Please help me out and take this survey on cruise tourism.  This is for my research project.  The more people I get to take my survey, the more accurate it will be.  It only takes a few minutes and it is really easy.

Name: Brianna

Birthdate: February 25, 1990, turning 23 on Monday.

Hometown:western NY. Currently go to school in Salem, MA

Major: Geography with a concentration in Travel & Tourism

Current Job: Party Hostess at Monkey Joes

Role: Hospitality

Arrival/Departure: June 3rd 2013 to January 3rd 2014

Flying or Driving: Flying

Other(Twitter/Facebook): Twitter:@briannanelson Facebook: facebook.com/nelson.brianna

  HOUSING PREFERENCES 

Building: #1 Patterson #2 Chatham

Number of Roommates: 5 to 7

I could not live with a roommate that: Doesn’t respect my stuff, eats my food without asking, and constantly leaves dirty dishes in the sink.

I'm looking for a roommate: I really want someone that’s easy to get along with.  I would like someone to hang out with and go to the parks with. Ideally I would love to have someone that’s looking to stay in Orlando after the program.

  LIFESTYLE INFO.

Do you drink? Occasionally I love wine ;)

Do you smoke? No

Do you like to party? Occasionally I’ll go to a party and go out to the bar. Not big on wasting a ton of money. I definitely won’t be drinking with anyone under age. (not going to risk it sorry kiddos)

Medical conditions? none

Messy or Tidy? I’m pretty tidy. Sometimes I don’t take care of my laundry right away but I hope my roommate understands.

Do you like to cook? I occasionally cook but not too often.  I’m willing to learn and try new things.

Night person or morning person? I suppose I’m a night person because I don’t like getting up early.

  ROOMMATE STUFF 

Favorite chore? Its strange but I like cleaning the bathrooms except the tub. I like killing the germs and bleaching everything. I can’t stand a dirty bathroom.

Least favorite chore? Cleaning all the splatters out of the microwave after they’ve been sitting in it for awhile

How do you feel about sharing? As long as they ask I usually won’t mind

Do you snore? Nope

What time do you usually go to bed? It all depends on what my schedule is like.  Lately I’ve been going to bed around midnight but I know I’ll be working late hours in Florida so my sleep schedule will be different.

What time do you wake up on free days? It all depends on when I go to bed. I don’t like to sleep past noon because I feel like I’m wasting the day away.

I prefer to sleep in a room that: is quiet and dark

  PERSONAL STUFF 

Three words that describe you: friendly, driven, respectful

One good quality:  I’m easy to get along with

One badquality: procrastination

5 FAVORITE TV SHOWS: The Bachelor, Real World, Survivor, Teen Mom, Snooki & JWoww

5 favorite movies: PS I love you, Monsters Inc, Toy Story, Easy A, Grease, Elf

Favorite quotes: “You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world.. but it requires people to make the dream a reality” Walt Disney

Hobbies: Shopping, watching movies, playing games

Sexual Orientation and Relationship Status: Straight and in a relationship

  DISNEYSTUFF 

Favorite Movie: Does Pixar count? Monsters Inc if it does.

Favorite Character: Eeyore

Favorite Princess: Ariel

Favorite Villain: Gaston

Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom

Favorite Ride: Tower of Terror

How Many Times Have You Been to Disney? I did the college program already soo too many to count.

ACCEPTED

Hospitality Cast Member Fall Advantage!

Step 1

Go to disneycollegeprogram.com and click apply!

Step 2 Basic Info

Fill out basic information about yourself. Name, address, SSN, previous work experience, etc.  Make sure you have all this information readily available.  This is all basic information that would be asked if you were to apply anywhere.  I suggest you have in mind the roles you plan to apply for also.  A good idea is to put them in number order and know whats going to be high interest, moderate interest, low interest, and no interest.  Also make sure you read the role descriptions well and watch the videos.  Don't feel like you need to have interest in a role that you don't think you will like. I'm being picky this time around and I listed my role choices below.

Concierge High Interest

Hospitality High Interest

Vacation Planner High Interest

Attractions Moderate Interest

After you send in your application you will receive an email saying thank you for applying.  Don't be alarmed if you don't receive the email right away it may take some time.  Mine came about 45 minutes after I submitted my application.

Step 3 WBI

After you submit your application you will receive an email stating that you need to take the web based interview. The web based interview email may take some time to get to you.  I didn't receive mine until about a hour after I submitted my application.  If you have applied to the college program in the last six months and passed the WBI you will not need to take it again.  Also if you are an active cast member you will not need to take it.  If you failed the WBI and it has not been 6 months since, you will need to wait 6 months before you can apply.  I participated in the college program in 2010 and still needed to complete the WBI.  

The Web Based Interview is a personality test.  Basically they want to know what type of person you are.  This part isn't hard just make sure you read the question fully and don't rush it.  People that fail this section most likely didn't read the questions right, rushed through it, or didn't have consistent answers.

Step 4 Scheduling Phone Interview

Immediately after completing the WBI you will know if you are able to move onto the next step or not.

Soon after receiving the good news that you passed you will receive an email about setting up a phone interview.

My phone interview is set up for this Monday. 

And your dashboard will look like this:

Don't wait till you arrive in Florida to find roommates! Make sure you join the Facebook group and find people with the same arrival date.  Talk to a few people before you make the decision there will be plenty of people to chose from.  Be sure to make sure you talk and agree on the basic things like where you want to live, how many people you want to live with, what time do you go to bed, what time do you wake up, and other pet peeves you might have.  There isn't a rule saying you have to hang out with your roommates but in my opinion its better if you at least get along.  

I suggest picking the biggest apartment for several reason.  At first I was hesitant into living with so many girls but in the end it ended up working out.  I lived in a Chatham 4 bedroom.  With a four bedroom you get two refrigerators with two full baths and one half bath.  My roommates were the first people I got to know and the first people I went to the parks with.  Because I had so many roommates there was almost always someone else who had the day off.  Now I ended up loving all of my roommates but with this many roommates you are bound to get along with someone in your apartment.  The more people you live with the more people you get to know and the more people to hang out with.

1 Name: Brianna

2 Age: 22

3 When did you do the college program? Fall 2010 extended to May 2011

4 Did you live in Vista Way or Chatham Square or Patterson? Chatham Square then when I turned 21 in February I moved to Patterson.

5 Did you get along with all of your roommates? I loved my roommates Fall 2010 we had our ups and downs but we are like family. However, when I extended my roommates weren't the greatest.

6 Who was your favorite roommate? All seven of my roommates were awesome. I loved them all.  In alphabetical order:  Alex, Ashleigh, Betza, Brittany, Chela, Lee.

7 Where did you work? Attractions Backlot tour shuttles & Rock n Roller Coaster when I extended.  Look at previous blog posts for information about my attractions and costume pictures J

8 Were you good at your role? Yes I was a great employee.

9 Best thing about working there? Best thing about backlot was not working nights because the attraction is only open in daylight.  Best part about coaster was working in a faster paced environment.  There was also more ways to make magical moments by giving out fast passes and letting guests ride again.

10 Worst thing about working there? The worst part about backlot was getting a shift taken and getting time off.  There weren’t a lot of people that worked there and not a lot of seasonal people so getting someone to take your shift was difficult.  The worst part about Coaster was working so late and having the opposite schedule of my boyfriend who worked at backlot.

11 Who was your favorite manager?  Hmm… probably John Byers. 

12 Were you friends with your coworkers?  I met my current boyfriend working at Backlot and met some other awesome people at both attractions.

13 Who was your closest coworker friend? My boyfriend. We were friends for a couple months prior to dating and were hesitant to start dating because of the distance when we went home.  We decided to try it out and see if we could make it work.  After two years we are still together and we will see what happens in the future.

14 Did you have a crush on any of your coworkers?  Not at the beginning.  I was really overwhelmed because so many cps that had already been there were hitting on me.  I came to the program with the thought that I was going to go down there make friends and not get into a relationship.  I had bad relationships in the past and I didn’t want to deal with the long distance.  However, once I started hanging out with my current boyfriend I started to develop feelings and everything that I said prior went down the drain.

15 Was there anyone you would have liked to hook up with/date? Just my current boyfriend.

16 Ever had a guest get mad at you? Yes it happens a lot you can’t let it get to you.  Just learn that not everyone is happy when they come to the most magical place on earth.

17 Ever get a reprimand? Nope

Your Favorites:

18 Park: I’m a kid at heart & I love MK

19 Parade: Boo to you Parade

20 Hollywood Studios show: Fantasmic

21 Disney Character:  Pooh Bear

22 Land in the Magic Kingdom:  Tomorrowland because I love Space Mountain & Monsters Scare Floor but I love Fantasyland and I cant wait for the expansion.

23 Country in the World Showcase: Mexico for the tacos, chips, and margaritas

24 Your top 5 favorite attractions: 1:Tower of Terror 2: Everest 3: Space Mountain  4: Jungle Cruise  5: Pirates

Did You Ever:

25 Eat at the Sci Fi Dine in Theater: yes

26 Go on the Carousel of Progress: yes “it’s a great big beautiful tomorrow”

27 Ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority: yes

28 See Drew Carrey's "Sounds Dangerous": no

29 Eat a Turkey Leg? Yes my last day at the parks I went to MK after work just to get a Turkey Leg and a Brownie Sundae. I ate it all too.

30 Figure out what the Splash Mountain song is really saying: nope I only rode Splash Mountain a few times because I didn’t want to get my hair wet lol

31 Get annoyed by the opening movie in Test Track: nope I just quote it word for word 32 Take any Disney classes:  No I regret it I will if I do the program again

33 Take the bus: Yes I didn’t bring my car to Florida 34 Ever seen someone famous: John Stamos!

35 Do something you weren't supposed to do on a ride: the seatbelt trick on tower where you sit on part of the seatbelt when they check them so you fly up higher on the ride until I heard people were getting termed for it and I stopped.

36 Have you visited anyone that you knew on the Program? I went to visit my roommates family in Georgia and I went to Miami after I extended to visit my old roommate

37 Have you dreamed about Disney World since you left? I think about Disney constantly

38 Would you ever consider moving to Orlando? Soon after graduation

39 Would you ever do another College Program? Yupp

40 Would you ever do a Professional Internship? That’s the plan if I can get one

41 Are you a campus rep? no I’ll be applying when applications come out this month

A friend of mine is on a PI with Disney recruiting right now and he say that the application process is changing.  They are getting so many college program applicants that they are increasing their standards.

It really stinks for me because I might be able to graduate over the summer and might be able to go back earlier than expected.  Now it looks like I'm going to have a harder time getting in.

My advise is that if you are offered a chance to do the college program now DO NOT PASS IT UP! The chance may not happen again.  Start practicing for your phone interview now and build up that resume! 

No problem!

I did the college program Fall 2010 and extended till May 2011.

It has come to my attention that the role descriptions on the Disney College Program website are not as good as they used to be.  When I applied for the college program the Disney website went into great detail on every role.  They may go into better detail when you actually submit your application but I'm not sure because I haven't applied since 2010.  The role descriptions below came from the old college program website.

Attractions Responsibilities may include:

Working at one or more of the "rides" or theater shows

Loading and unloading Guests from an attraction

Operating sophisticated ride systems

Memorizing and delivering lengthy narrations on a microphone to large groups

Handling the evacuation of an attraction when necessary

Monitoring Guest flow and providing a safe Guest experience

Assisting with audience control, including during parades

Operating a motorized vehicle

Cleaning areas surrounding attractions

Working with FASTPASS®, the ticketing distribution system that confirms attraction ride times

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  Bell Services/Dispatch Bell Services Dispatch is a non-tipped role.  Responsibilities may include:

Assigning luggage deliveries, including directing bellmen

Greeting Guests upon arrival at resorts

Handling and storing luggage, which requires heavy lifting (including overhead lifting)

Using a computerized dispatch system, multi-tasking

Answering Guest calls and responding to service requests

Taking luggage off buses, vans and cars

Tagging luggage

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Hostess Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Hostess is a non-tippedrole. Responsibilities may include:

Performing all duties in character of "Fairy Godmother in Training"; therefore this role is open to females only.

Styling hair on Guests of all ages, including small children

Performing a variety of hair techniques including braiding, teasing, shaping, finger curls, and twists

Applying facial makeup

Painting nails or applying press-on nails

Utilizing a computerized reservation system

Checking Guests in for their scheduled appointments

Interacting with children of all ages, including calming upset children

Working in a high-volume, fast-paced environment

Receiving shipments of products, monitoring stock levels, and restocking as necessary

Responding to special Guest requests

Standing for extended periods

  Character Attendant  Responsibilities may include:

Providing Guests with information about show schedules, Character locations, and visitation times

Providing audience control, including handling challenging Guest situations

Ensuring the safety of Character Performers and our Guests

Partnering with Disney's Photopass® photographers

Maintaining show quality and Character integrity

Setting up and removing stanchions, ropes and poles

Assisting Character Performers with putting on costumes

Retrieving and arranging strollers

Maintaining cleanliness and order in work location

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  Concierge  Responsibilities may include:

Completing check in/check out process for concierge club-level guests by inputting and retrieving information from resort computer system

Proactively greeting guests, exhibiting the expected high level of Disney show quality, often times interacting with VIP's, celebrities, and executives

Creating individualized ticket packages

Being comfortable in a strong sales environment

Making reservations and handling any special requests from guests

Handling cash and other forms of payment, including foreign currencies exchange

Maintaining cleanliness of common guest living/dining areas within concierge club-level

Assisting with luggage and other deliveries to guest rooms

Working concierge buffet line which can include maintaining overall cleanliness of buffet area and replenishing food, washing dishes, serving alcohol, maintaining inventory of liquor, and partnering with culinary team to ensure food quantity

Partnering with property VIP tour guides

  Costuming  Responsibilities may include:

Issuing costumes to fellow Cast Members throughout Operations and Entertainment Locations

Operating a computerized costume checkout system

Working around performers in various stages of dress

Operating basic laundry equipment

Repetitive overhead reaching, bending, and heavy lifting

Moving heavy costumes from location to location

Handling and laundering soiled garments

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Working independently

Please note that this role is "backstage" and provides minimal to no Guest interaction.

  Custodial  Responsibilities may include:

High Guest interaction while working independently

Extensive cleaning - including restrooms and toilets

Working with cleaning chemicals and equipment

Bussing tables in restaurants and outdoors

Sweeping and mopping

Emptying trashcans, lifting heavy garbage bags

Driving pargo carts

Vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning pool decks

Providing Guest information

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  Full Service Food and Beverage  Full-Service Food and Beverage is a non-tipped role. Responsibilities may include:

Greeting and seating Guests in restaurants

Managing a seating chart and resolving Guest situations

Utilizing a computerized reservation/seating system

Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers

Rolling silverware, folding napkins, and keeping area stocked

Light cleaning, multi-tasking

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  Hopper  Responsibilities may include:

Working in different locations within the same role, or working in multiple roles

Must be receptive to working in all of the following roles:

Quick Service Food & Beverage

Merchandise

Attractions

Main Entrance Operations

Custodial

  Hospitality  Responsibilities may include:

Must be willing to work in all of the following areas but might only work in one:

Front Desk

Luggage Services

Dispatch

Telephone Room

Checking Guests in and out of resorts and processing payments

Assisting Guests with itinerary planning and ticket sales

Handling complex Guest situations, problem solving

Operating computer-based reservation and ticketing systems

Lifting, tagging, and delivering luggage

Handling large amounts of cash

Answering Guest telephone calls

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  Housekeeping  Responsibilities may include:

Cleaning multiple Guest rooms including toilets, showers, sinks and tubs

Working with cleaning chemicals

Replenishing linens

Making beds, requiring repetitive bending and pulling

Pushing large carts

Dusting and vacuuming

Emptying trashcans

Responding to Guest requests for items or directions

Heavy lifting, standing for extended periods

Working independently with limited Guest contact

  Lifeguard  Responsibilities may include:

Monitoring Guests’ safety in water and on slides/attractions

Physically challenging work and prolonged exposure to outside elements

Providing first aid and basic life support in the event of Guest injury or illness

Strong swimming skills

Keeping recreational areas clean

Providing Guest information

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

During off-peak seasons, assisting other operating areas throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort, including performing roles other than lifeguarding

Each individual must be evaluated and certified at the Walt Disney WorldResort. All lifeguards must pass a swim test and a vision screening that requires 20/20 vision with or without corrective lenses. In the event you do not pass the swim test described below, you will be placed in another role based on availability.

Lifeguard Swim Test

Swim 200 yards (183 meters) freestyle or breaststroke

Retrieve a 10-lb (4.5 kg) brick from the deepest section of the pool (minimum 8 feet / 2.4 meters)

Tread water with hands out of the water for two minutes

Participants reserved a Lifeguard position must complete a pre-qualification test prior to their arrival. Participants must have a certified instructor validate skills and complete a form that must be sent to the Recreation team no longer than 2 weeks prior to a participant's arrival. This form is available on this Web site to those extended invitations to participate on the program as a lifeguard.

  Main Entrance Operations  Responsibilities may include:

Working in one or more of the following areas:

Parking

Staffing outdoor Toll Plaza areas

Operating a large motorized parking tram

Delivering narrations on a microphone

Park Greeter

Greeting all Guests who enter the park and validating their tickets

Operating turnstile areas

Ticket Operations

Selling various ticket media at our water parks, Downtown Disney®, or Disney's Wide World of Sports®

Using computerized ticketing systems

Strong knowledge of Walt Disney World Resort ticket media

Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers

Assisting with audience control, including during parades

Cleaning main entrance areas

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  Merchandise  Responsibilities may include:

Demonstrating and selling merchandise in indoor and outdoor areas

Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers

Stocking and cleaning shelves and carts

Receiving/putting away stock and deliveries

Stroller/wheelchair rental - including repetitive lifting, stacking, and pushing strollers and wheelchairs

Preparation of food/candy

Selling of alcohol and tobacco

Providing information to Guests

Approaching Guests and engaging them in conversation

Preparing packages for shipping/delivery

Working independently or as part of a large team

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  PhotoPass Photographer  Responsibilities may include:

Assisting Guests in photographing their vacation memories

Operating digital technology including: digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, PDA, and image fulfillment stations

Carrying camera equipment for extended periods of time

Approaching Guests and engaging them in conversation

Answering Guest questions

Suggestive selling; explaining features and benefits of Disney PhotoPass product

Achieving monthly goals

Partnering with Character Performers and Character Attendants

Working in multiple locations - potentially all four Theme Parks in any given week

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  Quick-Service Food and Beverage  Responsibilities may include:

Selling food and beverages at outdoor carts and/or indoor restaurants

Taking and filling orders, multi-tasking

Preparing and assembling food items in a kitchen area, including the use of a fryer, grill, broiler, and other industrial cooking equipment

Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers

Bussing tables, washing dishes, cleaning kitchen equipment, and emptying trash cans

Dispensing and selling alcoholic beverages

Setting and stocking tables, outdoor carts, and restaurants

Heavy lifting, pushing heavy carts

Working with cleaning chemicals

Working independently or as part of a large team

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

  Recreation  Responsibilities may include:

Assisting Guests in one or more recreational areas such as waterslide operations, towel rental, watercraft rental, marina operations, arcades, or resort recreational facilities

Prolonged exposure to outside weather elements

Strong swimming skills

Providing first aid and basic life support in the event of Guest injury or illness

Keeping recreational areas clean

Cash handling – both manual and using computerized registers

Maintaining safety standards

Answering Guest questions

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

During off-peak seasons, assisting other operating areas throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, including performing roles other than recreation

  Transportation  Responsibilities may include:

Greeting/interacting with Guests in the resort bus load zones

Tracking bus intervals to various locations around the Walt Disney World Resort

Keeping bus load zone areas clean

Operating monorails and/or watercraft vehicles including using on-board computers

Assisting Guests with boarding and exiting vehicles

Delivering narrations via microphone during trips

Using a radio and understanding radio communication

Answering Guest questions about Disney transportation

Assisting with audience control

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

A valid driver's license is required for this role

  Vacation Planner  Responsibilities may include:

Selling ticket media to Guests

Achieving monthly sales goals and maintaining minimum sales requirements

Working with a computerized ticket system, offering Guests tickets from a menu of over 128 different ticket configurations

Having a strong knowledge of the Walt Disney World® Resort and its ticket media

Handling large amounts of cash

Understanding the Guests’ needs while helping them select the right-fit tickets for their vacations

Being able to work under pressure and overcoming Guest objections

Assisting with audience control, including during parades

Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Hi Hope!

First I want to tell you how extremely jealous I am that you are going to Orlando in the Spring!  I know that you will have the time of your life.

Since my program started in Fall 2010 it is hard for me to remember every detail but I'll do my best to answer your question.  All college program students get the option to apply for an extension.  They will notify you about mid way into your program.  The choice is yours if you want to extend.  Since I started out in the Fall my extension was through May.  I'm pretty sure if you were to extend the Spring program it would go to around August.  If you are doing the Spring Advantage program your extension would go to January.

Once again you will be notified when it is time for the extension process.  I don't remember too much about what was on the application but I'm positive you get to pick your top three roles and you do have the option of picking your same location.  In order to be approved to extend you must be in good standing with the company.  This means no reprimand and as little points as possible.

I'm not sure if you know the point system, if you do ignore this.  If not then I'll explain. When you call into Disney sick or personal you will receive 1 point.  If you are late to work up to two hours you will get 1/2 point.  If late more than two hours it is 1 point.  You can also receive points or reprimands if you do something wrong at work.  

3 points in 30 days equals 1 reprimand

6 points in 60 days equals 1 reprimand

9 points in 90 days equals 1 reprimand

I believe its 4 reprimands that will get you sent home.

When I applied for my extension my boyfriend also applied.  He had a reprimand from calling out and didn't get his extension.  I had probably 3 or 4 points from my program and got my extension.  I think it all depends on how many people apply for the extension but the less points you have the better.  However, don't be afraid to call out its okay to do it a couple times just make sure not to overdo it.