20-Day Disney Princess Challenge! - Day #5

So, oops! I've had quite a busy day today and haven't had time to upload this post before now. Technically it's day 6 but it's only 12:13am so whatever! Here's day 5 of the Disney Princess Challenge!

5) The best friend you want to hang out with

Kovu.

Not sure if Kovu even counts as a princess’ best friend to most people but he does to me! I think he would be the bestest best friend to have! He thinks he’s so bad but he’s the biggest softy with a heart of gold and he’s so fun. Plus he's a lion!! LOVE him!

20-Day Disney Princess Challenge! - Day #4

Aloha!
Just been shopping for a few bits and bobs, ended up buy the coolest pajamas, they have cats on them! Anyway, here's day 4 of the Disney Princess Challenge! 

4) The sidekick you wish you had

Meeko, Angus, Pascal, Maximus and Rajah.

I listed 5 because I can, right. It's just too hard to chose one when there's so many cute ones!
They’re all just so sassy, yet so sweet. I just want them all.

Money and Mickey Mouse

The program I’m going to be a part of during my time at Disney is the 12-month Academic Exchange Program. This program is quite different to the other international programs Disney offers (here are some of the other programs they offer). I believe this program can be completed as either a 6-month or 12-month placement. This specific program can only be completed if you are currently studying at a university (not all universities have this opportunity, see if yours do here), be on a relevant course and are going to be taking a 12-month placement (or sandwich) year, before carrying on to final year. 

I go to the University of Central Lancashire and study Events Management. The opportunity of this program was actually one of the reasons that swayed me to choose UCLan. After attending a few open days, I knew that they had a solid relationship with Disney and that it was one of the schools they chose participants from.

The last time I went to WDW in 2010 I met a girl in Downtown Disney, in the World of Disney store, who was currently on her placement there and she told me all about her experience so far. The information she told me got me SO ridiculously excited about the possibility of working there I just knew that I had to pursue it when the time came. I didn’t realise at the time that she wasn’t on the CRP, as I thought this was the only option for International participants. I, of course, researched into this when I got home and found how many different programs they offer.

As I previously mentioned, this specific program is a little different than the rest. In this program we have to enrol with a partnering school from the US. For the students of UCLan our partner school is the Central Michigan University. This means that the classes that we take whilst we’re out there are ran by CMU but of course, will be held at Disney University as I’m pretty sure it would be quite difficult to get to Michigan every time we have class. We have to choose two classes (one each semester) that we have to attend over the 12-month period, and they all sound so interesting it’s going to be hard to choose just two (for my first semester I've chosen to do Guest Service because where else could they teach you it any better, also Disney Heritage was full)! Of course, because we are attending classes over there, it means we do have to pay (a lot) more than the other available programs as we will not only be employees of Disney but students of CMU. So that’s pretty cool! I believe that we will have up to 3-4 hours of class a week, as well as working the minimum of roughly 32 hours on location.

So, moving on to the point of this post. Money. So far it has cost my family quite a lot of money to be able to let me take advantage of this opportunity. There are so many little details that must be completed and checked off the list before you go even think about flying out there, and they all cost £££, or in this case $$$. 

1)   Before even being accepted into the program, it’s possibly going to cost you money to travel to the interview stages. My fellow UCLan-ers and I were lucky enough that both stages of the interview process took place on campus, so we didn’t have to pay anything extra for travel expenses. I did however spend money of new outfits!

2)   Once we were accepted we had to go ahead and complete a CRB Police check to make sure we have a clean record since we will be working closely with children. It cost me £60 to get my CRB check certificate!

3)   Next, the more exciting part. Flights!  We were given an estimate of up to £670 from Yummy Jobs. However, I paid £470 for mine and I know people on my exact same flight paid even less! Oh, and that’s for a one-way ticket!

4)   Attaining J1 Visa status costs quite a bit of money too! Now, I can’t remember exactly how much everything was as there’s two separate payments to make. You first pay your SEVIS fee which was $180, and then when you are booking you’re interview appointment which is a further $160. If your Visa granted you then have to pay to send back your passport, which is a further £14. It’s also important to realise that you’re gonna have to be able to pay for transportation and a possible over night stay in the city of the US Embassy, which for people from the UK is Belfast or London. 

5)   You then pay the Program Assessment Fee, which was $100, and this goes towards the housing events Disney hold for program participants.

6)   Medical Insurance. I was lucky enough that my university are actually covering us for this during our program so we won’t have to take this out with CMU. There are two options of Medical Insurance available to us this year, but I think it would cost roughly $260 for the year.

7)   Tuition. This is where you really need to save up money. The tuition fee to take part on this program this year (2013) is $3900.  Which roughly translates to around £2600.  As far as I know, this is the only program that does need to pay a tuition fee, which is what makes this program a little more special.

I believe that’s everything that we have had to pay for. Although it has costs my family a lot of money, I do believe that this opportunity is going to be priceless. I’ve been told you meet friends and make memories that last a lifetime, as well as the fact that you’ve been privileged enough to be picked to work at the Walt Disney World Resort! I hope this post helps people out a little if they're thinking of doing this program but aren't too sure about how much it's going to cost them!

18 days to go now, oh my lucky number! 

Here, have a baby Mike Wazowski!

20-Day Disney Princess Challenge! - Day #3

 Howdy, Partner(s)! 
I actually wrote out another post yesterday about costings and what not in case anyone was curious about it buuuut the internet was being rubbish so I gave up trying to post it! I'll try and get it on tomorrow though since it's late now and I'm tired! I went shopping with my Grandma and cousin today and then to the cinema with my Dad and sister. Since I don't have a job anymore and I have nothing else to do it's nice to get to spend time with the family before I go! Anyway, 19 days to go and here's Day 3 of the Disney Princess Challenge! 

3) The princess you relate to most 

 

Merida.

This is probably a giant lie, but I genuinely don't know who else! Although, we both like to have things go our own way but often realise that our way isn’t necessarily the only way, or the best way. Compromising is often the key, which she teaches you so well! We both often say "urgh! Muuuuum" in a whiney voice too, so I think that definitely makes her relatable even if I don't say it in a lush Scottish accent. Oh and we both really like horses! I LOVE Angus, he's so sassy! 

20-Day Disney Princess Challenge! - Day #2

Hiiii.

The countdown continues! 20 days to go! Argh, saying that out loud is so surreal, I swear it was just last week that I was getting excited because it was finally 2013 and I could say, ‘’I’m going to Disney this year!” 

I still can’t decide if it’s too early to start packing or not. When even is a suitable time to start packing to spend a year away from home, let alone in a different country? It’s a situation I never thought I’d be in or have to think about. 

I keep looking around my room and each time I notice different things that I won’t see for over a year. I won’t hear the dull noises from the motorway seeping through my window (which I find so comforting especially at night), or see the rays of sunlight peaking through my blinds, or hear the clatter of Bridget’s paws running about the house. I’m so overwhelmingly excited yet terrified. All my home comforts (items, sounds, smells) will be left behind in Manchester whilst I jet off to America to spend a year working at Disney. Did I mention that I’m going to be working at Disney already? 

Anyway, that got real deep real quick. Here’s Day #2 of the Disney Princess Challenge! 

2) The princess you like least

Snow White.

Sorry Snow! I’ve never really enoyed the film all that much; so don’t have much to say about her. Her voice irks me a little, too. Although the film does give rather good advice, NEVER TAKE AN APPLE FROM A CREEPY OLD LADY BECAUSE SHE'S DEFINITELY A WITCH. And it would be super cool to have seven dwarfs to live with.

20-Day Disney Princess Challenge! - Day #1

--> --> Since it’s 21 days until I go to Orlando, I thought it would be fun to do the 20-Day Disney Princess Challenge as a sort of count down!  

As a child I was never very into the typical princess movies, I was more into Pocahontas (I know she’s a princess but not one of the main ones!), Lion King, 101 Dalmatians and so on. Of course, I have seen all of the Princess movies now but I did find doing this challenge quite difficult because I don't have that childhood attachment to many of them!

Image found on Tumblr.

--> 1) The Princess you adore most! 

Pocahontas.

All images taken from Tumblr.

--> Always been (one of) my favourite Disney films, always been my favourite princess. She's so confident and brave, and she fights for what she believes in. I just think she portrays what every woman wants to be. Plus John Smith is a catch!

--> ps. Merida I still love youuuu!

Greetings earthlings!

 

So, in 22 days (eek!) I will be traveling roughly 4,235 miles around the world to work for one of the greatest entertainment company the world has ever seen, yep you guessed it, Walt Disney – and one particularly adorable Mouse! I will be working as an Operations and Costuming Cast member on the Academic Exchange Program. 

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On October 9^th 2012, I had my first meeting and stage of interviews for Disney. First of all, we arrived a little late because it was absolutely throwing it down with rain and we decided to try and get a taxi. 

TIP #1 - Be prepared for all weathers, this is England people! 

The lovely presenters from Yummy Jobs first gave us lengthy presentation all about working for Disney (roles, the Disney Look, pay, living, the perks etc.) and the kind of things we could expect to experience and what Disney would expect from us as Cast Members. We were also told a little information on the Central Michigan University, the college who we would be enrolled and studying with. Once this was over, we were given time slots for our first stage group interview – I was lucky and shared my time slot with my three closest friends. (Hi Shauna, Emma and RaCH!)

Before the group interview I was SO nervous, I just did not know what to expect! It was one of the funniest and most relaxed interview I’ve experienced to date. I mean you’re talking about Disney, what’s not fun about that?

 The interview was held in a 'panel' type setting, which I immediately thought would be rather intimidating but alas I was quite wrong. The interview panel was made up of two Yummy Jobs representatives and two UCLan students that had just been on the 12-month program themselves. They asked us questions like “what does Disney mean to you?” “Can you give us a fun fact about yourself?” and “if you were a Disney character who do you think you would be?” (EH? Hardest question to answer on the spot!) They did ask a few other questions but I genuinely don’t remember them, I just remember laughing quite a lot so that’s nice.

On the 23^rd October 2012, I received an email from Yummy Jobs inviting me to a final stage interview on Wednesday 14^th November 2012, YAY! It said that I had to dress in professional/business attire, so I, obviously (Shauna!), had to go shopping for that!

On the Wednesday we had to be there for 9am, so we literally set off about 30 minutes before we needed to be setting off (because of what happened during the first stage) – apparently everyone had the same idea as we ended up sitting on the very front row. For this presentation we had a lady from the International Casting Office whose name I can’t remember and Dean Wallin from CMU. Between the two of them they basically repeated what the first stage presentation told us, it was just a little more… American. Again, we were then given time slots for our actual one-on-one interview, my time was at 4pm – which was a little irritating as I had a horse to see to and work at 6. I didn’t have my interview till more like 5pm, by which time panic had set as I wasn’t sure I’d make it to work, and I was so anxious to get it over with. 

TIP #2 - Do not arrange to work afterwards because it's already a stressful situation. Avoid adding on anymore unnecessary stress, it's... unnecessary!

The interviews were split into two sections (the lady and then Dean) and we were to go in, in pairs for the Disney lady. The girl I was with, although very lovely, liked to talk. A lot. She often spoke over the nice American lady and had lots to say about running her own café. During this point I literally wanted the ground to swallow me up, as I a) thought I was going to be late for work and b) worked at a cinema and did not practically run my own business c) thought I had zero chance of being considered, never mind accepted to work at Disney. I was asked questions such as “what factors do you think you would have to overcome in order to complete this program?” To which I replied “well I went to a summer camp in America last year and I didn’t really get home sick, so I think I’ll be fine really.” DOH. She also asked me if I would be able to deal with speaking in front an audience of large crowds (NO!!!) and why I thought that costuming had any relevance to my course. It was that question and answer that I think probably got me a few brownie points.

Next was Dean. What a lovely man he was! He asked me much more personal questionnaires to do with my character – such as strengthens and weaknesses. 

TIP #3 – have an answer for this prepared! Especially the strengths. DO NOT sit and “errrrmmmm…” for literally a good minute before coming up with the worst answer ever. So embarrassing. 

I can’t even remember what I said for my strengths, probably something to do with how I like to chat on to anybody and everybody, but for my weaknesses I literally pulled out my pre-written list that was as long as my arm. I mainly focused on my anxiety/stress issues and my self-confidence, and we had a good chat about this and how Disney will only help me improve these. Phew! He was genuinely so lovely and made me feel very comfortable – although I’m pretty sure he was literally scoring me with numbers? Mm, I would say I’m definitely a solid all-round 10/10, don’t cha think.

Once the interview was over, I literally pegged it to my car to find that there a lovely parking ticket on my windscreen (sorry Dad if you’re reading this because this will be the first you know of it!) I had parked in a permit holder area, instead of about 2 metres behind me in a three-hour stay area. Oops! I already wasn’t confident with how the interview went (see what I mean about self-confidence?) and now a parking ticket was the just the icing on the cake.  (Side note, I was on time for work though!)

Exactly one week later on Wednesday 21^st November 2012, I received Congratulations! email from Yummy Jobs informing me that I had been offered a place on the Walt Disney World Academic Exchange Program starting on the 15^th of July 2013. I was offered the roles of Quick Service Food & Beverage, Operations and Costuming.  -Queue screams and tears!- Not my first pick, but that’s okay it’s Disney either way! After a change in the program the QSFB was later dropped (not from the program, just for me) so my official Cast Member roles will be Operations and Costuming!

Lots (and lots and lots and lots) of waiting, many payments, a new passport, a trip to London for my Visa (which I’ll post about on a later date) and a few shopping trips later and it brings us to today! 22 days away from starting the bravest year of my life to date. I’m about to turn 20 years old and I’m about to begin working for the mouse that represents all things childish, it’s such a strange concept to grasp. Which is why I decided that I really should blog it, it’ll be nice to be able to look back and see my progression one day. I can’t promise that I’ll keep up with this blog, I'm USELESS at trying to keep a journal but I will try my hardest to keep up with this!

So without further ado, hello! I’m Abi, I'm 19 years old from Manchester, England and this is my magical and mystical journey of becoming WDW Cast Member!

 

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