I've just posted a new vlog:
And that's all I really have going on that's Disney-related right now. I have to study for the next couple of hours so I can go to Bingo tonight at school! Bingo at my school has really good prizes, like camera, iPads, Keurigs, and TV's, so I absolutely have to go!
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Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Disney on Ice
This post is not at all DCP related, but I thought it would be nice to make a post about Disney on Ice. I love Disney on Ice, and have only recently started seeing it a few years ago (except for when I was much younger, but those shows I hardly remember since I was so young). I think that Disney on Ice has a certain stigma surrounding, like the parks do unfortunately, that it is only for little kids. In my opinion, lots of people take their kids to see it because they feel like they're supposed to, and they go into thinking that they won't enjoy it because they're old.
I really like this quote by Walt Disney, in reference to Disneyland's appeal to families, rather than just children.
"Disneyland isn't designed for children. When does a person stop being a child? Can you say that a child is every entirely eliminated from an adult? I believe that the right kind of entertainment can appeal to all persons, young or old. I want Disneyland to be a place where parents can bring their kids, or come by themselves, and still have a good time."
-Walt Disney
I think this quote sums up my feelings towards the stereotype that Disney is only for kids perfectly. Fundamentally it is not only for kids, it's literally been spelled out that it's meant for families, or even adults by themselves if they like. When I tell someone that I'm going to see Disney on Ice, even if they're polite about it, I can tell that they think it's weird. Well, everyone is entitled to their opinions, but really, I don't think it's weird. Disney as a whole, is not necessarily geared towards children in the same way that other seemingly similar companies are. When the Dora the Explorer show comes to a local theater, I would say that is for children. Dora while cute and catchy, is educational, teaching children things that would be far too simple to hold an adult's attention. Disney shows, unless specifically designed for Disney Junior or something like that, meet the middle ground of entertainment that people from different age groups can enjoy. Anyways, I guess my point here is that if you're an adult reading this whose thinking, "Why on earth would she care to see Disney on Ice?" you're probably not alone, but I think it would be worth giving it a chance, because it really isn't tacky at all and is actually a pretty high level of showmanship from the skaters, choreographers and costume design as well. Also, compared to seeing a musical or a concert, Disney on Ice can be a very cheap day/night out (assuming you don't go nuts with candy or souvenirs). I usually see Disney on Ice in either Boston, or Portland, ME. In Boston the tickets run about $28-48, and in Portland they are about $18-30. Compared to a musical or concert that is going to cost you upwards of $80-100, its pretty cheap entertainment.
When I see Disney on Ice, I either go with Theresa (roommate), or Chaz (boyfriend). Rather than giving in to purchasing the hats/ears/whatever they sell there for some ridiculous amount of money, I usually wear my own Minnie Mouse ears.
Here's Chaz, myself, and my Minnie ears!
My absolute favorite part of this show was the Tangled scene. First of all, how awesome does Maximus look? The costuming and all the effects at Disney on Ice are really spot on, to the point where adults can appreciate how much work goes into the show.
The other reason why the Tangled scene is my favorite (aside from my obvious love for the movie), was the silk rope (Rapunzel's hair) scene. The set was designed so that Rapunzel and Flynn were using her "hair" as a silk rope, and they were using it to fly over the ice. It was extremely impressive, and similar to something you would see in Cirque du Soleil-- as an adult, I was mesmerized at the talent these skaters had.
There's even fireworks! If you're crazy like me and miss things like castles and fireworks when it's not the 4th of July or a Disney vacation, you'd appreciate this:
Another Disney on Ice show I really like is Treasure Trove. Unlike Dare to Dream, which focuses mainly on Disney princesses, and Rapunzel for nearly the entire second half, this one is all about classic animated films. One of the opening scenes involved the cards from Alice in Wonderland, it was one of my favorite parts of this show. The cards would skate through each other with the songs from the movie and card shuffling noises in the background, it was very clever.
I really like this quote by Walt Disney, in reference to Disneyland's appeal to families, rather than just children.
"Disneyland isn't designed for children. When does a person stop being a child? Can you say that a child is every entirely eliminated from an adult? I believe that the right kind of entertainment can appeal to all persons, young or old. I want Disneyland to be a place where parents can bring their kids, or come by themselves, and still have a good time."
-Walt Disney
I think this quote sums up my feelings towards the stereotype that Disney is only for kids perfectly. Fundamentally it is not only for kids, it's literally been spelled out that it's meant for families, or even adults by themselves if they like. When I tell someone that I'm going to see Disney on Ice, even if they're polite about it, I can tell that they think it's weird. Well, everyone is entitled to their opinions, but really, I don't think it's weird. Disney as a whole, is not necessarily geared towards children in the same way that other seemingly similar companies are. When the Dora the Explorer show comes to a local theater, I would say that is for children. Dora while cute and catchy, is educational, teaching children things that would be far too simple to hold an adult's attention. Disney shows, unless specifically designed for Disney Junior or something like that, meet the middle ground of entertainment that people from different age groups can enjoy. Anyways, I guess my point here is that if you're an adult reading this whose thinking, "Why on earth would she care to see Disney on Ice?" you're probably not alone, but I think it would be worth giving it a chance, because it really isn't tacky at all and is actually a pretty high level of showmanship from the skaters, choreographers and costume design as well. Also, compared to seeing a musical or a concert, Disney on Ice can be a very cheap day/night out (assuming you don't go nuts with candy or souvenirs). I usually see Disney on Ice in either Boston, or Portland, ME. In Boston the tickets run about $28-48, and in Portland they are about $18-30. Compared to a musical or concert that is going to cost you upwards of $80-100, its pretty cheap entertainment.
When I see Disney on Ice, I either go with Theresa (roommate), or Chaz (boyfriend). Rather than giving in to purchasing the hats/ears/whatever they sell there for some ridiculous amount of money, I usually wear my own Minnie Mouse ears.
Here's Chaz, myself, and my Minnie ears!
The most recent, and by far my favorite, Disney on Ice show I've seen has been Dare to Dream. I'm not sure exactly how Disney on Ice works, but I saw this one in Boston, and it wasn't scheduled at all in Portland, whereas other, less intricate shows were, so I would assume that some of the stunts in this show require a larger arena. Either way, if Dare to Dream is anywhere close to you it is definitely worth seeing!
The other reason why the Tangled scene is my favorite (aside from my obvious love for the movie), was the silk rope (Rapunzel's hair) scene. The set was designed so that Rapunzel and Flynn were using her "hair" as a silk rope, and they were using it to fly over the ice. It was extremely impressive, and similar to something you would see in Cirque du Soleil-- as an adult, I was mesmerized at the talent these skaters had.
There's even fireworks! If you're crazy like me and miss things like castles and fireworks when it's not the 4th of July or a Disney vacation, you'd appreciate this:
Another Disney on Ice show I really like is Treasure Trove. Unlike Dare to Dream, which focuses mainly on Disney princesses, and Rapunzel for nearly the entire second half, this one is all about classic animated films. One of the opening scenes involved the cards from Alice in Wonderland, it was one of my favorite parts of this show. The cards would skate through each other with the songs from the movie and card shuffling noises in the background, it was very clever.
"Why, you're nothing but a deck of cards."
Another great scene from Treasure Trove, was the Aladdin scene. It brought back memories of the parade that used to be in MGM in the 90's. When done well the parade scene can make for a really great performance. (side note- it did get better than this, I only took the picture when the skaters were first coming out).
Also, I love how Tiana's dress looks. I'm not a fan of when they completely shorten dresses for ice shows. I know they have to sometimes depending on the tricks they're doing, but Tiana's dress here was short enough that she could move in it, but not too short that it took away from her look.
And of course there was more fireworks and princesses for the finale!
So there you have it! Disney on Ice -- not just for kids, cheap, and fun for adults too! Oh and fun side story: The last time I went to see Disney on Ice with Chaz, the guy who took our tickets said Chaz must be my prince. :D
I'm still working on the video for my vlog of me counting down the days for applications to come out. I'd like to make a new vlog soon, if for nothing else but to restore your faith that the camera on my cell phone actually works and doesn't lag like my webcam. Let me know if you have any ideas for vlogs! I have gotten a couple of questions, but I'd like to wait until there's a couple more before I post them.
I also applied for a job at the Disney store, its the seasonal sales associate position they have during the holiday shopping rush. I'm very hopeful for it, but I think in the past it hasn't worked out with my school schedule so we'll see how that goes.
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Sunday, October 6, 2013
Shop
"Brittany Earns Her Ears," my memoir of my time working for the Walt Disney Company during the Fall 2014 Disney College Program, has been published by Theme Park Press, and is available on Amazon! Order your copy today in eBook or paperback!
Click here to order "Brittany Earns Her Ears"
If you enjoyed reading "Brittany Earns Her Ears," we'd love to hear from you in an Amazon review!
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Upcoming Vlog & Good News About My Camera
I've decided to take a quick video everyday of what I'm doing while waiting for applications to come out. This may sound boring, but I'm going to attempt to make it entertaining and possibly include bloopers or something. And this way, you can all see what I do when I'm not here obsessing over the DCP. The other good news is that I just realized that I still have Chaz's (my boyfriend) camera, which means the video quality and sound of my blogs won't be terrible anymore! The bad news is that my camera is still broken, and I don't know if I'm going to get it fixed or buy a new one, so if Chaz needs his in the meantime I'll have to revert to my webcam. :( But in the immediate future, my vlogs will be way more tolerable to watch now that I have a decent camera to use! :D
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Friday, October 4, 2013
What if I don't get accepted? & A Walk Down Memory Lane...
I was thinking that it may be too soon to be blogging about the DCP. I haven't even applied yet! I think I'm in a weird situation compared to other CPs, because I've been accepted before, but haven't been able to go. So I'm extra excited? I don't know how to describe it. Maybe I'm just overly optimistic, there is always the chance that I won't get accepted again. Regardless of whether or not I get accepted, I would still like to try for a professional internship (if I find any that don't require the CP alum status), and I still love Disney either way, so this blog isn't a complete waste!
To help my readers get to know me better, I thought I would make a "Memories" post about my past Disney trips. This will probably be more interesting than just writing a paragraph about myself, so you're welcome. :)
The first time I went to Disney World, I was three years old. Not surprisingly, I don't remember any of this trip, but I do know of a couple of things that were around in WDW in 1995. The parade in the Magic Kingdom, for instance, was "Mickey Mania," and if you don't remember this you are either a sad tortured soul, or incredibly lucky depending on how you feel about the largest Mickey marketing scheme in the history of the world. "Mickey Mania" was a parade all about Mickey. Now I know what you're thinking, but Disney is all about Mickey, so what's the big deal? Oh you just wait... go on youtube, and look up "Mickey Mania Parade." I'll be expecting your thank you emails, or death threats after you watch it. Again, you're welcome. :) There were a few other things around in 1995, that are no longer there now. The Concourse Steakhouse at the Contemporary-- gone. The ending of Spaceship Earth-- gone. And unfortunately... Mr. Toad's Wild Ride-- replaced by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. One of the reasons why I absolutely need to get to Disneyland is to go on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, it was one of my favorites when I was younger.
Another monumental Disney trip came with the opening of Animal Kingdom. Here we are the summer after Animal Kingdom opened in 1998--
To introduce you to the usual Disney crowd of my family, here I am (in the green t shirt obviously), with my younger cousin Andrew, my Auntie Doris & Uncle Marc and my Nonnie and Dad.
This trip, was also our last time on the Skyway. For anyone who is wondering what that is, the Skyway used to connect Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, and its old station is now Rapunzel's tower/restrooms.
Here's my dad and I on the now extinct Skyway:
It wasn't until recently that I started going on the big, scary rides. And even now, I still won't go on most of the big, scary ones. Big/scary to me is Splash & Thunder Mountains. So the Tower of Terror, is one ride I still won't be going on anytime soon, though I would love to walk through the line someday just to see the inside.
Eventually, we broadened our Disney horizons and embarked on a Disney Cruise. In 2004, all 8 of us, the Griswal-- I mean DiCologeros, embarked on a 4 night Bahamian cruise on the Disney Wonder. Clearly 2004 was before I had control of the camera, because this is the only picture I have with us actually in it from the cruise:
There are a couple of weird things going on in this picture that need an explanation. I don't have all the answers, I was only 12 at the time, but I'll try to decipher what's happening here. First of all the Disney Wonder is a beautiful ship, so I have no idea why the only picture with us in it was taken awkwardly behind those covered up lounge chairs with only half of the group paying attention. Typical Griswalds I guess. Also, where did my aunt get a drink, and why don't the rest of us have any? What is Nonnie pointing at? Why does Andrew look disgusted? What is my dad staring at? Why did I take my shirt off? Oh, I know that one! Because I didn't want documentation of me wearing the same shirt as everyone else, though I guess it doesn't matter because I'm still surrounded by them.
After the cruise, we spent a couple of nights in WDW. Here I am c. 2004 with Cinderella! I assume this picture was taken before dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table.
Another restaurant we ate at on this trip was Liberty Tree Tavern. I don't think I've eaten here since, and that can be attributed to the fact that there are no longer characters there. I used to love the characters at Liberty Tree because they were dressed in colonial garb and it was adorable!
How cute does Minnie look!? Also in case you're wondering what that medal I'm holding is-- I won Disney trivia on the cruise. :) Surprising, right?
Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of Disney trips after this until 2011. But I do remember that I went when they had Jack Sparrow out for meet and greets, and he almost got plowed down by teenage girls. I also went to the soft opening of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride the year that Jack Sparrow was added to it. Oh! and I got these awesome pirate Mickey ears... And my pirate obsession started right when the movies came out, which resulted in the purchase of this:
Why yes, that is a life-size cut out of Jack Sparrow.
Anyways, the next trip that I have some pictures of is from June, 2011, which was just myself and Papa. We stayed at the Contemporary for 3 or 4 days, and we got upgraded to a tower room, so that was pretty exciting! I spent some time in the parks by myself this trip, which I actually didn't mind. I don't know if it was just a nice change since I'm usually there with a big group, or if I'm just that much of a nerd but I was fine going off on my own if Papa was napping.
Being by myself for a bit on this trip also allowed me to do something kind of crazy... the 4 parks in one day challenge! It is exhausting. I have never run so much in my life. I started out with the rope drop ceremony at the Magic Kingdom, and then went to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom and was back at the Contemporary by 4:00 to get ready for dinner. It was pretty insane, and my feet were really feeling it the next day.
Here I am the morning of that craziness at the Magic Kingdom.
My next trip, was also in 2011, this time right after Christmas! We packed up and were on our way to Orlando on December, 26, all ready for the most crowded week of the year in WDW.
Every now and then, there comes a time in a Disney-nerd's life that they must bring someone of the... less Disney-inclined nature to WDW. In this case, it was my cousin Andrew, who definitely came on this Christmas trip to please Nonnie and myself. Despite Andrew's grumpy faces in the pictures, I know he still loves Disney, and is just in a teenage phase where he feels "too cool" for it or something.
Smile Andrew!
How cute is Papa's shirt?! It has Mickey ice cream bars on it if you can't tell...
2012, was a Disney-less year, with the exception of Disney on Ice, (which I'm saving for later posts). But in 2013, I went to WDW again with Theresa (my roommate), for her 21st birthday!! I posted some pictures from this trip in another post, but here's a couple of more, since Gaston kind of took over, last time. ;)
Here's my latest vlog in response to Jessie's questions from these comments:
That's all I got for now! Don't forget to comment, or follow me at
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Thursday, October 3, 2013
Contact
Please feel free to contact me through any of the following:
Email: brittanyearnsherears@gmail.com
Facebook.com/brittanyearnsherears
Instagram: @brittanyearnsherears
Twitter: @BrittanyEHE
DCP Alumni: If you'd like to be featured in a CP Q&A post on this blog, send me an email and I can interview you! I'm always looking for former CPs in any role, season, and location to answer some questions and help out future CPs who are applying, so feel free to shoot me an email if you're interested! :)
Email: brittanyearnsherears@gmail.com
Facebook.com/brittanyearnsherears
Instagram: @brittanyearnsherears
Twitter: @BrittanyEHE
DCP Alumni: If you'd like to be featured in a CP Q&A post on this blog, send me an email and I can interview you! I'm always looking for former CPs in any role, season, and location to answer some questions and help out future CPs who are applying, so feel free to shoot me an email if you're interested! :)
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
The Waiting Game Has Already Begun... Oh and FAQs!
Soooo..... you know how on most DCP blogs, the waiting game really sets in after the person has applied, but they don't know if they're accepted or not yet? I feel like the waiting game is already happening for me. Maybe it's because I'm a senior, so senior-itis is setting in as well, but all I want to do is go to Disney!! I just want to pack up my dorm and get out of here!
Anyways, onto some more important things I guess. I was thinking about this blog (and my vlog), and it occurred to me, that my friends and family will probably be reading this to keep up with what I'm doing while I'm on the program. I originally thought this blog would be good for fellow CPs, but now I'm thinking that family and friends will probably read this too, and well, they're probably not obsessed like the fellow CPs, so maybe I should give some overviews of the program. Instead of making a big, long, wordy paragraph, I thought I would break this up into a little FAQ section of questions friends/family/teachers/random people, have already asked me about the program to clear things up. Here come the questions!!
Wait a minute... you're saying you want to go to a Disney college?
Well, contrary to this (somewhat?) popular belief, the Disney College Program is not actually a college. This program is essentially a paid internship.
What is the Disney College Program?
I'm glad you asked! I'll get the technical stuff out of the way first: The Disney College Program (or DCP as you will often see), is a paid, semester long internship at either Disneyland, in Anaheim, CA, or Walt Disney World, in Orlando, FL. During the program, interns will live just outside of Disney property, and work full time in entry level positions in and around the parks. Students will also have the opportunity to take classes with Disney in areas such as entertainment, security, history, environmental sustainability and guest relations. Now for the cheesy/personal twist on this question: The DCP has been a dream for me since I was about 8 years old. =D
If this program is a "semester" long how can you participate? Aren't you graduating in May?
Students can participate in the program as long as they are enrolled in school during the time of their interview. Because I will be in school in February/March (application season), I am able to apply for the Fall 2014 semester.
So you're going to work a minimum wage job in Florida's ridiculous heat and humidity after graduating when you could look for a real job?
Okay, here's the thing... things... thing(S) plural. Ugh, where to start? Alright, well first of all, this is a dream of mine, remember? Without getting too bogged down in the details, I applied for the program a couple of years ago thinking I would be able to complete it while I was in school. (If you've read previous posts, or keep up with my vlog, you already know this). My school did not recognize the program, and I was told that I would have to take a leave of absense and therefore lose my scholarship if I participated. (I got accepted, and then couldn't go, it was pretty soul-crushing). Now (Fall 2013), my school recognizes the internship, and everything would be all well and good, except for how I'm graduating next semester. That means that the only chance for me to go is next Fall. If I don't go then, I won't be able to go at all, and this is my DREAM remember??? Secondly, have you looked at the job market right now? I don't know anyone with any humanities-related major that found a decent full time job immediately after graduating (except for maybe teaching, but that's really a last resort for me). So I would say that a full time job in Disney is better than a part time job at home. Third: whose to say this isn't a real job?? It's full time, sometimes with tons of overtime, and it's going to allow me to live far away from home and completely on my own. Who are you to say my future isn't a real job?
Couldn't you end up cleaning toilets or something? That would be gross!!
Technically speaking, I could end up cleaning toilets, but I highly doubt that will happen. Last time I applied for the program I was given my second choice for the role I wanted, so I'm really not worried about getting custodial. Believe it or not, some people actually like custodial, so I assume those jobs will go to them.
How could someone like custodial?
From what I've heard, some people like custodial due to the amount of free time and guest interaction. And apparently, cleaning bathrooms is not as terrible as you'd think. (Though I'm a germaphobe, so you'd have to ask someone less biased than me about that). I've heard that custodial cast members get lots of free time, to walk around the parks, sweep, empty trash, and basically hang out and talk to guests. And according to some cast members, cleaning bathrooms isn't even that bad because there is always a custodian in or around them, so they never get that dirty/gross. Again, I'm a germaphobe, so it's not for me, but some people do really like this job.
What role do you hope to get on your program?
My top 3 roles are Vacation Planner, Attractions and Merchandise. I would love to be a Vacation Planner, because it is heavily sales oriented and I feel very comfortable in that kind of environment. I worked at Staples for 4 years, where I was constantly under pressure to upsell customers, and I now sell tickets on the Freedom Trail in Boston, where we have sales goals for tickets similar to Disney's though on a much smaller scale. I also feel that I would enjoy the hours for VP, as they are usually earlier in the day, and I would get to sit in an air conditioned ticket booth and pick up Parade Audience Control (PAC) shifts. Attractions is my second choice just because it sounds fun, there's no logic here. I wouldn't expect to get Attractions unless it is your first choice because so many people want this job, but it's worth a shot! And Merchandise I would just feel very comfortable with, and I like how there are so many different locations where I could work. Last time I was accepted into the program I was given Merchandise, and it was my second choice, I would be completely okay with this again. But my top choice is Vacation Planner!!
Can you choose to avoid roles like Custodial?
I can, but I didn't last time I applied, and I probably won't this time. When you apply for the DCP, you rank all of the roles as "high interest," "some interest," "little interest," or "no interest." Last time I applied, I kind of went with the basic skills of job hunting-- don't say you won't do something that you could be assigned to do if you want to get the job. I really want to work for Disney, so I would do a role I didn't want if that was my only option besides not going. Last time I applied, I had about 5 roles as "high interest." The rest of the roles, with the exception of Housekeeping, Custodial, and Lifeguard, I put as "some interest." Housekeeping and Custodial went under "low interest," and Lifeguard was the only role that I placed under "no interest." Theoretically, I could have placed Housekeeping and Custodial under "no interest," but I wanted to come across as a good employee. Either way, I'm sure there are other people who put those 2 roles higher up on the list, and they are likely the ones who get those jobs anyways.
How much does this program cost?
Not very much! If I am accepted, I will have to pay $300 in fees. Some of this will be program fees, so this money will go to things like housing events and cast member parties that I can attend during my program. The other portion will cover my rent during the first few weeks of the program. Rent for my apartment will be automatically deducted from my paychecks before I get them, and is only going to be $91 a week, assuming I live in the housing complex I really like at the moment.
Yea.. and what about all the things you'll have to buy for your apartment?
All the things that I already have from living at school for 4 years, you mean? Aside from a couple of kitchen accessories, I could pack up my dorm right now and be all set.
How long would your program last?
I would like to apply for Fall Advantage (June 2014-January 2015), however I'm not sure how busy May and June will be for me because of graduation. Since this is my only chance to do the program, I would really like to do the longer option, but I will probably not decide until at least February when applications are out (though I'm 90% sure I want to leave in June). The other option is the Fall program, which lasts from August 2014-January 2015.
What are all these abbreviations you're using??
DCP = Disney College Program
CP = College Program cast member
ICP = International College Program cast member
PAC = Parade Audience Control
VP = Vacation Planner
WDW = Walt Disney World
F2014 = Fall 2014
FA 2014 = Fall Advantage 2014
I think that's all I'll be using in this blog, I really don't like abbreviations, but writing out "Parade Audience Control" on a blog can get pretty repetitive...
What do you plan on doing after the program?
I was dreading this question! What I do after the program is entirely dependent on future questions that I do not have the answer to at the moment. There are two directions I would go towards career wise. One would be to stay in the museum field. Assuming I found some kind of History/Archival/Curatorial/Visitor Services/Collections job after the DCP that is full time, I will do that. After taking a year or two off, I would like to get my Masters (part time) in Museum Studies/Museology/Archival Science, and I would like to get a certificate in Tourism/Hospitality/Guest Services. The other option, is to stay with Disney! As much as I love the museum field, I can always find somewhere to volunteer to do some hands on archival work. I would love to do a Professional Internship with Disney (basically the next step, after the DCP, I'll save this topic for another post), and really move up in the company. I would love to work in Guest Relations at one of the parks full time. If my program ends, and I get offered some kind of decent full time position with Disney, or a Professional Internship, I would probably take that, work full time, get my masters in Business/Tourism/Hospitality/Guest Services, and complete a certificate in Museum Studies. I know this sounds like such a disorganized mess, but at least I'm honest! I don't think I can commit to one field until I know how the future pans out. I won't be upset whichever way it goes, I just don't want to put all my efforts into one area for now, and since I love Disney, and am planning on being a CP for at least 6 months, thinking about moving up in the company is not a bad idea.
How can I contact you during the program?
The same ways you can contact me now!
facebook.com/bdicologero
instagram: bdicologero
twitter: bdicologero
youtube: bdicologero
skype: bdicologero
or comment any of these blog posts!
If you'd prefer to email or call/text me drop me a comment here (or anywhere listed above), and I can send you that stuff, you know, assuming I actually know you. I don't want mountains of spam or prank calls.
How often will you update this blog?
In a perfect world, I would update this at least once a week, however, there will be exceptions. As of right now, I don't have too much to write about since I haven't even applied to my program yet, and I'm really focusing on school at the moment. Before my program, I will update this based upon comments/questions I receive, and if I can think of anything to write about. During the program I would like to update it at least once a week, but I don't know what my schedule would be like for now, so I'm not making any promises.
What will your next vlog be about?
Probably something similar to this post. If anyone would like to send me some questions you still have that were not addressed here, that would make for a good vlog, but so far I'm not completely sure what my next vlog will be on.
What do you do for work now?
Right now, I am a full time student working towards my Bachelor of Arts in History. I'm also interning at a Main Street Program to create a cemetery tour, and I'm working part time at a museum on Boston's Freedom Trail. I also work very part time at the circulations desk at my school's library. And of course, I run this blog and my vlog. I also volunteer periodically at a local historical society that is responsible for three small house museums.
What is your favorite historical period/topic?
The founding of America until the end of the American Revolution.
What is your least favorite historical period/topic?
Anything post-1945 Europe or Russia-related.
Do you have any tips for students applying to the program for the first time?
I do! But I'm saving those for a separate post to kill time before February gets here, so keep a look out for that!
If you could live at any Disney hotel which one would you choose?
Is this a serious question? The Polynesian of course!
That's all I've gotten for questions recently, but if you have more, or still don't understand what the program is about, send them my way! I would love to make a vlog answering questions too, while I'm waiting for applications to come out, but I need your help in getting the questions in! So ask me anything! It can be about myself, my school, where I live or work, my favorite Disney stuff, anything about last time I applied, what I want from the DCP, anything!! You can make my vlog a success!! (Or at least less boring until I start the application process again).
-Brittany
facebook.com/bdicologero
youtube: bdicologero
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Anyways, onto some more important things I guess. I was thinking about this blog (and my vlog), and it occurred to me, that my friends and family will probably be reading this to keep up with what I'm doing while I'm on the program. I originally thought this blog would be good for fellow CPs, but now I'm thinking that family and friends will probably read this too, and well, they're probably not obsessed like the fellow CPs, so maybe I should give some overviews of the program. Instead of making a big, long, wordy paragraph, I thought I would break this up into a little FAQ section of questions friends/family/teachers/random people, have already asked me about the program to clear things up. Here come the questions!!
Wait a minute... you're saying you want to go to a Disney college?
Well, contrary to this (somewhat?) popular belief, the Disney College Program is not actually a college. This program is essentially a paid internship.
What is the Disney College Program?
I'm glad you asked! I'll get the technical stuff out of the way first: The Disney College Program (or DCP as you will often see), is a paid, semester long internship at either Disneyland, in Anaheim, CA, or Walt Disney World, in Orlando, FL. During the program, interns will live just outside of Disney property, and work full time in entry level positions in and around the parks. Students will also have the opportunity to take classes with Disney in areas such as entertainment, security, history, environmental sustainability and guest relations. Now for the cheesy/personal twist on this question: The DCP has been a dream for me since I was about 8 years old. =D
If this program is a "semester" long how can you participate? Aren't you graduating in May?
Students can participate in the program as long as they are enrolled in school during the time of their interview. Because I will be in school in February/March (application season), I am able to apply for the Fall 2014 semester.
So you're going to work a minimum wage job in Florida's ridiculous heat and humidity after graduating when you could look for a real job?
Okay, here's the thing... things... thing(S) plural. Ugh, where to start? Alright, well first of all, this is a dream of mine, remember? Without getting too bogged down in the details, I applied for the program a couple of years ago thinking I would be able to complete it while I was in school. (If you've read previous posts, or keep up with my vlog, you already know this). My school did not recognize the program, and I was told that I would have to take a leave of absense and therefore lose my scholarship if I participated. (I got accepted, and then couldn't go, it was pretty soul-crushing). Now (Fall 2013), my school recognizes the internship, and everything would be all well and good, except for how I'm graduating next semester. That means that the only chance for me to go is next Fall. If I don't go then, I won't be able to go at all, and this is my DREAM remember??? Secondly, have you looked at the job market right now? I don't know anyone with any humanities-related major that found a decent full time job immediately after graduating (except for maybe teaching, but that's really a last resort for me). So I would say that a full time job in Disney is better than a part time job at home. Third: whose to say this isn't a real job?? It's full time, sometimes with tons of overtime, and it's going to allow me to live far away from home and completely on my own. Who are you to say my future isn't a real job?
Couldn't you end up cleaning toilets or something? That would be gross!!
Technically speaking, I could end up cleaning toilets, but I highly doubt that will happen. Last time I applied for the program I was given my second choice for the role I wanted, so I'm really not worried about getting custodial. Believe it or not, some people actually like custodial, so I assume those jobs will go to them.
How could someone like custodial?
From what I've heard, some people like custodial due to the amount of free time and guest interaction. And apparently, cleaning bathrooms is not as terrible as you'd think. (Though I'm a germaphobe, so you'd have to ask someone less biased than me about that). I've heard that custodial cast members get lots of free time, to walk around the parks, sweep, empty trash, and basically hang out and talk to guests. And according to some cast members, cleaning bathrooms isn't even that bad because there is always a custodian in or around them, so they never get that dirty/gross. Again, I'm a germaphobe, so it's not for me, but some people do really like this job.
What role do you hope to get on your program?
My top 3 roles are Vacation Planner, Attractions and Merchandise. I would love to be a Vacation Planner, because it is heavily sales oriented and I feel very comfortable in that kind of environment. I worked at Staples for 4 years, where I was constantly under pressure to upsell customers, and I now sell tickets on the Freedom Trail in Boston, where we have sales goals for tickets similar to Disney's though on a much smaller scale. I also feel that I would enjoy the hours for VP, as they are usually earlier in the day, and I would get to sit in an air conditioned ticket booth and pick up Parade Audience Control (PAC) shifts. Attractions is my second choice just because it sounds fun, there's no logic here. I wouldn't expect to get Attractions unless it is your first choice because so many people want this job, but it's worth a shot! And Merchandise I would just feel very comfortable with, and I like how there are so many different locations where I could work. Last time I was accepted into the program I was given Merchandise, and it was my second choice, I would be completely okay with this again. But my top choice is Vacation Planner!!
Can you choose to avoid roles like Custodial?
I can, but I didn't last time I applied, and I probably won't this time. When you apply for the DCP, you rank all of the roles as "high interest," "some interest," "little interest," or "no interest." Last time I applied, I kind of went with the basic skills of job hunting-- don't say you won't do something that you could be assigned to do if you want to get the job. I really want to work for Disney, so I would do a role I didn't want if that was my only option besides not going. Last time I applied, I had about 5 roles as "high interest." The rest of the roles, with the exception of Housekeeping, Custodial, and Lifeguard, I put as "some interest." Housekeeping and Custodial went under "low interest," and Lifeguard was the only role that I placed under "no interest." Theoretically, I could have placed Housekeeping and Custodial under "no interest," but I wanted to come across as a good employee. Either way, I'm sure there are other people who put those 2 roles higher up on the list, and they are likely the ones who get those jobs anyways.
How much does this program cost?
Not very much! If I am accepted, I will have to pay $300 in fees. Some of this will be program fees, so this money will go to things like housing events and cast member parties that I can attend during my program. The other portion will cover my rent during the first few weeks of the program. Rent for my apartment will be automatically deducted from my paychecks before I get them, and is only going to be $91 a week, assuming I live in the housing complex I really like at the moment.
Yea.. and what about all the things you'll have to buy for your apartment?
All the things that I already have from living at school for 4 years, you mean? Aside from a couple of kitchen accessories, I could pack up my dorm right now and be all set.
How long would your program last?
I would like to apply for Fall Advantage (June 2014-January 2015), however I'm not sure how busy May and June will be for me because of graduation. Since this is my only chance to do the program, I would really like to do the longer option, but I will probably not decide until at least February when applications are out (though I'm 90% sure I want to leave in June). The other option is the Fall program, which lasts from August 2014-January 2015.
What are all these abbreviations you're using??
DCP = Disney College Program
CP = College Program cast member
ICP = International College Program cast member
PAC = Parade Audience Control
VP = Vacation Planner
WDW = Walt Disney World
F2014 = Fall 2014
FA 2014 = Fall Advantage 2014
I think that's all I'll be using in this blog, I really don't like abbreviations, but writing out "Parade Audience Control" on a blog can get pretty repetitive...
What do you plan on doing after the program?
I was dreading this question! What I do after the program is entirely dependent on future questions that I do not have the answer to at the moment. There are two directions I would go towards career wise. One would be to stay in the museum field. Assuming I found some kind of History/Archival/Curatorial/Visitor Services/Collections job after the DCP that is full time, I will do that. After taking a year or two off, I would like to get my Masters (part time) in Museum Studies/Museology/Archival Science, and I would like to get a certificate in Tourism/Hospitality/Guest Services. The other option, is to stay with Disney! As much as I love the museum field, I can always find somewhere to volunteer to do some hands on archival work. I would love to do a Professional Internship with Disney (basically the next step, after the DCP, I'll save this topic for another post), and really move up in the company. I would love to work in Guest Relations at one of the parks full time. If my program ends, and I get offered some kind of decent full time position with Disney, or a Professional Internship, I would probably take that, work full time, get my masters in Business/Tourism/Hospitality/Guest Services, and complete a certificate in Museum Studies. I know this sounds like such a disorganized mess, but at least I'm honest! I don't think I can commit to one field until I know how the future pans out. I won't be upset whichever way it goes, I just don't want to put all my efforts into one area for now, and since I love Disney, and am planning on being a CP for at least 6 months, thinking about moving up in the company is not a bad idea.
How can I contact you during the program?
The same ways you can contact me now!
facebook.com/bdicologero
instagram: bdicologero
twitter: bdicologero
youtube: bdicologero
skype: bdicologero
or comment any of these blog posts!
If you'd prefer to email or call/text me drop me a comment here (or anywhere listed above), and I can send you that stuff, you know, assuming I actually know you. I don't want mountains of spam or prank calls.
How often will you update this blog?
In a perfect world, I would update this at least once a week, however, there will be exceptions. As of right now, I don't have too much to write about since I haven't even applied to my program yet, and I'm really focusing on school at the moment. Before my program, I will update this based upon comments/questions I receive, and if I can think of anything to write about. During the program I would like to update it at least once a week, but I don't know what my schedule would be like for now, so I'm not making any promises.
What will your next vlog be about?
Probably something similar to this post. If anyone would like to send me some questions you still have that were not addressed here, that would make for a good vlog, but so far I'm not completely sure what my next vlog will be on.
What do you do for work now?
Right now, I am a full time student working towards my Bachelor of Arts in History. I'm also interning at a Main Street Program to create a cemetery tour, and I'm working part time at a museum on Boston's Freedom Trail. I also work very part time at the circulations desk at my school's library. And of course, I run this blog and my vlog. I also volunteer periodically at a local historical society that is responsible for three small house museums.
What is your favorite historical period/topic?
The founding of America until the end of the American Revolution.
What is your least favorite historical period/topic?
Anything post-1945 Europe or Russia-related.
Do you have any tips for students applying to the program for the first time?
I do! But I'm saving those for a separate post to kill time before February gets here, so keep a look out for that!
If you could live at any Disney hotel which one would you choose?
Is this a serious question? The Polynesian of course!
That's all I've gotten for questions recently, but if you have more, or still don't understand what the program is about, send them my way! I would love to make a vlog answering questions too, while I'm waiting for applications to come out, but I need your help in getting the questions in! So ask me anything! It can be about myself, my school, where I live or work, my favorite Disney stuff, anything about last time I applied, what I want from the DCP, anything!! You can make my vlog a success!! (Or at least less boring until I start the application process again).
-Brittany
facebook.com/bdicologero
youtube: bdicologero
instagram: bdicologero
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