Alumni Phone Interview

This morning I had my phone interview for potentially my 2nd  Disney College Program! I was probably just as nervous as I was when applying two years ago, but this interview was completely different. Being an alumni means that Disney already knows a little about you. They know you have what it takes to successfully complete the college program, and what it means to be a cast member. So instead of asking me questions based on who I am as an employee, the questions were more tailored to how my previous program went, what I would do differently, and why I want to come back.
My interview lasted about 20 minutes long and I was asked at least one question for about 7 different roles, including my previous Character Performer role. I was also asked some basic questions about previous work experience outside of Disney.
If anyone is applying for the first time and looking for tips regarding the interview, check out my blog post from my first interview, DCP Phone Interview and Tips.
Good luck to everyone applying! Let the waiting game begin.

Disney College Program and Professional Internships

   Now that the applications are out, I am finally ready to announce that I am applying for a second Disney College Program(DCP) and some of the Professional Internships(PI) throughout the company. I've put a lot of thought into it, and I have decided that I really want to go back and make magic for people all over the world. I had such a great experience during my last program and I will be graduating in May, so this feels like the perfect time to pick up everything and move to a new state for good! So of course, I will be detailing my experience throughout the application process here.

   The PI applications have been trickling in over the last few weeks and the DCP application dropped on 1.23. I was very surprised with how fast everything went. I sent in my initial application yesterday and about 1 hour later I was asked to complete the Web-based interview(WBI). These questions were very similar to the ones I was asked last time around. They were focused on me and how I work with other people, my energy level throughout the day, how positive I am, etc. As soon as I completed the WBI, I was asked to schedule a phone interview! So in less than a week I will be talking with a recruiter and interviewing for another internship with Walt Disney World! I'm incredibly excited to possibly go on this adventure again. My fingers are still crossed for the PIs, but I will be happy just working for the company again. Good luck to everyone else applying! I am always open for questions. 

A Very Pensive Snowfall

     Today I woke up to the highly anticipated first snowfall of the year. It's not very normal for it to take this long to snow in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but I wasn't complaining about the lack off winter weather. Recently I've been having trouble organizing my thoughts, so with today, the perfect stay inside and write day, all of these thoughts are just itching to get out. I have so many ideas on what I want to write about, both fiction and creative non-fiction. I'm really good about writing down every story idea the second I think of it, but now I feel like I have too many projects I want to work immediately.

     I've been working a lot with short stories told from the view point of one particular character I created this semester in my Fiction Workshop class. Some of them are shorter and others much longer. I'm actually pretty proud of some of them so now I'm considering compiling them all together in a book of short stories.

     Last week I woke up from a really intense dream that sparked one of the coolest and most promising fictional novel ideas yet. So naturally, this has been consuming my thoughts and sort of pushing other ideas out of the way.

     I've also been considering starting a new blog from the persona of a fictional character. They'd analyze different aspects of what's happening in the world and give their opinion on it like a journal or diary entry. So much is going on that I know I wouldn't run out of things to talk about. I've also considered just making it a part of this blog, but I want it to be clear that it's another person's thoughts, not my own.

     On top of everything, finals are just two weeks away and I need to be focused on that before I can delve deeper into any of these ideas, or the others I haven't even mentioned yet. It's important for me to finish this semester strong so I can graduate in May and hopefully go back to working for the mouse. At least I now have a week off of school and can sit inside my warm home with a fresh cup of coffee, letting my pent-up thoughts escape just like the first snowflakes of this season.

Returning

I'm back.

After an unexplained leave of absence from this blog, I've been persuaded to return and continue the descriptions of my adventures. Unsure of what exactly is to come, I hope you will enjoy my ranting and tale telling. Let the journey begin!

What I Learned In 2015

2015 was an experience in itself. I started the year with a lot of change. I finished my internship with Disney and moved back home to Michigan from sunny Florida. I started pursuing a degree at a new school and quickly realized that was not the place I was meant to be. I turned the awkward age of 20. Old enough to make your own decisions, but still too young to be trusted that you'll make the right ones. Half way through the year I started calling a new city "home". I met new, interesting people, switched majors, and finally started to realize what I wanted to do with my life. Between work, school and a social life, I was constantly moving. There was always something happening, but for some reason I had never felt so lonely in my life. I quickly learned what depression is and how it can come in drowning waves when you least expect it. This experience only opened my eyes to how important self fulfillment is.
2015 was a special year to say the least. A lot changed and similarly so did I. I just have to remember that everything happens for a reason.
What I learned in 2015:

1. I am so much stronger than I thought I was.
2. What other people think of me doesn't define me.
3. I decide who I am and what I want my life to be.
4. Surround yourself with good people, because we feed off of each others energies and emotions.
5. If you want something bad enough, you make it happen.
6. Not everyone is going to like you, and that's okay. 
7. Trust your gut.
8. Family is everything. (Friends can be family too) 
9. At the end of the day, you have to do what makes you happy.

Overall, I grew up a lot. I learned more about myself in this year than I had ever known before. I'm proud of who I am and where I'm going. Although change can be scary, I'm thankful for what I learned because of it. 

Post Disney Depression

Everyday I see something somewhere reminding me of my days working at the happiest place on Earth. I am immediately flooded with emotions of joy because come on, its Disney. Once the joy subsides, I'm not going to lie I get a little jealous. Don't get me wrong I am so thrilled and happy for all of my friends who chose to extend their programs or move to a full time position, but I am insanely jealous. I'm also sad and mad at myself for not doing the same thing. 

Before the end of my program I was given a choice. A choice to either apply for an extension of my program, or go home. It took a lot of thought and many phone calls home until I decided to leave Florida and go back home to finish my degree. I rationalized with myself that this was the best decision. School was always the dream, and without attending a college or university I never would have been able to do the Disney College Program. It made the most sense at the time to return to school. 

I'm still proud of my decision to finish what I started, but at the same time I have that little voice in the back of my mind that's wondering if I missed my opportunity. Did I give up a chance to continue to a full time position with the job of my dreams? What if that was my one shot and I blew it. Leaving Disney was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but I need to have faith that everything will be ok. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.
With all that being said, the post Disney Depression is a very real thing. Very, very real and horrible. I miss Disney everyday and dream of the day I'll return. I wish the best of luck to all of you wonderful people that are continuing your dreams with Disney. Keep making the magic!

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2015

The dates have dropped for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in 2015. This is a special ticketed event held at Walt Disney World from 7 pm to 12 am. You can enter the park with this ticket at 4 pm but the party will not start until 7 pm. The dates for the 2015 season are:

• November: 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17. 19, 20, 29
• December: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18

Tickets will go on sale April 2015. If you are visiting Walt Disney World around the holidays, I highly suggest getting tickets for this event. The Magic Kingdom is decorated for the Holidays and the Christmas spirit is everywhere! Throughout the park are special locations serving free hot chocolate and cookies. There are also many rare characters that come out to celebrate the holidays with you! Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a wonderful event that will be enjoyed by the whole family. 

When I was on my college program, I was able to go to the party with my amazing roommate Terri. My favorite part of the whole event was when there was snow falling on Main Street. Yes, snow in Florida! Being from Michigan and feeling a little homesick during the holidays, it was an amazing feeling to see the snow falling as I was sipping hot chocolate and reveling in the Christmas spirit. Here are some pictures of the festivities!