check out first-hand descriptions of different roles, and review the different housing options.  Ask around among your friends and family to find out if they know a former participant you can talk to.  I found a co-worker who’d been in the program and her advice about what to expect during the phone interview was invaluable.

If you apply and don’t get accepted, try again for a different semester or right after you graduate.  The acceptance rate is low compared to the huge number of people who apply.  I think the older you are and the more work experience you have, the better.  If you’re a bit older, chances are you’ll answer the interview (both web-based and telephone) questions completely differently than you would have when you were 18 and/or had no experience working as part of a team or with the public.

When Applying

Don’t show interest in any job you think you’ll hate OR if, like me, it’s important to have this experience during a particular semester, be willing to feel good about any role you’re given.  Like that old Southern expression goes, “You can get glad in the same pants you got mad in” but it’s up to you.  No matter what role you get, it’s up to you to make the experience good.  Don’t get your heart set on a particular role.  If you put ANY interest in a role, it’s possible you’ll get it.

Disney fills roles based on need and those with the highest need are often the ones we can least imagine having.  Many applicants see themselves as character performers or character attendants or working in favorite attractions because those roles seem like they’d be the most fun.  It’s also pretty easy to imagine working in a store or behind the counter at a resort.  The truth is that if you’re applying to the program for the right reasons, any role will be rewarding.  Be prepared to end up in custodial, housekeeping or Quick Service Food & Beverage since those have the highest need.

Telephone Interview

Schedule this very important final step for a time when you’ll be alone and uninterrupted.  If you don’t have a vast knowledge of Disney parks, watch some ride and special event videos on YouTube.  You don’t have to have vacationed at Walt Disney World or Disneyland to be accepted into the program, but as with any potential employer, a company loves when you know a bit about them.  Think about how to convey your personality and best attributes with only your words.  I have a very deep voice that can sometimes sound monotone and unexpressive.  While I didn’t want to sound fake, I did try to put a bit more excitement into my answers so my enthusiasm would be evident.  I also sat in front of a mirror so I could see myself while I was talking to the interviewer – this ensured that I smiled, which, believe it or not, can be heard as well as seen.

I thought about and planned on doing the Disney College Program for years before finding the right time to apply.  I gathered all the information I could find and went in feeling confident about what to expect.  I heard about (and met some) people who applied on a whim, did no research, and were then hugely disappointed by what they thought would be nothing but an extended Disney World vacation.  Some were terminated for calling out sick and then going to play in the parks.  The Disney College Program is an internship that involves working hard as part of a team dedicated to providing an outstanding guest experience.  That must be a DCP member’s first priority in order to have a successful program.

If you have questions about any aspect of the Disney College Program, ask away and I’ll do my best to help.  Watch for my next post about my role as a DCP participant.  Thanks for reading…Joe.

 

Disney College Program Update – One Month Left

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If it’s possible, Joseph’s time in the Disney College Program has passed both quickly and excruciatingly slowly for me.  I’m not sure how that works, but I’m pretty sure it’s a mom thing.  Time goes quickly when I’m not worried then comes to a screeching halt when I start imagining all the things that might be going wrong.  At least this emotional roller coaster is about to pull into the station and I couldn’t be more excited!

Disney College Program Update – One Month Left

I’m certain this is the longest stretch of time Raymond and I have been apart from our favorite (and only) son.  We last saw him on February 26th and he’s due to come home on or about May 18th.  While he’s been gone, I’ve made a point of texting Joseph every couple of days with pictures of our pets and updates on everyone from Junior and Ricky to Arno (Joe’s tortoise) and all seven chickens.  (Yes, there used to be nine, but we’re not here to talk about that now, are we.)  Joseph sometimes responds, sometimes not, but does often enough that I usually know he’s okay and don’t have to creepily stalk him by his debit card activity (hey, my being a joint account holder comes in handy for both of us).  All of that changed in late March/early April when two things happened virtually simultaneously that turned my low-simmer worry to fully boiling anxiety. 

Joseph’s responses to my text messages became much less frequent and he was incommunicado with Megan and Raymond as well.  I knew Spring Break season was getting geared up and tried (I did really) to remain calm and not hover.  Then, one of Joe’s weekly paychecks ended up being about $68 and I knew something was terribly wrong.  As it turns out, he caught one of the stomach bugs going around and got sent home from work, then missed the next day, then couldn’t find any shifts to pick up on his scheduled day off.  Okay…Not too bad.  I stopped panicking for a few days. Then Spring Break hit in full force and Joseph seemed to drop off the face of the earth.

Parental Angst Run Amok

College Program parents and hopefuls, heed my cautionary tale.  No matter what time of year one participates in the College Program at Walt Disney World, there will be an insanely crazy, über busy period of time to work through.  I feel bad in hind sight that I over-worried and imagined the worst possible catastrophic events.  Joseph described that roughly two-week period like this, “Everything is exactly the same every day.  I work 10-12 hours and either go to the gym or go to sleep and that’s what happens.  It’s been incredibly busy and my hours have been extended every day.  I don’t do anything except work, eat, and sleep.  I’m not upset or anything, I just have nothing to report…it feels like every single day lasts about an hour and I feel like I have no time.”  What a relief that was!  There are five million and sixty-seven worse things than working tons of hours…I should know, I imagined every one of them.

Through it all I’m happy to say, Joseph is still having a great time!  Now that Spring Break is over, he’s had time to attended some Cast Member events, go to the movies, take in some of the Flower & Garden Festival, and resume his food reviews.  I can’t wait to see him in person (finally!) and hear all the details.  I’m sure Joe will have loads of tips and tricks and general Disney College Program information to share with you too.  If you’ve made it here to the end of this post – wish me luck over the next 29 days…I’m going to need it!  Better yet, send emotional support!