Parents/friends reaction.

So I seen this trend in the ICP board 2008, and decided to act it here.
What was you parents or friends reaction like when you told them your going to be working at WDW? And when did you first tell them you applied?
My parents found out a month before the F2F and that was mainly because I didn't think I would make it that far, so my convo. With them was pretty much this " hey mom I applied to Disney and I need to be in Vancouver by March 2nd, for a interview" surprisingly my parents actually came along and when I got the offer thy told everyone they could think of. Makes me wish I actually told them when I first applied (lol back in August 09).
As for my friends I keep getting the same question "how did you find that job?" my answer "I googled it".

 

My mom wasn't amused about it ! I got a job and I have to quit for it. But I told her that I want to work at disney so bad, and now I think my mom is fine with it.
I guess my mom was also kinda scared to leave her daughter alone for one year in HUGE america

I can't wait so excited!!
Hugs Kitty

 

I was really lucky with my parent's reaction, I found out about the CRP just after the end of the Aug 09 applications so I did a lot of research and then told them about it, my mum helped me with my application! I was supposed to spend a year in America as part of my degree but unfortunatly I couldn't go, and my parent's both agreed that this program would be so much more beneficial for me longterm, so they have been really great about it I think they are alittle nervous about how its going to be when I'm gone as they will have empty nest syndrome (my twin brother is at uni, and younger in the forces) but they are both getting excited about the holiday they can get out of it!!! ;D

 

This is such an interesting thread because I've found my family/friends reactions to be the most telling part of getting hired thus far.

MY family has been excited for me since we all love Disney, and they know I'm quite the 'live life by the seat of my pants" kind of girl since I graduated college.

Friends and average people, though, are not as excited. They are like "why would you leave your career to go and do something like this?" and they tell me that I should stick around because they'll miss me too much or something. It's too bad that they can't be happy for me. I mean, why wouldn't you want to be happy for someone who's chasing their dreams?

I've found the support of those people who tell me it's an amazing opportunity and that they're stoked for me, has been so uplifting, and though I don't need their confirmation that it's a good idea, it's so much easier to do something when people are on board with it.

 

Well, my mum was happy but then like "don't leave" but without saying it. My dad thinks it's awesome!! They both new it was either Disney or a ski season though, so either way I wouldn't be around for xmas. My sis wishes it were her...

Friends are mixed though. Those who "get" Disney are like OMG that's the best job, how did you get it. Those who aren't impressed ask the awkward questions like "how much does it pay?" or "is there a graduate job at the end of it?"...OR you get "Are you going to be minnie mouse...?"

But then I spoke to a load of city workers at a uni reunion the other day and they were just like "do it" cos they know that working in London is not as good as it's cracked up to be (although it pays well)!!...

Good thread! Something different to talk about x x

 

Wow... this post sounds a little like a "Coming Out" experience... hehehehe

In my case both my parents were happy with my choice and are helping me 100% and they are very supportive with whatever I decide regarding my future. I'm so jealous of you guys, you get to go there before I do!!! I have my F2F this weekend.

Good luck!!!

 

i applied in august 2009 and then had phone interviews and emails and the f2f in feb 2010. i told my parents before i had my phone interview that i was looking into it. they knew that iv always been really into Disney forever, Beauty and the Beast is my fav movie of all time - im obsessed with Belle lol i was always watching all the movies on my VCR when i was little... ah memories

so yea my parents were happy for me to follow my dream! i have already graduated, so studies were not a worry and theres not many jobs going atm, so why not get away and travel the world!
my mum really wanted me to get a date after christmas, so i could have a family christmas... but i obviously couldnt turn the job offer down when i heard about a position for 7th december. when i got off the phone i was crying in happiness and my mum was too haha, she was so pleased for me! it was a shock for us too as we had thought i wasnt getting anything, i had been waiting so long.

its gonna be a great opportunity and experience, no way was i turning it down! and i get to meet lots of lovely people
xox

 

omg! haha - just read over ur post again kat! everyone i know says that to me too 'are u gonna be minnie mouse!' haha but in joke kinda way. everyone iv told is so happy for me and impressed and mighty jealous hehe 8) i get to go live in america for a year with a guarented job and free entry to all the entertainment i could ask for. why anyone wud be negative or question that needs to have theyre head checked!
and in work when im walking past the girls i work with, theyre like, 'hey minnie mouse' lol

so excited to head out with ya kat! after we met at interview i just hoped we all got offered places because ur out before me you have to show me the ropes!
xox

 

My family have been so supportive through the whole thing for me. I was on the wait list for 6 months and when I told them I was finally going they were over the moon. I think some of my friends are a little jealous, but are delighted for me as well.

Is anyone else who is off to Florida soon dreading the inevitable "leaving doo"? I don't know how i'm going to say goodbye to my family and friends.

 

I haven't even told my parents I've applied yet. I've got this feeling that I'm going to jinx things if I tell them before I actually get a position.

My brother knows, and he thinks it's great - an excuse to get cheap holiday for him and his daughter
Most of my friends are pretty supportive, all my work colleagues wished me loads of luck when I left today (not going to see them until after my F2F on Friday)
About the only people who really don't think I should be doing this are my boyfriends parents! I think they just don't want me to leave him behind, they don't seem to understand what a great opportunity this is. They just see it as me flitting off for 12 months for no reason. *shrug*

 

me too! I loved that I came out of my interview really flustered and then was calmed down by the chatty irishness of you!! We're going to have some great merch times I'm sure. And park times. And going out times. Gonna be awesome.

Vikki- I sort of only half told my parents that I was considering it, then told them just before the interview...then when I got waitlisted they were kind of supportive until I found out a few weeks later (well, I think it was 8 weeks...but at uni there were no weeks!!). Iguess once you know the result you could tell them? Wishing you lots of luck for the interview- you'll do great

x x x x

 

Yea, I'll definitely be telling them if/when I get a date! If only so I can say "I don't want Christmas presents this year, I need money! Oh, and I won't be home for Christmas next year" *giggle*

 

haha - yea! iv planned my leaving party for the weekend before i fly out, and invited loadsa family, friends etc. i cant wait, not dreading it! im glad that il be able to say goodbye to ppl properly and have a fun time, il prob get drunk and emotional at the end and have a wee cry but il be ok. my mum will be a mess when im leaving tho... empty nest syndrome indeed! my brother left for australia for a year a few months ago too! my poor mummy! lol

i said to ppl that its optional dress up, so we shall see how many ppl turn up with mickey ears on! haha ;D we just love any excuse for a party here in ireland, how sterotypical! :
xox

 

omg chick - dont even talk to me about men!!! ahhh! lol theyre all melters!!! no offense to the ones on this site ofc :
the only person i was dreading to tell that i got through was my boyfriend, i was a mental case tryin to figure out should i tell him now right away or wait till i next see him f2f! but i figured id tell him then and there, because knowing the social network of facebook etc - he woulda found out from someone else! and that wuda been 100 times worse!!!! :-\
but when i did tell him, he wudnt speak to me for a day or two and was clearly angry and accusing me of leaving him etc... was just being completely unreasonable! MEN! lol
but then i was just thinking it was a big change in decisions with us and he didnt want to lose me etc. so i waited a week to see if he would let it settle in and let him think it over etc. and he came round and apologised for being unreasonable and saw that this was what i always wanted to do, and was a dream of mine and he wanted me to be happy but that he would miss me like crazy. but im only way for a year, it will fly by! and im gonna make the most of my time over there and do everything!!!!!!! ;D

so for the next 2 months before i go im gonna have fun and make lovely memories before i leave and have no aggro or frustration, other than organising visas etc! i think thats a good plan

so yea, doesnt matter what other ppl think - just follow ur dreams and do what makes u happy! and they should be happy for you!
xox

 

HAHA - chick all the time is gonna be awesome times! im gonna party like i dont have to go to work the next day! lol.... well in moderation! i love planning partys too, so expect many a cocktail party especially
yea ppl say im easy going or whatever, i just dont like to get to flustered as you say about things. and i wana make sure yous were all okay and not worrying too much so we could have a nice time and good memories from london and now were gonna make a million magical memories in DISNEY! WOOOHOOO!
xox

 

I didn't tell my parents until my f2f that I had applied.. and they were kinda ok with it but then when I actually got the job they freaked out.. I'm taking time off school to go down, so they are worried that I won't come back.. which I sort of get bc it is Disneyworld! haha.. but my brothers and most of my friends are really excited for me.. although I have got the 'So you're going to Florida for a year to work on a popcorn cart, you probably won't save money and it doesn't count for school?' It's all good though bc I just reply with a 'Yep, I'm going to spend a year in the happiest place on Earth!' Generally they stop after that lol

 

When I started the process of applying for the CRP in August 2009, I had told my parents that I would do this program. They have been very supportive, though I had to pay all the expensives myself When i got my congratulation letter I managed to not say anything before the evening. It was very hard to keep it from them, since they ask several times a day if I had got any answer from Disney yet. But when I told them that evening, they were very happy for my sake.
Mom do not like that I am leaving, but thinks it is a good oppurtunity!

19 days encounting...

 

Oh no, my boyfriend himself is so supportive of me! He doesn't want me to go (of course) but he doesn't want to be the reason I don't. He still wants me to follow my dream though! I remember one night he was being rather quiet, and I asked what was up. His answer - he's afraid I'll get the job, go out there, and not enjoy myself! How sweet is that?! I love him so much for letting me do this, and we'll be trying to save as much money as possible so he can come and visit me a few times while there!

 

my folks were fine about it, i think they were a little worried about me going off abroad "on my own" for the first time (when in reality tho i had actually left home and moved 400 miles away anyway when i was 18......!! think it was more being so far away that they were a little worried about!!) but they were happy for me and came over to see me so they got to see what it was all like etc

my friends were all pretty envious that i was getting to live in america for a year!!!!

i dont ever remember anyone saying anything negative aboout it.......

 

I was leaving work when I found out I'd got a position at disney, I screamed the place down! My poor friend had to idea what was going on because all I could do was jump up and down and scream at my phone!!!!

I couldn't hold it in, not even to tell my parents first! I wanted it to be face to face so while I made my way home I proceeded to ring my closest friends I must of looked like a right nutcase on the bus!

Annoyingly Id beaten my Dad home and couldn't wait for him before spilling my news to my mum and sister. I sat them down and told them that I wouldn't be able to go on holiday to Disneyworld with them next year.....because I'd be already there! I then screamed and jumped around some more

Everyone has been dead supportive, they all know how much I wanted this and everyone is talking of booking holidays to come see me which would be awesome

Not quite sure what I'm doing for a leaving do, think I'm gonna have one with my family and then one with my friends, disney themed of course


Lauren