10 Tips for a Successful Disney College Program
by Brittany DiCologero
Every semester, tens of thousands of students leave home to begin the journey of a lifetime working, living, and taking classes, at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. For many, this experience will be their first time away from home, their first full time job, perhaps their first internship, and maybe even their first visit to a Disney park. The first couple of weeks of a Disney College Program can be overwhelming even for the most prepared student. After having completed two Disney College Programs, I'd compiled a list of what I believe to be the top ten tips to get any future CP to have an enjoyable and successful ride, during their semester at the resorts.
10. Have support from your family
More than likely, if you've actually paid your fees and are planning on going on a Disney College Program, you do have some level of support from your family, however in some instances "some" is not enough. It is extremely difficult to move across the country (or world) and be away from your family and friends during the holidays, and in some case, be financially responsible for yourself for the first time. If your family doesn't support your decision to participate in the program, and you imagine they'd spend their time trying to get you to come home, and making you feel guilty about your decision, you're much better off clearing things up with them before you go. This is especially important if you plan on staying in Orlando or Anaheim after your program, because even if you have a nice little savings from home, plus whatever you earn in Orlando, chances are moving so far away from home will be difficult without support from your family.
9. Be financially responsible
For some students, the Disney College Program is the first time that they will be completely financially independent. Since everyone's financial situations are different, it is difficult to give specific advice in this area, but here are some basics that you should keep in mind: If possible, try to pay down bills you'll be bringing on the program with you. I paid off a credit card before I left for my program, and I'm so happy I did because having an extra bill while I was trying to save money, and also enjoy everything in Orlando would not have been ideal. For the bills that you can't pay off, think about making a budget before you arrive, so you won't be shocked at what's left over after your paycheck. Even with paying for food, rent, and gas (if you're bringing a car) you should have a decent amount of your check left over-- unless you have significant bills from home, in which case you might need the financial support of your family.
8. But allow yourself to have fun
I'm not saying to drive yourself into an endless cycle of debt, but don't be too tight with your budget that you're not allowing yourself to have a good time. I would honestly recommend having a credit card for the program-- it's good for emergencies, especially if you have a car, or need to fly home last minute, and it's helpful for when you want to splurge on something fun. I wouldn't necessarily recommend the second point for everyday life, but you might only be living right outside of Walt Disney World once, and I really believe you should make the most of it. There were a couple of years in college where I worked full time, and I missed out on a lot of things going on around campus, either because I was working those days, or because I couldn't spend the money. After experiencing this in college, I knew I didn't want to miss out on anything I wanted to experience during the college program because I was worried about paying for it. Go into this experience knowing that you're going to work hard to have the extra money to do what you want to do, and if you need to use a credit card once in a while, it's okay-- just be responsible about paying it off.
7. Decide carefully about whether or not to bring a car
I know a lot of former CPs just outright recommend bringing a car, but if it's going to be difficult to do that then don't stress over it. The times when I would have wanted to have a car were when I worked in Animal Kingdom (because costuming isn't right backstage so going there before work was a separate bus stop and it was a pain), leaving work at the end of a shift, and doing something off Disney property. In the grand scheme of things it wasn't that big of a deal to not have a car. It would have been nice, but not necessary, especially if you're worried about paying for it while you're there. Even grocery shopping, which many car-less CPs resent doing, is honestly not all that difficult. You're only shopping for one person, and if you've ever lived in a city and taken public transportation before, it will be a breeze. Plus, you'll probably have friends or roommates who have cars, and will offer to take you when they go shopping, or give you rides if they leave work at the same time. If you do bring a car, you'll have the added convenience but be sure to factor in all of the extra expenses that come with taking it.
6. Choose your roommates even more carefully
And on that note, take the crazy roommate stories you might read from alumni with a grain of salt. Everyone lives differently, and especially when you have students that have never lived away from home, there are bound to be some disagreements. That being said, I had one amazing roommate experience and one let's just say not so amazing roommate experience on my programs, and I take full responsibility for rooming with girls I was not compatible with during my second program. The first time around, I very carefully selected roommates from the Facebook group for the college program. We spent almost an entire year getting to know each other online, and while we might not have been best friends all the time, our apartment was clean and no one really bothered each other. During my second program, I lived with a friend who had an opening in her apartment, because I didn't have a lot of time to find anyone else, and I figured knowing her was better than knowing nobody I'd be living with. After visiting her apartment (before I moved in) and getting to know her and her roommates a little bit more, I had doubts. But I didn't have anyone else that I knew of that I could have lived with last minute, and I felt stuck, so I still agreed to live with them. Without getting into the details, this is the only thing I regret from my programs, and I wish I had chosen the second set of roommates more carefully. I would advise new CPs to really consider the roommate situation at hand before agreeing to it, and even then if you have doubts about it before the paperwork is filed, back out. It would have been better for me to back out of that situation before it started, than to deal with a semester living in an apartment I was unhappy with.
5. Don't pack the following:
Books, DVDs, candles, food, more than one pair of heels, toiletries, cleaning supplies, vacuum, broom, furniture, pillows and bedding (if you're flying), fragile decorative items, unnecessary kitchen appliances, clothes you haven't worn in over a year, drugs, drug paraphernalia (including rolling papers and hookahs), pets (including fish), weapons (including light-sabers), fireworks, bicycles, drinking paraphernalia (if you're in a wellness/under 21 apartment), radios, desktop computers, too many jeans, clothing inappropriate for your program season, board games, pots, pans, dinnerware, silverware, rollerblades and skateboards (you can't use them on housing property), printer, and unnecessary valuables.
4. Do pack the following:
Weather appropriate clothing, DVD player, TV, laptop, camera, chargers, photo IDs, prescription medications, bedding (if you're driving and it will fit), comfortable shoes, plain solid colored underwear (for under your costume), plenty of socks, photos from home, medical insurance info, business attire for Traditions and classes, fan, alarm clocks, workout attire (even if you don't go to the gym it's good for the parks), only one or two purses, hats, sunglasses, at least three weeks worth of spending money (not including your first trip for Walmart or Publix), gift cards for Walmart or Publix, tupperware containers, combination lock, health insurance information, blank check (to sign up for direct deposit), laundry bag, wireless router, your dignity, and common sense.
3. Don't do anything to get yourself in trouble
I don't mean for this point to come across as a scare tactic-- it's extremely easy to get through a college program while staying out of trouble, just keep the following in mind: Don't repeatedly fail housing inspections. If you have a weird situation like I did with my second roommates where you failed more than once, talk to someone from the housing staff (as an individual.) If you don't believe that you're the problem, talk to them by yourself, not with your roommates. Don't use any kind of drug, yes, including marijuana, you can be drug tested and it's not worth it. Even if you're not drug tested in the beginning, you can extend and chance roles, and be drug tested-- not worth it. Do not drink if you're under 21, on property, off property, at home but with a picture on Facebook, just don't do it. And a slightly overlooked point, don't take questionable pictures backstage, or if you do, don't post them on social media.
2. Network and take classes
Even if you're not going to receive credit for the classes, I would recommend taking one during your program. The seminar classes do not require homework, and you still receive a certificate of completion, and you can really learn a lot from them. The classes are also a great way to kind of force yourself to network if you don't see yourself going to the networking events, as many of the lecturers will bring in leaders from across the company to do meet and greets within the classroom. There are also networking opportunities that pop up occasionally, as well as resume writing classes and mock interviews you can participate in, and those are always helpful for any college student!
1. Have fun in everything you do!
Some of the most fun you'll have during your college program will happen in the most unexpected ways, and that's fine, just let it happen! Make friends on the bus, go to Ihop at some weird hour of the night with your coworkers, create magical moments for guests, and have fun with your job. Working in Disney is unlike any other job, and there are so many different ways you can have fun with whatever role you have. Keep all of your friends on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, send the occasionally letter or postcard, maybe do a secret Santa, and Face Time or Google Hangout. Make the most of every experience, and take lots of pictures to look back on this time later, because it all goes by too fast. And most importantly, stay in touch with everyone you meet.
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