"Brittany Earns her Ears" Q&A

So sorry for neglecting this blog! Writing a book, articles for two websites, and being on the DCP definitely took away from keeping a blog, so apologies for that! I've just submitted the final draft of "Brittany Earns her Ears," which will be out in February 2015. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram, @brittanyearnsherears , as I will be giving away a free copy of my book to one of my followers! In the meantime, my Facebook and Instagram friends have compiled some questions about my new book for a Q&A:

Q: How will your book be different from other books in the Ears series?
A: First of all, I don't think that there is really one set tone, or style of book in the Ears series. From what I've read of the other books so far, each one is almost entirely different because of the person who wrote it. As for one thing that sets my book apart, I would say that I focused in on the details that I felt I knew less about before starting the DCP. I did a lot of research before coming down here for my program, and there were a lot of things that came up everywhere in my research, and some that didn't come up at all. I wanted the focus of my book to be the things that didn't come up at all. A lot of the Ears books also tend to focus heavily on advice for future CPs, and mine does that to an extent, but not about the same things. If you're looking for advice on which apartment complex to live in, you'll probably want to read one of the other books, because I only discuss Vista Way very briefly (as that's where I lived.) Information like that can be found on numerous blogs, and in other books, so I did not want to spend time reiterating what you've probably seen elsewhere. I carefully chose which areas of the DCP I wanted to go into detail about, based on the things I didn't know before I got there. I went into a lot of detail about training, not just the technicalities of it, but what it actually felt like to be new, and training at Walt Disney World, and rather than including a chronological summary of my program, I focused in on some of my best and worst moments to show an overall picture of what the program was like for me.

Q: Will your book include photos?
A: It will have some photos, but I did not want to include too many for fear that it would look scrapbook-y if that makes sense. I really took writing the book seriously, so I don't want it to turn out looking like a Facebook page, I'd rather it come across as a more serious memoir. I've also included my Facebook, Instagram, and blog links, so readers can still see photos from my DCP without putting a ton of them in the book.

Q: Where are you working in the Spring, and will you be writing a book about that experience?
A: My Spring DCP will be in Attractions, at Lights, Motors, Action! at Hollywood Studios. As of right now, I'm not planning on writing a book about my experience, but I will likely be keeping up with my blog more if I don't end up working on another book. As much as I would love to write another book, I think it makes sense to at least give it some time after just finishing my last book. I do write in a journal every day though, so it's always something that could happen in the future. 

Q: What was the most difficult part about writing your book?

A: Obviously it was difficult writing it while I had so many other things going on. When I wrote the introduction and the first couple of chapters, I was still in school full time, so that was a lot on my plate. When I arrived in the DCP I was working for Disney full time, and writing articles for Disney Questions and Disney Fanatic still, so even with school being over it was still a lot. I would say that the most difficult part though was actually sitting down and writing it. I don't mean to say that the whole book was difficult-- what I mean is that writing a book about yourself is difficult. I would literally sit down with my journal next to me while writing, and it's a very strange feeling knowing that any random person can pick up my book and read things I've written in my journal. Writing about work was difficult too. In case you didn't know, I didn't absolutely love my work location, and getting my feelings towards it across well in my book was difficult. I don't want it to sound like I hated it, because I didn't completely hated it, it just wouldn't have been my first choice. Everyone I worked with was super nice, and even my trainer, who you'll notice in my book was (in my opinion) unreasonably strict, was truly a great person. I really wanted to let my readers know that if you don't like your work location it's not the end of the world. I didn't like Dinoland at all as the location where I'd be working for five months, but I still have some awesome memories from there.

Q: Is there anything shocking/surprising in your book?

A: Maybe. It all depends on what you consider to be shocking. I was surprised by a couple of things during my DCP, a lot of those things having to do with the way you are trained while working for Disney, and some of the things you'd see backstage. If you're looking for something along the lines of the "Mousecatraz," or "Cast Member Confidential" type books, that's not how mine will be. There are a few things in mine that are NSFM (not safe for magic) but on the whole I didn't want to focus my book on anything crazy like that. 

Q: You've mentioned that your book has a bit of sarcasm to it, can you expand on that?

A: I used sarcasm to get my personality across. I am a sarcastic person in real life, but only when certain situations call for it, and my book comes across in the same way. Sarcasm was helpful to differentiate from what I needed to be saying aloud, from what I was actually saying during my college program. I found sarcasm as a literary device to be particularly helpful in this kind of a book. Although Disney Cast Members have to be smiling and happy all the time, that is realistically not necessarily the case-- they are putting on a show for guests. An example of the sarcasm used in my book would be that I'd quote the words I was actually saying while spieling inside a game, but I'd also mention how it actually felt to be inside the game, with the microphone, in the Florida heat for a couple of hours. 

Q: Is there anything you'd like to have had in your book, but it didn't make it in?

A: Of course! Now that I think of it, that's actually a difficult part of writing a book as well-- deciding what to include and what to cut out. In my opinion, I've covered all of the big important topics that I think my readers will care about most, it's more just smaller anecdotes that didn't make it in. I might expand on these later on my blog, but some of these things include:

-weight loss (or gain) on the DCP. I lost 25 pounds being here, but a lot of my international friends gained weight here. I guess that says something about American eating habits.

- roommates. I didn't write too much about roommates because the roommate situation here is really not any different from roommates in college. You can read about what it's like to live with other people at a number of other places, so I simply didn't think it was worth taking up the space in my book. 

- parties. I didn't really party during my DCP. If you have questions about what it's like I can answer them for a blog post, but I didn't party enough to include it in my book.

-housing events. Because I didn't go to that many of them, and I felt like you could read about them in a number of other places. I was often working during them, or opted to go to the parks instead. Don't worry though, the important ones, like graduation, made it in there.

Q: Now that you're done with your book, what's next?

A: Oh God.. well I'll still be in Orlando until May, working at Lights, Motors, Action! After that I'll be going back home to Massachusetts, where I'd like to find a full time job. I want to go back to school eventually for my Masters, it's just a process of deciding on a program and school, oh and a way to pay for it since I'm still paying for my undergrad. And now I have a wedding to plan. So what's next? Err... I'll keep you posted on that one.

"Brittany Earns her Ears" will be out in February 2015 for Amazon and Kindle. Don't forget to follow @brittanyearnsherears on Instagram to enter my contest for a free copy next month!

Q&A Part 2

Another round of Q&A from the Spring 2015 DCP Facebook page:

Q: Would you suggest finding roommates beforehand, or going random?
A: This is all up to personal preference. I didn't have luck in college going with a random roommate, so I wanted to make sure I was able to choose roommates before my program started. That being said, some CPs go with random roommates and things work out really well, it's all up to you.

Q: Drive down or fly down?
A: They both have their pros and cons, but if I had a choice I would have driven down here. I flew here, which was difficult because you cannot bring as much as you could if you filled up a car. I only brought two suitcases, that both weighed exactly 50 lbs., and a small tote bag that I carried on. It was difficult trying to fit everything I wanted to bring into two suitcases, and there were things that I needed for my apartment that I bought here, that could have been packed into a car if I drove. You could have your parents ship stuff to you here, however I didn't know my address until the day we checked in, and there were plenty of things I needed that day, so they couldn't have been shipped. The day we moved in, I had to go out and buy bedding, pillows, toiletries, some food, and cleaning products, that I could have thrown in my car if I drove. Even if you are not going to be using a car during the program, I would highly recommend driving down. 

Q: Tell us about your engagement!
A: Chaz and I got engaged on September 12, 2014, in front of Spaceship Earth in Epcot. Spaceship Earth is my favorite Disney attraction of all time, and it fits both of our personalities so well because we both love history, and the ride traces the history of human communication. The proposal happened while we were taking a photo with one of the PhotoPass photographers behind Spaceship Earth, and I was so surprised! 

Q: Is working outside in the heat/humidity really terrible?

A: It was at first, but now not so much-- you get used to it. I feel fine when I'm at a cart, but some of the games get really hot. When I'm at a cart, there's usually a fan near me, and somewhere shady to stand, plus I always have water on me. Some of the games have light fixtures that give off heat, so even with the shade, fans, and water, it can be uncomfortable on a hot day. I can't speak for all roles though, when I'm outdoors I pretty much just stand there, so I'm sure it's different for a role like Custodial where they're constantly moving around.

Q: How is your book going?

A: It's going! I have 60 pages (or about 40,000 words) so far, and we're looking to release it in 2015 once my program is over! I have however recently accepted an offer to extend my program into the Attractions role, so I'm not quite sure what this means for my book yet. I'll be contacting my publisher about it, and update you all as soon as I hear back. Writing it is going pretty well, it's just time-consuming, and sometimes, err interesting? Sometimes it's just odd writing a book about your own life, it's kind of like a diary, but then you remember that anyone who wants to can read it, so it's an interesting feeling. If you're thinking about getting my book once it comes out, be sure to follow me on Instagram (@brittanyearnsherears). When I get some copies of the book I'm going to host a contest via Instagram, and one of my followers will be the winner of a free copy of my book!

Q&A from the DCP Spring 2015 Facebook Page

Apologies for neglecting this blog lately! I've been busy working on my book, and working/going to the parks of course! Rather than re-cap my program so far (since all of that will be in my book) I thought I'd do a Q&A with some of the Spring 2015 CPs instead. They asked questions on their Facebook group, and here are my answers:

Q: What is the workload like in Merchandise?
A: The hours are similar to every other role in the DCP. The minimum number of hours we can be scheduled per week is 30, just like any other role, however the actual workload per day really depends on your location and what exactly you're doing. When I work in Dinoland, the amount of physical labor I do depends on where I spent the majority of the work day. If I'm mostly on the register or tasking (merchantaining, cleaning, refilling water bottles), the workload is pretty low key. You're standing for your entire shift, but that's about it, nothing too excessive. If I'm stocking, the physical labor part of it can be a little bit worse depending on where I'm stocking, and the weather. Cart stocking can be a little bit more work, because you're outside pushing a cart filled with stock to all of the other stands and carts in Dinoland, and you spend the entire shift going back and forth doing just that. It really isn't bad at all, but in general I would say that's the most physical labor I do in Merchandise. In Dinoland, unlike other Merchandise areas, we also have a role that is similar to Attractions, in that we run the carnival games in Chester and Hester's Dinorama. While there is no heavy lifting involved, this can be somewhat physically exhausting depending upon the game and how long you're out there for. Some of the games need to be manually reset, and you need to do things like pick up the balls every time a child can't throw it over the barrier. Again, this is really not that difficult, it's just a lot of bending down and putting things back where they belong. The heat and humidity does not help the situation, but it still isn't bad at all. As for mental workload, it can be a lot of multi-tasking, especially if you're at a game, because you're expected to sell tickets and run the games simultaneously. (If you're not placed in Dinoland though you won't need to worry about the games at all.)

Q: Are you able to trade shifts easily?
A: Trading shifts is super easy for Merchandise CPs! You can request days off in advance, however if they do not get approved it is really easy to give them away or trade them. There is a Facebook group for all Merchandise cast members to trade and give away shifts, and there are also park-specific groups and land-specific groups. In most cases if you post a shift on Facebook that you want to trade or give away someone will quickly take it from you. The exception to this is if your shift requires some kind of special training that not every Merch cast member has. If it's a photo shift (as in the photo areas at the end of the ride), resorts (because of alcohol/tobacco sales) or production (food), you would need special training in those areas to pick up shifts. This means that it's generally a bit more difficult to give away shifts if you work in a food production shop or a resort, however it is still easier than in other roles because there are so many people who can pick them up. One of the best things about Merchandise is that I am able to pick up shifts outside my land. So far in my program, I've worked in Dinoland, Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland. And next week, I have a shift in Future World!

Some of the costumes I've had so far: Frontierland, Dinoland, Tomorrowland.

Q: How much free time do you have?
A: If I don't go out of my way to switch my schedule around, I usually have two days off per week. During the holidays, I will most likely only have one day off. I feel like I have plenty of free time. I have time to do things before or after work if I want to, in addition to my two days off. I've also been picking up longer shifts in different lands lately (IE Magic Kingdom) in exchange for an extra day off. This way, I have the same amount of hours in less days. It's pretty easy to make your schedule how you want it in Merchandise, so picking up extra shifts or giving shifts away is always an option.

Q: Was Dinoland where you wanted to work?
A: Not at all! To be honest, Dinoland is my least favorite part of Disney World. I love the Dino Institute, but Chester and Hester's Dinorama is honestly the one part of Disney that I don't like, and it was the last possible place I would have wanted to work. Since working there, I've gained a little bit more of an appreciation for the land, but I still would choose to be somewhere else if I could. Before I worked there, I thought that it was extremely tacky, had no real story-line, and absolutely did not belong in a Disney park. While I still don't particularly like the land (from a guest perspective) I understand more of the back story now, and don't dislike it as much as I used to. 
     That being said, if I had the option to work somewhere else for the rest of my program, I would in a heartbeat. Some people LOVE it in Dinoland, so please don't automatically think that it's the worst place to work, because it isn't. Everyone is super friendly, and if you're into the whole carnival thing, it can be really fun. In Dinoland Merchandise, we also run the carnival games, which I am just not a fan of. There are times when it is really fun, but I would more often than not prefer to not be on the games. I really dislike the games, and I'm not a huge fan of having to sell tickets while also trying to spiel and run the games. Talking on the microphone is fun sometimes, and every now and then you can do magical moments, like giving kids extra tries, or playing against someone who has no one to play with (and letting them win of course.) But on the whole, I find that the games make guests go absolutely crazy, and it's something I would rather avoid. I've had guests complain about me because I let another kid play a competition game (that has 10 available spots) and their kid lost. The language barrier with international guests can also be extremely difficult in games. I was spoken to by a leader about a guest's child who would not get off the counter (he was standing on it, and that's a safety issue) however I did everything in my power to get him off. I told him and the parent that he needed to get down (obviously), I motioned getting down off the counter, and I even tried to block their view while shaking my head and motioning "no" so they would get the hint that they couldn't play like that, but with the language barrier, the point was just not getting across, and I had pretty much done everything in my power to stop it. Had that kid fallen off and gotten hurt, I would have been in huge trouble, and honestly that's just not something I was looking to deal with in Merchandise. I also came from a job at a museum where I constantly needed to tell visitors that we charged admission and they could not visit for free, and now I work in Disney World, where I constantly tell guests that they need to purchase tickets for the games, and they can't play for free. 
    On the positive side of the Dinoland games, if the guests are really into it they can be really fun to work. It really all depends on the day. And of course, everyone has games that they like to work more than others, so it depends what game you're on too. My main issue is that I never liked Dinoland to begin with, and I just apparently have terrible luck that I've been placed in the one part of Disney I dislike. I still go into it with a positive attitude, and I'm not letting it ruin my experience by any means, I would just choose somewhere else if I could. (As a sidenote, so far, Frontierland has been my favorite place to work.)

Here I am working at Comet Crasher, one of the games in Dinorama. This little girl desperately wanted to win one of the turtles, but she didn't make her 4 shots and was out of tickets. I gave her an extra shot before she left and she made it, winning the turtle. It was really cool to be able to easily make someone's day like that.

Q: Are the buses as bad as everyone says they are?
A: Absolutely not. They have their issues at times, but they are better than any other public transportation I've ever taken. The people who complain about the buses have probably never taken a bus before in their life. If you've ever been on a city bus, or a subway, you will find nothing wrong with the buses. They're not as convenient as a car would be, but people are very over dramatic about the buses. Sometimes the bus is late, or breaks down, but so do the buses I take at home. It's not the end of the world, people who rely on the bus should be leaving for work early anyway.

Q: Do you have enough money with what you're making there?
A: The short answer is yes, the longer answer is it depends on how well you budget. Even if you're terrible with money, I would have to try really hard to spend my entire paycheck. A small paycheck for me is $150, it would be about $250, but rent is taken out. It does not cost $150 per week for groceries and other necessities for one person, and I'm not spending money on gas since I take the bus everywhere for free. I don't find it particularly difficult to save money here, though it really depends on what you have for bills and whatnot. Assuming you only spend $50/week, which is perfectly doable, you'd still have an extra $350/month for bills, and this is also assuming you have a small paycheck, it would be more for the more hours worked obviously, and some roles are also tipped. As long as you can control your spending you shouldn't worry about it. 

Q: What are the housing events like?
A: To be honest, I haven't been to many of them. I've been to a movie night, which was pretty standard, we all met at one of the complexes and watched a movie. The true perk of housing events is free food-- almost all of them have free food, so even if you don't plan on staying the whole time it's usually worth it to at least go and eat. I planned on going to the welcome event (it was Aladdin themed, there was music, food, and characters) but I spent the day in the park with other Animal Kingdom merchandise CPs instead. I'll definitely be going to the really important events, like formal and graduation, and I'd like to go to grocery bingo sometime in the near future, so I'll let you know once I go to more of them!

The day we skipped the housing event and went to Animal Kingdom

Q: How much of your free time do you spend in the parks?
A: Almost all of it. I probably go to the park at least four times a week. This is partially because I have an obsession, but also because I don't have a car and I get into the parks for free. I can go to the Magic Kingdom without spending a time, so it's cheaper for me to do that on my day off than to do something else. I don't usually spend the entire day in the parks, because I'm here all the time so I don't need to fit everything into one visit. Sometimes I go just to ride Space Mountain and the Peoplemover and leave, and it's no big deal because I'm not paying for it. I would probably spend more time away from the parks if I had a car. I wouldn't spend the money to pay to go outside of Disney, so if I want to do things outside the parks I'd have to wait until someone else wants to drive me. I like going to the parks all the time though. I've been here since August and I still haven't done everything.

Hanging out in one of my favorite countries.

Q: What has your favorite DCP-related moment been?
A: Probably working Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! It was a process picking up those shifts, because everyone wants to work it, but I managed to get two shifts during parties and they were awesome! I had one treat shift and one regular merchandise shift. My treat shift was in the candy trail at the queue for Pirates of the Caribbean. It went by super fast but was really fun. I was able to greet guests and give out candy. I got to listen to the music from the fireworks, and see all the guests in their costumes. And I had a perfect view of Jack Sparrow the whole night. Treat shifts are so fun, and I highly recommend working them if you have the opportunity too! My other Halloween party shift was a regular merchandise shift I picked up in Frontierland that just happened to be during the party. This shift was really fun because we were right in the middle of the party, as the parade passes through Frontierland and the fireworks can really be seen from anywhere in the park. I was stationed at the Trading Post, and Big Al's, the cart outside. We got to watch both parades (one I was inside the store, but we all went outside to watch because it was empty, and the other I was at the cart, and I had a better view than all of the guests.) It was also really fun interacting with guests that night because the Trading Post is huge for pin traders and we sold Halloween party merchandise, so I got to see everyone's costumes and sell more unique products. There is really nothing like watching parades and fireworks while getting paid! While Hallowishes was playing that night, it really sunk in that I'm having the time of my life here. I was surrounded by all of these people who had paid extra to see those fireworks, and for me this was just a day at work. It was definitely the best shift I've had so far. 

My costume for the treat shift

Q: If you could change one thing about the program what would it be?
A: This might seem kind of weird, and I'm pretty sure this is Dinoland specific, but I would change the training schedule (at least the way that mine was.) I had 4 different trainers, none of which have actually worked in Dinoland, they were all just general Merchandise trainers, and I just feel like some things would have been easier to grasp if I were trained by someone who actually worked in my area. I'm not sure that everywhere is like that though, or if it's a Merchandise thing or a Dinoland thing. Since that might not matter too much to you if you haven't done the program yet, here's some other smaller things I would change: inspections. Our apartments are inspected for cleanliness and damage once a month, and while I'm sure in some cases it's beneficial because it forces people to keep their apartments clean, this isn't a problem for mine. So to me it is kind of a nuisance that once a month someone has to come over and inspect our apartment. I'd also add more variety to the books at the Vista Way learning center. And I'd make it so that people delivering food could come to our door. You know when you don't want to cook or go out so you order pizza to avoid both of those things? That's not the way it works here. If you order takeout here you have to meet the delivery driver at their car towards the front of the complex. If I'm going to meet them out there, I'll just get dressed and go out to eat instead. Sorry if that sounds really lazy, or like it's a first world problem, but that's something I would change!

Q: Do you spend a lot of time with your roommates?
A: I spend a good amount of time with them. Our schedules are all different, so we don't get to hang out on a regular basis, but we usually get together at least once a week, even if it's just hanging out in our apartment watching a movie. I generally get out earlier than my roommates because they work at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and my park closes earlier, so we have opposite schedules a lot of the time. It's been easy to plan days off together though if there's something we want to do together. 

Have more questions? Feel free to leave them here in the comments or message me on Facebook! The above photos are all from my instagram account, feel free to follow along on there: @brittanyearnsherears . (I'm also planning on having a contest on instagram in 2015 to give away a copy of my book for free, so be sure to follow me for a chance to win!) 

Life in Vista Way

I originally planned to make this post into a vlog, with an apartment tour, however my phone (which the video is recorded on is being uncooperative at the moment, so I'm hoping to have that video up by the end of the week. The video itself is really just me briefly showing you around my apartment, this post will actually have more detailed information. 

So Vista Way was my first choice for DCP housing and I was lucky enough to receive my first choice. My roommates and I wanted to live in Vista for a couple of different reasons-- There are 4 of us total, and we wanted to keep it that way. Since the DCP started the whole bunk bed thing, we became a little bit worried that we'd be sharing a bedroom with 3 people, and this was just not something we wanted. The rent is much lower in apartments where there are triples in the bedrooms, which means that if you're looking to save some extra money this might be a good option for you, but we were really not interested in adding an extra person to the bedrooms. At least for the Fall 2014 program, Vista Way is the only apartment complex that does not have any triples. We decided then that we would rather have 2 more roommates (6 people total, with 3 bedrooms) than risk having a triple in another complex. Another reason why we chose Vista Way was for the location, especially for me, because I did not bring a car. Our apartment complex is in walking distance of a couple of restaurants, and a Walgreens. This is perfect for me and my lack of car, because if I only need a couple of things I would much rather walk to Walgreens than deal with taking the bus to Publix or Walmart. The inside of the apartments did not actually weigh as much in our heads for where we wanted to live. They really are all pretty similar, and the set up of them is just dependent on personal preference. We particularly liked the setup of the bathrooms at Vista-- 1 inside each bedroom, but there is also a sink outside of the bathroom, in a little nook in the bedroom. This is extra helpful for a group of girls because two sinks can be used at the same time, or someone can be using the sink while the other person is in the actual bathroom. I also like the setup of the washing machines in Vista. There are washers and dryers on the first floor of every building, which you have to pay to use, but I like how they're conveniently located in each building. In some of the other complexes, you need to walk to another building to do laundry, and that was not exactly something I would have liked to do. The Commons has a washer and dryer inside each apartment, however the rent is much more expensive, which did not turn out to be worth it for me.

Our apartment was recently renovated, and while I have not seen (at least in person) the un-renovated apartments, I hear that ours is a huge improvement. One thing about our apartment that really stands out to me is the new paint. The older apartments have all white walls, which to me gives off a more dorm-y vibe. Our apartment has a darker tone to it in some of the rooms, which makes it a little bit more homey. We also have hardwood floors where there used to be carpets, which again really does not make a huge difference, but it does make the apartment look a lot nicer. 

When we first moved in, some parts of the apartment were dirty, but it seemed like mostly renovation sort of dirt if that makes sense. (Like the person who re-installed our shower did not remove all of the debris from the tub.) In theory, we could have called the front desk about some of those issues, but we ended up cleaning them ourselves to save time. We really just wanted to unpack on that first day, and waiting for maintenance to come would have been a bit of a waste of our time. We've had some problems with our dishwasher, but the front desk has been helping us resolve those as well. Basically, if you're worried that you're going to be in an old and crappy apartment, there's no need to worry because the front desk of your building will take care of you. Just give them a call, or go there in person, and tell them what's going on, and they'll fix everything for you.

Vista Way has a certain reputation as the party complex, but I can dispute those rumors right now. Maybe things were worse around here before the hot tub was filled in, but for as long as I've been here everything has been fine. If you want to go out, and go to parties, it's really easy to do that here. There are lots of parties in the complex, and there are party buses that bring you to certain bars and clubs in Orlando. If you don't want to go out or party, that's fine too, no one is making you do anything you don't want to. I assume this goes for every complex, you can just as easily avoid the parties if you want nothing to do with them, I wouldn't let the perceived reputation of a complex keep me from trying to live there.

Lastly, the security at Vista (and all of the Disney apartments) is... interesting? No matter how you get onto our property, you need to show an ID. To take the Transtar buses, you need a college program ID. To walk onto Vista property (say you're coming from Walgreens and walking home,) you need to stop and show a security officer your housing ID. If you're driving onto property, you, and everyone else in your car, will all need to show housing IDs. While it can be annoying to dig out my ID while I'm carrying all my groceries, it is nice that they're so strict about this, so that other random people can never have the ability to enter our complex. The downside of this is ordering food-- if we get food delivered, we need to meet them outside of the complex. So if I want to order Chinese food for instance, and hypothetically I'm ordering it because I look like crap and don't want to leave the house, I would actually need to get dressed and wait outside, since the delivery driver is not allowed in our complex (even if his car does have a giant Dominoes logo on it.)

I think I've covered most of the major points for Disney housing, if anyone has any other questions please let me know! Comment here or on Facebook!

DCP Arrival & First Weeks

Apologies for the delayed posting, I've been super busy since I arrived here in Florida about 3 weeks ago now! 

On August 3, I arrived at Orlando International Airport, where one of my roommates, Holly, picked me up. We spent the day walking around the Boardwalk at Disney and some of the more touristy (but non-Disney) sections of Orlando. 

    view from the Boardwalk

The next morning was our check-in date for the DCP. We arrived bright and early at about 8:30 AM, to wait in what was to become the first of many lines for that day. During check-in we received our program guides, and temporary name tags, and then got to find out where we were living and working. Holly and I ended up rooming with Paulina and Lexie, the girls we met on Facebook and planned on living with, and we also got our first choice of a 4 bedroom 2 person apartment in Vista Way. We were all very happy with our work locations as well. Paulina is working at Under the Sea, the Little Mermaid Ride in the Magic Kingdom, Holly is a Jungle Cruise skipper, and Lexie works at Spaceship Earth. I got my first choice of merchandise in Animal Kingdom, though I'll be in Dinoland which was slightly unexpected, but I was still pretty excited about it. 

After check-in we went to Casting, where I met up with Lexie for the first time. Casting was essentially a series of different lines and meetings. We needed to be background checked, which included being finger printed, and we had a lot of paperwork to go over. We also received our schedules for the next couple of days. Once Casting was over, Lexie and I went back to our apartment to start unpacking. A few minutes after we got there, Paulina came in, and all 4 of us were together for the first time.

We went to Walmart later that day, and managed to fill Paulina's car with food, cleaning supplies, and furniture for the 4 of us, and we stopped for takeout, because there was no way we were going to cook that night. 

The first day was extremely hectic and exhausting. I would compare it to moving into college as a freshman, but worse. 

The next few days were filled with classes at Disney University (aka training) and tours of some of the theme parks. Every Disney Cast Member needs to go through Traditions, which is a program that introduces new Cast Members to the company and its core values. For me, I needed to attend DAKlimations, since I would be working in Animal Kingdom. I really enjoyed the guided tours we got of the parks, however it was really uncomfortable to be wearing business attire during it. By the end of DAKlimations my feet were killing me from walking around in dress shoes, and I really wish we could have just worn sneakers, or something, instead. 

Outside of Disney University after one of my classes

Part of DAKlimations included getting our costumes, which was an experience in itself. My first time at the costuming building during DAKlimations was hugely overwhelming. There were just racks upon racks upon racks of costumes, with all of the accessories in different parts of the building, and everyone was scrambling to find the right sizes and try everything on, and it was just a total mess. Disney's sizes are also terrible-- the rule of thumb for Disney costuming is to take your regular pants size and double it. So if you're a size 10 for instance, and you want to work for Disney, be prepared to wear pants that are labeled as a size 20. The Cast Members working at costuming told us that we should stock up on the winter gear now (hats, gloves, coats...) as it tends to go quickly once the weather cools down, but I was so done dealing with anything inside that building, and I was overheated from rushing around, so putting on a winter coat was the last thing I wanted. Hopefully there will be some left if I do actually need them, but it wasn't much of a priority for me. 

When DAKlimations was over, I was able to begin training. The only class I had left to take was Merchantainment, which is a class specifically for Merchandise Cast Members. This class covers all of the basics of working retail, as well as tips for handling different situations, and ways to entertain our guests while working in Merchandise. (Get it? Merchantaining?) This class was kind of amusing to me because we all went to a classroom with a bunch of cash registers to learn how to use them. It was just really funny, seeing a classroom full of cash registers, you would have thought it was much more difficult than it actually is by the way the room looked. 

My on the job training was interesting. For whatever reason (that I honestly don't quite understand) The trainers for my area were not necessarily Cast Members from that area. They were Cast Members who had become trainers, but they were not necessarily from Dinoland. It was also weird because I had 3 trainers, and each day I was by myself. Other Dinoland CPs were trained in small groups, and while I liked being alone because I probably got a more customized experience, it was kind of annoying that I was held up from meeting new people for a couple of days. The training schedule was also weird to me. There are certain things that you only do in training that you don't regularly do, so the first couple of days on my own were a little bit confusing because of this. 

Oh, and of course, once we went to Traditions (on the first Thursday we arrived), we've been able to go to the parks for free, so that's where most of my free time has gone! Up next, more details of Dinoland training, and apartment info!

Thanks for reading! :)

Single Digit Dance! & the Ugliest Shoes I Will Ever Wear

As of today, my countdown for when I leave for the DCP is in the single digits! Only 9 more days until I leave for Orlando! I still haven't finished packing. I have everything that I'm bringing set aside, so now I just need to really organize it all and make it fit into suitcases (that weigh less than 50 lbs.) If I go over the weight limit, I will have to put some things aside and have my parents ship them to me later, or I will just have to eliminate anything that I don't think I will need as much.

Yesterday I bought my shoes for work during the DCP. I know that I'm taking a chance in buying shows before I arrive, since I don't know my work location yet, but I don't want to be stuck buying work shoes when I get there. I bought black sneakers, because most of the Merchandise costumes require all black shoes, so I'm really just taking a chance (and now hoping) that I won't be at one of the few locations where the shoes need to be white. Even if I do end up needing white shoes, I don't think the black ones will go to waste because I can pick up shifts at other locations that use black shoes. (I could also be deployed, which means Disney might change my location, to somewhere with black shoes.) 

Anyways, I bought Fila workforce sneakers, and they are probably the ugliest shoes I've ever worn, but they're also the most comfortable. I'm kicking myself for not buying these years ago when I worked at Staples. (I wore either Converse or DC's at Staples, both were not the best choice for a job where you're on your feet all day, but I never ended up buying anything better.) 

I bought them at JC Penney, and for $39.99, I think they will be a really good value if they last through my entire program. It's one more thing I'll have to pack, but I'd rather have the shoes taken care of ahead of time. (If they really don't end up fitting in my suitcase, I'm going to just throw them in the tote bag I'm using as a carry on.)

10 Things You Didn't Expect to Learn During Your Disney College Program (LinkedIn Article)

One of the most difficult things about pursuing an internship with Disney through the college program, is that so many people have misconceptions about what the program actually is. I know from my own experience, that when I tell someone I will be participating in the Disney College Program, there is a decent chance that he or she will be confused and not fully understand what I'm doing. I've had people think that I'm going to a Disney college, and others think that I'm basically throwing my career away by moving to Florida to work retail. Over the past couple of years, I've tried to help people better understand the program, however this is often difficult, and for whatever reason some people want to stick with what they originally believed the program to be, regardless of how much I try to explain what the program truly is. 

While browsing through my LinkedIn account, I came across an article written by a former Disney College Program participant, about all of the different things she learned during her program. I've tried to mention some of these things on my blog before, but I think that this article, written by Lisette Espinal, is perfect for summing up all of the different components of the DCP.

The following is the main portion of the article. Click here to read the entire article on LinkedIn.

"YOU LEARNED:

• 1 How to Budget Your Finances

  CP's live the simple life and therefore they must live on a budget. During your CP you realize the importance of $aving Money and prioritizing. For many of us this the was our first time having to pay rent and shop for our own groceries. It was a wake up call for a lot of us, but WE DID IT and now we are more equipped then many other college students.

• 2 Professionalism

  Whether you are trying to work for corporate America or behind a counter, HAKUNA MATATA, you learned the art of professionalism. The "Disney Look" provides you with the tools you need to look clean cut and spiffy. You wore your name tag proudly and learned that even off the clock, you were a representation of the company. This taught you to keep your smile and composure amid the most difficult times and/or Guest situations.

• 3 Networking

  You delivered long narratives at Attractions, took orders, gave Guests directions, and even connected with people who recognized your hometown. Speaking with so many people makes you quite the social butterfly. You are not nearly as shy as you once were. You learned a stranger is a friend you haven't met yet. This has taught you to Network with fellow Castmembers and build connections with many others. This is an advantage for anyone looking to further their career.

• 4 Body Language Literacy

  You realized that you can read people better. You learned the subtleties of body language. You see a Guest looking around aimlessly, so you go up to them and offer them assistance. You find yourself helping Guests who do not speak the same language as you. You can spot a child who has been separated from their family among hundreds. This skill often goes underrated but being able to pick up on non-verbal cues is a universal asset. It prevents conflict due to misunderstandings and can even improve your interpersonal relationships.

• 5 Excellent Guest Service

  Be our Guest! Put our service to the test! During your CP, Disney taught you the importance and keys to providing excellent Guest service. Our attention to detail goes unmatched. No one does Hospitality like Castmembers. We make sure everyone is treated like a VIP and so we have to make the most out of their visit. You learn how efficiency can go a long way for someone. So, whenever you get bad customer service anywhere else, it drives you insane.

• 6 Diversity and Cultural Awareness

  Whether you are rooming with ICP's or dealing with Brazilian Guests, your world has just become that much bigger. You have to work and live with people from different nationalities and some from places you have never even heard of. As a CP, you have also been lucky enough to experience a diverse workforce where people range from ages 18-79+. Your taste in music has expanded and so has that second language you've been working on. You have also had the opportunity to visit some of these countries. Thank you EPCOT and The Commons (FL).

• 7 New Climate New Rules

  Just a few days under the sun and you soon realize that not all is fun. You have to protect yourself with an endless supply of sunscreen and remain hydrated. Your water bottle is you arsenal against the scorching sun. The heat is definitely nothing to mess around with and neither is getting caught in the rain. With warm weather also comes a different type of horticulture and wild life. You have seen it all from little green lizards to grasshoppers to ducks, maybe even an alligator by the highway...the usual.

• 8 Insight on Identity

  This internship has made you grow up so much, while simultaneously keeping the little kid in you alive. Many of us left home or even their coast for the first time. Being able to "Live, Learn, and Earn" has taught you what were capable of as a young adult. We learned a degree of Independence that some of us weren't sure we had in us. You also learned that happiness comes from putting others first and meeting their needs. Making Guests happy was fulfilling for its own sake. You became more selfless. The CP taught us that it's possible to 'work hard and play hard'. Meeting so many people has even put into perspective what it means to grow up American.

• 9 Life Long Friendships

  We were not ready to meet some of the greatest people in our lives, who sadly live no where near us. You worked together, played together, even got a taste of the nightlife at the House of Blues etc. together. You went to class, housing events, discovered the amazing southern food options, and even did grocery shopping together. You would think you have known these fellow interns your whole life. After your program you find yourself looking through old pictures, video chatting, and even planning reunions. There are people who went through a life transforming journey with you and no one outside your program will ever understand the bond.

• 10 The Magic Never Ends

  Lastly, after working for the Mouse and understanding the inner workings of Disney, you realize that it didn't ruin anything but made it all the more Magical. After your program ended, any Disney Park commercial makes your heart skip a beat and keeps you longing for a visit. Watching fireworks elsewhere just doesn't seem to measure up. You find yourself participating in "Disney Movie Nights" and going to Disney movie premieres. People look to you whenever they need advice on making the most of their Disney visit and you respond as if you were on the clock. You have either sent or received postcards from your fellow ICP/CP friends. So although your program is over, the Magic and Disney Heritage stays with you everywhere you go."

Original article posted at https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140718174330-285838672-10-things-you-didn-t-expect-to-learn-during-your-disney-college-program. Written by Lisette Espinal. 

Hopefully this article helps out any future CPs, who are having a difficult time explaining what they're doing with their futures to people who have no idea what this program is. I think that calling it "Disney College Program," can be very confusing, however they can't really put "internship" in the name because there are already Disney's Professional Internships. Though this article is definitely meant for people who have already completed the program, it can be helpful in trying to figure out how to explain the DCP to your family and friends.

P.S. I'm leaving in 10 days! 

Packing -- DCP in 15 Days!!

Since I will be flying to Orlando, my suitcase space is pretty limited. Unfortunately for me, I've had a really difficult time finding resources from past CPs about how they dealt with packing if they did not drive to Florida. I feel like if I were driving, packing would be so easy. I'm used to packing up my car for school, and being able to drive back home if I really need to get something I forgot. For the DCP, I will not be able to do either. 

I'm planning on bringing two suitcases, and one tote bag or some other kind of carry on for last minute things that I can just throw in there. The regular suitcases are going to packed primarily with clothes. I'm trying to bring all of my clothes, rather than buying them there, because I don't think I'm going to want to deal with having to go clothes shopping when I get to Florida. I've recently purchased some new business casual outfits (because I'll need them for Traditions, which is the orientation all new cast members must attend, and for my Disney class, which I will discuss more in a later post.) I've found some business outfits that I do really like, I'm just worried that they're going to be really hot and uncomfortable with Florida heat and humidity, so I guess we'll see how that goes when I get there.

I also plan on buying black sneakers before I arrive. I am kind of taking a chance on buying these ahead of time, because I don't know my work location yet, however most merchandise locations require black sneakers, and if possible I'd rather not be in the rush of CPs getting shoes at Wal-Mart when we arrive.

Because I don't have a lot of suitcase space, there are a lot of things that I will need to buy when I land in Florida. For toiletries, I'm only bringing the basics that are absolutely necessary, like a toothbrush and deodorant for instance. Any extra hair and makeup products I will buy at Wal-Mart or Target the day we check in. I'm also going to have to buy random things for the apartment, like hangers and cleaning products. And I will have to buy bedding, including a pillow, for my bedroom in the apartment.

Thankfully, my roommates are bringing a lot of things for the apartment that would be difficult for me to bring. I'm working on a vlog about packing, so if you have any questions or anything you'd like to hear more about in a vlog just let me know!

Don't forget to find me on Instagram!
@brittanyearnsherears

DisneyQuestions.com and DCP in 34 Days!!

Sorry about neglecting this blog lately! I haven't had too much to write about since I still have another month until I leave for the DCP. I've been writing a lot for disneyquestions.com, and a little bit for disneyfanatic.com. Links to my articles on Disney Questions are in the bottom of this entry, and you can also keep up to date with both of those websites by liking them on Facebook. 

In other DCP-related news, I'm working on editing the chapters I already have done of "Brittany Earns her Ears," because I really do not want to be revising drafts while I'm in Florida. I don't really even need to keep going over them, since they're going to be edited anyways by the publishing company, but I'm just a little bit OCD I guess. 

I will be arriving in Florida in 34 days, on August 3, 2014. Holly, my roommate just booked our hotel for the night, and my airfare is all set now too. Holly will be picking me up from the airport, and later that night we're planning on going to Senor Frogs. Then the next day we'll be checking in for the DCP!

I also have another video that I'm almost done working on, with introductions by my roommates, so I'll be posting that soon!

Disney Questions articles:
Top 10 Restaurants
Top 10 Ways to Stay Safe
Top 10 Quiet Spots
Top 10 Alcoholic Beverages
Top 10 Things to Do in the Rain
Top 10 Quick Snacks
Top 10 Splurges
Top 10 Quick Service Restaurants
Top 10 Ways to Experience Walt Disney
Top 10 Disney Weddings
Top 10 Things You Can't Forget to Pack
Top 10 Ways to Propose

Pre-Sale Tickets for Frozen on Ice

This week, the pre-sale tickets for the Disney on Ice production of Frozen went on sale, and let me tell you, getting tickets was a traumatic experience. I go to Disney on Ice probably about 2-3 times a year, and I have never seen tickets sell so fast. I went on Ticketmaster to purchase tickets with the pre-sale code for my future roommates and I, and the seats were literally disappearing on the screen before my eyes. In the past, I've spontaneously showed up at box offices to buy tickets for that evening's Disney on Ice production, and was still able to get decent seats, but with Frozen on Ice it was absolute craziness. Thankfully, I was able to get tickets for the four of us, though it ended up being easier to get 2 and 2 seats together, in two rows right behind each other. 

Because I will be in Orlando from August to January, I will be seeing Frozen on Ice in September there during the first weekend that it is out. I'm really excited for it, and I'm hoping that it will be a return to the old days when Disney on Ice shows focused on 1 movie and did not involve tons of random characters. The emails I've read about it mention that there will be other characters in it, so I'm hoping they just show up at the end or something and the whole show isn't filled with characters who don't belong in that story.

photo: eonline.com

My roommates are also working on making short videos of themselves that I will be putting together into one vlog so be looking out for that in the future. That's really all I've got for now, Holly is booking our hotel room for the night before we check in today, and I'll be booking my airfare next week. 

I've also been writing lots of articles recently for disneyquestions.com , so if you're ever on there, keep a look out for those!

Disney Questions and My Graduation Cap

Since I've last posted here, I've begun writing articles for Disney Questions. (disneyquestions.com). For now I will mostly be writing top 10 lists over there-- it's similar to BuzzFeed, though the website is entirely about Disney. My first article, "The Top 10 Ways to Propose at Walt Disney World," is already up! I'm not going to forget about this blog though! I don't have too much to write about at the moment that's DCP-related, but I did just finish decorating my cap for graduation!

Disney Graduation Caps

After picking up my cap and gown from my college's bookstore today, I began thinking about decorating a cap with some kind of a Disney theme or quote. There are a lot of Disney quotes that seem to go perfectly with graduation, and I could also mention "DCP 2014" or something on the cap as well. So far the quotes I'm thinking of using include:

"Just keep swimming." - Finding Nemo

"Hakuna Matata." - The Lion King 

"Adventure is out there." - UP

"To infinity, and beyond!" - Toy Story

"The difference between winning and losing is most often not quitting." - Walt Disney

"If you can dream it, you can do it." - Walt Disney

(I think the last one is a bit cliche, especially for a graduation/participating in the DCP quote, but maybe it will grow on me.)

I really like the quote from UP, and I'm also thinking that if I wanted to add the house and the balloons, that would not be too difficult to make and I might actually be able to do that. I don't want my cap to be tacky, and my artistic abilities are not really awesome, so I'd rather stick with something simple if I'm going to add any kind of artwork to the quote. 

"Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark" Review

-This review contains slight spoilers-

I've known about the Kingdom Keepers books since the first one came out in 2009, but have never gotten around to reading them until now. So far, I've only read the first one (which you can easily do in one day if you want to) but I've already purchased the second one as well. The book follows the stories of five kids, who have become holographic hosts for tours in the Disney parks. The main gist of the story is that when the kids go to sleep, they cross over into their holographic selves in the parks, where the villains are fighting for control and need to be stopped. 

I should point out that I much prefer books that have realistic stories (with the exceptions of some well-written fantasies) so I was slightly worried that I wouldn't get into the book when I first began reading it. Taking into consideration that the book is meant for children in grades 5-8, the unrealistic aspects of the story were fair, and there wasn't anything too crazy that would have bothered me. 

Overall I thought the book was very good, for its recommended age group (more on that in a bit.) I love the concept of a fictional work taking place at the Disney parks, and if I were 10 years old I would probably be completely obsessed. I also really enjoyed the nostalgia factor of the book. Every now and then the characters would mention that they were going on VMK (Virtual Magic Kingdom) to chat with each other. This is something that I would think resonates more with my generation than children who were not really around for the age of VMK and IM's. Now everyone has cell phones or Facebook, and even with younger kids, I'm not sure IM's are really big anymore. 

Like I said, for the recommended age group, the book is awesome. I'm not saying I didn't like it, because I did, but I'm not obsessed like I would be if I were younger. The plot and character development would be amazing for a 10 year old, but for me I would say that it was good. I thought the book had good entertainment value, though it was not necessarily a good piece of literature (at least for someone my age.) The characters are not extremely developed, neither is the plot. The entire book is fairly simple for an adult, though a child would likely find the writing style to be much more challenging or developed. I read some reviews on Amazon, and am honestly kind of shocked at the number of adults who consider this to be a 5 star book. I mean, it isn't bad. It's not bad at all, it's just very clearly meant for children. I would rate the book 5 stars for 10-12 year old children, but not for me as a 22 year old. There are reviews on Amazon written by adults, who purchased the book for themselves, who refer to it with words like "captivating." Really?? Captivating? I don't know what kinds of books these people normally read, but this book made me feel old, and was very obviously meant to be a children's book. 

I took some issue with the grammatical syntax of certain words and phrases used in the book. There was at least one instance where the author used the word "Fantasmics" (plural) rather than "Fantasmic." Little things like this get to me, especially when the words used incorrectly are the names of Disney attractions... in a book that is marketed for Disney fans. There are other parts of the book that very briefly mention characters as being actors in the parks, and some details about costumes with heads missing and things like that. Perhaps it's the future Disney Cast Member in me, but I did not like this at all. For an adult book, sure, by all means, but only if it's used correctly. ("Disney War" mentions the costumes that characters wear, however this book is meant to be informational and for adults) I don't think headless costumed characters belong in a children's book. Character integrity could have been kept in place without changing the story.

Basically, it's a fun, entertaining read for adults, but it is probably more meaningful for kids who better fit the age and reading levels of the writing style. I obviously enjoyed it, because I already have the second book. I think it's a great book to read when I want to relax and read something but I don't want to become too involved. I read the first one quickly during a time when I had a lot of things going on with school and work, and would not have really had the time to become too involved in a more developed novel. I'm thinking it will also be a nice book to bring to the beach--something you could easily finish in one sitting. 

Saving Money for the Disney College Program

Today is my birthday! And I'm spending it writing papers and hanging out in the library (where I live.) So I figured I'd break it up and write on here instead for a little bit!

"You reach a point where you don't work for money."
-Walt Disney

It's no secret that the Disney College Program is not exactly one of the highest paying jobs one could have. Like many CP's, I will be taking a pay cut during the program compared to what I make now (except for what I make at my work study, because New Hampshire's minimum wage is surprisingly even worse than Florida's.) I cannot state my wage on this blog, per Disney's contract, however you can imagine that the DCP is not something you do for the money. 

As a quick aside-- I have nothing against the seemingly low wages of CP's. Most internships are not paid, and as of right now no laws have been passed saying that they need to be paid, and furthermore there is nothing that says interns need to be paid well. There have been other internships that have sounded really interesting to me, and as if they would really improve my resume, however if they are far enough away that I would need to live there, and they are unpaid, I simply cannot afford to go. Disney's internships are then doable for me, because even though they are far away and the pay is low, I will actually be able to afford to participate since the wage is enough to live on.

Because I will be doing the DCP after I graduate, saving money is going to be very important to me. I've heard from alumni of the program about their financial situations during the DCP, which have ranged from horror stories of saving enough change to do laundry or grocery shop to coming home with a couple of thousand dollars. The consensus among the more level headed alumni I have talked to seems to essentially be 'don't be stupid with your money, and you'll be fine.' I don't want to be fine. Unless I find a way to defer my student loans during the program (which I'm currently working on, and will post an update as I know more), I am going to be making payments during the DCP. In addition, I'd like to be able to save some money to hopefully start working on my Masters when I come back. Basically-- I need to come home with money. I don't want to be fine, and live paycheck to paycheck during the program, I want to leave for Florida with money, and come home with more money. 

I've started to think about the things that I will need to spend money on during the program, so I will be able to have this amount of money put aside before I even arrive in Florida. For instance, I know I will need to buy shoes for work after I arrive. (Technically, I could buy then in advance, however I will not know what color or style I will need for work until I get there, so waiting seems to be the best option.) Other things I will need to pay for? Groceries, Christmas and Halloween party tickets, Food and Wine Festival, merchandise I will definitely buy after my run, and just going out in general. I'm trying to plan out what all of this is going to cost, so I can have this money put aside, then any money I make during the DCP can go right into my savings so I will hopefully be able to start my Masters soon after (or make payments on student loans if I need to.)

I don't think saving money during the DCP will be as difficult as some people make it out to be. Even though I will be making less money, I will also have less expenses. Even cutting out gas alone, by relying on Disney's bus system will save me money. I also think that being in college has helped me learn to budget, since living away at school is somewhat similar to the living arrangements during the DCP.

Over the summer, I will be working at two museums 6 or 7 days/week so I'm not worried about making enough money to go to Florida with. (This also means that I'm not worried about the hours during the DCP. Some people seem to think that working full time is the end of the world, I think I'll be able to handle it, it's kind of what you have to do when you're an adult-- some people just like to complain? I don't know, but the CP's who can't seem to handle working 40 hours a week are in for a rude awakening.) 

Non-DCP related, but this weekend was my senior formal, and graduation is in 19 days! (DCP arrival date is in 98 days!)


   Chaz and I before formal.