Waiiiting and Waiiiiiting and Waaaiiiiiiiting some more

Tick Tock goes the clock. 

Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin into the future.

Ok so thats all I have in the way of song lyrics for today. Obviously this post is about the wonderful wait that is going on right now. A total of about 10 people have been invited to the program. The rest of us applicants are suffering through the wait. 

For the most part I haven't been really obsessing over the wait. I haven't checked my email any more than I usually do (not that this says much. I usually check my email like every 2 hours). I have been preoccupied with school. But that is starting to wear off. Especially today because for the first time in my life, there is legit snow outside and it is a snow day. 

So I am now quite.... agitated. I'm not freaking out but I an definitely antsy and agitated. I definitely think an invitation is coming for me. I can't imagine not being accepted to the program again. But I don't know when it will come. I am also afraid that I may not get to stay in entertainment. Really I am just nervous. Gack! I have no idea what I am feeling other than just being a bundle of emotions and nerves. 

In addition to the previous 10 (ish) Facebook group members that have already been accepted, 10 more people got accepted today. Several are people I would consider friends and part of my close D-fam. While I am happy for them, I am so jealous it's not even funny. I console myself with the fact that no one seems to have been accepted for the roles I want most aka those under the entertainment umbrella. Its been Merchandise, Attractions, QSFB, FSFB, Lifeguard, Housekeeping, and I believe thats it.

I was hoping that today would be the day I heard back. I heard back last time on a Friday. However it was at 3 weeks and this week was at 2. For whatever reason I just expect that I will receive notification on a Friday. It could happen on another day, but I will now set my sights for next Friday.

So I will bide my time. Listen to the tick tock noise that my internal clock makes. Watch the time slip away as I dream and wait.

-M

Blah Blah Blah says the Phone Interview

Lookie! Another tip blog entry! It seems like everyone is doing these right now. I would avoid that band wagon but I had planned to do one so I am going to continue on with that plan. Hopefully the fact that I have interviewed with Disney twice will provide some unique insight. I have decided rather than list questions I will post my super awesome master word document to a file sharing site and then post the link at the bottom for anyone who wants it to download. That means that the portion here is just going to be tips and insight.

#1 thing to remember is that you won't necessarily be asked all of the questions you find online or hear from others. Each Recruiter/Interviewer is different and chooses different questions to ask. However by looking at possible questions and coming up with answers, you will have an idea of what to expect, feel more prepared (and so more calm), and be in the right frame of mind so when you are asked something you don't already have an answer for you will be able to come up with a good answer.

#2 thing to remember is that the point of the interview is for the Recruiter to get to know you. They want to get a feel for your personality to see if you would be a good fit for the company and then what role you would be best suited for (that also matches their needs). That being said it is important to remember to BE YOURSELF! If like me, you are a quirky chatter box, don't be afraid to show that! I wouldn't say to shove it down their throats and interject it into the interview if it doesn't fit. However, if it fits, rock it.  The final aspect of this is to try to relax so you are able to be yourself. I know that any interview can be really nerve racking and for many potential CPs the phone interview can be really stressful. But I also know that once they  are finished with it, people tend to say "Hey! That wasn't so bad! My interviewer was really nice."

General tips:
- Do your research. If you are reading this you are probably already doing that. But in addition to this, try to get a general idea of what the roles you selected really include. Then think of problems that you might face in that role and come up with responses to those problems. They will generally ask questions that relate to your "top x roles". They also may ask questions related to roles that they think you might be suited for based on previous work experience. (I was an RA and had checked hospitality but didn't say it was a top choice but was still asked questions about it)

-Make yourself comfortable before the interview starts. That means pick a quiet, comfy place with good cell phone reception. Go to the bathroom before your interview. Because lets be honest here, t minus 1 min and your probably gonna say "AHHHH! I GOTTA GOOOOOO!" Also wear something comfortable. If your wearing your new skinny jeans that are maybe a bit uncomfortable, change before your interview. It would suck to be in the middle of the interview and in your mind be saying "Dear lord these pants are doing crazy uncomfortable things!"

-Finally, as you have probably read by this point. SMILE! Make a conscious effort to be peppy, get excited, and smile. It really does make so much of a difference in the way your voice sounds. Don't get so caught up in your nerves that you forget to be excited. Also don't be ashamed of your excitement (and possible cheesy-ness). Disney wants an enthusiastic work force. Its what guests expect. So don't be afraid or forget to show just how much you want to be a CP!

Thats all for the tips. I will put the link up for the questions list asap. Its going to be a word .doc and will contain question gathered from all over the internet and supplemented by questions I was personally asked. The link will go HERE.

-M

Fall 2011 applications are up!

Well the big day has come!

Today the E-presentation and applications went up for the Fall 2011 WDW College Program. :) Yaay! They went up around 11/11:30 ish. I was in the middle of a project at work but that didn't stop me from trying to do the application at the same time. I failed at doing multiple tasks at once though so I ended up finishing it at like 4:30.

In case anyone didn't know already, if you are a current cast member or have passed the web interview within the last 6 months, you don't have to take the web interview. Which means... MARION DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN! YAAAAAAAAY for being a seasonal cast member! I have yet to schedule my interview because they were of course closed when I finished. I am debating on whether to schedule it for Friday afternoon/evening or Monday.

Thats it for this post. I am in the process of writing an interview tips one. Hopefully that will come in handy for people in the next few weeks. :)

-M

Tick Tok: The coutdown is almost done!

Well hello everyone!

I am back from my Disney vacation. It was quite fun although if I'm honest I probably didn't take as much advantage of my time as I should have. But oh well. Can't change that now.

We are currently down to about 4 days till applications come out. In case anyone is wondering how I came about the end date for the countdown, I shall tell the tale. Basically for the past Fall application seasons the apps have come out on January 20th at about 4 o'clock. That is the reason for the assumption that apps for the Fall will come out this Thursday. I seem to remember that in the past applications have generally come out on Fridays, so its possible that they will come out the 21st. Who knows. We (we being the collective group of prospective Fall 2011 applicants) hope they will come out some time this week.

Since applications will be out so soon, I plan on working on that interview prep/tips entry. It will be up either today or tomorrow since I start school on Tuesday. I will also probably post some pictures from my vacation.

And speaking of school (since everyone who reads this cares so much about my school saga), I may not be graduating this May. I found out recently that I only have 99 credit hours right now. I need 120 to graduate. If you do the math that means I would have to complete 21 hours this semester to graduate in May. I'm honestly not sure that is going to happen. I am going to meet with someone on Wednesday to talk about my predicament and figure out what I can do. This doesn't change my plan to do the Fall Advantage CP. One way or another I am leaving Austin in May and not coming back for school ever again. I may end up having to graduate in August and take an ACE course on my CP to make up the hours I will need to graduate.

Love you all!
-M

Selecting Potential Roles

Its getting close to application time for the Fall 2011 CP season. One of the most important aspects of the application process is deciding what roles to check on the role checklist. Its kind of a big deal. What you check off is the list from which your eventual role (if you are accepted) will come from.

Obviously the more roles you check off the better your chances are of being accepted simply because you allow more room for the recruiters to place you especially as the application seasons goes on and roles begin to fill up. As a result of this I think a lot of people who really really really want to do the program will check anything and everything almost without thought. I read on facebook, disboards, and blogs where people say they don't care what role they are as long as they are in Orlando and at Disney. So they check everything on the checklist or when asked by an interviewer to add things to their list, they do. 

In my opinion that is not the best choice to make. I think that it is incredibly important to be realistic and honest with yourself when checking roles on the role checklist. Both times I have applied, I only checked roles that I knew I would not only be willing to do but that I would be happy doing. I didn't get in the first time I applied but I know that if I had checked a role such as housekeeping and ended up going I probably wouldn't have been happy. I know myself and I know how difficult and physically challenging that role can be. As a result I know that not selecting that role, even if it meant I didn't get accepted, was the best decision. If I had checked either Quick Service Food & Beverage or Custodial I probably would have been accepted to Fall 09 because they need so many people to fill those roles, but I wouldn't have been happy.

I think that people really do think that as long as I'm in Disney I will be happy, no matter what my role. But what you may not realize until you are down there and on the CP is that you are there to work and most of your time will be spent working. Yes you will play and have fun, but they have you there to work and that is what you will predominately be doing. So if you have a role that is just something you said you would do but not something you really honestly wanted to do, your not going to enjoy your time. If its a role that you don't like AT ALL but you thought you would be able to put up with to be at Disney, it will SUCK! 

One of the best parts of my CP experience was my role and the incredible times I had while at work. If I had gone in Fall 09 as say QSFB I honestly don't think I would have had as fun a time as I did. As snooty as that may sound, that role wouldn't have made me happy. 

I guess what I am trying to say with this post is be honest with yourself and only select what you would truly enjoy doing. If thats everything on that damn list, more power to ya! But if it is only 5 or 6 roles, don't pick things you wouldn't actually like doing just to make it to Orlando. It's really not worth it. I have heard far to many people bitch about the CP because of their job and I always wonder if they just checked that role to make it to Orlando thinking it was going to be a fun easy break from school. News flash people: its not a 5-7 month long spring break! Your there to work! It can be fun, but don't ever lose sight of that. 

-M

Rawr! I'm the scary Web Interview!

I know a lot of people are nervous about the web interview and I can totally understand why. The fact that such an impersonal thing as a web interview can stop your dreams in its tract is definitely a scary thing. But I am here to say that the web interview is nothing to be afraid of.

To begin with you have to have either attended a presentation or watched the e-presentation, completed the application, and then after that you take the web-based interview. When picking a place to do the interview, definitely choose someplace where you won't get distracted. Every individual is different in the level of noise and stuff they can take and still concentrate. Know yourself and pick someplace you can take the interview and not fear being distracted. Also I would suggest taking it alone. By that I mean, don't let your mom, dad, sister, brother, roommate, best friend, whatever, etc. hang over your shoulder and give you suggestions on answers. You know yourself (or at least I would hope you do) and having someone else around might make you second guess yourself. That might result in inconsistent answers, which is not something you want.

On to the interview itself! The best way to describe it is as a kind of personality test with a work focus. You are asked a question and then are given a sliding scale on which to choose an anwser that you feel best fits. You can answer: strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly agree. You get asked questions that gauge your personality (are you self-motivated), how you interact with others (I work well with others, I'm a team player), what is your work ethic like (I'm always on time). You will also be asked things multiple times to check for consistency. So you will be given the statement "I'm always on time." Then a bit later you may be asked "I'm rarely late." Then later still you will be asked "I'm often late." They are going to look to see if you answer similarly to all of the questions. So if you are a type of person that makes sure your on time you would agree or strongly agree to the first and disagree or strongly disagree to the last.

The fact that you are asked similar questions can possibly trip you up, especially if you don't take the time to read all of the question/statement. I gave three examples above but the question could be "I'm always on time" and "I'm always late." Those are two COMPLETELY different statements that carry two totally separate connotations but they are exactly the same except for one word. Make sure to READ the questions so one little word won't trip you up.

I know that many people say to only answer strongly agree or strongly disagree. I don't know what types of "points" you get for doing this. I'm not sure how it effects the numerical score you get which allows you to pass or not. However I can give my reasoning as to why it makes some sense to answer mostly stronglys. Mind you I did just say mostly. I don't think it is bad to have some agrees/disagrees or even one or two neutrals. My opinion on why strongly agree/disagree is the way to go is as follows. Disney wants you to be confident in your opinions on yourself. To me that means answer strongly to things! Strongly equates to Hell Ya thats me! I'm most definitely always on time! I love working with other people! Its not bad to sometimes answer just an agree/disagree. And occasionally you may really not have an opinion. In that case I would even say its ok to answer neutral, just don't do it a whole lot.

It is true that some of the questions are timed. Don't let this freak you out! Read the questions and go with your gut reaction. Don't take the time to second guess yourself. You know you! Your gut reaction is the right one. I am of the opinion that you shouldn't try to answer the way you think Disney wants you to but in an honest way. By being honest and true to yourself it is going to be much easier to answer consistently because it is the way you really feel.

I hope that this post is helpful. I know that the web interview can be scary, but it doesn't need to be. Knowledge is power. I think that statement is true for most things in life and especially in this application process. I highly recommend the disboards and particularly the college board. There is lots of good information there about the whole application process as well as the move in process. Its also a great place to talk to other Disney minded people who are just as excited at the prospect of working for Disney as you are.

Please please please let me know if this was helpful! I would love some reactions.

-M

Post Audition 2.0 Review!

What is this?! 2 posts in 2 days!?

I promise I have not been abducted by aliens and replaced by a robot version of myself. Interesting concept but not reality.

So my audition was interesting. I think I did alright. As with last year it is just to hard to tell. I know my animations/characterizations were good. I worked hard on making sure my movements were big and expressive. I tried to remember to smile, which I think I managed. It was quite fun.

The process went almost exactly the same as last year. Since it was in the afternoon I had to wait all day to go to the audition. I had a butterfly filled anxious stomach all day long. I knew that it was just the wait and that proved to be true. As soon as I got there and sat down in the "waiting pin" I was fine. Unlike last time we were allowed to wait in the building inside one of the studios. I met Geoffrey who I had talked to on the facebook group. I felt like a dusche when about 45 mins into hanging out with him while waiting I realized I was pronouncing his name wrong. :o I also met a lot of other people whose names I don't remember. I did finally get to meet Lauren, a girl from the facebook group, and I saw Marina again.

-topic hijacking-
Did I ever post to mention that I had met Marina a first time? Well I did. She is another member of the facebook group who happens to live in Austin. She lives on the total opposite side of Austin from me. Sometime in September we met up at a local ice cream shop (Amy' Ice Cream for those of you who are wondering) to chat and mingle. It was very nice and I really enjoined meeting someone from the group.
-now back to the regularly scheduled topic-

So I guess I was a speedy speedster and filled out my form ridiculously fast because I was the first person to turn in my paperwork. That means I was #1 in group #1. BLAH! I am really not sure that was my best idea. However I really expected it to be fine.

The choreography for whatever reason was harder for me this time. I think it had to do with the choreographer. She didn't repeat the moves quite as much as the choreographer from my last audition. She also did use counts as much in teaching us the moves or play the music when we practiced each segment. I think that my difficulty in learning the dance could also have been influenced by not taking a dance class this semester like I did last time. Basically I kinda sucked at the dance beacuse not only did I not learn it very well but I had NO time to practice it because I was #1. I did show I could learn some stuff since I did manage to get the beginning down and that I can keep on a rhythm both of which are what they want to see.

We shall see if I pass or not. As with last year I will find out in 2-3 weeks via email. I did the best I could and if I don't make it I am still going to be a Character Attendant. I still only know of one other person who is a CA. I am sure there are more.. I just have not found them..... yet. (bahahahaha!)

One last random tidbit. Last year there were 93(or 2 can't remember) people at the audition but this year there was only 75. I was also measured at 61in which means that I was placed at my real height. That somewhat worries me. (BLERG EEEK! GASP!)

And FIN!

or not.. I have one little thing more to say. So that paper I had to write for my PR class...I stayed up literally all night to finish it. I went to sleep at 6:15 this morning and got like 3.5-4 hours of sleep. I have been surprisingly awake and peppy all day and had only one Vault at 3:30 for taste more than caffeine. Technically it was not an all nighter since I went to bed before sunrise, but only by about 30 mins. However if it was an all nighter it was my first in all of college created as a result of school work. RA incidents I do not count.

and now I am really done..

CURTAIN CLOSE!! (as I am dragged off the stage by one of those long wooden hook/cane things)

-M

I GOT IN!!!!!!

Life has been so busy I can hardly stop and eat much less update this journal. But here I am again, trying to update like I know I should.

In really super awesome amazing news.... I GOT IN! :) I found out via email on Friday September 11th that I was accepted to the Spring 2010 Disney College Program as a Character Attendant. That was exactly 3 weeks after I applied and 2 weeks after I interviewed. I plan on writing a little interview tip entry soon. Totally backwards.. that's how I do. :D

I have obviously accepted my invitation and will be arriving Jan 11th. :D that is exactly 84 days from today. Yay!

-M

Interview!

My interview was about and hour and a half ago. I think I did really well. I really tried to be honest and show my bubbly personality. I was asked what were my top 2 roles. I said Character Performer and attractions. I kinda wish I had said Bibbidi Bobbidi Botique but quite honestly it slipped through the cracks of my brain. I am relatively sure that once I find out who my recruiter is I can call and place that as my second fav. I am not positive about that but in the end it doesn't really matter. I made sure to only check things that I would actually want to do so as long as I get something that I checked I will be happy.

On a positive note I asked what are my chances of getting a role I want if I don't pass my audition and my interviewer, Susan, said that because I checked such a large amount (9 roles) that I would be likely to get something I would like. Or at least that is what i interpreted from her answer, which was a lot less concrete and more if-y.
I must say that all of the preparation I did helped SO MUCH. I browsed through several different threads on several different forums to get an idea of what type of questions I might be asked. While it varies from interviewer to interviewer there was definitely some overlap and if nothing else answering the other questions put me in the right mind frame.
So now comes the wait. I have to wait till April 19th to do my audition. After the audition I have 3 weeks to wait before I get my purple folder :D Basically just as school is ending, I will find out if I am accepted or not. Which is perfect because then I have to worry about the stupid school post office. Oh Joy.
-M