Monthiversary!

I moved into my apartment at Disney World one month ago today. Time here is so strange some days feel like years, but other days already feel like distant memories. It is really sad to think that my time here is already 1/5 of the way finished at that before we can even fathom it our programs will be over and it will be time to say good bye.
I am very glad to say that I love it here, I love every aspect of the company and even though I think there are better ways to do things sometimes I know that it is cast members like me who look towards to future who will keep this company on the right track and advancing.
While my ultimate goal is to write music for Disney movies and maybe even the shows they have here in the parks I have come to terms and realized that if I really want to accomplish that goal I must leave Disney in the future to further my education.
I have tons of plans and goals for my university education but nothing it set in stone just yet and I have plenty of time to decide what exactly I will be doing with my life still.
I can honestly say though that I am so excited for the future and for living and just being here and that is the best feeling. I wake up everyday maybe not jumping out of bed, but with a smile on my face because I realize how lucky I am.
I am doing a job that I love, in a place that I could have only ever dreamed of being. I am not sure if fate is being kind to me, or if I've just worked really hard to accomplish this, but I am so grateful for this opportunity and for this experience.

I leave you tonight with my character photo with Peter and Wendy:

Main Street and I

Photo Credit to the Beautiful, Stunning Kayla Justice

Main Street USA is one of my favorite places inside the magic kingdom, it's better to me then any ride in the park or even the castle. You can sit on the curb and watch people walk in under the train station and see that look on their face, that light in their eyes that begins to glow as they realize they've just entered a whole new world! When you see a little girl walk down main street and see the castle and have that look, that moment of realization that it's real! So i love Main Street, because it's where the magic really happens. The magic that puts a light in a childs' eye, or makes an old woman feel like a little girl again! That is what Disney magic is, it's that feeling it creates deep down in your soul that impossible smile that can't be wiped away.

Life at Disney

I am currently on the bus back to my apartment after working an awesome 6 hour shift and my beautiful resort the Polynesian.

I realize I haven't updated in a while! I am going to work on that I promise maybe not everyday but hopefully once a week!

Here's a brief overview of my role as a custodial cast Member at Walt Disney World Polynesian Resort!

I trained for about 2 weeks with 6 days of on the job training.

As a custodial cast member I am responsible for one of several different roles I can be working the pool or beach, restrooms, or the hotels lobby as well as a number of other things.

It is really great! I get to interact with guests and little princesses and answer questions or help them when they need it.

When I first applied this wasn't the role I would have chosen for myself, but after reflecting on my phone interview answers and what this role entails it really was a perfect fit!

I am so excited to be here living one of my biggest oldest childhood dreams, I will definitely be posting more!

I'm Going to Disney World!

I got the E-mail Monday morning that said I was accepted into the Disney College Program! After freaking out for a few hours and telling everyone I know I sat down and paid my fee's and picked my arrival date!
My role in the college program is Custodial, which I've heard from a lot of people is one of the best roles to have!
I am really excited for this opportunity working for Disney has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember and I've finally got my chance to get my foot in the door of the company! This does put my degree off another semester, but I am completely okay with that! I am going to try and take one of the classes Disney offers and a class or two from my College, but I am scared that all the work will be too much and I really want to enjoy being at Disney as much as I can!

I feel like Tiana that dream i've been wishing on has finally come true!

Thank you Disney! and all the people who've supported my decision and encouraged me!

More Disney things to come!

Have a Magical Day!

Phone Interview!

Earlier this evening I had my phone interview for the Disney College Program. I filed my initial application on Friday. I was really nervous in the morning because I woke up with a bad head cold. I was congested in my nose and chest so bad I couldn't breathe or smell anything! And I sounded like Chuckie Finsters dad, but I got it cleared up enough to sound normal by the time the phone rang.
 Here's how it went:
My interviewer was Connie and she was a complete sweet heart! She asked my about my intentions with the Program and why I wanted to be apart of it and then continued to ask me about my top 2 roles and how my work experience qualified me for them. She also asked me a few questions about how I work and what type of working environments do I prefer and work best in.
At the end of my interview she asked me if I had any questions or concerns with anything and I expressed my concern about having Cystic Fibrosis and being allowed to have my medications in the housing that Disney provides. She assured me that is would be no problem and that I shouldn't even be questioned about it from the staff.

I felt really good about my interview. I was a bit nervous, but I felt good about my answers to her questions, we even had a good laugh about the weather. I am satisfied with my interview and at this point I just hope it was good enough to put me above the rest of the applicants.


Wish me luck!

Marissa

I've done it! I've applied!

So the Disney College Program applications went up this morning, and after having a miniature panic attack I managed to successfully fill out my application!

Now for those of you who don't know the Disney College Program is like an internship (without the title intern). Disney hires college students to take a semester and work for them. They provide housing and training and even offer extra classes like Disney History that some colleges will accept for their credits!

I have been planning on applying for the college programs since I first read about it in the summer of 2011, and I wanted to wait to apply until i was finishing up my A.A. degree but after transferring school last semester and starting a new program I was tired of waiting so I applied now!

It felt a little like this:

The Application felt really stressful, but it was actually really simple There 4 steps to Disney's Application process.

Step 1: The standard application. You provide you name address and social security number and information like this. Disney will also give you a list of roles to choose from and you rate your interest level on a scale of High Interest, Moderate Interest, Low Interest of No Interest.
Step 2. The Web Based Interview (WBI). The WBI is like a giant personality quiz  it asks you how well you do things and how you like them. Questions such as working in groups vs alone, to how would you handle an employee doing something wrong? There is a scale such as Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree questions  like that. Again very stressful because if the questions don't match up to what they want you can be rejected here.
Step 3.  Phone Interview. This is when you will interact directly with a Disney recruiter. They'll ask a variety of questions about the roles you chose, your past work experience and all sorts of other questions! This is the last step that involves answering any questions.
Step 4. Your fate! You'll get an e-mail with the final decision. This decision can come after weeks of holding a pending status or just a few days of finishing step 3. But there's no doubt this step could change your life!


I am currently waiting for step 3. I have my phone interview scheduled for Tuesday at 3pm and I can't wait!
I am confident that I have what it takes to be a Disney CP but I just have to prove that to my recruiter.

Wish me luck!

Marissa

Patience

So I went to class this morning, but I ended up getting really sick so i came back home. Now I have resorted to laying on the couch watching Kitchen Nightmares before I get the courage to start preparing dinner for my family. On the menu tonight Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta! One of my favorite dinners hopefully i'll be able to eat it.
On top of all that I am trying to be patient and wait for the Disney College Program applications. I have been waiting to apply for the program for about two years now after i first heard about it, and this is the right time for me to go off and work at Disney World! It is important for me to get this CP because I hope to work with Disney in the future so getting my foot in the door here is a great start! Rumors have it applications will be out sometime this week, right now everyone is expecting Friday since they haven't come out today (yet) but there is still hope for tomorrow!

I am ready to be living and breathing at Disney!
Just let me go!

Marissa