Hey everyone, I'm new to the forums about have been a member on WDWMagic.com for months and they gave mwe the link to this website! When I'm 18 I really, deserpratly want to spend my gap year out in Florida working at WDW! I e-mailed them at WDW and told them about me and what I want to do and they sent back a very positive e-mail telling me about the International Program and they gave me very few details, so I was hoping for some more please! So I have just a few questions, Does everyone who does the IP work in their countries pavillian in EPCOT or can we work in a different, or will I be moved around everyday? I havent heard much about pay so whats the pay like? That is basically just out of intrest, obviously the money would help and what with it being my gap year and I'll probably go to University afterwards so money really isn't a problem? Finally, I'm 15 in a few months and so will be wanting to go in roughly four years time, becasue of the University term and I hear that you get signed up or a 12 month contract, I would like to go from July-July, so, when is the right time to begin to apply? Any awnsers or any other advice you can give me would be much apprecaited, Thanks, Daniel (UK)
heyhey nope, if you join the IP, you'll be woking in your country's pavillion, and will be handed one of the following jobs: 1. Merchandise 2. Attractions (not all pavillions have this one) 3. Food and beverage once you have been given a job at one of these places, it is not likely you can change... though it has happened before.... The pay, I believe is $6.80 If you wanna go in 4 years, the best time to apply would be before the interviews, which hires cast members for july of the year you wanna go.... so, if you wanna leave in july of 2009, you should apply before the interviews of that year... at least here in Norway it was in april... but in UK you have two interviews, phone and face-to-face, which I don't know when are.... just check with yummy... or wait for some of the other brits here to reply...
Hi Daniel! I think I can answer most of the questions! Everyone on the IP works in their countries pavilion in  Epcot- this is because of the visa we get. It's a Q-1 visa which means we're there because we're representing our culture- which means we can only work in specific locations. Pay is something like $7 an hour, assuming you're not in a tipped position where I think it's about $3 an hour- but you make tips of course! In the UK pavilion you can either do food and beverage, or merchandise- you specify at the interview which you want to do (though they don't guarentee you get first choice!) so only in f&b do you get tips! Rent is about $80-90 a week which you have to pay regardless of whether you live there or not! They take it out of your pay cheques. You have to pay your flight over there- they'll give you the money for your flight back, assuming you complete your year. So basically you're unlikely to save much over there!! I get the feeling that you live within your means there- so if you earn lots from tips- you'll probably spend a lot on having a great time- eating out loads and visiting places- so I guess you might be able to save if you wanted to. The application process can be soooo long!!! Usually takes about a year from when you first apply- there are face-to-face interviews in the UK in Feb (start Sept-Dec) and Nov (start Mar-Jun) so definitely apply sooner rather than later! I'd probably try in the April or so of the year before you go out- they can only tell you to reapply later. Your CV really counts- I got rejected on the basis of mine the first time I applied! Make sure you have some customer service related jobs on there at least! I don't think they usually do July starts, so depending on the end of your A-levels/beginning of uni it will prob be a Jun or Sept date- but some people go out 6th Sept this year- so assuming your uni doesn't begin in early Sept you should be ok with that sort of date I would think. Well, think that's about all I can think of for now! Any questions- ask- someone around here will know the answer...you can almost guarantee it! Lol! So, welcome to the boards (and be aware- they're addictive!) and good luck for 4 years time lol! ;D Charlotte x
hiya daniel, i just thought i'd introduce myself as i'm looking at getting out to disney around the same time as you, anyway i'm Jenine i'm 19 at the moment and after not getting through to go out for my gap year i'm now going to reapply after university. I say reapply as i have already applied during yr 12 but didn't get through the phone interview due to lack of customer service. So now i'm trying to get as much CS as possible as well as doing my degree so i can reapply before i start my last year of university and hopefully get out to florida. anyway i can really add to what charlotte and alex have told you as they have just about covered everything. but if you wanna no anything else just ask and i look forward to seeing you out in florida in 4 years time. jenine (uk)
