*Note– If you didn’t notice I have a new page up top with a photo challenge that I’m going to try and complete during my time at Disney. Its pretty fun, so check it out and use it if you’re interested!
Discovery of the week is this pretty awesome blogger/vlogger who’s going down Fall Advantage. Her name is Abby and she has a great informational blog and some pretty awesome vlogs so check her out.
Well it’s Memorial Day Weekend. My parents are up in DC and coincidentally my sister is also driving up there for the long weekend. So I’m at home with Reagan (our dog) who is having a nervous breakdown because everyone is gone and I’m packing for camp. He has become my furry, four-legged shadow. I had a wonderful sushi dinner Thursday night with Katie Clenney and Kari Hall. It’s great to get to see old friends. 🙂 On the not so bright side of things my car won’t start. The problems are just non stop with that thing lately. Hoping its just the battery, honestly it needs a new one anyway.
A few days ago I emailed DCP recruiting to put in my request for where I’d like to work this Fall. I’ve been thinking about it for a while and I had pretty much decided I didn’t really want to work in Magic Kingdom. Even though its the quintessential Disney park I really wanted to be in one of the other ones. However most people know I have this ridiculous love for all things pirate, so I asked to be placed at Pirates of the Caribbean or at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
or Hollywood Studios in general. I haven’t been to Hollywood Studios since it was called MGM, but I have very vivid memories of riding that awesome 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, music blaring, twists and turns every way imaginable ride.. So those were my two requests. Naturally I got the canned response that they noted where I wold like to work in my file but I am not guaranteed anything. Placement is based upon the needs of the parks when you arrived, but they try and take requests into account. If you have somewhere you’d really like to work just email recruiting at wdw.college.recruiting@disney.com
Quick informational update: We got a report from a current CP-er that there has been a change made to the Disney Look on the HUB which is really only for women. Before the look said you could not wear sundresses or any pants that weren’t full length but now they have decided that business style capris and sleeveless tops/dresses with straps at least 3 inches wide/ in good taste are acceptable. You can also wear sling backs with an open toe now.
So, I’ve had some down time while waiting for camp, it’s like torture, but I’ve been making the best of it by reading informative blogs and such by DCP students who just arrived. The first batch of Fall Advantage kids got in on the 19th and the second on 24th, so there has been an abundance of information and questions flying on blogs and Facebook groups. I’m going to save most of the big arrival information for a post right before I leave for camp because, lets face it, when I get back on August 22nd 98% of people will already be at Disney. I did notice that a lot of people kept asking the same questions so I’ve compiled them into a little FAQ. If I missed anything that you want to know just leave a question in the comments or formspring me and I’ll do my best to get you an answer!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can you change your arrival date?
If you are Fall Advantage it is probably too late to change your date now, however I have heard of Fall arrivals emailing recruiting and requesting a different date and having it get accepted.
When you drive to check into Vista Way is there a place to park?
There is a lot right across the street from Vista Way which you can park in, then everyone gathers at the security gate inside. If the lot fills up, there is a Wendy’s and gas station maybe 200 feet from the complex.
What do you with the luggage while waiting for them to open and while you’re in the check-in process if you didn’t drive?
Once the gate opens, you have to go to the back of Vista, that’s where the check-in booth is. Behind the booth is a huge tent for luggage. They have a security guy standing there, so it’s in safe hands while you check in. Also, for those taking a cab or other transportation, they drop of right at the check in booth, so you wont have to walk all the way through vista.
Is there a way to request a roommate before we go?
Yes, you can request a roommate through the roommate notification system online.
If you arrive together can you can you request more than one roommate?
If there are more than 2 of you you can sign up with more people to room with, but you can only fill up 50% of an apartment with requests or 100%. So if there are 4 of you who want to live together you have to either take a 2 or 4 bedroom apartment. If there are three of you who want to live together you have to take a 3 or 4 bedroom apartment, its just how Disney does things.
I keep reading that if you have a roommate you both need to arrive at check in at the same time, does this still apply if you request your roommate through the online matching system?
From my understanding, if you & your roommate do the roommate matching thing, you don’t have to get to check in at the same time because it’s in the computer system that the two of you are going to be roommates.
If you got matched with someone through Disney, do you have to room with them?
No, you can go to the DCP website and cancel the match before your arrival date.
What if you don’t have a roommate? What do you do then?
You get assigned one, unless you happen to meet someone in line you get along with and sign up together.
Are the beds Twin or Twin XL?
Twin.
I know that they say the Rooms are Fully Furnished…But do we need to bring like Microwaves/TV?
There are microwaves in the kitchens, but you will need to bring a TV if you want one. There is cable hookup in the rooms.
Is there a place to plug in an ethernet cable?
Yes, but in most places the only one is in the living room, the exception being Patterson where there is one in every room. I recommended having one of the roommates bring a wireless router.
Can we bring a mini-fridge?
No, they are not allowed.
Can we bring bed risers for our room?
Yes, you can.
Did you get to pick if you wanted the 8 am or 2 pm traditions class?
No, they assign a session to you. If you’re there early in the morning, you will have the 8am, if you arrive in the afternoon you will probably get 2pm. Just depends on how quickly they fill up.
Where is traditions at? Can you take a cab or drive there instead of waiting for the bus?
Traditions is at Disney university behind Magic Kingdom. The wait for the bus isn’t very long, and driving is not recommended because you don’t have your Disney ID’s yet, so you wouldn’t be able to get through the parking gates, also, when you get off the bus, you are all together as a group.
During traditions when they take you on the walk through the Magic Kingdom, are you allowed to change shoes? Because walking on heels all through MK sounds awful!
Unfortunately, no. You have to stay in your Disney Look, so I would recommend wearing comfortable dress shoes and something that won’t be too hot.
Do all women follow the “Hosiery must be worn at all times” Disney Look rule?
If your legs are showing nylons are necessary.
What are the different uniforms like?
Uniforms vary greatly by your position, and are largely still around because they are a part of the Disney experience and are definitely not designed for the appearance. Here’s a great forum with lots of pictures of different costumes here.
When we use our Disney ID to get friends discounts while we’re there, is there a limit on that?
5 times a year is the limit on the friends/family discount. But you can use your discount on rooms, food, and merchandise an unlimited amount of times.
And now, because I can, here are some bizarre facts and oddities about Disney!
1. Walt’s Apartment
Because Walt wanted to ensure that everything would be as magical as possible when Disneyland was being built in the early 50s, he had an apartment built in the theme park, which was an hour from where he lived in California. Employees would know when he was in the apartment, above the fire station on Main Street USA, when the light was on in the window at night. To this day, more than 45 years after his death, a light is left on in the window in his memory and supposedly the room has been left untouched since he passed away. Perhaps Mickey’s Ears are not the only things you could ever see at Disneyland.
2. Fatal Rides
There have been about a dozen deaths in Disneyland California since the park opened in 1955 while there have been at least as many at Disney World and at least one at the Paris Disneyland. Some of these fatalities were due to adverse reactions from the guests, but many of the deaths were the fault of the guests who were not heeding directions. When they say don’t stand up in a roller coaster, there’s a reason.
3. It’s a Big, Big Walt Disney World
Located entirely within its own improvement district – the Reedy Creek Improvement District of Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – Walt Disney World with its main attractions and resorts is twice the size of Manhattan. Every day, the guests of the resorts use an amount of linens that would take a normal person 40 years to clean. Supposedly the landscaping crew puts over a half a million miles on the mowers covering the 47 miles of WDW throughout the year. In the last seven years, a water saving effort has taken place at the theme parks, which has meant a savings of about 2.5 billion gallons of water. Who said it was a “small, small world?”
4. The Vault
Included in that rigid control of their trademarks is the vaunted Disney Vault. Disney started theatrically re-releasing movies seven years after they were originally released after “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” Since then, the home movie craze hit and with the advent of DVDs, the Vault is only reopened once every 10 years. Supposedly this is a ploy to get new generations of children interested in the movies. Or like any business, it could just be a way to make more money.
5. DDD
Talk about keeping quiet. Disney employees are expressly prohibited from dating other Disney employees – hence Don’t Date Disney. A former employee of Disneyland let the cat out of the bag on that policy years ago when he tattled to “LA Magazine” about his time as Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately, someone took a photo of him and his then girlfriend, an Ariel, and showed it to the higher ups, who were displeased. However, it was going to the premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” doing an interview in costume, giving his full name, and the interview being posted online that got his Ears taken away.
At the same time, park employees are discouraged from trying to “excite” members of the opposite sex and to ignore any flirtation from guests. Tough luck, Jack, no lasses or goatee for you!
6. Facial Hair
Back in the 60s, long hair and facial hair was considered to be a sign of hippies, which the empire could not afford to be associated with. Hence a policy was born requiring all male employees to have short hair and no facial hair at the theme parks. It took until 2000 for the theme parks to renege on the policy. Now male employees are allowed to have neatly trimmed mustaches.
7. Hidden Ears
Whether you’re at Disneyland or any of the other theme parks, everywhere you look there are Mickey Mouse Ears. And no, not the merchandise ears. From the shape of the pizza to the hedges to the ears hidden in the tiles, Mickey’s iconic ears are everywhere thanks to Walt’s desire to add to the magic of the kingdom.
Information taken from source
That’s all I’ve got for now. Next time I’m going to talk about packing, the how-tos and the do-nots, some helpful tips and my packing list in case anyone wanted to get some ideas from it or use it. Until then Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all our soldiers who have given and are giving their lives for our freedom.
Friday Sara, Janna and I were assigned the early Traditions class which means we had to leave the room to walk to the bus at 6:15 AM. It started at 8 and lasted until 12:30, the beginning was a little slow but it turned out to be a pretty awesome experience. The best part was when we got to walk through the utilidoors, aka the tunnels underneath Magic Kingdom. The Boss (Mickey, by the way) came by to say hello to us and deliver are beautiful new name tags! After you go through Traditions you can then get into the parks for free so we headed over to EPCOT to ride some rides and then over to Magic Kingdom to catch the Wishes fireworks show. The next night we went out as a room to Hollywood Studios until it closed at 7 and then back to EPCOT to have some Mexican food and watch Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. Both of those shows were so magical.
My Top 5 Attractions to Work at Disney:
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5 Things About Me:
5 Packing Tips:
Life Out of Georgia 
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