Purple Folder Time!

Everyone loves to flaunt their purple folder, so here's mine :)

Roommate Survey

Your name? Stephanie King
Are you legal (over 21)? yes (will be 24 on Oct. 19)
Male or female? female
Gay, straight, or bi (optional)? straight
Where do you live? Grand Rapids, Michigan
What role will you have at Disney? Attractions!
What are your arrival/departure dates/program? Fall (8/23/10-1/7/11)
Which apartment complex would you prefer to live at? Chatham!
How many roommates/rooms would you like (1-7 roommates, 1-4 rooms)? 3-5 roommates, 2-3 rooms
Do you like to party? Will you be hosting parties in your apartment? I like to a little bit, & it depends on my roommates (but hopefully not all the time;).
What's your favorite food &, more importantly, can you cook? I love anything Italian or Mexican (esp. spicy foods), & yes I can cook but I don't love to do it.
If your friends could describe you i 3 words what would they be? understanding, funny, friendly
What kinds of movies/music do you like? I like most kinds of music (w/a couple exceptions) & also a variety of movies except for most chick-flicks, sci-fi, or action (are always exceptions though:) ~ favorite singer is Lady Gaga, favorite group is Black Eyed Peas, favorite movie is "The Phantom of the Opera".
Do you smoke &, if so, inside or outside? I don't, but I also don't mind being around those who do...as long as it's not in my face lol.
Do you drink (socially or alcoholic)? socially, but I'm able to live w/out it too (& would I really tell you if I were an alcoholic? lol)
Are you a night person or a morning person? NIGHT :D ...but I can be very quiet so I won't bother those who are sleeping!
Are you driving or flying down? flying (unless a miracle occurs:)
What do you do for fun? read & write, hang out w/friends & family a lot, listen to music, watch movies & TV, go dancing, keep up w/Disney stuff :)
What is your favorite quote? too many to narrow down
What are you most excited about in being in the WDWCP? meeting new people, gaining more hospitality/career experience, being reunited w/the Tower or Terror :D
Favorite things to do when not working? go out to eat, sleep, watch TV, just relax, play in the parks (if at Disney)
One good quality about yourself? loyal
One bad quality about yourself? worrier
Your college? Grand Valley State University (in MI)
Your major? Hospitality & Tourism Management
Any medical conditions (optional)? nothing major
Are you messy or tidy? I can be both, but not in an obnoxious way, & I am very clean!
Anything else you want to state? I am totally obsessed w/the Tower of Terror & have been on it over 230 times!!!
Favorite Disney movie? Robin Hood
How many times have you been to Disney? 3 times for Disney World & 1 time for Disneyland
Favorite park? Hollywood Studios
Favorite ride? guess... ;)
Favorite show? IllumiNations @ EPCOT
Favorite resort? Boardwalk
Favorite dining? Planet Hollywood, House of Blues, & Rainforest Cafe (all @ Downtown Disney)
Favorite character? Goofy :)

Hakuna Matata

If you love any part of the zoo then you are sure to love Animal Kingdom, because Animal Kingdom is the ultimate zoo! This one-of-a-kind theme park has been in existence since 1998 & is certainly well-loved, though not quite as popular as the other three. Because it is so large, Animal Kingdom is split into 7 themed areas: Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki's Planet Watch, Asia, & DinoLand U.S.A. As evidenced by the titles, each area has a different focus & provides a wealth of activity for everyone in the family. Of course, the main focus of the park is its unique animal population which provides guests with many learning opportunities. There is also no shortage of education at this magical place & the animals help to make it seem more fun & worthwhile. And although there is no nighttime fireworks show due to the animals, there is a parade that takes place every day which guests really seem to enjoy. Animal Kingdom may be the largest Disney theme park in size but it only features 3 table-service restaurants & 5 quick-service restaurants. Rainforest Cafe, Yak & Yeti, & Tusker House are the sit-down restaurants; Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, Restaurantosaurus, Tamu Tamu Refreshments, & Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe are the fast-food restaurants. Just like in the othetr parks, there are also food carts & stands throughout the park. Besides the fact that this zoo is also an amusement park, Disney uses this place to bring its conservation efforts to the forefront. Because of this, the park closes earlier than the others & even when it stays open later the animals are put to bed a couple hours beforehand. It is because Walt Disney was a champion of animal conservation himself that Animal Kingdom is such a special place to spend some quality time with those you love.

~Steph :)

An Interview of Myself ~ Part 2

1. Why would you be a perfect fit for the specific role you want to perform?
I believe that I would be a perfect fit as an Attractions Cast Member because I have such an enormous passion for all kinds of attractions & have since I was very young! I never tire of riding my favorite rides over & over & seeing the most entertaining shows multiple times. And if I have so much fun with various attractions, how much more would I enjoy being the one who helps provide that fun to others like myself?!

2. If a guest wanted a room that was not available how would you handle it?
If a guest wanted to stay in a room that was unavailable I would first suggest giving them a different room. If that was ineffective, I'd see if they were okay with staying in another resort with similar costs. But if they did not like that idea either, I would try giving them a room we currently had & then transfer them to their desired room when one opened up.

3. How would you respond to a 4-year-old girl who wants to ride Space Mountain but is too short?
If I worked at Space Mountain & was faced with a 4-year-old girl (or boy) who wanted to ride it but was not tall enough, I would make sure she, & whoever she was with, understood that the height requirement was there to ensure safety. Knowing this might not be a satisfactory response, I would suggest another ride she could go on that was similar. I would make sure she knew that there were plenty of other rides she would enjoy. (It would also be important that I talked directly to her & not just her parents.)

4. What would you do if a guest wanted a certain "souvenir" & your particular shop was out of it? What if that item was not located anywhere in the park or hotel where you worked?
If a guest wanted a certain souvenir & the shop I worked at no longer had the item, I would find out if & when we would be getting more & let the guest know; if a different shop had it I would let them know that too. But if no park or hotel had it I would suggest looking online. And if the souvenir was coming in after they left, I would see if it could be sent to them at home.

5. How would you "handle" a child who is scared to meet their favorite Disney character?
As a Cast Member, if I came across a child who was scared to meet their favorite Disney character, I would begin by getting down on their level & letting them know that I used to be scared too. I would explain & try to show them that they are friendly & excited to see each & every person who comes to meet them!

6. What do you feel are the main responsibilities of a seating host?
I feel that the main responsibilities of a seating hostess include, of course, welcoming the guests into the restaurant, ensuring that their wait is as short as possible & that their seating is to their liking, help clean up any accidents or messes left by anyone, clean up empty tables & assist servers when needed, & maybe even provide a little entertainment while they wait to be seated :)

7. What is one specific example of good guest service?
One specific example of good guest service would be when a guest is placed in a resort room with dirty sheets &, as a housekeeping manager, I would not only make sure the room is thoroughly cleaned right away, but also find out if they would prefer to switch rooms. Of course, I would sincerely apologize & let them know that such an incident is far below our Disney standards. I may also check with other higher-ups at the hotel to see if there is any other compensation we can give them.

8. How do you feel about speaking in front of groups of varying sizes?
When it comes to speaking in front of groups of varying sizes, I am much more comfortable with it than I used to be, though I am definitely nervous at first. I truly enjoy interacting with & relating to people in this way!

9. Recall a specific positive, memorable experience you have had as a College program intern (with living, learning, or earning). One of my most cherished memories as a student in the Disney College Program is from when my roommates & I had a birthday party for one of our other "roommates". I'd say there were about 20 people there throughout the night & the party lasted till roughly 4 a.m. There was food & lots of alcohol, though no one acted out because of it. It was a fun time of meeting new people & hanging out with friends. Having more get-togethers like that is one of the things I most look forward to doing most when I return to Disney!

~Steph :)

An Interview of Myself ~ Part 1

1. Who is your favorite Disney character? What is your favorite Disney movie?
My favorite Disney character is Goofy, & my favorite Disney movie is "Robin Hood".

2. What is your favorite Disney attraction? Which is your favorite Disney park?
My favorite Disney attraction is the Tower of Terror, & my favorite Disney park is Hollywood Studios (MGM).

3. What are your top 3 role choices as a College Program Cast Member?
My top 3 role choices as a College Program Cast Member would be Attractions, Hospitality, & Character Attendant or Main Entrance Operations.

4. Why would now be a good time to do the College Program?
Now would be a good time for me to do the College Program [again] because it fits in so perfectly with my major, which is Hospitality & Tourism Management. I also believe that I am ready to return to live & work there.

5. What would you look for in a College Program participant/applicant?
If I were interviewing College Program applicants, I would look for enthusiasm for Disney & their desired roles more than anything else. I would also try to identify as much integrity as I could in their responses that would hopefully give me a good indication of their true personality. (Prior knowledge of Disney would also be a plus.)

6. How would you make a guest feel special on their Disney vacation?
I would make a guest feel special on their Disney vacation by welcoming them & letting them know I'm glad they chose to come to Disney, no matter my role or when I met them. I would give them suggestions as to what they might enjoy during their stay & also ask any children what they are most looking forward to on their trip, as well.

7. Which Disney resort would you most like to work in/at?
If I could work in any of the Disney resorts I would most like to work at the Boardwalk Inn because I love spending time there & it has such a neat setting!

8. Why, in general, do you want to work for Disney?
In general, I would like to work for Disney because I love it so much! I love how it brings together so many different aspects of entertainment to create something uniquely irreplaceable.

9. What are some good ways to interact with guests throughout their Disney vacation (in any role)?
Some good ways to interact with guests throughout their Disney vacation include asking them what they liked best about their time spent at the place "where magic lives". I could also ask them what they would recommend to their family & friends back home if they were to take a Disney vacation. I might ask them how I could help to make their stay better, no matter how it was going up until then. And I would certainly do my best to answer any of their questions concerning whatever area I worked in. Along with that, I can show enthusiasm for my role as I come into contact with them.

10. What does "character integrity" mean to you? To me, "character integrity" is more than just staying "in character" while working for Disney; it is about who you are as a person, whether working at Disney or not. Integrity reaches every part of a person's life, at work or play. If a person doesn't have integrity, it becomes impossible to live their best life.

~Steph :)

Why I Would be the Perfect Choice to Work at the Tower of Terror!

Oftentimes, dreams are large scale desires, but they don't have to be. A dream of mine is to work as a Bellhop at the Tower of Terror. I feel that I would be the perfect Cast Member for it because I have such a passion that I have ridden it over 230 times & am anticipating at least that many more! Naturally, the ride itself is the main focus of my obsession, which I will come back to in a bit, but I am also an enormous fan of "The Twilight Zone" TV show, of which the attraction is based off. Literally ever since I can remember, I have loved that show along with its creator, head writer, & narrator Rod Serling. It was just a fantastic piece of entertainment that has not been duplicated since (though some have unsuccessfully tried). Each episode carried with it so many life lessons & gave viewers new perspectives to think upon. And although the show is over 50 years old, it is still relevant to today & continues to provide absolutely priceless entertainment. Anyway, my love for "The Twilight Zone" came first, & when I discovered the amazing Tower of Terror ride 14 years ago, on a family vacation, I knew I had discovered a true gem (even at age 9). Though I only went on it a couple of times back then, I picked up right where I left off 12 years later & came to love it even more each time I stepped in line. Working at Disney World was the perfect opportunity to "get to know" this incredible ride & a few of the inspired cast members who worked there. And, believe it or not, every time I took yet another turn on it I discovered more & more details that helped to give the Tower of Terror its appeal & make it ever more spectacular! Never once did I feel bored & by turn 200 I was more excited to go on it than ever! In fact, laying in bed at night when I worked there, I would rehearse what I might say if I were a Bellhop. I think I would be a great addition to the Tower of Terror team because my love for the ride & every facet of it runs deep. I can't imagine what I would have done with myself all those times if I hadn't ridden it, but I'm almost certain that whatever it was wouldn't have been nearly as much fun! ;)

~Steph :)

The Reasons I Want to Return as a DCP Cast Member

I think that it is fair enough to start out with the fact that I have done the College Program twice before; both times were considered a success in that I made it through & look back with a great amount of fondness. Not only was i never "disciplined" on the program, but I got along quite well with the people I worked for (& with). I feel that Disney does a good job of combining that work experience with a unique living situation & valuable learning opportunities to create the College Program. It is something that no other company does, even if they do come close, & being a part of that is priceless. How else can a student live & work AT Walt Disney World, gaining experience that will surely stick with them forever?? The last two times I did the program I was a declared Psychology major, but this time around (if all goes well) I will be a Hospitality & Tourism Management major. And though psychology is a part of every facet of life, hospitality & tourism is exactly what Disney specializes in. So I feel that to directly relate school to work is a definite plus, & if I can take the opportunity to really do that this third time around i will continue to move forward in my career & gain more invaluable life experience. I truly believe that my personality fits well with the major I have chosen & because of that it is also just what Disney needs:) My love for all kinds of people spills over into every area of my life, no matter what I'm doing with it. Because I have done the program twice before I know I can successfully complete it again. I have an enthusiasm for Disney that is impossible to hide & it is immensely satisfying to put that passion to good use by working FOR my favorite company. Of course, if I'm not accepted now would not be the perfect time to continue with Disney, but if I am then I can be sure that my time IS now.





~Steph :)

For Love of the Roles

After a great deal of reasoning & consideration, I have narrowed down my desired roles to 7 choices with a couple that I favor most. I may not be perfect for every one of the roles I have chosen but I wanted to give myself a better chance of getting in & identify those roles that appeal to me in some way. Thankfully, I was able to let Disney know my top 3 choices so I could put in a good word for what I hope to do & feel I would excel at. With that said, I'd like to go through the roles I have picked starting with my last place pick.
#7 Full-Service Food & Beverage
Though I am not a fan of food services, mostly because I have been in it for so long, I have not had much experience with the more formal side of it & am curious to see if I would like it any better.
#6 Merchandise
Despite the fact that working on cash registers makes me a little nervous because I tend to struggle with coming out evenly for some reason, I would be interested to try it with items other than food. I feel it might give me a different perspective in cash handling & let me see the variety of souvenirs the Disney parks & resorts carry.
#5 Vacation Planner
This is probably the role I have the least amount of insight on but what I do know seems to appeal to me. The idea of aiding guests in planning & executing their Disney vacation is one I can definitely live with; & how much more enjoyable would it be to plan my own vacation with all of that insider information! ;)
#4/3 Main Entrance Operations
No, the weather in Florida isn't perfect, but I still think that this role would be kind of fun as I would get to welcome guests into the park. Of course, I would also be there to say "good-bye" as they left & would hope to be able to leave the best impression I could.
#3/4 Character Attendant
Besides hearing that it's a good role, I really do think it would be fun to follow/lead characters around through the parks & see how happy the children were to meet those they loved so much; not to mention the fact that I am sure I would thoroughly enjoy working in more than one park.
#2 Hospitality
Seeing how my major is Hospitality & Tourism Management I don't think I need to go into too much detail as far as why this role appeals to me. It would place me right in the thick of the hotel industry & I think Disney could give me just the experience I need.
#1 Attractions
By far the most popular role choice with College Program students, I too believe I would love to be right in the middle of the "action" where surely the most fun takes place! To work in an area that I myself enjoy so much as a guest would really be something to talk about! And I honestly think I would bring an enthusiasm to the role that would make me a perfect fit (especially as a Bellhop at the Hollywood Tower Hotel;)!

~Steph :)

WDW CP Basics

The current Walt Disney World College Program is hardly recognizable from the College Program of old. Though the age requirement of at least 18 years has not changed, a great deal more has. Back when the program first came into existence, in 1981, it was called "The Magic Kingdom College Program" simply because the only positions available were those at Magic Kingdom. Later on, in 1983, participants could also work at EPCOT which lead to the program changing its name to "The Walt Disney World College Program". At the start of its life, there were only a little more than 200 students from just 20 schools. When the program expanded with EPCOT it grew to about 500 college students, & as of 2005, it was up to 8,000 student interns each year, with about 4,000 students participating at any one time. At that time, over 300 colleges & universities were sending students into the program with any & all majors welcome to participate. The living quarters of the program have also changed rather dramatically throughout its history. At its inception, until 1988, members of the program lived in mobile homes off-site called "Snow White Village Compound" & later moved to Vista Way which was, & still is, just outside the Walt Disney World Resort property. Along with the 1990s came tremendous growth in the program including the addition of 3 more apartment complexes. And as word of the program spread over the Internet, it physically grew as well & continues to do so today. Fall 2004 introduced the Disneyland program added to the Disney World program & came to be called "The Disney Theme Parks & Resorts College Program". But, believe it or not, the name changed yet again to what it is today, "The Disney College Program".

Of course, the College Program is far more than just a great name & a set of nice apartment complexes; there is a very important application process which leads to participation in the program. Applicants may first choose to apply to one of several sessions/seasons of a few different lengths, with Culinary students on a separate schedule. (The average length of any one of the programs is between five to seven months.) To begin applying, students must attend an informational presentation in person, most likely at their own university, or watch a similar version of the same presentation online at a more convenient time. The next step (& personally my least favorite) is to take a "web-based interview" which is quite hard to explain for those who've never seen or done one. Once that test is passed a phone interview must be scheduled that gives Disney a much better idea of who its applicants are. At that time, they will discuss which program session works best & the roles they prefer. If Character Performer is one of their choices, the student must then decide on an available time & place they can audition once they are accepted into the program. After that, if all goes well, the student will receive an acceptance e-mail & also a letter in the mail with information about their next steps.

Focusing on the program itself & what is a part of it, interns have more than just the opportunity to work for Disney. When the program kicked off in the early '80s, it emphasized three different "experiences": "The Learning Experience" is now simply "Learning"; "The Work Experience" is now called "Earning"; & "The Recreational Experience" is now just "Living". Since all three parts have been discussed in more detail in previous posts that does not need to be done here, but this is the place for a brief summary of each. For "Living", students can choose to stay in any one of the program's three housing complexes which are Vista Way, Chatham Square, & Patterson Court; The Commons is reserved for international students. "Learning" is the most complex portion of the program & remains optional for participants. It has always been a part of the Disney College Program & can certainly be quite beneficial. Students are given a different perspective on education & on working, in general, compared to how life would be outside of Disney. In the beginning, there used to be nine single sessions or seminars focusing on the "philosophies & operational practices" of the Walt Disney World Resort. Now there are a number of different educational courses, some of which are like regular, formal school classes & some of which are more laid back, fun classes (though they can all be enjoyable). Really, there are a multitude of opportunities for any student who wants to get an education while working for such a well-known & respected company. There is also the option to receive internship credit from participating schools for those students who are interested.

So what is it about the program that causes people to return, sometimes more than once? Honestly, one almost has to experience it to actually understand its true appeal. Disney thanks its college alumni by giving them the opportunity to come back for the Summer Alumni Program. If students desire to move up within the Company, though, they can choose to become a Professional Intern but must have a major to go along with it. Some of these internships require prior experience in the regular College Program & others do not. For those alumni who want to stay "in touch" with the program & keep informed of what is going on at Disney, there is an email newsletter they should find interesting. The newsletter began through the U.S. mail in the early '90s & was started by John Best & Jeffrey Rudeen. At the time there were two newsletters, with one focusing on Disney parks & resorts news & the other focusing on just College Program news.

Though some have criticized the program for requiring too much work from its interns for too little pay, it hardly seems valid since a great many internships are not paid at all, strictly volunteer work. And, clearly, enough students do not see it as unfair because it grows more popular (& competitive) each year. The program is not meant to be a great source of income but a learning experience overall. It is one that current students want to tell their friends about & make them wish they could work for The Mouse too.

~Steph :)

Not Just a Day at the Beach (but you can do that too!)

As if it weren't enough to simply work for Disney, College Program staffers provide students with a wide variety of events throughout their [already eventful] stay. Some of them are housing events & others take place at different locations. Also, some of the events are the same or similar from year-to-year & some are new ideas. Over the past year a great many events have taken place that have given CPers a chance to really have fun & get to know each other at the same time, all of which can be found on http://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com/:

• High School Musical 3 Movie Night~2/17/09
• Hoopfest Basketball Tournament~3/3/09
• Cool Beans Cafe~3/5/09
• Grocery Bingo~3/9/09
• African Safari Party~3/18/09
• CastQuest~3/19/09
• The Great Movie Ride Backstage Tour~3/24/09
• Night of Stars~4/1/09
• Tower of Terror Backstage Tour~4/3/09
• Grocery Bingo~4/7/09
• Orlando Magic Basketball Game~4/15/09
• Toy Story Midway Mania Backstage Tour~4/17/09
• Soccerfest~4/20/09
• Spring Formal: Going Hollywood~4/29/09
• Spring Program Completion Celebration~5/5&6/09
• Kilimanjaro Safaris Backstage Tour~5/8/09
• "Let's Go To the Hop" Welcome Event~5/21/09
• The American Idol Experience Backstage Tour~5/22/09
• Villains Mix & Mingle Welcome Event~5/28/09
• Textile Services Backstage Tour~5/29/09
• Central Shops Backstage Tour~6/1/09
• Grocery Bingo~6/1/09
• Fort De Soto Beach trip~6/3/09
• Cool Beans Cafe~6/10/09
• Captain's Bash Welcome Event~6/16/09
• Cool Beans cafe~7/15/09
• Grocery Bingo~7/20/09
• Spring Advantage, Spring Advantage Quarter, & Alumni Programs Completion Celebration~8/4&5/09
• Toy Story Poolooza~8/13/09
• Star Wars Pool Party~8/20/09
• Rockin' Round-Up~8/25/09
• Swap Shop Store~9/3/09
• Grocery Bingo~9/7/09
• "What Will You Celebrate?" Party~9/9/09
• Fort De Soto Beach Trip~9/10/09
• Cool Beans Cafe~9/16/09
• Disney Housing Soccer Cup~9/22/09
• Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Game~9/23/09
• Hoopfest~9/29/09
• Dragon Swing Fall Diversity Event~10/6/09
• Grocery Bingo~10/12/09
• Cool Beans Cafe~10/14/09
• CastQuest~10/19/09
• Movie Night: Double Feature~10/26/09
• Night of Stars Talent Competition~10/28/09
• Orlando Magic Basketball Game~11/4/09
• UP! Movie Night~11/10/09
• Grocery Bingo~11/11/09
• Cool Beans Cafe~11/18/09
• Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Game~11/30/09
• Winter Formal~12/9/09
• 2009 Fall & Fall Advantage Program Completion Celebration~12/15-17/09
• Orlando Magic Basketball Game~12/23/09
• Time Warp Welcome Event~1/7/10
• "Let the Adventure Begin!" Welcome Event~1/21/10
• Donald's Fiesta~1/28/10
• All-Stars Welcome Event~2/2/10

~Steph :)

You Know You're a [CP] Cast Member When...

...it may be 90 degrees outside but your apartment feels like a freezer.
...you know there's far more than one Mickey Mouse but you're excited to meet him anyway.
...you take a trip to Wal-Mart for no particular reason.
...you buy alcohol before toilet paper (& other necessities).
...trashy reality shows are constantly on the TV.
...you're amazed by The Haunted Mansion, even though you know how it's done.
...you know that Disney & Star Wars go together perfectly!
...you start with 5 roommates & end up with 7.
...you can't wait for Sunday night House of Blues!
...you're so mixed up on your days of the week that the weekend could just as easily be Tuesday & Wednesday as it could Friday & Saturday.
...the chance of rain doesn't faze you.
...the trunk of someone's car can just as easily be used as an additional seat...or two.
...suddenly, having a pool at your "house" doesn't mean all that much now that you actually have one.
...you're excited to tell people that you work AND live at Disney World.
...you look for, & accidentally find, hidden Mickeys everywhere you go.

~Steph :)

P.S. More will be added as I think of them.

Hospitality Heaven

What better place can a Hospitality & Tourism Management major gain some needed industry experience than at the Walt Disney World Resort? To be a part of the Disney College Program is more than just having fun & working at the "Happiest Place on Earth". Here is a program at a place that is overflowing with opportunities in hospitality:

• With more than 24,000 resort rooms on our property, Guests can choose from a range of amenities & experiences when planning their vacation.
• Our resort features more than 300 different places to dine, including Victoria & Albert's, which has earned AAA's five-diamond rating.
• With the volume of Guests our company welcomes each year, participants have a unique opportunity to see how we maintain our status as the number-one vacation destination in the world.
• Our Guests never have to leave our property to rent a yacht, watch fireworks, surf, parasail, golf, bass fish, scuba dive, swim with sharks & tropical fish, bike, canoe, water ski, learn how to drive a race car, play miniature golf, shop, get a massage, go dancing, & much more.

In general, Walt Disney World has 4 theme parks, over 20 resort hotels, 6 golf courses, 2 water parks, convention centers, sports & recreation facilities, & a wedding pavilion. Guests are served in a variety of ways that are sure to leave a lasting impression that will no doubt cause them to want to return. To be a part of that service in the College Program is a privilege with numerous benefits. Even if a student is not a hospitality major they can still find the program very useful, but it is quite another thing to literally be working toward a career (& sometimes educational) goal while at Disney World. Taking part in such a program gives students several advantageous skills when it comes to working in the hospitality industry:

• Time Management- understand how to identify priorities.
• Partnership- collaborate with other Cast Members to provide a magical experience for our Guests.
• Product Knowledge- learn to educate our Guests about our service offerings.
• Communication- interact with Guests & Cast Members from around the world.
• Problem Solving- make on-the-spot decisions affecting our Guests.
• Continuous Improvement- provide constructive feedback to enhance & improve operations.

Disney also greatly encourages networking & provides students with numerous chances to be involved with it. Particularly when a student is starting out in this major & trying to get their feet off the ground, it is vital to seek out those who are in a position they ultimately want to occupy. It always helps to know such people personally but a majority of the time they must be found first; it isn't very often that they just fall into a student's lap. Current managers are a great place to start because they will undoubtedly have information & ideas that should not be passed over. Even if the job they have is not all that appealing it may still aid the student in obtaining one that is. Networking comes in many different forms, & Disney has no shortage of them!

There are also additional hospitality opportunities available for students on a more professional basis. Such roles give them a chance to learn even more about this much-loved industry that is continuously growing. This level of Disney employment is sort of a middle ground for those looking to further their knowledge & experience, to fashion a better future for themselves & those affected by the world of hospitality (which is nearly everyone). A few of the best suited roles in hospitality may be Professional & Management internships that will surely lead down greater paths:

• Convention Services
• Disney Vacation Club
• Florida Tourist Sales
• Destination Sales
• Travel Industry Sales
• Group & Convention Marketing

But there is really no need to stop there; in fact, there doesn't have to be a stopping point at all. With more than 100,000 Disney hospitality employees, the jobs are endless:

• Catering & Conventions
• Disney Vacation Club
• Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings
• Disney Cruise Line

~Steph :)