Week 3

This week I got to spend a lot of time with my two favorite chipmunks! Chip and Dale really are a blast to hang out with. They are always pulling pranks and doing everything to make people smile. I love them for all the joy and happiness they spread each and everyday. 

 

Here they are hanging around Frontier land in the Magic Kingdom! They sure did have a blast with those adorable hats and vests! :)

Not only did I spend some quality time with those bad boys, but also the one and only Winnie the Pooh! Unfortunately I don't have a picture of this cute and cuddly bear, but we had a lot of fun with some guests enjoying breakfast at the Grand Floridian. 

Along with working, I was able to play a little bit too! A great perk for being a Cast Member is getting to go to the parks for free so when my roommate Aelynn and I both had the day off we decided to go to EPCOT!

It was such a fun morning/afternoon. We met a bunch of different characters and had delicious Mexican food from the Mexico Pavilion. The highlight of my day was meeting my favorite princess, Belle!

After our little adventure at EPCOT, we headed on over to Hollywood Studios with our roommate Terri for an amazing dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. It was a perfect end to our day.

As another week comes to a close, I could not be happier with where I'm at. I love my job, my friends, family, and roommates. Sometimes I still can't believe that I'm here. I'm so incredibly thankful for this opportunity and I can't wait to see what it leads me to next. 

Week 2

Another week down! I am just starting my third week here at Walt Disney World, and let me tell you... Week 2 was AMAZING! The words that best describe this week are: overwhelming, intense, stressful, eye- opening, wonderful, and magical. I have never been so exhausted but excited in my life. 

The start of the week was all about training. I won't go into details, but I will tell you that they were crazy. This was most definitely the intense part of my week. Although it was a lot of hard work, it was totally worth it, because I can officially say that I am an Entertainment Cast Member. There were many qualifications that needed to be met before I could officially make this statement, but I passed and can now proudly announce it. I am an Entertainment Cast Member :)

Immediately after training, I was thrown right in. Disney does not waste any time. I love my job. Although it was extremely overwhelming and terrifying at first, I am starting to feel more comfortable. My co-workers are amazing, and are always willing to help because they were in my shoes not too long ago. 

I remember thinking before I came here about how I was not going to be like everyone else and forget to update this blog. I thought that I would update this blog everyday about my adventures. Boy, was I wrong. Something that has taken me a long time to understand and appreciate is that it's okay to NOT know everything. There are too many good surprises that ARE worth the wait. I completely understand the craving to know every last detail about was happens on this day and what happens on that day. You feel like you need to learn everything before you get here but you don't. Soon enough you will be checking in, going to Traditions, and starting training. You will eventually learn everything you need to know. Don't panic and stress about it before hand, or else you won't have anything to look forward to once you get here. Just trust that everything will happen when it's meant to. Like my Dad always says, just ride the wave and see what shore it takes you too. 

First Week As A Cast Member

Yes, it's official... I am a Disney Cast Member! I can not believe the crazy, magical week I have had. Here's a quick run down of everything that happened:

Check In Day

I woke up insanely early so I could get there at 7 am. Disney is supposed to email everyone with an arrival time, but some people just didn't get one. I was one of those people. If you are in that situation then you can show up at whatever time you want.

My roommates and I were put into a 6 bedroom apartment at Patterson Court! It was not our first choice, but it wasn't our last so I'm really happy.

P.S. Check in day is not only the day you move in, but the day you find out your work location. I will be a member of the Entertainment family, and I couldn't be more excited about it!

Traditions

This is your first official day of work! Disney Traditions is full of magic, hope, and wonder. This is the first time you will meet your new boss, get your name tag that represents your school or hometown, and take your first steps down Main Street as a Cast Member. You will leave that day with tears in your eyes and pixie dust flowing through your veins. This is the start of your amazing adventure.

I apologize for the absence of postings. It really is a lot crazier than I expected. It's amazing, but crazy and I wouldn't change it for the world.

DCP Packing List

Hello! I'm so sorry I have been slacking lately. Life has been a little crazy trying to get things ready for my departure to Florida. Let me tell you, goodbyes are never easy. Anyways, here is my packing list for the Disney College Program. Enjoy!

DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM PACKING LIST

Kitchen

3 Piece Mixing Bowl Set

Rubber Spatula

Spatula

Cookie Sheet

Cutting Board

Tupperware

Zip lock Bags

Napkins

Lunchbox

Water Bottles

Coffee Mugs

Keurig

Towels

Soap

Oven Mitts

Blender

Teavana Tea Maker

George Foreman/ Panini Maker

Water Filter?

Bedroom

Twin Sheet Set(x2)

Comforter

Pillows(x2)

Grey Blanket

Hangers

Laundry Basket

Lamp

Hanging Organizer

White Board w/ Markers

Clothes

T-shirts

Blouses

Tank tops/ Camis

Sweatshirts

Sweaters

Suit Jacket and Pants

Jean Jacket

Green Jacket

Rain Jacket

Belt

Shorts

Pants

Leggings/ Yogas

Dresses

Skirt

Swimsuits

Bras

Sports Bras

Spandex

Underwear

Socks (White and Black)

Workout Shorts

Workout tops

Shoes (Heels, tennis shoes, black athletic shoes, flip flops, sandals)

Bathroom

Blue Trash Can

Shower Cady

Bath Mat

Towels

Beach Towels

Toilet Paper

Mirror?

Hair Dryer

Straightener

Toiletries

Hair Products (Superstar, styling cream)

Shampoo/ Conditioner

Brush

Ponytails

Headbands

Bobby pins

Straightener

Hair Dryer

Body Wash

Perfume

Jewelry

Watch

Girl Stuff

Face Wash

Make up Remover

Make up 

Deodorant

Sunscreen

Aloe

Toothbrush/ Toothpaste

Razors

Tweezers

Nail File and Clippers

Motrin

Cotton Balls

Nail Polish Remover

Clear Nail Polish

Cleaning Supplies

Dish Soap

Clorox Wipes

Paper Towels

Windex

Trash Bags

Vacuum Cleaner

Swiffer

Scrubbing Bubbles

Febreeze

Tide Pods

Bleach Pods

Dryer Sheets

School Supplies

Notebooks

Folder

Pencils

Pens

Highlighters

Sticky Notes

Push Pins

Back Pack

Envelopes

Stamps

Stapler

Electronics

Laptop

iPad

Phone

Camera

Power Cords

DVDs

HDMI

Cable Cord

Disc Drive

External Hard Drive

Other Stuff

Draw String Bag

Purses

Duffel Bag

Pins and Lanyards

Lanyard for keys

Batteries

Medical Supplies

Power Cords

Umbrella

Fan

Pictures

Tape

Headphones

Sunglasses

Blank Check for check in

Insurance Card

Money!

Along with these items, make sure you have everything you need to fill out the I-9 forms at Check-in. There is a list on here that has a bunch of options to bring. The easiest is to just bring your Passport and Photo ID.

See Ya' Real Soon!

In just 2 short weeks, I will be starting the adventure I have been dreaming about since I was 12 years old. I never thought that I would be at this point. All that's left to do is finalize my packing list, DORMS, and actually pack everything up. WHAT!? It still doesn't feel real. It probably won't feel real until I watch my family drive away. That is going to be extremely difficult. Leaving for my first year of college was one thing, but now I'm going across the country! I still can't believe that this is happening. Thank you to everyone who has ever taken the time to read my blog. To anyone reading this now, just wait, because the adventure is only beginning.

New Hire Paperwork

A few days ago I finally received my new hire paperwork from Disney! I was starting to get a little anxious because all of my roommates had received their paperwork a few days before I did. Of course bad thoughts crept into my head and I was terrified that Disney was going to forget about me, but they didn't! Even though I was freaking out about not getting the papers, this allowed me to do some research so I could fill out my papers as easily as possible. There were a few things that some people wished they new before starting their own paperwork.

1. Use Internet Explorer: A lot of people were having trouble signing and submitting their papers using other web browsers. Internet Explorer seemed to work best for everyone, including myself. If you an't get Internet Explorer, Safari and Firefox were found to work pretty well too.
2. Download the Adobe installments that Disney sends you in the emails: Disney already did all the work for you, so just click it and let it download. 
3. Read or at least skim everything: There's a lot of information jam packed into those papers. It's always best to read the employee manuals for any job.
4. There are 2 emails: Disney will send you 2 emails. The first will have your username and Adobe installments, and the second will have your password. If for some reason you don't get two emails, call or email recruiting.

Although I was just reading and signing papers, I could still feel the Disney Magic. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that I will be working for this amazing company in just a few weeks. Only 19 days until I start the journey of a lifetime! Have a magical day :)

Disney Class Registration

As my arrival date creeps closer, there is still so much to do! The latest step in my journey was registering for Disney Classes. While participating in the DCP, you have the option to take collegiate courses, seminars, or exploration series. You can choose up to 2 classes, but are not required to take any at all.

There are four different options of courses to chose from:

1. Collegiate Courses
2. Seminar Offerings
3. Exploration Series
4. Professional Development Studies

Collegiate Offerings

If your school is going to give you credit for doing the program, you will need to take courses that fall under this section. They are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education. These courses would be the most similar to other college courses that you would take at you school. They are more focused on certain aspects of The Walt Disney Company. There are many different options to pick from. I'll post the link below so you can read in more detail.

Seminar Offerings

The seminar offerings provide an overview of the various aspects of operation within the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. These courses involve guest speakers, hands on field experience, and activities highlighting the different areas of the Walt Disney Company.

Exploration Series

The exploration series offers students the opportunity to learn more about how the Walt Disney Company operates in key areas. The entire Disney property is your learning laboratory. These are only offered at certain times of the year! I will be taking the Exploring Leadership course this fall :)

Professional Development Studies

These courses are major specific, so Disney needs to verify your major with your school before you can enroll in the class. They are also only held at specific times of the year.

Here is the link to the official Disney website. It has a course syllabus for each class, so you can read in more detail about each specific one. I suggest taking at least one course while you are in the college program, even if your school does not require it. You will obtain such valuable information and experience that you cannot get anywhere else.

Disney will announce the date and time when registration is open. It usually starts at midnight and the site will be lagging because of the huge amount of people trying to register at once. This also means that classes fill up quickly so be sure to have everything ready ahead of time if you chose to sign up for a class. All you need to have ready is your email, name, and number given to you in your acceptance email. Good luck to everyone! Have a magical day :)

European Traveling

Hello all! I apologize for not posting in awhile, but I was overseas in Europe! I was lucky enough to travel with my Dad and brother to The Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. It was an amazing experience :) I won't go into much detail because I am mainly using this blog for posting about Disney and the College Program, but I will post a few photos for anyone interested.

 

Aachen, Germany

Brussels and Brugges, Belgium

Maastricht and Amsterdam, Netherlands

It was an absolutely amazing trip and I am so thankful to have been able to share it with my Dad and brother. I can't wait for the many more travels to come!

Disney's Cinderella Official Teaser Trailer

Here is the official trailer for Disney's live-action production film of Cinderella! It is set to come to theaters in March of 2015. I am extremely excited for the release of this film. I'm sure it will be fantastic! Watch the trailer below to get a glimpse at the new movie.

So?? Wish there was more? Me too! Disney has now left us hanging, wondering how this movie will be brought together. Now I just want to see more! Hopefully there will be more trailers soon.

What is DisneyBounding?

Something that I am very anxious to try once I start my college program is DisneyBounding. What is Disney bounding exactly? Simply, it is wearing clothes that look related to Disney Characters, Resorts, Attractions, or even the Theme Parks.





Here is one of my favorite DisneyBounds that I have found. This one is also a very obvious DisneyBound. They don't all have to be this way!








Now here's a not-so-obvious DisneyBound, that I still love! Without the title on the picture, you might not be able to know at first glance what this outfit represents. This DisneyBound proves that you don't always have to dress as a famous character! Make something unique and work it.

To end this stylish post, here are a few more DisneyBounding examples. I can't wait until I can test out these fabulous creations at the parks for myself! You can also check out http://disneybound.tumblr.com/ for more styles and outfits.

Maleficent

Last night I was finally able to see Maleficent! I promise there will be *NO SPOILERS* in this post. I want everyone to be able to enjoy the movie like I did with no previous knowledge about what was going to happen. I will say that I thought it was absolutely amazing. Every person in my family loved the movie and would be more than happy to see it again.

I am no movie expert by any means but I thought the visual effects were fantastic. Everything looked very real and colorful.

The cast picked for this movie did a fantastic job as well. Angelina Jolie was a great pick for Maleficent. In my opinion she played the part perfectly.

The thing that surprised and impressed me the most was the take on this movie. Like I said before I will not spoil anything but I will say that this movie is not what you are expecting it to be. It does not follow the classic story of Sleeping Beauty and I love that aspect of it more than anything. All in all I am very pleased with the outcome of this movie. It is great for all ages, even little ones. My sister is 10 and enjoyed Maleficent just as much as I did. Along with everyone in my family, I can't wait to see this movie again!

DCP Roles

Luckily there are many roles open to CP's. Here's a list of every role available. Hopefully, I will soon have a post dedicated to each specific role with detailed descriptions of the responsibilities, but for now click here to read full descriptions of each role. Remember to do research before applying and especially before the phone interview because they will ask you which roles are your top choices. This is only the list for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Operations
Operations cast members help ensure that guests have enjoyable experiences whether directing vehicles in the parking lot, operating our rides/shows/attractions, or ensuring guest areas are clean and show ready.
Operations includes:

• Attractions
• Custodial
• Transportation
• PhotoPass Photographer
• Hopper
• Main Entrance Operations

Lodging

Lodging cast members help ensure guests have a memorable stay whether it's through a great check-in process, a clean and well-maintained guest room, or assistance with transporting luggage.

Lodging includes:

• Bell Services/ Dispatch/ Greeter
• Concierge
• Housekeeping
• Hospitality

Food and Beverage

With more than 300 food and beverage locations throughout the parks and resorts in Florida and California, Food & Beverage makes up an important part of the guests' experiences. Food & Beverage cast members in these areas provide guests with memorable dining experiences from outdoor vending to counter service to signature restaurants.

Food and Beverage includes:

• Quick Service Food and Beverage
• Full Service Food and Beverage

Retail/ Sales

Cast members in retail/sales areas help guests have enjoyable vacation experiences, whether selling ticket packages, magically transforming little girls into princesses at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, or helping guests find the perfect souvenirs in the various merchandise locations.

Retail/ Sales includes:

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• Merchandise
• Vacation Planner

Recreation

Whether at the water parks, resort swimming pools, golf and mini golf courses, children's activity centers, or guest arcades, Recreation cast members help guests enjoy their vacations.

Recreation includes:

• Lifeguard
• Recreation

Entertainment

Entertainment cast members help create and maintain the show, whether through performing in various parades and shows, facilitating character meet and greets, or supporting the performers and other cast members through supplying/maintaining costumes.

Entertainment includes:

• Character Attendant 
• Character Performer
• Costuming

The Disney Look

Today I received the Disney Look email! It was such a wonderful feeling because it reminded me that this is all real. I will be moving to Florida and I will be a Disney Cast Member. :)

This email was full of links and information regarding the Disney Look. It is our responsibility to read and understand what this means and why we must adhere to it.

So what is the Disney Look?

The Disney Look is the traditional appearance and image of Cast Members. Disney has strict guidelines detailing everything including hair length and color, make up, jewelry, nail polish, clothing, and eye wear. They have even separated guidelines for males and females.

Basically the Disney Look is all about staying professional. Nails should be kept short and either unpolished or a neutral color. Hair should be combed and neat. No extreme colors or styles. Makeup should be in neutral colors as well. Tattoos need to be covered at all times. The only piercings allowed are the traditional 1 in each ear for women. Take showers and wash your hands often. It's not very complicated. Some roles have other specific guidelines. Below I have links to pages for females, males and all cast members. There you can read in more detail if you wish to!

Links:

Guidelines for Female Cast Members

Guidelines for Male Cast Members

Guidelines for All Cast Members (this also includes eye wear, name tags, tattoos, piercings, pins and buttons, and personal hygiene)

Waiting is Torture

I feel like for awhile so much was happening in my life, and now that I'm done with school and finals I have reached a standstill. I have been able to pass some time picking up small jobs at my former dance studio, but everyday I find myself scanning the DCP Facebook pages for information. I now have just 65 days till check- in and 61 days till I depart for the adventure of a lifetime. On one hand I wish there was a way to make the time move faster, but on the other I want to soak up as much time with my family and friends as possible. Although I will miss everyone from home very much, I know that I will make a new Disney family in Florida. Words cannot describe how excited and thankful I am for this amazing opportunity. Hopefully the time passes quickly!

Disney Terminology

There are many funny words that I and other people use when talking about Disney and the College Program. Here is a running list of some words. If I forget about any or if you don't know what something means, please comment!

• DCP: Disney College Program
• CP: a college program student or sometimes Character Performer. It depends on the context. 
• ICP: An International college program student
• Role: The job you are doing for Disney
• QSFB: Quick service food and beverage role
• Merch: Merchandise role
• Character Performer: the role in entertainment containing parade performers, fur and face characters.
• Mover: parade performer
• Fur Character: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc.
• Face Character: Prince, princess, fairy, etc.
• PAC: Parade Audience Control
• PI: Professional Internship
• WBI: Web-based Interview
• DL: Disneyland
• WDW: Walt Disney World
• MK: Magic Kingdom
• DHS: Hollywood Studios
• DAK: Animal Kingdom
• DTD: Downtown Disney
• Cast Member: Disney employee
• Perner Number: Personal ID number through Disney
• FA: Fall Advantage 
• SA: Spring Advantage 
• Self- term: Basically quitting the program
• Being termed: Basically getting fired
• DORMS: Disney Onsite Residential Management System. Applying for housing. 
• Chatham Square, Patterson Court, Vista Way and The Commons: Disney apartment complexes.
• Traditions: First official day of Disney training. 

The Kitchen Sink

Some may have tackled this monstrosity and some may be like me and have never heard of it. This post is dedicated to the incredible and delicious Kitchen Sink.

What is it?: The Kitchen Sink is a famous dessert with five different flavors of ice cream and an insane amount of toppings. It is served in a massive bowl the size of your kitchen sink ;)

If you can't tell by the picture, here is the list of all ingredients in this gigantic dessert. 

• ½ cup warm fudge topping
• ½ cup warm butterscotch topping
• ½ cup warm peanut butter topping
• 1 medium banana, 
• 1 cinnamon spice cupcake 
• 1 angel food cupcake 
• 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 2 scoops chocolate ice cream
• 2 scoops strawberry ice cream
• 1 scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream
  
• 1 scoop coffee ice cream
• 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• ¼ cup marshmallow crème
• ¼ cup strawberry topping
• ¼ cup pineapple topping
• 1 14-oz can dairy whipped topping
• 1 brownie (6-inch x 6-inch), quartered
• 1 regular-sized (2 ounce) candy bar, quartered
• 4 chocolate cookies with cream filling
• 1 tablespoon sliced toasted almonds
• 1 tablespoon dark and white chocolate shavings
• 1 tablespoon chocolate cookies with cream filling, crushed
• 1 tablespoon chopped jellied orange slices 
• 1 tablespoon milk chocolate chip morsels
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter chip morsels
• 1 tablespoon chocolate sprinkles
• 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles
• ½ cup drained maraschino cherries

Where can you find this colossal delicacy: The original is located at Beaches and Cream inside Disney's Beach Club Resort, but now

Disney is offering "mini" versions with take home bowls as a souvenir at Plaza Ice cream Parlor and Plaza Restaurant on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. The smaller version can also be found at Clarabelle's Hand-scooped Ice cream at Disney's California Adventure park.   

This legendary masterpiece is definitely going on my bucket list! My roommates and I are already planning on tackling this challenge within our first few days at Disney together. I'll let everyone know how it goes!

DCP Application to Acceptance Timeline

This is my personal application to acceptance timeline for the Disney College Program. Remember that your timeline might not be the same as mine and that's ok! Some people hear back from the phone interview in 3 days, others in 3 weeks. Hopefully this will ease some of your minds if you are stressing about not hearing back yet. 

• February 7th
• Applications opened
• February 21st
• I applied
• Email inviting me to do the Web- based interview (WBI)
• Completed the WBI
• February 22nd
• Email inviting me to schedule a phone interview
• March 4th
• Phone Interview
• March 11th
• Character Performer Audition
• March 13th
• Accepted for Merchandise!
• April 11th
• Accepted for Character Performer and role change!
• June 3rd
• Disney Look Email
• June 18th
• Educational Opportunities Email
• June 23rd
• Class Registration at midnight!
• July 3rd
• Prepare for Your Arrival Email
• July 8th
• New Hire Paperwork
• July 12th
• See Ya' Real Soon Email
• July 22nd
• DORMS
• July 23rd
• Final Reminders Email
• August 4th, 2014
• Arrival Date (the start of my adventure)

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Set to debut on May 28, 2014 is the newest attraction to Magic Kingdom: The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This new attraction is settled in the New Fantasyland of the Magic Kingdom, which also features Enchanted Tales with Belle, Under the Sea- the Journey of the Little Mermaid and more.

This new feature is considered to be a thrill ride because it moves quickly and has small drops. This also means that there will be a height requirement of 38 inches for safety reasons.

Like all attractions, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train takes you through a journey. While waiting in line for the ride, you are traveling the paths of the woodland creatures to the mountain slope. At different spots in the line there are some fun interactive games to pass the time.

Once you have reached the end of your wait, you will hop into the mine carts and experience an amazing adventure. Throughout the ride, you will see all of the seven dwarfs and even Snow White!
I am very excited to ride this new attraction! From what I have heard, this is going to be an amazing new addition to the Magic Kingdom.

Life Update: April/May 2014

Hello all! I apologize for not posting recently but my life has been a whirlwind of activity. Last week I finished up finals and moved out from my dorm room. Thankfully my Dad was able to come and help me move out. I wouldn't have been able to do all of it without him so thanks Dad!

Now that I am officially back home and things are starting to cool down, I will be posting more about Disney and the College Program. The Fall Advantage people are already starting to head down to Florida and I can't help but be a little jealous. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to be back home with my family, but I am even more anxious to start my program.

Good luck to everyone arriving within the next few weeks! If anyone has any questions or suggestions for new posts, please comment below! Thanks! :)

Music Video: Let It Go and Vivaldi's Winter by The Piano Guys

I found this video on youtube and really liked it. I thought some other people might enjoy it too! This is a rendition of Vivaldi's Winter and Let It Go from Frozen. It sounds amazing! It will be on repeat for awhile!

The Piano Guys are just a group of people that make amazing and enteratining music videos. Check them out on Youtube!

Vera Bradley: The Disney Collection

Ok so apparently there has been a Disney Collection by Vera Bradley since September 2013, but I am just finding out about it now. I must have been living under a rock or something! Haha! Well anyways, I am very excited now that I have found out about this. For those who don't know me, I am a little obsessed with Vera Bradley. I have quite a few purses, wallets, bags, and even a laptop case and flip flops in different Vera Bradley prints. I know this style isn't for everyone, but it is for me. 

Back in September 2013, The Disney Collection featured two prints: "Midnight with Mickey" and "Just Mousing Around".   

The pink pattern is "Just Mousing Around".

The black pattern is "Midnight with Mickey". 

In October of 2013, Vera Bradley came out with a third pattern for the Disney Collection. This blue  pattern is called "Where's Mickey". I really like this one!







Even though I have not been up to date on this amazing invention, I do have some new news to share about The Disney Collection by Vera Bradley. On May 6th, 2014, there will be a new print introduced to the collection called, "Perfect Petals". It looks a little something like this.

Although the other patterns are adorable, I do have to say that I would prefer either this new pattern or the "Where's Mickey" over the first two. I really like how both this pattern and "Where's Mickey" has the "hidden mickey" heads, rather than the character himself. In my opinion, these two newer patterns are great Vera Bradley styles, with just a hint of Disney. They're not too over the top, and I think that they're very cute! I can't wait to get my hands on these. 

Acceptance

I just realized that I never made a post about what happens when you get accepted. Sorry! So the first thing that will happen is you will get a magical email from Disney recruiting.
If you have been accepted it will say "Congratulations!" at the top. I have to tell you it was one of the most amazing feelings to read that. You never really know when you are going to get this email. It could be 3 days after your phone interview, or it could be 3 weeks. The hardest part is waiting, but it's so worth it!
This first email will not tell you your role right away, but it will tell you whether you have been accepted for Florida or California. This first email will then tell you the next three crucial steps to accepting your offer. You have 7 days to complete these steps, and if you do not complete them Disney will take that as you declining the offer.
Step 1: Review Offer and Indicate Acceptance
This just means that you click on a link that will tell you exactly what role you have been offered and all of the responsibilities of that role. At the bottom of the letter there will be a drop down box to choose yes or no.
Step 2: Submit your Program Fees
I believe the program fee was $305. This is to cover the first couple weeks of rent and other stuff for Disney.
Step 3: Select your Program Dates
There should be 3 days to choose from. Make sure you think carefully about this because I have heard that it is hard to change your date after you have selected one.
CONGRATULATIONS! You did it! You are going to be an official Disney Cast Member. This is going to be such a fantastic opportunity that could open the door to a whole bunch of other opportunities. Now you can celebrate, join the Facebook group for your arrival dates, search for roommates, create a bucket list, and get ready for the adventure of a life time.

Role UPDATE!

Oh my goodness! I cannot believe this but I have been accepted for the Character Performer role! Originally I was accepted for merchandise but now it has changed :) It almost doesn't feel real. I am so incredibly thankful and blessed to be offered such an amazing opportunity. This is the start of something amazing.

Apartment Complexes

After acceptance into the Disney College Program, something to think about is where you would like to live. In Florida, Disney has four gated apartment complexes for Cast Members to chose from. The choices are Vista Way, Chatham Square, Patterson Court and The Commons. Here is a list of amenities found in each complex:

• All utilities including water, electricity, and waste disposal. 
• High speed internet access
• One central telephone
• Laundry Facilities
• Maintenance and pest control
• Security
• Cable 
• Computer Labs
• Swimming Pools
• Weight Rooms
• Tennis, Basketball, and Racquetball Courts
• Fully Furnished apartments

Every complex is a little different so here is some information about each one.
Vista Way
This is the oldest complex so it is cheaper to live here than the others. Vista Way has a reputation for being the party complex. I have heard of many rumors and stories about what goes down here but since I have never been there I can not say for certain if any of them are true or not. I think that since everyone goes into their programs knowing about this reputation it does attract a more rowdy crowd, but again I can not say for for certain.
If you chose to apply for a room at Vista Way, you have two choices of room sizes:

• 2 bedroom with 4 people
• 3 bedroom with 6 people. 

Patterson Court
If you put Vista Way at one end of a spectrum, on the opposite would be Patterson Court. Some people have nicknamed this complex the retirement home, so you can guess how different it might be from Vista. Although this is the more quieter complex, it is the newest apartment complex and therefor has a more expensive rent per week.
If you chose to apply for a room at Patterson Court, you have 4 options for room sizes:

• 1 bedroom with 2 people
• 1 bedroom with 3 people
• 2 bedrooms with 5 people
• 3 bedrooms with 6 people

A couple of downsides to this complexes are that it is the farthest away from everything and does not have it's own bus stop. So if you do live here you will need to walk to it's closest neighbor Chatham Square to get on a bus. Other than that it seems like a very nice place to live.

Chatham Square

Standing as a middle ground between the party place and retirement home is little ole Chatham Square. Chatham has been established as the perfect middle spot for noise levels, price, location. and atmosphere. After fishing around the internet and talking to people, this complex seems to be the most popular for all of the above reasons. 

If you chose to apply for a room at Chatham Square, you have 5 options for room sizes:

• 1 bedroom with 2 people
• 1 bedroom with 3 people
• 2 bedrooms with 6 people
• 3 bedrooms with 6 people
• 4 bedrooms with 8 people

Personally, this is the complex I am putting as my number one choice. I really like the location and the way people speak so highly of it. I know that Chatham is very popular and I have a small chance of getting it, but I had a small chance of getting into the DCP in the first place so hopefully things will go my way again! :)

The Commons

Originally this apartment complex was used for International CP's only, recently it has been opened up to all CP's! Due to it's original purpose, I do not have a lot of information about this complex. I do know that it is about the same price as Chatham Square. It is also the only complex with in unit washers and dryers.
If you choose to apply for a room at The Commons, you have 6 options for room sizes:

• 1 bedroom with 2 people
• 1 bedroom with 3 people
• 2 bedrooms with 4 people
• 2 bedrooms with 5 people
• 3 bedrooms with 6 people
• 4 bedrooms with 8 people

I would guess that The Commons is most similar to that of Chatham Square based on location and atmosphere. This complex would probably be my second choice for living! :)

Just recently Disney has added bunk beds into some of the rooms, that's why you see those 1 bedrooms with 3 people. Personally I am not too upset about this. After looking up pictures and videos of the apartments, I think that there is more than enough room for 3 people in one bedroom. 

Once you have been accepted, Disney emails you a link to the onboarding website. This site has a lot of more information, including prices and amenities. I'm not sure how much info I can share so I am going t leave it at that. If you fish around on the internet, you can find people's opinions on the complexes. I wish I could share my own, but I do not have any yet! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! :)

I will eventually post a packing list once I get closer to my move in date, which still feels like forever away! Have a magical day! :)