WDW College Program

After taking my assessment on Sunday February 7th, I had my first shift as an official cast member on Monday. My shifts are usually six or seven hours long and they are all in the morning. This is one of the reasons why I love my location, Animal Kingdom is the park the closest the earliest, and the vacation planning booths close at 4 pm regardless of the time the park closes.

Since I always get out of work early I like to explore the park where I work, because vacation planners are the first interaction a guest gets when they start their vacation at Disney, and they always have so many questions. In order to answer all questions about my park, I need to explore it myself, and that is what I’ve been doing this past week.

The collegiate courses started this week, I had my first class on Thursday, Organizational Leadership which was really fun, and we are already set up into groups for a project we have to present on the last day of class.

And I had Advanced Studies in Hospitality Management on Friday, and we’re also teamed up to make a group business plan, my team is in charge of the value resort and we already came up with ideas about the mission and vision statement for our website. I really like these classes and I know they are going to be very helpful for my career in Hospitality Management.

What everyone at least one time during your stay here at the Disney College Program should take a personal day and walk around the park by yourself. This is my second week here and my room mates and I are finding out how much each of our schedules conflict with each other’s, so finding days to go out as a group is rapidly dwindling. So instead of wasting my day off by staying inside I figured I would try something new.

My current work location is at Epoct so I though why not familiarize myself with the park as much as I can before training to try to stay a step ahead of the game. When first arriving at the park by myself I can admit that it was very intimidating due to its enormous size but I have no regrets on taking this adventure. I saw at the piles of families and tour groups (which can be with over 50 people at once) started entering the park and I figured there is no better time then now to start exploring.

When traveling alone it was very simple to get lost in the crowd, it also gave me a whole new perspective on the park in its entirety. There is no attention being drawn to you and no one there to judge how many picture you will take of a single statue until it is perfect. Walking around the World Show Case was truly the most magical part of the whole experience. I was able to walk into each country an emurce myself on the diverce culture that each one has to offer. Not to mention the amazing food and drinks

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Going to a park does not always have to be a stressful event where you are sprinting to get on every singe ride as fast as possible. When you slow things down and take time to appericate what was created and how every detail has a meaning and purpose you will see a whole new side never thought possible. Yes it can get lonely when watching the families interactions (not in a creepy way) but you are able to see how everyone’s experiences all tie into each other to create one amazing park.

This is my first week here at the Walt Disney World College Program, It literally has been only 5 days for me. Something I have learned is that always expect the unexpected. Preparing for this program, I was accepted into the housekeeping department. However, on the first day, my whole position was rerouted because of my tattoos. I became a park greeter instead and that changed my whole day’s itinerary. I realized you have to be prepared for any changes. Although, one thing became apparent during this hiccup, some people are very accommodating to your needs. Since classes started this week and training starts tomorrow, my training coordinator was very friendly and willing to work around my classes.

One set back I had was arriving on such a late date. I was basically the last batch of CP’s to join the spring/spring advantage group. I found it harder to adjust to a new life when there’s so much going on, my schedule feels more compact. I already started classes my third day in. I feel like I haven’t gotten much time to settle in yet, which makes me feel a bit nervous, because I feel the pressure to adjust and pick up things quicker. Most people that have come into the program had a week or more to establish their new living here in FL.

I had my traditions yesterday and it was something I really enjoyed. Learning more about the company that I will be working for the next 6 months.

One last thing I learned is that the impossible is always possible.

During my second week I started my lecture training days, I had also received my schedule for the next few weeks. When I had received my schedule I was happy because I would be seeing the different shifts that would show e the process of the kitchen. The only thing I was nervous about was the time of shifts, I have never worked an overnight shift and I was worried if I would even have the energy to function. Nevertheless my first day of training at Be Our Guest started the day after my lecture training ended, the only thing I knew what to do was to meet my trainer at a white bench. As I waited I talked to other cast members who were also waiting for their trainers so they can start cross-training. This inspired me to know that I could learn whatever they needed to teach me as long as I work hard. As I waited I was greeted by a tall man in a chef coat who took me to Be Our Guest and started to show me around the break room then brought me into the kitchen. I would learn that this man would become my trainer, show me the ropes and how everything is made. My first day was slow and my trainer was patient with me, he showed me how things are prepared and I could find supplies when I needed them. Around 10, I started to hear a banging noise which I would have thought would have been a tram in the oven jammed, but when I went to look, the oven was fine. I wondered what the noise was but I chose not to ask questions because it could end up being the loud dishwasher at the end of the kitchen.

I still hadn’t been able to visit the parks because I had been working and dong others things since traditions. Finally I had finally had a day off and I had wanted to go explore the park. The plan was to meet up at Magic Kingdom on Main Street and hang out and see the fireworks. However what actually happened was I arrived at Magic Kingdom met up with my friend after walking for a while, we tried to look for a spot to eat, and we basically started to freeze because we were not prepared for the temperature to drop to 40 degrees. So we ended up leaving, making my stay at Magic Kingdom a total of 10 minutes. Then we went to Olive Garden and went to the Vista Way clubhouse to watch movies and play Cards Against Humanity with some new people we met at the Clubhouse while watching TV.

Overall it was a good start to working at Disney and meeting new people and I’m sure next week when I have my day off I will be able to go to the parks.

I arrived at Orlando on January 9th two days before my program started. I stood with my grandparents until the day I had to check-in, however my grandfather used to work at Disney so we decided to go to the check-in area to get a look at the location. When we got to the location the security guard at the entrance stopped us and I had told them I was a CP(College/Culinary Program) who was checking in the next day. The security guard answer shocked me completely; he had asked me what my check-in time is, because since many new CP’s were coming in on that day they needed to split us into different time frames. I was shocked to know the amount of people that were supposed to be coming in, which made me both anxious and excited.
I checked in on January 11th. On the day of my arrival my grandparents dropped me off and as I was walking I figured I would try to meet people. Until I heard a familiar voice that called out to me which ended up being a classmate name Pauline who was from Citytech, and had also coincidently had, had the same check in date and time. Pauline is also part of the Culinary Program and as we entered the complex, we were hit with bumper to bumper of cars that were all CPs . as we checked in I found that I would be working in the Pastry department of Magic Kingdom at BE OUR GUEST!! At the time I didn’t know much about Be Our Guest only what I could see of the menu, but I would soon know what a blessing I would have working there. I also found out that my other 5 roommates were already here but not just arriving, the person who helped check me in said that I would he the newest person. I was so nervous because no one wants to be the newest person to a group. After my check in date I only had one day to settle in before I had to start with the casting, housing meeting, Traditions, and then my training started all in my first week of being at Disney. Casting showed me that Disney makes an impression just from walking into a room. Traditions was exciting, and showed me all the possibilities I would have with Disney. My two first day of training were all about how we as Disney will be and how we would need to present ourselves to the public and anywhere.
My journey has just begun and I cannot wait to see what I will be able to do here.