I have decided not to go on the Summer 2009 ICP - for a few reasons! 1 - Next Summer, there is a grand total of four different things I could be doing, and all of them clash for at least one week (August 8-15). Working at Disney was one of them, as well as the possibility of going to Uganda for two months to do volunteer work in a community over there, going to a religious conference (which I attended for the first time this year, and would dearly love to go to again) or going to Spain for two weeks with some people from work. 2 - If I went on the ICP, I would have no choice but to leave my current job. It is only part-time whilst I am at Uni, but I am hopeful that I will be able to progress in the company and that it may become my career. If I leave, this cannot happen, so I'd rather it were for the CRP, rather than just a three-month stint. 3 - I have only been to the resort three times (a total of about ten days spent in the parks) and after each visit the effect it has on me has never decreased. It would be nice to go to the resort as a paying guest a few more times before the magic is killed by the behind-the-scenes view, and replaced by a new, different magic. 4 - My decision to apply for the 2009 ICP was made within a few days of returning from Florida, with very little thought employed. It was made when the main thing on my mind was me wishing I was still out there and I hadn't fully been brought back to Britain. Having been back in mind and spirit for long enough, I have encountered a few personal issues with regards to working in WDW next year - it's not that I don't want to at all, but it's just difficult to explain. It is important to point out that my dream has not died - I would still love to work at WDW more than anything in the world! It just won't be as soon as I had hoped. I would like to wish everyone else who is applying the very best of luck - and if any of you would like to try and change my mind before I email Yummy and tell them, then feel free, although I doubt you'll be successful.
Hey Alan, I wont persuade you to change your mind.... well not really!! I am just back from the most amazing year of my life and i miss it so much! I had been a guest at the walt Disney World resort since i was 4 years old and being there didnt ruin it for me and i was working as friends with Mickey mouse so as u can imagine i was as close to the magic as u could be and it was sooo fun! It was hard work none the less and the hours were really long at times and sometimes i did miss home but its an experience that i will never forget. The people i met will always be so important to me and they r friends i know i will have for the rest of my life! The ICP programme is obviously one we can only do whilst we are still students so now is your chance to do it! You might never get the chance to do it again and although i don't think i will ever go back there as a cast member i am proud to say i did it! So anyways thats my view on it. i wish u all the best on whatever you decide but it is such an amazing thing to be part of!!! xx
Mr. Mortell - that is one of the things niggling at the back of my mind. I would love to work on attractions. stephyb - I know that I only have two chances to do the ICP (2009 and 2010). What is frustrating for me is that there is so much I could do next summer, and I hate having to make a decision between them all. My choice really is between Spain and the ICP, though. And the main thing putting me off Disney is the likely need to leave my job. My mind isn't made up 100%, but I am just not sure at the moment. I need to speak to my new manager at work before I make the final decision.
The decision is up to you but the summer ICP is an absolutely amazing experience. I loved it there and I am most definetly planning to return in the coming year. If you're manager is good then he will allow you to return to work after your programme finishes. But it is truely up to you to make the decision that you think is right for you.
All i can say is the best thing to do would be to speak to your manager. I did at mcdonalds as i will need the job for the christmas after next and they will keep it open. always worth asking. Also there is the graduate program which you could do the summer after uni, so all hope is not lost. I hope you manage to find a solution.
Ok, does your opportunity to go to spain have to be nxt year, could you not do it another time? But i totally understand how you feel, i am in doubts but i just remind myself, this could be one of the best summers of my life and i would not want to miss it, also i have been wanting to do this for years so i was convinced a while ago. But i think you should just go for it, personally. Also, i do not know what will happen with my job, but i am hoping i will be able to convince my manager to be able to hold my position and just use up my time there as holidays. Everything can work out. But if you do no go next year then you do have 2010. We cannot force you but we can advice you, and lets of this advice brings you closer to your dream of working with Disney ;D
Thanks, guys! The Spain holiday is a one-off - a group of us may be going from work (most others have confirmed and are booking soon) and there are no plans to return the following year. My manager is leaving on Tuesday. As of yet, I have no indication as to what her successor will be like when I speak to her, but I'm going to give her a bit of time to settle in first. HR's advice to my current manager last month was that, unless I could find people willing to cover all of my shifts, my job could not be held for me. That's something I won't know until next year when I start asking people to cover. On the plus side, I could return from Disney and apply for a job the next rung up the ladder, even if it means moving store. The thing is, I'm in two minds because there are so many options. If it was just Disney, or Disney or Detling, for example, Disney would win hands down. But there's Spain, Uganda and the possibility I may have to leave the only job I actually enjoy! I want to live my dream more than anything, but at the moment, the price of doing so seems to be quite high.
Well - it does seem like you're thinking it through properly - but maybe living your dream is important too? Next summer is quite far away, so you may hate your job by then. Or, you may love it so much that if you get into Disney you end up turning it down. Would there be the possibility of getting a friend to have your job just for the summer? That way you wouldn't need to ask everyone to cover your shifts and someone else has experience, maybe who knows it wouldn't be forever? It is a lot to think about I know, I ended up waiting for a while before sending it off to make sure it was what I wanted - and the dream won! If it was something you've wanted to do, you may always regret passing up the opportunity. (Although maybe I'm biased!) I'll keep thinking of you, and hope you're able to come to a decision you can live with. If you ever need to talk, we're all here! (You can even PM me if you want - apparently I'm a good listener (or I suppose reader in this case!))
Katiej22 made a good point there... you can still apply, and if you get offered the job, and circumstances aren't good enough, you can turn it down. Obviously this would take a lot of thinking with regards to how you'd feel if you turned it down! It really is a hard decision, but sometimes it's always best to go with what your heart is telling you, rather than your head (omg how Disney is that!?!?!?) and I mean that for everything! So if you really want to go to Uganda, or to Spain and you love your job, then go with what you feel you're going to love most! And as for the magic...well yes, it does change...but then you get to experience both types of magic...both recieving it and making it! When I was a CM there, in the parks on my day off I felt no different to any other guest...that magic was still there!
It is a lot to think about, but i totally agree with Louisa, listen to your heart. And as i said before we cannot force you, we can only advice you, so just ask for our help, after all we are the Disney crew and we are here to make your dreams come true. ;D I was having a problem of what i was going to do about my job because i love my job also but i decided if i do go and they cant keep it open for me then i will accept that it is time to move on. But as the girls have said, you can always just turn the offer down.
its a hard decision to make, and im not 100% sure i want to go back next summer but like suggested ive already applied with the hope that if i get the job again i can then decide if i am able to go back or not, as there is no harm in applying. i was lucky this year, i work in the same store as my best friend and he managed to take over my hours whilst i was gone and now im taking over again, but my manager was really good about it...her area manager told her i'd have to leave the job and then reapply if i wanted it back now (But she ignored him)
Thanks for all your helpful advice, guys! I had the email today about the phone interview - and I have replied (though won't hear again until Monday). I am not going to halt my application just yet!
