You send off your application...you start the waiting game. You check your phone emails constantly...You've done it - you've passed the paper sift…...you have a group interview....time to prepare to show yourself.....it's a long road but can see the light!
You step into the group interview, all looking around the room unsure. There is a buzz in the air!
You're all not sure what it is but you know that you have found your people. Everyone is a mix of nerves and excitement. You interview and hope it went well..
and then that email…..CONGRATULATIONS!
Time for the final interviews - with Disney themselves.
You get up out of bed nervous. It is time. You walk in, see those familiar faces from group interviews.
You go in and tears immediately. Disney show you videos and excitement that change you - even though you've not got the job yet.
You step in. It's a blur and finishes quickly...did I do okay?…..did I come across well?…...did I say something silly?
You're all nervous but that's it...nothing more you can do........
Sleep is non-existent as you wait to set off.
You constantly check your phone. Are my alarms set? Will I sleep through? What if I miss my flight?.....
You double check your packing list and supplies as you listen to the Disney soundtracks! Time to go to the airport. You say goodbye to loved ones…..you tell yourself "it's only a year".
You've spoken to everyone from the Facebook groups but now you'll meet them for real and hope they like you in person as much as they seemed to like you online. You wonder if it would be weird to tell someone you recognise them from YouTube or instagram.
Time to breathe - this is what you've been dreaming of for as long as you can remember.
This moment. Right now. The adrenaline. The excitement. The magic. You look at the countdown clock on your phone one last time. It seems like just yesterday, it read: '200' days. Now, you stare at the giant number 'one' next to those words:
You finally close your eyes.
You stare blankly at the CDS screen and prepare to put your PERNER in for the last time. How did this happen? Why will I miss the message on CDS every day telling you to have a magical day.
You'll miss the excitement of that CDS slip coming towards you from another cast member, am I getting a rotation from the position l'm not fond of? am I going on break? am I getting to "create magic" for 15mins? am I going to click on CDS and bump back into the same position I just had?.
Surprising how quickly I can enter my PERNER now....day 1, l could barely type it in whilst looking at it from my ID and now I can do it without even thinking.
Someone else just turned up to get their rotation.
You snap back into reality and realize you have yet to clock out. A line of US and CRP cast members have formed behind you, eager to go home after another normal, exhausting, magical day of work.
It must have only been a few seconds that you were staring at the screen, but it feels like an eternity. That rapid pace in which you so very often entered your PERNER before seems foolish in this moment, and so you don't speed through.
You salvage the time you have left, pausing in between each number. You finally get the courage to press enter - the lump in your throat must be visible as you try to swallow. You tear off your assignment slip one final time. So many of these receipts destined to the trash can next to the manager's desk. But not this one. This one goes straight to your wallet!
Now, you stare at those words:
"It is time for your bump out."
