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 :)