Must Do's at Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is a beautiful park. For most people this IS Disney World. Here is my list of Must Do's:

Attractions
1. Splash Mountain










(My roomie and I on splash mountain)

2. Big Thunder Mountain












3. Space Mountain
4. Pirates of the Caribbean












5. Move it Shake it Celebrate it Parade.... and actually participate











6. Jungle Cruise
7. Haunted Mansion












8. Laugh Floor

Eating:
1. DOLE WHIPSSSSS!!!




















2. Casey's
3. Crystal Palace Character Buffet

Top 10 (or so) Questions I get asked

So I've done some thinking about the top 10 (or s0) questions that I get asked about the CP... here they are!!!...

1. How many Mickey's are there?
- Once people find out you are a cast member they come up with what they think are really clever questions, such as "how many mickey's are there"... the answer is: one. One mickey, one minnie, one pluto, one goofy... you get it. Without fail, they tell you that they are an adult and they "get how it works" and that you can tell them the "truth"... well it goes like this: "Sir, I'm sorry, the answer is still one and will forever be, one. I'm not sure why you think there are multiple mickey's, but if you have any other questions guest services would be happy to assist you!"... or something like that.

2. What is that cable for that is connected to Cinderella's Castle?
- I've given multiple answers to that question but my two favorite are:
a. That is Prince Charming's ESPN cable... he likes to watch the games, too!!
b. It's cinderella's clothing line to hang the clothes to dry.


ok, now onto the ones CP's ask:

1. Wait, disney contacts my school?
- Yes and No. I was worried about this since my school won't tell anyone anything regarding my status at that school... not even to my parents. So, i emailed my recruiter expressing my concerns. They replied back stating they only contacted the schools that they had contact information for and they didn't have any for my school so i didn't have to worry... take that for what you will :)

2. Are there any trick interview questions you get while interviewing for the CP?
- This is a business interview. They don't try and trick you. Think about the roles you selected and possible challanging guest situations. Now think about any sort of questions that you could be asked about those scenerios/roles... and prepare those answers and you'll be fine!!!

3. Any thing you reccomend to cure homesickness?
- Calling home is always good... but if you aren't satisfied with that, then you can download skype or another messaging service and purchase a webcam, so you can see your friends and family while talking to them!! It helps everyone involved :-)

4. I heard that arrival dates are specific to your role you recieve, is this true?
-No. All roles arrive at various times throughout the month that your program starts.

5. Is the bus transportation free?
- Yes. It will take you to work, walmart, publix, and i believe cross roads... There could be more, but i never took the bus beyond my 1st 2 weeks and it was only to work that i took it :)

6. How much do the apartments cost?
- it varies.
i'll start with the LEAST expensive and go to the MOST expensive:
Vista 3/4 bedroom
Vista 1/2 bedroom
Chatham 3/4 bedroom
Chatham 1/2 bedroom
Patterson 3/4 bedroom
Patterson 1/2 bedroom
The commons.

I was in a chatham 4 bedroom and I think I paid 82/week. I heard patterson was only a dollar more and they were practically brand new... go figure:-)

7. What does PI stand for?
- Professional Internship

8. Why do you have to pay to do the CP?
- There is a 100.50 fee that goes toward housing events that are free to participate in such as: Grocery Bingo, pool parties, Graduation, etc.

9. How much do paychecks average per week after taxes and rent?
That varies by role and hours worked. For hospitality, i averaged 35-40 hours a week and my checks were an average of 140 after taxes and rent per week. So... about... 560/month. And then you have to figure in money for gas if you have a car, groceries, and any sort of entertainment that you want to take in.

10. I know a person who found out their work location early. How is that possible? I want to know!
- I knew a couple people who had friends that were CPs already and had them search for their name on the HUB before their arrival date. Some people were already in the system and it showed their work location... some people weren't in the system yet and had no luck. I can understand wanting to know your location early... but that's part of the fun and excitement of the whole first week... hold off if you can :-)

The CP is so much more than an internship...

On the CP I...

~ viewed a live american idol audition...of sorts...
~ was dangerous with Drew Carey
~ did spectacular stunts with Indiana jones
~ went on a tour of the stars
~ dined with playhouse disney characters
~ rode piggy back on an ant the size of my car
~ played carnival games with toy story characters
~ took a journey into narnia
~ envisioned one mans dream
~ went on a voyage with the little mermaid
~ flew through a giant pink donut
~ fell 13 stories in an elevator that got struck by lightning
~ took the shuttle on a joy ride to mars... and never actually took one back to earth...
~ was a crash test dummy
~ Went on a quest in the big blue world
~ had a chat with a 500 year old turtle
~ went hang gliding over California
~ lived with the land
~ witnessed the entire circle of life
~ Went to Italy for dinner, France for dessert while having a drink from Mexico
~ experienced life through a bugs point of view
~ saved a baby elephant from wild poachers
~Lead my team on a crazy expedition through mount everest
~ went white water rafting
~ helped find nemo
~ time traveled back 65 million years to save a dinosaur
~ flew on a magic carpet
~ saw the backside of water
~ Plunged down a 5 story waterfall
~ survivied the wildest ride in the wilderness
~ Jammed with some country bears
~ Spent 8 minutes in the dark with 999 happy haunts
~ took a flight with peter pan
~ got mad at a tea party
~ hung out at mickey's house
~ flew through space
~ laughed with monsters

... it was so much more than an internship...

My first request!!

This is exciting... my first request of information to be shared!!!

A reader of the disboards wants to know more information about general levels of work experience with hospitality cast members, the amount of hours worked and whether or not cp's worked over night shifts...

As far as general levels of work experience goes: Personally, I had worked with Hyatt for 2 years before applying for Disney. The position I had gave me experience mostly with front desk, but I also had a lot of experience working in the bar and backery... in the kitchen... setting up for meetings and minimal housekeeping. I think my interviewer was impressed by that...

MOST of the CPs at SSR and OKW were hospitality majors with experience in the field... but not all of them. 2 of my good friends were Art majors and i know one of them had no experience in the field at all... i'm not 100 % certain about the other...

Generally speaking, most CPs were hospitality majors though but there are always a few of them that just do a great job on their interview and really make it apparent that this is what they want to try.

Honestly, in the training you get, you don't need to have experience because at least in my experience, Disney's way is SOOOOOOO different than Hyatt's way.

For hours worked...

I was ALWAYS scheduled for 5 days and ALWAYS for 8 1/2 hour shifts. The only time I would get any less than that is if I had requested days off for something... and most of the time if I wanted 3 or 4 days off in a row, it would be approved... but... it would mean that i was scheduled for 7 or 8 in a row before AND after my days off. :)

Getting overtime in SSR and OKW was almost impossible and they really frowned upon it. However I know of other people in other resorts who claimed they could pick up shifts left and right... as well as people in the parks who were CONSTANTLY scheduled overtime, so go figure!

Another thing to consider is working front desk, there are only so many stations. Sundays were our busiest day of the week and they ALWAYS over scheduled to allow room for call ins and such... and most of the time I'd be in the back offices making packets all of my shift or just doing odd and end things.

The minimal amount of hours the can schedule you is 32.

ummm overnights!!!

I never had any. I was asked ONCE to work a double which would have put me into 7am b/c one of the over night full timers had called in. It wasn't required and with all honesty, i would have had NO idea what i was doing since they do different stuff... so they called someone else in.

The latest I ever worked was until 2:30 in the morning. I LOVED those shifts though because I never got tired until around 3 or 4 anyway and it wasn't so chaotic the later the nights got. Sometimes it was just nice to be able to actually talk with my cast member friends and get to know them a bit better :)

I do know a couple of CPs who did over nights... but i think they asked for it. The majority of CP front desk CPs only ever worked until 2:30 at the latest!!

Disney Look

Disney is a company that prides itself on putting on a show for every guest. Thus, each cast member plays a role onstage. Part of maintaining that role is making sure you fit the "look". Each "role" has a specific "costume". There are no UNIFORMS at Disney.

For the purpose of the college program, the first day that you are required to be in look is for "Traditions".

For women:

~ hair must be a natural color and if you have highlights they must blen in very well and look natural.
~ Business wear is appropriate. Nice shirt, jacket, skirt that isn't higher than the knee, dress pants, etc.
~ Shoes must be closed toe/closed heel
~minimal jewlery
~ Pantyhose

For Men:

~Clean Shaven
~Business Attire with tie.

You are looked over before you are given your company ID/nametag.

I have seen girls turned away for their hair not looking "natural" enough and I have seen guys who were made to go to the vending machine and purchase a cheap razor and shave before being admitted.

For both genders, tattoos must be covered.

For the most part, everyone "passed" with no problems:)

Here's a couple pictures taken on the way to Traditions so you can know what to expect... we all passed :)

Disney Discounts

As a cast member you are entitled to some pretty nice discounts. You are given a book at the beginning that lists various discounts that you can take advantage of... some of the basic discounts include:

- roughly 10-20% off dinning and merchandise
- up to 50% off merchandise during the winter holiday season
- Up to 40% off Disney Resorts for friends and family
- Up to 50% off Disney Resorts if you are on the reservation

- Access into Cast Member discount stores such as Company D, Property Control and Cast Connection

- Free admission into Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot

- Free admission into Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach during select times of the year.

As mentioned earlier, there are a bunch of discounts that Disney cast members get! If you have any questions if the place you are at gives such discounts, all you have to do is ask!!

Inspections/Housing Rules

Inspections...kind of suck. I mean, when it comes down to it, they really aren't that big of a deal but we pay rent and are all over the age of 18...just like a regular apartment and they never have inspections.


All in all, we had 4 total inspections over the 7 months that I was there. There are always the chances for surprise inspections, but my apartment never had one. We always knew when ours would be by looking at the board they had at security.

For inspections, you have to have everything clean...beds made, surfaces clean, floors (tile wood and carpet), oven, stove, microwave, showers, toilets, garbages empty, blah blah blah. If one thing isn't clean, you will be failed on that part but pass overall. If more than a few things aren't perfect, you fail over all and each person in the apartment has to pay $25.00 so they can get a cleaning crew in to clean your apartment.

So that is inspections.

As far as housing rules go...

~ all residents must present apartment IDs every time you enter the complex.
~ if it is after 9 pm, all visitors (even CPs from other complex's) must be signed in and will not be admitted in if they aren't.
~ Everyone that does not live in that complex must be out by 1am
~if you have friends over that live in the same complex as you, there is not a "curfew" and there is no official rule about the opposite gender spending the night as long as they live in the same complex.

If you have issues with your roomates having "sleepovers" that is something you will want to talk about right away because as long as they live in the same complex, they aren't breaking any rules and you can't really do anything about it.