Interview a CP: Samantha (Hollywood Studios Merchandise)

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I worked Merchandise at Hollywood Studios in the Backlands, which covers 14 different locations including Tatooine Traders, the area over by the ex-American Idol and Indiana Jones, Stage One (where all the Muppets are!), Oaken's Trading Post, Writer's Stop, the Prop Shop over by the ex-Backlot Tour, It's a Wonderful Shop, and any carts in those areas. Tatooine and Writer's were my absolute favorite places to work!

What was a typical day like at work?

I worked longer than a lot of my friends in other roles; an average shift was between 8 and 10 hours, going up to between 9.5 and 13 during Star Wars Weekends. The times we went in varied a lot too, probably because of the park hours - sometimes I went in a 11 and got out at 7:30 or so, once I was there at 7 am (the worst), and other times I've worked more regular CP hours, like 5 pm til 1 am or so. I had a lot of shifts that would start early afternoon, like 2:30ish.

Because we worked so many locations, we were assigned one loop per day (unless we were in Tat, Writer's, or Wonderful Shop), and we would rotate between three or four locations throughout that day. There was also the possibility of stocking, which left you more or less backstage all day. Most of the time though, the day was filled with great Guest interactions and because back part of the park clears out so early, we were able to really get to know families who came in later in the evening! 

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?

Merchandise was actually one of my top three roles, so I was very happy about it! As much as I knew I wanted this role, I ended up loving it even more than I thought I would!

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

Favorite: Like I mentioned earlier, the Guest interactions in this part of the park were so fun because we weren't slammed with crowds...almost ever, really. Also, I had the most amazing group of people to work with, from other CPs to coordinators to leaders...I just loved everybody so much and I've definitely made friends for life and a bunch of us already have reunion planned in a couple of weeks; spending everyday with them was the greatest!  

Oh yes, and merchantaining, which is entertaining with merchandise, was taken very seriously in my area. For example, when I was in Tatooine Traders, we would play with light sabers, Boba Fett blasters, and wear Jedi Robes on the job. 

Least favorite: I don't know if this is necessarily a part of the role so much as my personal experience, but STAR WARS WEEKENDS. This was such a struggle because we were working 30-40 hours in one weekend, we had 6 solid weeks of one day off per week (not helped by the fact we lost a ton of CPs in May) and everyone's moral had basically hit rock bottom. Also, the Backlands just aren't used to crowds, even during Spring Break. Then Mark Hamill came and that weekend was kind of my breaking point - it was the only time I can honestly say I wanted to leave and wasn't having fun. However, SWW ended and things improved so much! 

Any specific magical moment you want to share?

Oh gosh, there's SO many! One that stands out was when I was working in Tatooine Traders, stuck at Build Your Own Droid, which is the absolute worst. One family was walking off of Star Tours and the droids caught their little girls' eye. They were from Wisconsin (where I grew up), so we struck up conversation pretty easily. The younger daughter left some stickers behind, so I held on to them because I knew she would be back. Of course, she did and when they came back, the dad asked if it would be ok if the younger daughter stayed with me while he took his older daughter back on Star Tours (the younger one didn't like it). I said yes and because no one was building droids at this time of night, I had chance to talk to Princess Isabel and learn about her trip and how much fun she was having. We built about four droids before her family came back and the older sister joined the fun! While the girls built, I found out that their dad used to be a Cast Member, in merchandise, no less! The family was with us for about 45 minutes and Isabel refused to leave, gave me about a dozen hugs before she left, and only left once her dad said they could maybe come back to Studios later in the week to see me again! It was by far the greatest Guest experience of my program. 

Obviously, this is just one of many!

What made you want to do the DCP?

I've wanted to work at Disney since I was 3 years old. I didn't actually visit til I was 4, but my family is so immersed in everything Disney that I've known and loved it quite literally my whole life. When I was little, my mom told me she wanted to work at Disney when she was in college, but she met my dad and ended up staying in the midwest. From that day on, I wanted to work at Disney, but I figured it was like that thing I'll never be able to do. However, when I was at my cousin's wedding in 2009, my aunt introduced me to a friend's daughter who had done the DCP and now works as a leader down there. From that moment, I knew I needed to do the DCP! 

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?

BRING A CAR IF YOU CAN  - seriously, the CP buses are the worst and I wish someone would have told me that. They're never on time, they break down a lot, just...they're a pain.

Also, this is going to sound so cliche and silly, but it's going to go by so much faster than you ever expect, so seriously, make every single moment count. There are so many things I didn't do because I thought I had all the time in the world. 

I wish I would have known to take advantage of the networking events and such as well. I feel like they would have been great experiences and I'm actually considering doing another CP just to make those connections to give me a better chance at a PI. 

What advice would you give to those who want to participate in your role?

Be super outgoing! I know it seems like a pretty obvious thing for Disney, but asking where someone is from or what they're favorite part of the day was can spark a conversation. In my experience, those are the best Guest interactions. 

This probably applies to all roles, but don't be scared during your training because someone will make sure you know what you're doing. I remember learning returns/exchanges/how to charge someone for autographed pictures/making coffee and dealing with Writer's Stop/building lightsabers/where the heck do I clock in was so scary and I was convinced I wouldn't be able to learn it. I did, of course, and you will too! 

If your area is big into merchantaining like mine was, have fun with it and don't be afraid of looking silly. We went CRAZY and Guests loved it!

What advice would you give to people who are interested in doing the DCP?

First and foremost, if you want to be there, KEEP APPLYING!! It took me a couple of tries to get in, but perseverance was worth it! And really be able to pinpoint why you want to do it as well, since I think that really helps in your phone interview. Finally, when going through the WBI, go with your gut always; that was where I got stuck in my first application process. 

Oh yeah, and don't be afraid to reach out to those who have already done the DCP to ask for advice! Most of the time, they are more than willing to help out (my ask is always open!) and give you real perspectives about their role. Helpful as the DCP blog it, it can sugarcoat some things and obviously omit some of the less-than-glamorous parts of the job.  

Interview a CP: Monica (Main Street Merchandise)

Monica was able to walk right down the middle of Main Street USA...every day! Here's what she had to say about her experience working in merchandise in Magic Kingdom!

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I worked in a merchandising role on Main Street East at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Main Street East is the opposite side from The Emporium. I worked in stores such as The Confectionery, Uptown Jewelers, Main Street Cinema, and Town Square Theatre.

What was a typical day like at work?

First thing, I checked my schedule to see what costume I needed, as The Confectionery costume is different from all other Main Street East costumes. If I was working in the Confectionery, once I clocked in and received an assignment, I was generally in that position until one of my breaks. However, if I was not working in the Confectionery, my location and tasks could change every half an hour. Generally, I would help guests complete their purchases at the different stores, assist in watch sizing, customize hats in the Chapeau (my favorite), or working the outdoor carts (my least favorite).

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?

I was pretty open to accepting a number of different roles. I had ranked Merchandise, PhotoPass, Character Attendent, and Attractions in my top four choices. During my phone interview, it became pretty obvious that I was going to be placed in a merchandise role because all the interviewer wanted to talk about was my previous retail experience (I had quite a bit). I was happy about my position - although it would have been nice to learn something new.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

My favorite parts of my job were interacting with guests and my fellow CPs. Making magical moments for Guests is something that I will never forget. My favorite job was to personalize Mickey ear hats at the Chapeau. I really liked working with the sewing machines and putting my own touch on things. My least favorite parts of my job were the long hours. The Magic Kingdom often has extra magic hours late into the night, and as a CP, you are first in line to fill those shifts. However, that said, one of my best memories is standing on Main Street with a group of CPs looking at Cinderella Castle at about 3:30am, when all the guests had left and the park was closed. I also really didn't like taking the Confectionery trash out to the dumpster - it smelled really bad back there!

Any specific magical moment you want to share?

I was lucky enough to be a part of so many magical moments during my CP. One that really stands out to me, was a couple celebrating their 40th anniversary. The Magic Kingdom was also celebrating it's 40th anniversary, and the couple had saved for a several years to be able to spend their in Disney. I was working in Townsquare Theatre as the Photopass check out and it was a slow night. I got to chatting with a Photopass photographer and we both noticed the couple, sitting and waiting for their dinner reservation at Tony's restaurant. We went over to them and started talking to them. They were the nicest couple! We ended up getting on the phone with our supervisors and we got the green light to pretty much do whatever we could to make their trip special. We were able to give them Mickey and Minnie 40th Anniversary plush dolls, a large customized Mickey Rice Crispie treat, Bride and Groom ear hats with their names on it, and the photopass photographer took so many pictures of them, and gifted them all the pictures that they chose as their favorites. What was really sweet was one of the pictures they chose was one where they were posing with me in between them. They said it was their favorite and that they would always remember what I had done for them. It was so sweet!

What made you want to do the DCP?

I have always loved Disney World and have always wanted to be a part of the magic in some way. Their was a presentation at my campus that I attended, and after that, I was obsessed with the idea and couldn't wait to apply!

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?

I wish I would have known how much work it would actually be. You are working a full time job. I had done this before, but just know going in that just because you are at the happiest place on earth it doesn't mean you won't have bad days, cranky guests, and sore feet. Also, I wish I would have known how fast it was going to go by! There are so many things that I kept pushing off to do "the next time" and before I knew it, it was January and time to go home.

What advice would you give to those who want to participate in your role?

Have fun! Interact with guests as much as you can. Never be afraid to ask questions and to learn more about your position.

Interview a CP: Kayla (World of Disney)

Kayla in front of her store, World of Disney!

Ever wonder what it's like to work in the largest Disney store in the world? Kayla spent time to tell us about her experience at World of Disney during her college program!

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I was accepted into merchandise for the Spring Advantage 2011. I was placed at the World of Disney (WOD) in Downtown Disney, which is the biggest Disney store in the world! It’s over 50,000 square feet!

What was a typical day like at work?

I would know ahead of time if I was going to be on a register or if I was going to be stocking merchandise for the day. If I was on a register, the computer would tell me to go to a specific terminal or go interact with guests by passing out stickers or playing with merchandise. I would do that for a few hours, then go on break, and then get a new assignment. This would repeat until I went home.

If I was stocking, I would check where I was- and there were a lot of spots! WOD has 13 rooms, so I could be in any room or backstage organizing merchandise that needed to be put on the shelf. I also got the same amount of breaks as if I was on a register. I worked anywhere from 6 AM- 2AM for between 6-12 hours a day. I usually requested to have more hours so I worked the longer shifts for the most part and averaged 55 hours a week in the summer.

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?

It was my third choice (actually my third choice was attractions but I messed up in my interview and said merchandise). My first choice was concierge and my second choice was the Bibbidi Bobbiti Boutique, but I didn’t meet some of the requirements. I am so happy I worked at WOD. It is my favorite place I have ever worked!

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

I loved talking to guests. Slow days (or parts of the day) were the best because I could give each guest more individualized attention. My least favorite part… well that’s a hard one. I didn’t like stocking certain rooms, especially the jewelry room. In this room specifically, there were so many products that all looked very similar it was hard to find where everything went, and it got messy very easily and very fast so it was hard to keep up on some days.

Any specific magical moment you want to share?

I remember I was checking out a family and we were talking and I found out that they had their camera stolen while they were in the parks. Luckily, security found it but all their pictures had been erased. I asked if they had used PhotoPass on their vacation and they had, so with the help of my manager we let them pick a frame out so they could keep the happy memories of their vacation. That was the first time a guest asked if she could hug me. It was magical for both of us.

What made you want to do the DCP?

I applied my very first semester of community college. I didn’t know what I wanted to major in so when I heard about the DCP I said that’s perfect! So I took some time off school and found out what I wanted to do with my life- work at Disney!

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?

Yes, you really need documentation with your name on it to get your parking sticker. And there is a free car wash in Patterson, you just need to bring your own soap and sponge. I didn’t wash my car for a year because Orlando is a tourist town, there are no car washes. It’s gross.

Kayla with Mickey and Minnie during DCP graduation

What advice would you give to those who want to participate in your role?

Have fun! Pick up shifts at other locations! Since merchandise cast members can pick up shifts almost anywhere, it’s a great opportunity to meet new managers and get a change of pace from your location. I went to 7 different locations besides WOD and there were things I liked about all of them.

What advice would you give to people who are interested in doing the DCP?

Be careful, you might just want to spend the rest of your life at Disney. In all serious though, it is such a great opportunity to learn about how to work with people and how to network. All I ever heard was network-network-network, but I didn’t know how. Near the end of my program I found out that the Service Center at Vista has some great resources for this, so I would check them out.

If you can, take the Disney Exploration Classes, you learn so much and all you have to do is show up and participate and you will get so much out of it. If you can’t, take the individual classes that are offered in one 2 hour block or so if they still have them.

FOLLOW THE RULES. Is Disney strict on what they expect from you? Yes. Do they also tell you exactly what the expectations are? Yes. Don’t do stupid things and you will be fine and have the most magical time of your life.

If you're a current or past college program cast member and would like to share your experience, email your name and role to thedisneyden@yahoo.com to participate!

I hope everyone has a magical day!

Interview a CP: Bethan (Blizzard Beach Merchandise)

Bethan at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I was in Merchandise and I worked at Blizzard Beach. I was there Spring Advantage 2012, but I ended up staying a year. (Jan-Feb and Oct-Dec, I was at Epcot but I was at Blizzard Beach longer.)

What was a typical day like at work?
It kind of depended on the day. Since it was a water park, during March and then May-September we were insanely busy and I was working pretty long hours. I worked 60 hours one week so that was crazy. But anyways, days usually started at 8-9am and went until about 4pm or closer to 6/7pm and sometimes later. We worked mostly 8 hour shifts. It was very rare to get days less than that. In the summer, we were open later so we would be there until closer to 10pm. I remember one day I started at 6:30am because that was extra magic hours and I worked that day until 6:30pm. So basically, our days were completely different- the only thing that was the same was that they were long. We would always start our days cleaning and getting ready and then when they opened the park, we could be sent four different places. We would either be in the main store helping with towel and locker rentals; out with a sign promoting the spots you could rent for the day; at our little mini store that sells goggles and the like; or at our little spot that would sell more lockers and towels and the special places you could rent. Throughout the day, we would get switched out to all the spots depending on the rotation and whatnot. Another job you could end up with was towel run, where we had to walk all over the park and collect all the towels, and take them to where housekeeping would deal with them. During the summer- this would take a long time. And then there were assignments cleaning up the store and magical moments.

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?
I had mostly put down for merchandise so I was very happy with this. I hadn't anticipated being at a water park though- but it was awesome. I feel like it had a completely different and much more relaxed feel than the main parks.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?
The favorite part was definitely the people I worked with. I had the most amazing mangers and the full-time, part-time and other CP's were awesome. I was at Blizzard Beach from March to October so I met a LOT of CP's and they were all awesome. Some of them became the people I hung out with the most.

The least favorite thing was probably the tour groups. They were loud and didn't like to listen to us at all. Especially if it rained, they would come into the store and sit down and make it absolutely impossible for ANYONE (cast members and other guests alike) to get through. One of my managers spoke Spanish and she would tell them to get up and they would just ignore her. 

Bethan and her friends at DCP graduation

Any specific magical moment you want to share?
We had a LOT of freedom at Blizzard Beach for Magical Moments so I got to do it a lot. One of my favorites was when I gave away one of our rented spaces. We got to do this a lot if we weren't super busy and had spaces available. I gave one to a cute family and they were so excited. The grandmother wouldn't stop hugging me and was so excited about the spot. It was adorable and has stuck with me.

What made you want to do the DCP?
I was having a rough time in school and I had heard about the DCP from two of my friends who had done it previously. It seemed like a good time to apply when I did and I am so happy i did. 

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?
I actually found out pretty much everything I wanted to know before I left. I did a LOT of research about everything.

What advice would you give to those who are going to be participating in your role?
Just relax and have fun with it. There will be days where you will hate it because it is so hot and humid and the guests aren't super happy but all in all, it is a truly awesome experience.

What advice would you give to those who are interested in doing the DCP?

GO FOR IT! It was seriously the best decision I had made in my life up to that point. I made some amazing friends and I have memories that I would never give up. Something else I would say- make friends with people at work. You are going to be working long and rough hours with these people, and they are the people you will ultimately end up hanging out with more. I had some great roommates and we had fun when we did hang out, but most of the time I would find myself hanging out with people I worked with because my schedule was similar to theirs whereas my roommates did not always have the same schedule as me. I went about a week one time without seeing my roommate when we were both awake because of our schedules. So seriously, make friends with the people you work with and it'll be so much more fun.

If you're a current or past college program cast member and would like to share your experience, email your name and role to thedisneyden@yahoo.com to participate!

Interview a CP: Sarah (Hollywood Studios Merchandise)

Sarah and some of her coworkers!

For those of you who are interested in participating in Merchandise during the Disney College Program, Sarah was kind enough to tell us about her experience working in this role in my favorite park, Disney's Hollywood Studios!

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I did Merchandise in Hollywood Studios. I worked the entire back half of the park, aka the Backlands.

What was a typical day like at work?

I worked over 15 different locations so I never got bored in the Backlands. My days usually consisted of waking up, packing my backpack and taking the terrible Transtar bus to work! But really.....the E bus was awful. I'd walk back stage to my break room, change into the costume I had to wear that day (the Backlands has different 3 costumes depending on the location), hopefully grab some food, walk to my clock in location and clock in! The day consists of being at registers, restocking over and over again, creating Magical Moments, helping guests, and making sure my store had that Disney look. I'd open and close carts, or build lightsabers or droids if I was as Tatooine Traders, I'd talk with guests about their vacation. Then at the end of the night, I'd help close the store and registers, clock out, and fight to get on the bus to go back home! 

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?

Like everyone else and their grandma, I wanted Entertainment. But I am actually really happy I got Merch. It's basically one of the best jobs ever and you learn valuable skills that translate well to any workplace. I got offered two jobs the week I came home from my program. 

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

My favorite part of it is the guest interaction. You actually have time to talk and get to know your guests. You get to know regulars and the guests that spend two weeks on property; you get to talk to them as yourself, not as a friend of Mickey or Goofy or Peter. You get to Pin Trade and create Magical Moments. You get to make kids smile and you get parents that thank you over and over again because you helped them have a great time. But of course, there are downsides. Guests can be THE WORST. When a guest has spent all day in the hot sun or the Florida rain, they get cranky and mean. When their child didn't get to participate in Jedi Training Academy, they take it out on you. When the foreign tour groups run rampant or the bratty cheerleaders take up most of the park, they will always and forever find a way to make it your fault. If you look ethnic in any way... everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, will assume you speak Spanish or Portuguese. I have had racial slurs thrown at me more than once. 

But the first time you make a kid smile just because you gave them a Mickey sticker, or when an 80 year old avid pin trader finds the pin he was looking for on your lanyard. When a mother cries because you spent ten minutes building a lightsaber with her son and his face lights up when he activates it... man... those are the moments to live for. 

Sarah hugging Peter Pan

Any specific magical moment you want to share?

I was building droids with three kids and their parents. I was a little stressed and I was close to going on break. But these kids were just so cute and polite, I almost didn't want to go on break. When they were done building them, the parents thanked me and each child hugged me, which just warmed my little heart. Then the mother handed me a card that they had made that said, "Oh boy!! You were great!! Special thanks from our family." Tears welled up in my eyes as I thanked them. I carried that card next to my ID for the remainder of my program and I still keep it in my wallet.

What made you want to do the DCP?

I am head over heels in love with Disney....so that's a little self-explanatory. Also I was ready to see the world and I had a tad bit of wanderlust while I was stuck in my small little college town. The DCP was my Neverland and I was ready to stay young forever! 

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?

BRING A CAR. DO IT. BRING ONE. You hear it all the time before your program...BUT DO IT. THE BUSES SUCK. I survived without one. But the time spent on the bus going to and from work or the parks adds up.

What advice would you give to those who are going to be participating in your role?

Get good shoes and good socks and wash them regularly. Your feet will thank you. Also learn the prices for color coded tags by heart.

What advice would you give to people who are interested in doing the DCP?

What you get out of it is what you put into it. You are there to work, remember that if you plan on getting wasted every weekend at House of Blues. It can be one of the best things you choose to do in your life if you have a good attitude. 

If you would like to ask Sarah any questions about her role, experience, anything, you follow and message her on Tumblr! She'd be more than happy to help you!

If you're a current or past college program cast member and would like to share your experience, email your name and role to thedisneyden@yahoo.com to participate!

Interview a CP: Amy (Goofy's Candy Company)

Amy all smiles at work!

I was excited when Amy messaged me to participate in an interview because she has a very popular Youtube channel for her DCP that I recently began watching! An example of her videos and her entire experience is at the bottom of the page, but first let's hear about her experience working in a candy store!

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

I worked in Merchandise at Goofy's Candy Company in Downtown Disney! 

What was a typical day like at work?

I'd take the F bus from Chatham to Typhoon Lagoon and then to Downtown Disney. I usually arrived early because I always took an early bus to avoid being late due to the unreliable busses. If I arrived early I'd usually hang out in cast services, get a coffee and read a book until it was time to walk over to Goofy's. I'd head over and clock in. There were two different kinds of shifts I could work at Goofy's: a kitchen shift or a floor shift. My schedule indicated which kind of shift I had on which days. We had to know in advance because the costume varies slightly depending on the shift. (We had to wear an apron, hair net and hat for a kitchen shift). If I was working a kitchen shift I'd spend almost my entire shift in the onstage kitchen! Possible positions I could have been assigned were "Caseline" (asking guests what treats they'd like from the case and wrapping them for them), "Production" or "Production Assist" (looking at what treats we were short on and then making them and stocking them), "Dip Station" or "Dip Assist" (making the custom orders guests fill out at the dip station), "Caramel Apples" (making, you guessed it, caramel apples), or "Cotton Candy / Candy Apples" (making cotton candy and candy apples). If I had a floor shift, then I'd spend my shift out on the floor. For a floor shift I could be assigned any of the following positions: "Register" (there were 5 registers in Goofy's and depending on the specific register I was placed at, I could be ringing up guests, bagging purchases, greeting guests, pouring icees, getting coffee, or wrapping up treats), "Heart of House" or "HOH" (making sure the floor is stocked / stocking the shelves with product from the back), or "Merchantainer" (handing out samples, waving at guests with a Mickey glove or wearing a Goofy hat and greeting). I always had fun at Goofy's. Because there were two different kinds of shifts, it never got boring! I always felt like I was doing something different! 

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?

Merchandise was my second choice. My first choice was Concierge/ Front desk. Part of me still really wishes I had gotten the experience of working as Concierge. I feel like that would have given me the opportunity to learn so much about the property. And I adore the resorts, so I've always wanted to work at one. However, I am absolutely thrilled with my experience in Merchandise. Looking back on my program I would not change a thing. Goofy's was such an amazing location and I had a blast everyday. Plus, there is so much room for guest interaction in Merchandise, and I'm so appreciative that I was able to take advantage of that! 

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?

My favorite part about working at Goofy's was learning to make all of the candy treats! When I was in the kitchen I loved having people, especially kids, watch me make the treats through the glass. Making fishy faces at the kids always resulted in special funny moments! My least favorite thing about Goofy's would probably be working on the registers. There were days I had great floor shifts, but then there were the days when ringing up the same items over and over made me a little crazy. But that's just me being nit-picky! I really did love my location and I find it hard to find ANYTHING to complain about at Goofy's. 

Amy with an adorable candy apple!

Any specific magical moment you want to share?

There are too many to choose from! There was the time I was greeting with the glove and Goofy hat on and a little boy (maybe 3 years old?) pointed and yelled "Goofy!" because apparently the hat was enough to make me look like him! I always loved making cotton candy in the kitchen because we were allowed to give away as many handfuls of fresh cotton candy as we'd like. So there were dozens of times I'd notice a kid or two staring at me drop-jawed through the glass as I whisped fresh cotton candy out of the machine and into the bags. It was always very fulfilling to be able to grab a fresh handful and pass it out of the kitchen to them as a magical moment! On slow days on the floor I would ask princesses for their autograph and give then a sample of our Goofy Glaciers (or icees) in return. One day in the kitchen a young man told us he was planning to ask his girlfriend to prom in a few days and wanted a way to make it magical. I grabbed a cookie and wrote "Prom?" on it  in cursive with white chocolate, then coated it in sprinkles so it looked nice and pretty. He LOVED it! He was so appreciative and told us he was planning on giving her the cookie during the fireworks at Magic Kingdom (AWWWWWW!) When you work with candy there is no limit to the kinds of magical moments you can make, and I'm so thankful for that! 

What made you want to do the DCP?

I first learned about the DCP during the summer before my sophomore year of highschool. My family and I were on vacation. We were riding the boat from the Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom when the captain (Captain Bruce, I remember him to this day) walked up to us and started chit chatting. He & I instantly started talking Disney heritage, swapping stories and sharing trivia. He paused for a moment and said "you just seem like the type of gal who could make all kinds of magic here in Disney. Would you ever want to work for the mouse?" And of course I've ALWAYS wanted to work down in Disney World. It's my favorite place! I told him that, and he proceeded to tell me about the Disney College Program. From that day on it became something that I wanted to do. I dreamt of it all through high school. I arrived at college as a pre-med major, and even though there was no connection with the DCP and my career choice, I was still determined to find a way to make it fit into my four years of undergrad. And I'm so pleased that I made it work! 

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?

YES. No one warns you how bad your FEET hurt for the first few weeks! From hitting up the parks, to traipsing all over Magic Kingdom during Traditions, to walking all over your work property during orientation, to being on your feet for 6 - 12 hours a day at work... your soles will take a HARD hit at first. Invest in some Dr. Soles insoles IMMEDIATELY. They don't have to be fancy! I purchased some $12 ones and they lasted in my work shoes throughout my entire program! You'll leave Orlando with about a half inch of callus on the bottom of your feet, I swear to you. My dogs have become INVINCIBLE! 

What advice would you give to those who are going to be participating in your role?

The good news is that merchandise is an EXCELLENT role to have experience in, especially in Disney World!  Retail is a huge sector of employment so if you're looking for a summer job or something part time while you're in school, apply for a retail position and let them know that you worked merch for Disney... boom, I guarantee you they'll hire you on the spot! As far as advice: be prepared to stand. a lot. Behind or in front of a register usually. But there are ways to make the best of that! Merchandise gives you so much potential for guest interaction. Stand in front of your register and greet the pirates and princesses that walk by. Ask where people are from. Cheer when you see a family sporting your hometown's sports gear! (I always clapped for Phillies hats or Flyers shirts that made their way through Goofy's). Take advantage of the fact that you get more face time with guests when you ring them up than an Attractions cast member gets as they group families into rows or a Quick Service cast member gets as they plate orders. That being said, there will also be the busy times. Spring Break was crazy and so are the Holidays from what I've heard. Just remember that for every exhausting, repetitive, long shift you endure, there is another shift that is pure magic! Every role has its ups and downs, Merch is no exception. Just go with the flow and try to remind yourself: you're in the most magical place on earth! And you're MAKING the magic! How lucky are you? 

What advice would you give to people who are interested in doing the DCP?

Do it. Do it. Do it. DO THE DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM! It doesn't matter what kind of career your'e interested in for the future, you can learn something from the DCP no matter what. I learned so much about myself, how to live with other people, how to handle conflict... the lessons go on and on and on. There are so many different roles and so many different experiences that go into and come out of this program that there TRULY IS something for EVERYONE. Not to mention you have unlimited access to the most magical theme parks, shopping destinations, resorts and waterparks the world has to offer. Yes, it's true, you work a lot and you may endure many stressful weeks... but the positives completely outweigh the negatives on this program. And each negative has something to teach you. So go for it! It's a fascinating and eye-catching thing to put on a resume, and it's a life-changing and incredibly fun learning experience that I guarantee you will always cherish!

P.S. I also kept a vlog before and during my entire program! If you want to take a look at some of the amazing memories and experiences my roommates and I shared during our time with Disney, take a look at this video:

I made it after I got home from my program. It's a big compilation of all the clips and photos I had from my program! It gives a great idea of everything I accomplished and all the amazing memories I'll have from my program... Think of it as my DCP condensed into 20 minutes!!! And if you like that video, feel free to check out my other vlogs here! I made at least 1 or 2 each week of my program!

Thanks again everybody! Remember, if you can dream it, you can do it!

If you're a current or past college program cast member and would like to share your experience, email your name and role to thedisneyden@yahoo.com to participate!

Interview a CP: Lizzie (Main Street Merchandise)

Lizzie hangin' out on Main Street!

Lizzie is my closest friend that I made on the program. We started as roommates, and started to grow closer because of similar night hours with work. I miss this girl like crazy, and I'm so happy she was able to share her experience working on Main Street with you!

What role did you have during the DCP, and where did you work?

Hi my name is Lizzie! My role was Merchandise and I worked on Main Street East in the Magic Kingdom!

What was a typical day like at work?
Confectionary: Go into work. Work in a candy store all day which is amazing cause I NEVER thought I'd do that. Selling candy making tons of people happy!

Shops: Go to work get an assignment and don't know what stores I'll work in until I get there. Work in numerous locations throughout the night. Which can be fun selling artwork, jewelry, photographs and also hats. A bit different vibe all day.

Is this the role you originally wanted? If not, are you happy you got it?
No I wanted Photopass but it was in my top 5 roles so I was fine with it. Before my program I worked in the Disney Store in my mall so I was used to working in the Merchandise field within the company. I was happy with the location very much so for the role!

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job?
Favorite parts are creating magical moments for families and meeting people from around the world. Also working on Main Street I get the privilege of hearing the parades, shows and Wishes every night. I love singing along and dancing when I'm working.

Least favorite part is being forced extended when the park hours are extended. Also working on Main Street the shops stay open an hour after park close so the hours are a bit crazy.

Any specific magical moment you want to share?
One day I picked up Confectionary merchantaineer. I thought well this is strange cause that's NEVER an assignment. Anyways my friend Taylor and I put stuffed Remy's on our shoulders and walked around the store. Little kids and parents thought it was adorable. A lot of people took pictures with us that day.

Also we magic momented a family that day by talking to them and learning about their family and their vacation. We gave the two daughters cake pops and cotton candy samples. Then the parents pulled out a signature book used for characters, but this book was a bit different. It was filled with cast members signatures and they wanted us to sign it and it was pretty awesome to know I was included in it.

What made you want to do the DCP?

Lizzie with me in the Confectionary!

I've been coming to Walt Disney World about every year since I was two years old. So I've been here a lot and obviously in love with everything Disney. But strangely I never thought that I could work here. So when I found out about the DCP I immediately jumped on the idea and wanted to do it as soon as I could.

Is there something you wish you would have known before doing your program?
The thing I wish I'd known before my program is that you meet so many amazing people here that you never thought you'd meet. I thought that I'd make friends here but not with SUCH amazing people. These are people that you might be lifelong friends with and will always stay in contact with. Then the worst thing happens when your/their program ends and you have to say the hardest goodbyes. So please hangout with these people as much as possible. Make the most of your program with your friends and coworkers!!

What advice would you give to those who are going to be participating in your role?
Just be ready for doing your job but have fun with it. You need to enjoy it. Otherwise its just another job. You need to make it memorable for you and the guests. By the energy at work you have and enjoying what you're doing.

What advice would you give to people who are interested in doing the DCP?
DO IT. You'll meet amazing people, work with amazing people, and just enjoy every second of it.

Lizzie is actually still doing the DCP! She extended through August in her same role, and plans to do a double extension that will last until December! As of now she plans on permanently residing on Florida to continue her schooling and further her career with Disney. Just shows how much the DCP can impact someone's life!

If you would like to ask Lizzie any questions, she has a blog right here that you can contact her with! If that doesn't work, you may leave comments below and I can ask her the questions for you!

If you're a current or past college program cast member and would like to share your experience, email your name and role to thedisneyden@yahoo.com to participate!

Have a magical day everyone!