Hey there, I know I'm only 14 and may be a little over exited about this, but my dream for a long long time now has been to go to disney in FL for a year and live with the magic. I have thousands of questions and many of these have been asked before but they were a little confusing. So I would really appreciate if you would take the time and help me get a little closer to my fantasie. Here we go: - I am half German half English and speak both languages fluently, do you think this might help? In which pavillion will I be working? - WIll I be able to go into the parks or will I still have to pay? - Can my parents visit me? - (stupid question) but are there riding stables close by? - What do we eat? Do we pay for it ourselves or does it come with the job? - Is it advisable to bring a lap top? What about internet? - How do I talk to my family? Will I have to use my cell-phone? That wuld be very expensive. - Do I pay for the flight? - With how many people will I share a room? Are the girls and boys going to be mixed? What is in the room? (f.e. TV) - Do I get to go to special events? - Do I work seven days a week or are there days off? - Do I pay the full price on merch like cups etc? - Is the experience worth it? Would you do it again? What was your fav memorable moment? Thanks you! =) I'm really looking forward to going. Love Gini ???[glow=red,2,300][/glow]
Hi Gini I haven't been yet but can answer a few of these questions for you. I'm sure others will add useful stuff for you - Speaking German and English fluently will most definitely help you. Having a second language is really valued. Are you German? In which case you can apply for the Cultural Programme. If you get on that you will work in the German pavillion at Epcot. There are also other programmes you can apply for like the college programme (but you need to be studying or a graduate to do that one). - If you are an employee at Walt Disney you get free entrance to all the parks - Sure your parents can visit you. If you are living on Disney property they are not allowed to stay past 1AM, but employees can get discount on Disney hotels so you could set your parents up with somewhere to stay. - For eating I think you have to mostly sort all that out yourself - it is not included in your pay. However if you eat at any of the Disney restaurants you can use your staff discount. Your living accomodation will have typical appliances you need also so you can buy food at the supermarket and cook for yourself. - If you bring a laptop the Disney accomodation has wireless internet access so very useful. - As for talking to your parents. Best idea is to get an american mobile when you get there. They can be bought very cheaply. There will also be plenty of access to landline phones and if you have your laptop with you Skype is a fantastic option. - You have to pay for your flight out to Florida with the Walt Disney World programmes. I think if you complete the programme Disney will pay for your return flight. - You don't have to work seven days a week but may be required to do extra hours during peak periods (such as Christmas) - You share a room with one other person (as in they sleep in the same room as you). Then appartments can be divided into anything between 2 and 8 people. - You get 20% discount on most Disney merchandise. 10% on DVDs I think.
Hi Gini! It's always nice to have someone new here, so welcome to the boards! I'll try an answer your questions, but I'm sure others will chip in if need be. Being able to speak more than one language is definitely a plus. To be honest, if you do the Cultural Rep program, I'm not sure which pavilion you'd be put in. I think it depends on who you apply with, e.g. YummyJobs recruits for the UK Pavilion. However, there are many more programs that allow you to work in locations all over the resort and so you may want to consider those. You get a nice ID card that allows you into the theme parks for free. Most of the time you need to pay (half price after certain times) to get into the water parks, but sometimes, like in the winter, you can go for free too. Yes! Of course they can, they just cannot stay in your apartment. However, you get a nice discount off resort hotels, so they can stay there if they wish! To this I have no idea. You may need to do a bit of research on Orlando, but I'd imagine there is. The only question would be of how you get there. Food. No, all kidding aside, you have to pay for your own food. So this can be in the Cast Member canteens at the parks and resorts, at food locations in the parks or resorts, or just by simply going to walmart which is what most people do. There is a bus provided by Disney that will take you to walmart many times a day! I'd say yes! A laptop is extremely useful for keeping in touch with those at home. Each apartment has internet (though not wireless, so you'll need a ethernet cable, or just hope someone in the apartment has a router!) and thats included in your rent. I called my Mum once over the entire year, but spoke to her loads on Skype on the internet! If your parents have a computer and they have Skype, it doesn't cost a thing, so it's great. Otherwise you can get some good deals on phone cards and such, and use them with your apartment phone. Erm, this you'll have to check on because, but I'm pretty sure Disney will pay for, I think, either the flight out, or the flight back. It might just be the flight out, but I'm not sure, so that's someone thing you'll have to check with YummyJobs. Well technically you will share an apartment with up to 7 other people (4 room apartment) and a least 1 other (1 bedroom apartment). Then, you will share a room with one other person. The apartments are single sex, you could be living next door to an apartment of the opposite sex. Unfortunately apartments don't come with TV's (unless your lucky enough to be moving into one where the cast members there already have one). Apartments come with cutlery, crockery, internet, phone, dishwasher, some apartments have a washer and dryer, but not all of them do, instead there's a communal washing area where you have to pay to use the machines, you get furniture, like beds, dressing tables, sofa, tables, chairs; also a bathroom with at least a shower, some bathrooms have baths as well, oh and a wardrobe. This may be a walk in one or free standing. You don't get given bed linen, so you either need to bring that with you (I found bringing a duvet for the first night was great) or buy it at walmart, but you may not be able to get there for a couple of days. I think that's all! If anyone else can think of anything I missed off, add it on! Yes! There are plenty of cast events depending on where you work. There are always previews for fireworks and parades that everyone can go to, as well as cast parties at Halloween and Christmas, special events for College Program and Cultural Rep's at the apartment complexes....there is so much to do! You shall get at least one day off each week (unless you pick up a shift or something, but you won't be scheduled 7 days work). At some times in the year, you may work up to 70 hours (or more) 6 days a week. Other times you may work 30 hours 4 days a week. It all depends on how busy the parks are, and how many CM's there are! Nope! You get 20% discount all year round, but then on special occasions, like Christmas, you get more. Definitely worth it! It's hard to describe just how amazing an experience like this is. You have to remember that not everyone enjoys it, but your program is what you make it. I have just applied to go again, so you can probably tell that I more than loved it! My favourite moments were making magic for everyone. It is one thing to experience magic as a guest, but to make magic is on a whole other level.
Thank you so much! I'm so looking forward to this now that I want to set the time on super speed! Disney here I come... soon...
Louisa: I just took a look at your Disney website. Really enjoyed reading your blog about your trip up to Hammersmith. I'm really feeling your Disney enthusiasm so I wish you all the best for getting on the programme again! Was it the Cultural Programme you did first time around also? I'm going to have a more indepth read of your website later. Great idea for doing it! Tip to Gini too - have a look through Louisa's website and you can read all about her experience. Ben
Thanks! Your Website is so brilliant I've been on it since early this morning! @ Louisa, I would really enjoy if you would pop me an email at ginilovesit@icqmail.com or write to me at ICQ if you have that 295-582-264. I have loads to ask you, all those exiting moments you write about as deffinetly infected me totally and I think, just like you, I am a total Disney- Fan! Thank you! Gini
i was n the same situation as you. i heard about the programs at your age. It's definatly worth the wait. iv now doone 2 programs and planning on doing a 3rd!!
I'm in the same sort of sitch as you. I'm 16 and I really cannot wait to aply to go - and hopefully I'll get there. Only 2 years of college to go...
Just one little tip...even if you're not old enough to go yet...contact your recruiters (i.e. YummyJobs www.yummyjobs.com) and find out about programs. That way, when it comes to actually applying, they already know who you are!
Thanks DG - you've told me that once and it already slipped my mind lol. So instead, I'm going to do it now so I don't forget.
I e-mailed them, and they e-mailed me back, just basically to confirm that I can go between August/Spetmeber in 2 years time, so I'm happy about that. Just fingers crossed I do get in.
Hey missginius! I'm in a similar situation. Im 14 and I desperately want to do this programme as well . Oh well, only a few more years to wait Oh and I am a huge Disney "freak"
