Just keep Sswimming, Just keep Swimming.....

So I am still gonna talk about my experience at and with Disney cause it honestly changed my life for the better. More to come soon about how to get there and what to expect once you've made it!

New Road to be Taken

Well, this Disney thing did not work out well. Heh that's life though I suppose, so I will now be speaking on our new adventure in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!!! Yay for the beach. We are moving there in August and I am very excited. Lots to be done though before then!! Someday I may end up back with Disney, but until then I'm gonna enjoy the ride.

Disney Dream Jobs - Lodging

Hey everyone, and HAPPY FRIDAY! First off just want to say that we are on our way with our financial goal to get to Disney next year. We can move, buy an apartment, and be set for a month before steady paychecks come in for $5,000. We are shooting for $7,000 to be safe, and we made our first big dent! After filing our tax return, Drumroll Please..........A $1,500 check is coming our way to be put into the Florida Fund! YAY! We are estimating to put about $400 - $500 into the fund each month so that should get us there with plenty of financial security. That is important to us for we are planning on moving to Florida permanently, so the financial side of this is crucial. Don't fret you poor college students out there though, this is for a Couple without kids. For a single student I survived with $500 in my account and the cost of the plane ticket to get me there. I knew people who did it with less, so as long as you can get there and have $ for food for 2 weeks before you get paid, you should be in good shape!

So let us get back to talking about the jobs that you can apply for with the program. Today I shall talk about positions that fall under the Lodging Catagory. The following are what you could potentially be doing if you are cast in a Lodging Position:

Bell Services - If you are given this job you will be assisting guests as they first arrive at their hotels. You can help with parking service, carrying bags, greeting, and answering any questions that some may have.
Disney Desk - This job will have you checking guests into their hotel rooms, asssisting them with anything Disney, Transportation, and any other questions that the guests may have.
Guest Services - In a Guest Services Role, you will assist guests with any extras they may want including in-room celebration, maintenance, and special requests that they may have. You will be there to make sure that guests have the best experience at Disney that they can have.
Concierge - You will take care of the extra needs of hotel guests. Park tickets, transportation, dining, other area attractions, and in-room amenities are all accessible at the concierge desk.
Housekeeping - By selecting this job you will make sure that the guest rooms are all up to Disney standards. You shall clean, stock, and make sure each room is fit for your guests.
All these roles can put you in any resort that is on Disney Property, the jobs do vary from place to place, but if you would be comfortable with working in the hotels then this is a great area for you to start in! In your interview if you want a specific area go ahead and tell them. They are more prone to give you want you want if you ask for it! Tomorrow I shall cover the Food and Beverage Option so don't go too far, for the magic will continue! Have a magical day everybody!

P.S. " I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along with out it." - Walt Disney.
So don't give up out there!

Disney Magical Moment: This Magical Moment comes From Holly Ford in Utah : "When we were leaving Disneyland after close on our last day there we ran into Minnie Mouse. She noticed our Happy Anniversary buttons and put up her fingers gesturing for us to indicate how many years. When we said five she put up a hand plus a finger, because as you know Minnie only has four fingers per hand! She shook her finger and chastised Dominic for me not having a wedding ring, and then had him get down on one knee and fake propose to me all over again. She then insisted we kiss, and when we did she covered up her eyes! Dominic now loves Minnie Mouse!" Thank You Holly for that memory! I know I enjoyed it! If you want your memory to end up here send me an email, and you could be the next Magical Moments Spotlight!

Your Disney Dream Job!

Hey everybody! After you find out if you are eligable for the program, the next big step before applying is deciding which "Role" you would like to apply for. This is Disney's term for the position you get, and if you are hired you are then a" Cast Member" in the whole show! So on your application you will have to select three jobs you would want to do if hired, your #1 being the one you want the most. Selecting these are very important because if your first choice is filled or you do not qualify, you will get your second or third choice. Don't just pick some job you would not be happy with. I will spend the next few entries talking about the jobs more indepth. This first area that you can select and apply for includes the following jobs, they do vary by area though so check the website for the exact job descriptions and where each is:

1. Operations - This covers many different jobs, but overall it means you will be assisting in the overall opperations of the parks.
Attractions - This means you will be working on the rides, shows, and attractions throughout the theme parks.Custodial - You will be helping to keep the parks clean and upto Disney standards! Don't let this job get you down, it is one of the highest paid positions in the program!Guest Research - You will help Disney with holding survey's throughout the park, giving them to the customers to make the experience better.
Parking Cashier - In your own little AIR CONDITIONED booth, you will assist those into the parks by taking their parking fees and answering their questions. Very nice in the middle of the summer!
PhotoPass Photographer - You will help to preserve the memories of the park guests by photographing their time in the parks.Resort Transportation & Parking - You could be driving trams, shuttles, monorails, or assisting with the parking of the guests to make sure they get where they need to go.
Park Greeter - Be the first person that people meet as they enter the parks! Answer questions, guide them, and help in anyway they need to get their adventure started!

Operations is a fun area to work in because you are actually operating the show! You bring the experience in the parks to life everyday! Tomorrow I shall talk about the Lodging option, so stay "Tooned" for more info on job selection!

P.S. " All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

Disney Magical Moment: Do you have any Disney Memories or Special Moments that mean a lot to you? Send them to me and they could end up here on the Blog! I am creating a page specifically to show how Disney impacts the lives of others, and makes dreams come true! That's why I want to work for them again, and why this program is worth your time and work. So email them to me and they just might end up in the Magical Moments Collection! Thanks Everybody!

Making Your Dreams Come True - Application Process

So as part of our first goal, we are making sure that we qualify to do the program. After searching on the website the following seems to be what is required of you to apply to the program:

1. Be enrolled as a Full or Part Time Student and Taking Classes.
      - This is met, for we will both be going full time next semester at Utah State University! :) Like it says though you can be part time (a minimum of 6 credit hours) and apply. Last time I enrolled in a dance class and a vocal singing class to meet that requirement, so you can take any 6 credits you want! You do have to be taking classes though the semester before, time off from school doesn't count and you have to be out of high school.

2. Meet any school requirements for the program.
    - This is different for every University so you will have to check with your school. The first time I went through Utah Valley University and had a hard time with the school. I recieved no credits and was told that it was a waste of my time to do the internship if I wasn't getting credits. I went anyway for it would help with my acting career, since it's DISNEY!!! They never had a student go through the program doing Acting before, so they could not do anything for me. Utah State has a GPA requirement and if you want credit hours for the program, you have classes you have to take through The Huntsman School of Business to get them. So just make sure you meet your school's individual requirements to avoid problems.

3. You have to be 18 years old at the start of the program.
    - Pretty self explanitory, so you young ones hold out! Prepare for it so when you are old enough you will be ready to go!

4. Have unrestricted working status.
    - That's right, depending on your job you have to have no limitations to your work ( Although Disney does have exceptions, and will work with you). My job in entertainment last time is a good example. I had to have no physical issues otherwise i could not perform. I had to have total availablity in work days 24/7. I worked 60 hour weeks during holidays, and had crazy schedules (2 am rehearsals) that were required. You have limited days off and sick days (3 sick calls in a month or 5 in two) so health was a big thing. It's work, don't forget that! Being able to step out into the park after a 12 hour day and watch fireworks before i went home was magical though. Hard yet rewarding!

So there you go, pretty simple and straight forward requirements that are easy to meet. Now I would apply as soon as the program you want to do opens ( Ours doesn't until August) but knowing everything ahead of time makes you prepared for anything that may happen between now and then. You also have a better shot at getting your Dream Job, which i will talk more about next time, for slots fill up fast and you want to make any deadlines you have. So make sure you meet these requirements, apply early, and be prepared for whatever happens!

P.S. Dream it, Believe it, Do it, Live it!

Disney Magical Moment: This was told to me by an Attendant I had and was her favorite moment she helped to create. She was up near Cinderella's Castle one night for crowd control during the nightly firework show "Wishes" when her and a few others saw this couple getting really lovey-dovey on the bridge, the others asked if they should approach them and tell them to cool it down, but she said no wait. The man then got down on one knee and proposed to his sweetheart. The attendants then ran down mainstreet to grab some "Just Engaged" celebration button for the couple to present to them. This special moment was enhanced by the attendants quickness to react to the situation and after the women said yes many clapped as they were given the buttons. Special Moments made unforgettable at Disney!

Disney College Program

The Disney College Program (DCP) is amazing!!!! This will be my second term with them, and I personally would not start any other way. It is an internship type program that gives the opportunity to college students to work in the Disney Resorts. You get a steady full time position, housing, transportation, and LOTS of disney perks!( Like free admission to ALL the parks!) They also offer you college credits and courses through Disney University. I took their Entertainment and Show Production course my first time and it was fantastic (I was a theatre major at the time). I will talk more about the schooling options in the future when Z and I have to sign up for our classes. This program is a great PAID internship opportunity and can lead to many other advances in the company. Below is the link to the DCP website with all the info you would need. You can either select the program in Florida or California. I have a pretty good record for recruiting others to the program (7 Currently!) because I love it SO much!!! Anyways more to come, but our first goal is to find out all the information we need to apply, so off to the website we go!! May your day be filled with Pixie Dust!

P.S. Here is the website: http://cp.disneycareers.com

Disney Magical Moment: First day in Orientation and we are all sitting in a decent sized conference room ready to learn all there is to know about Disney. We are then told to remember our favorite "Magical Moment" from visiting the parks when we were younger and share it with our table. My first magical moment was when I was 9 or 10 years old. We had gone to Disneyland for my sisters birthday and were watching the Merlin Show in Fantasy Land. He was trying to find the next Queen or King of Disneyland for the day and after asking a large man to try to pull the sword out of the stone, he called me up to try. I pulled it out effortlessly and was crowned the Queen for the Day. My poor sister cried for hours, but with my little crown I was Queen! Disney made me a Queen!

Decision, Decisions, Decisions

So Z and I have agreed that since we will have the means to move to Florida in a year, why not just do it  instead of waiting another two. How shall we do this? DISNEY!!!!! By applying for the Disney College Program, we shall move with a steady income, a place to live, and security for at least 7 months. Not a bad way to go! So after deciding that this is what we wanted to do we charted out some goals personally, financially, and just in general to get us there. I am going to write about what we are doing to prepare for the Happiest Place on Earth, and how it works for us. I will cover our application process, interviews, auditions, apartment hunting, and much much more, so if anyone else out there ever wants this sort of a change in there lives they can see others have done it, and it is totally possible! Like i've said before this will be my second time doing this so I have some tricks and treats up my sleave too. So keep your arms, legs, and ears inside the vehicle at all times, and enjoy the ride! I know we will!!

P.S. We are both going for entertainment positions, this has a slightly different and a bit harder path to tackle vs. a regular job, so be for warned that it may get a little theatrical ;)

Disney Magical Moment: First night with the Main Entrance Pass, and four parks to choose from!! My roommates and I decide to catch the last performance of Spectro Magic ( The electric light parade) in Magic Kingdom. We are watching in Frontier Land and I am Blown Away by all the magic, when Peter Pan comes up too us and asks, " You want to see a magic trick? Touch my hand." As a roommate does his costume lights up with these white little lights all over him! Kinda fell in Love with Peter, many people out there have had this similar experience brought to them by Disney!