Disney's version of small town America in the early 1900's.
If you have never been here it is not too hard to imagine what it must be like. The ideal classical American street is filled with charm & happiness that brings people together to enjoy a time when life was much simpler. And though this popular Street does not have any rides, it does have a few well-loved attractions that guests insist upon coming back to time & again:
Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams Fireworks-"This incredible pyrotechnic display fills the sky with a rainbow of color."
SpectroMagic Parade-"Witness all the brilliant magic."
Share a Dream Come True Parade-"A magical parade of giant Disney snow globes with characters & stories that have touched hearts through the years."
Walt Disney World Railroad-"Narrow-gauge steam trains take you on a nostalgic journey around the Magic Kingdom Park."
Main Street, U.S.A. Area Vehicles-"Ride down Main Street, U.S.A. area on a horse-driven trolley, omnibus, jitney, horseless carriage, or fire engine."
Cinderella's Surprise Celebration-"This live show at the Castle Forecort Stage features your Disney favorites; meet the characters afterwards."
Without a doubt, my personal favorite is Wishes; it has such beautiful music & great storytelling that has surely helped it to become as popular as it is. As with many Disney productions, this show has some sentimental value that makes it so special, & not just to me but to many others who stay to see it. Of course, Main Street is so much more than this spectacular show, but it certainly is the most magical. I so look forward to seeing it again & living out my own sentimental wishes.
Normally, I would prefer to post my overview summary of the Magic Kingdom first, but a fellow Disney fanatic gave me the wonderful idea to write about each of the 7 different themed lands in more detail beforehand. (Rest assured, the summary is still on its way.) As someone who has been to this particular park more times than I can count, I feel as though I know it pretty well (up to 2008) & would like to share that knowledge with you here. Each land is, of course, unique & fun in its own way, although I do have my favorite. The funny thing is, though, that my favorite ride at the park is not in my favorite land; just goes to show you can find fun in every part of the park. So here's to Adventureland which is not the land of The Haunted Mansion; I look forward to returning to both!
For my first go around of the Disney College Program I was fortunate enough to receive college credit from a school I did not even attend. (I was considered a "guest student".) The school was Central Michigan University & the course credit I received was for Fieldwork from the Department of Recreation, Parks, & Leisure Services Administration. My faculty instructor/mentor was Dean Wallin who was quite helpful in guiding me through the program. What follows is the essay I was assigned to write which gives somewhat of an idea of my experience the first time around & reflects on how I felt about the whole journey. As you will be able to see, I was given a series of questions to answer based on three different topics which gave me the chance to elaborate on my time in the program. I hope that it gives you a good idea of what to expect & causes you to look forward to the College Program, if you choose to participate.
Work Experience 1) Describe your position and work site. -During my time spent at Disney World, I worked as a housekeeper at the Caribbean Beach Resort. It was located between EPCOT & MGM (now Hollywood) Studios. My position required me to work alongside about 20 other housekeepers on a daily basis for five days a week. For those five days, from 8am to 4:30pm, I cleaned 17 guest rooms with an average of five to six checkouts a day. The hotel I worked at was extremely large so about 45 minutes of my shift was spent just getting from place to place.
2) Describe & evaluate your orientation and training. From your perspective, what additions or deletions should be made? -My orientation was not terribly extensive but I did feel as though pretty much all of the important information I needed to know was covered. It also took place over several days, at several different locations, so it was never boring. Training-wise, though, I felt I received better informational training from my manager than I did formal training from my actual trainer. I spent two days working with her but I felt there was quite a bit she did not inform me of which I later, more fully discovered when I was retrained after about two months.
3) Describe and evaluate the supervision you received at your work location. -The supervision I received at my work location seemed adequate enough for me. In fact, I would have to say it was above & beyond adequate because of the exceptional manager I had, along with the other friendly housekeepers I worked with. My manager was always able to assist me with whatever I needed, & because she was so approachable I never hesitated to ask her for help. She also never caused me to feel incompetent but encouraged me on a regular basis. And even on the days she was off the managers who filled in for her were supportive as well. For me, good supervision was key in helping my job go smoothly.
4) What was the most and least enjoyable part of your position? Why? -I would have to say that the most enjoyable part of my position as a housekeeper at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort was without a doubt the people I worked with & a majority of the people I worked for. They certainly had a positive, lasting impact on my life. Being surrounded by those good people made a difference in my level of motivation, as it generally increased the better I got to know them. I definitely worked with some unforgettable people & am a better person because of it/them. Unfortunately, though, my job was not all good all the time. The least enjoyable part of my position was the pressure I felt to get done on time every day. With a maximum of 17 rooms to clean & an average of five to six of those being checkouts, my energy seemed to run out faster every day, though there were times I felt I was getting used to the cycle of work &, therefore, felt less tired; but that was not the majority of the time. Thankfully, though, this downfall did not hamper my amazing experience.
5) In regard to your own experience, do you feel you went above and beyond what was expected of you? If yes, how? If no, what could you have done? -Looking back at my Disney College Experience, I felt that I went above & beyond what was expected of me by never calling in sick. Though it was allowed & all of the other students seemed to be doing it, I just did not feel it was something I should take advantage of if I did not need to (& I didn't). (I did leave early because of the flu once, though, but I still never called in.) I also went above & beyond by not complaining as much about my job as many of those around me did, though I was not without my moments. I also tried my best to answer questions from guests whenever I was at Disney, even if they had nothing to do with my specific area of "expertise". I wanted people to see that I was a helpful person whether they knew I was a cast member or not & I think, for the most part, they did.
Learning Experience 6) Evaluate the Disney course(s) you took and compare it with other college courses you have taken. Did the course(s) meet your expectations? Why did you choose the course(s) you did? Who was your instructor and rate their teaching ability on a scale of 1-5 (5 being high). -During my time on the Disney College Program I took one class, but it was not an academic class; it was part of the Disney Exploration Series which looks at how Disney itself does business. There were a variety of classes to choose from as part of this series & I chose to take the Guest Services class. It was an enjoyable class that covered different guest relation issues such as food service, merchandise, resorts, & ride operations. The class lasted eight weeks & focused on a different topic each week. Given that it was not an officially academic class, it was far more interesting than a regular school class. It was laid back & in an ideal setting (Walt Disney World, to be more specific). The teacher, Jason Klees, was energetic & fun to listen to; on a scale of one to five, with five being the best, he was definitely a five. He really seemed to have a genuine interest in the subject, as well as a genuine interest in us as students. He also gave everyone an equal chance to speak out in class & he listened to us when we did. During the course, & looking back on it, I am glad I took it. It helped me look at guest services in a more in depth way & I enjoyed seeing how Disney approaches it, from an insider's point of view.
7) What kind of cultural experience was this for you? Why? Include an overview of your living experience. -Culturally, I definitely think that this experience was good for me. I had the opportunity to be surrounded by a variety of cultures while still in my own. I will admit it was not easy at first & it took me awhile to become open to the many differences I was surrounded by. I even learned a few things about my own culture & the great variety of people who are a part of it. My living arrangements helped me to see this as I lived in a three bedroom apartment with five other girls. It was a nice setup that was fully furnished with a cable & Internet hookup that cost just $73 a week. (I thought it was a good price for all that was included.)
8) Discuss the practical "politics" that you encountered while working in the program. What did you learn from this? -In terms of the practical "politics" I encountered while working in the program, I learned that Disney is very particular about the appearance of their cast members & want them to look presentable at all times. Disney will not allow racial discrimination & works hard to prevent it; this is more obvious in the great variety of nationalities that work there. In working for Disney, it is also clear that they care for their employees & show that through various benefits.
9) Has this experience helped you make or affirm your education/career choice? How so? What is your college major? -When I began the Disney College Program I was a psychology major who wanted to be a psychologist; now that I have finished a semester of the college program I am still a psychology major who wants to be a psychologist. Though my ultimate career aspiration has not changed, I have decided I would like to work more for Disney & maybe even combine it with psychology somehow in the future. When I started the program I was sure that would be my one & only time working for The Mouse, but I am now even more sure I want to go back because it was a priceless experience for me.
10) How does this experience help you return to college life and the classroom? -In general, it was quite an adjustment to go back to the way college life & the classroom were before I went to Disney, but it is working out alright. Of course, things have changed, & I am not the same person I was before I worked at Disney World, but that does not mean there is anything wrong with going back to my old college routine. I have discovered new & better ways to interact with others that I believe will help me back at home. I have also learned to be even more independent & to try new things without being so hesitant &/or afraid.
11) How would you justify this opportunity as an educational experience worth college credit?-I really believe this experience was worth college credit because it kept me busy & was a new experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to learn inside & outside of a classroom, & I took the chance to do both. It also helped me explore other career possibilities that are out there, even if I have so far chosen NOT to pursue them.
College Program 12) Would you recommend the Disney College Program to other college students? Why or why not? -I certainly would recommend the Disney College Program to other college students! Of course, there is no guarantee other students would like it as much as I did because a great deal of it depends on the student's attitude going in. Naturally, that attitude can, & oftentimes will, change but that does not mean a person has no control over their own experience. The college program expectations & overall experiences are clearly laid out so the students participating do not have much of an excuse as to not knowing the agenda. Going back to my recommendation, it was a positively life changing experience for me & I think it can be the same for anyone else who does it as well.
13) Were the expectations you had for the college program met? -I think the expectations I had for the college program were largely exceeded because I did make friends with amazing people, as I was told beforehand I would. I received valuable work experience from a well-known & respected company. I moved out of my comfort zone to participate in the program & came through overly satisfied with my experience. I think the major factor which determines that my expectations were exceeded is that I want to return to work for Disney, whether through the college program or not.
14) Did you participate in any volunteer opportunities (i.e. "Give Kids the World" or other programs/events)? Was it a valuable experience? -Unfortunately, I did not participate in any volunteer opportunities while working for Disney & I wish I had. I know it would have added to my already wonderful experience & I plan to make that change the next time I go there.
15) Conclusion: Give a documented overall evaluation of what this experience meant to you. What did you gain from this experience that you lacked before? What would you still like to improve upon? -Overall, this experience was by far the best thing I have done with my life up to this point. Going into it I was, honestly, terrified; coming out of it I was overjoyed. It was certainly not an easy experience but I learned a great deal from it & I know that is part of why it was such a great experience for me & want to return. I admit, though, that when I do return I want to have a better overall attitude towards my specific job as there were definitely times when I probably did not show guests my enthusiasm for the job. It can be difficult to remember that I am constantly being watched while I am working & I need to be positive at all times, especially when I do not want to. A job is a job no matter where I work & I need to do my best at whatever it is!
Summer 2008 was when I had one of the most amazing jobs I could ever have, but not at all because of the work itself (though that wasn't too bad). It was the job that personally introduced me to Cirque du Soleil, which certainly was not something I was prepared for. To me, this all-human circus was only for people well-off enough to go to Vegas or some foreign country. Little did I know, it was closer than I thought. I would even be blessed to get over my lifelong fear of clowns :)
To fully understand what this job meant to me, you have to know the mindset I was in before I began my role as a quick-service food & beverage Cast Member at the La Nouba show. To start with, I wasn't terribly excited to do food service, but it was the only role that even remotely appealed to me out of the limited few they offered for the Summer Alumni Program. The most nerve-wracking part of beginning a new job in food service, though, was finding out my work location. (And for anyone who has already done the College Program, & knows a thing or two about it, the suspense of waiting to learn where you'll work is agonizing.) So as I waited for THE NEWS with my five roommates, I was praying I would be placed in one of the parks. Well, as I would soon discover, that was not to be. I was literally devastated when I was told I'd be working concessions at Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba at Downtown Disney. All I knew was that I wanted to work in a park & it suddenly felt like I never would. And even after other people told me I was "lucky" to work at the show because it was so amazing, I still wasn't sure but that didn't really matter because I did not have a choice.
Fast forwarding about a month, after a brief time at DisneyQuest while the circus was on a break, my eyes were opened to one of the most amazing experiences I would ever have. Although most of the people in my inner circle were not familiar with such a famous & unique form of entertainment, I was & it did not take long for me to become enamoured of these incredibly talented acrobats who were able to do things no human should ever be able to do. It was not at all unusual to come face to face with any one of the performers on a daily basis & there was just something pretty neat about those occurrences. (I cannot say enough about what those confrontations meant to me!) I even had the extreme privilege of forming a very small friendship with one of the "clowns"; & what a change that was from being scared of them to having them be my favorite part of the show:)
Each day of work went by faster than the one before it & all because my life was being overrun by this fantastical circus! I had never even been able to imagine this at any other point in my life & now I was actually living it. How could I have ever doubted that this was the place for me right at this time??
Looking back on my job for Disney at Cirque du Soleil, I cannot possible see how my life would have been without it & I certainly don't want to try. I now have a new passion for this world of fantasy that can't quite be explained. I am no longer afraid of clowns like I had always been;) I look at myself as crazy to have ever thought this job would not be for me. I had no problem adapting to the job I was assigned & even ended up enjoying mine better than my roommates enjoyed theirs. (And, believe me, I did not think that would EVER happen!) I have not ruled out one day going back to work there, but a large part of me simply wants to leave things the way they were & just remember what a magical experience it was...& I'm pretty sure that what I had was exactly what Walt Disney would have wanted:)
Anticipation can often be the best part of a good experience. When looking forward to something we are excited about it seems to help other parts of life go more smoothly (for me, anyway). With the exception of what others may tell us, our view in anticipation is untainted because we have not yet gone through the experience. And even if something has been done before there is still the hope that it will be better than ever the next time around. This is the way I view my anticipation in preparing for the Disney College Program once again. Having done it before there are expectations I have because of what I have experienced before. There is anticipation for the good and the bad, though it may always be different the next time around. I may not be able to control every part of my experience but I can still try to do things differently. Some things I will never want to change, though, because of how great they were the first time; other things I will be desperate to change (or not let happen again). Some places at Disney World I can hardly wait to get back to. There are moments I will only be able to experience there and I certainly look forward to storing up some wonderful memories that may last forever. The opportunities are endless and it is so important to make the most out of this college program! There is no question that the program is what you make of it, so your level of anticipation ahead of time could help determine the amount of fun later on. Look at it in a positive light and it will be more likely to end well too. Believe in an amazing journey and this may become one!
As you might expect, the holidays at Walt Disney World are an extraordinary time to visit and are even more fantastical as a cast member! To have the entire season to celebrate at Disney is really something else! I have had the privilege to work there during this time and have chosen to return for a reason, even if I may not know for sure what that reason is just yet. People often refer to Christmas as a magical time of year and what better place to celebrate it than at the place "where magic lives"?? It is naturally more crowded during the holidays but no less enjoyable. The decorations are intricate and the celebrations are endless. It is also a fantastic place to learn how other cultures celebrate the season and the meaning that lives behind it for them (particularly at EPCOT). Christmas is infused in every part of Disney World at this time and it is certainly worth the added time and money it costs to enjoy. For many it may be a once in a lifetime experience and even more may never get to see it at all. Either way, it can not be enjoyed like this anywhere else in the world. But it hardly more than seems like the season is beginning and it's time to finish up. Not a moment can be wasted when this type of magic is in the air. Sure, it may sound pretty corny when put like that, but it is a truthful statement. Ask anyone who has been on Disney property around Christmas and they will surely tell you of how wonderful it can be.
Ok, so maybe I exaggerate a little, but I feel there are certain things I know from being in the College Program twice before that I wouldn't have known otherwise. Admittedly so, it is rather tough to say what has been learned without sounding like a know-it-all, but I plan to try. My point is to give others a heads up as to what may be expected & hopefully be of some help. Bear in mind that this is only based on one student intern's working & living at Walt Disney World & that it may not even be the same for me as I soon embark on a third time around. ~ Though most people complain about the bus system, it really isn't that bad. (Just leave early.)
~ Even if you're not a smoker, living with smokers isn't all bad. (I lived with several & never had a problem; I barely noticed.)
~ One TV in the apartment may seem like a stretch, but you learn to like each other's shows pretty quickly.
~ Putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher, instead of leaving them in the sink, is a small but very important & considerate gesture. (Far too many frustrations have arisen from this issue.)
~ Sharing your roommates' food may be totally fine, but ask anyway just to be safe.
~ Bringing your own car is certainly more convenient, but saving money on gas by leaving it at home isn't bad either.
~ If you eat in the parks everyday, or nearly everyday, your bank account WILL suffer!
~ Graduation is not mandatory, but it is a fun experience that is worth your time.
~ Be open to many "firsts" in your life during the program (as long as they don't make you uncomfortable), because they will happen & should be a lot of fun :)
~ If you're looking to accumulate a significant amount of savings from your income, then this program probably isn't for you (though there are always exceptions).
~ Taking an education course during your internship is NOT a waste of time, even if you're just doing it for fun.
~ Every apartment complex has advantages & disadvantages.
~ The most important parts of The Disney Look are little things like hair, nails, & tattoos (especially at Traditions).
~ You can always find a reason to complain about your job, but it will be a much better experience if you look for the positive.
~ Unless you have no interest in the parks themselves, take every opportunity to use your free entrance & do all that you can to get to know the many amazing man-made wonders of Walt Disney World!
~ It's best not to look at everything with clouded vision & know that real life goes on...even at Disney World.
~ Being considerate with the thermostat is just as important as everything else; just because it gets hot outside doesn't mean it has to freeze inside ;)
~ Realize that your "best friends" in the program may not stay that way & your "enemies" don't have to (stay enemies) either.
~ Even though the program is longer than any Disney vacation you'll ever take, know that it is not possible to do all it has to offer in a single season. (That's all the more reason to do it again!)
~ You will be the most-loved roommate in the apartment if you are a good cook :D
~ Despite the fact that Disney is all around you, it is easy to forget that you live & work at such a "magical" place. (There is a day-to-day grind you will go through.)
~ Roommates may change as often as cast members get new costumes (for various reasons).
~ It is best not to leave for work (or anything else) upset or angry with any of your roommates because you WILL have to face them later.
~ Do not, under any circumstances, overestimate the power of the toilets in your apartment; bring or buy a real plunger because they overflow at the drop of a hat!
My name is Stephanie & I was born & raised in Grand Rapids, MI. I currently live w/my mom & younger sister while going through that lovely college/job transitioning stage (though I don't mind it so much). I am a 5th year college student b/c I realized later on that Hospitality & Tourism was my calling, more than my previous pick of Psychology.
Disney's version of small town America in the early 1900's.
