Hey! For those who have done the program before how did you find when you returned home? Did having WDW on your resume help with getting a job? I'm also thinking about applying to work on the Disney Cruise Line after the program (if I get off the waiting list :-\) Has anyone else done that? And if you've done the CRP does that make it easier to get accepted to the DCL? I'm so excited about doing the CRP but I'm kind of worried about coming home after and not having a job or a place to live you know? I'll be living with my mum for awhile I guess LOL. But doing the program is kind of like putting your life on hold for a year. I know you get great experience and everything but part of me just wants to get my life started...go back to school maybe and start on a career path. I'm definitely going to accept a position if I'm offered it, I just have these lingering concerns.
Going back home is definitely difficult, it was for me at least, and the majority of people I know from the program. Let's say it's an adjustment. I was worried about returning to Canada unemployed and actually accepted a job serving at a JW Marriott in Muskoka starting a month and a half after I finished my program. It felt good going back knowing I had a job, and in my case Disney/Florida helped as the boss that hired me had worked at the JW Marriott and the World Center Marriott in Orlando. Disney looks good on your resume, and can get you interviews because people want to hear about the experience and their training. It was still very hard going home though. I spent the time in between with my family and friends back home and every story I told started with "when I was at Disney..." and it got old for them very fast, they were nice about it, but just think of when friends have gone away and done super amazing things, and then you've been at home and have to hear about it. The other end of that is when you are back home and all your friends still at Disney are going out to your favourite bars, suntanning, skydiving, going on trips, making money and having a blast, and you're, well, home. It's hard to hear their stories even though you're happy for them. That being said, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I totally understand your feeling of putting your life on hold, I was going to university for politics/global development...which has nothing really to do with Disney, but Disney was my passion and I loved it so I went for it. You grow a lot while you're down there and it may even redefine or help you figure out what exactly it is you love and want to do with the rest of your life - or make it more clear that the path you are on is right. I had some friends who went down, realized it wasn't right for them and left. Or they got offered spots in grad school or offered their dream jobs back home and left as well. You are suppose to stay for a year, and won't really be able to work at Disney World again very easily if you leave, but you aren't imprisoned down there, if 'real life' calls, you can leave. I applied and got accepted to the Disney Cruise Line, but got offered a second CRP program at the same time and chose the CRP in a second. A lot of people do go to work on the Cruise Line and you aren't guaranteed a position, but I think 95% of people get them as long as you're applying for a position you are qualified for. Now that I've written that marathon of a message, I will say this: Do it. Don't think twice. Don't second guess. I know you love Disney, and this experience will be one of the greatest things you do in your life. It's worth the uncertainty of afterwards. I also have faith you'll get off the waitlist! Just keep those fingers crossed xxx
Wow, thanks for your reply ;D I'm definitely not having second thoughts. I want to do the CRP more than anything. But, like I said I'm worried about not having a job and stuff when I get back. But it's good to know that having Disney on your resume helps, I figured it would. And I am hopeful that I'll get off the waitlist eventually. I'm used to waiting by now LOL.
Where I live in the UK has such a high rate of unemployment it's ridiculous. I've been unemployed 6 months now, and applied to easily over 150 places. I'm just going to plan ahead, about a month before I leave my program I'll start applying for jobs, just to increase the chance of having a job to come home to, rather than start from scratch. I totally see your concern. I'm also worried about living back at home. After a year of 'freedom', to go back to living how other people want you do is going to be hard, haha.
