A Disney College Program How-To: The Phone Interview

Congratulations! You made it through the trenches where most dreams die — the web-based interview! However, you’re not out of the woods yet. I’ve met plenty of CP hopefuls who confidently got to the phone interview and had it all fall apart because they weren’t prepared.

This is the first and only time in your application process where a human will talk to you. Keep that in mind. This is the ONLY time you have to express exactly why you want to be part of this program, why Disney means a lot to you, why you deserve to be working for Mickey Mouse. You get one shot. Make it count.

The DCP website keeps a few questions online to ask potential candidates. “Why do you want to work for Disney?” “What do you think you can bring to the program? Why?” “How do you hope this program will impact your future?” Those questions are just a taste of what an interviewer could ask you.

Know the roles. Disney will consider you for ANY (and I mean ANY) role in which you showed interest. For example, I put a 1 (low interest) for parking/transit, but I hate driving. My interviewer asked if I would be comfortable with my list of interests, and I asked her to remove parking from my selections. She said that’s fine, and I continued my interview with four choices: Photopass, Attractions, Merchandise, and Character Attendant. Read over the role descriptions before your interview and MAKE SURE you’re okay with anything listed under each description.

Here are some need-to-know tips for a great phone interview:

Be prepared. Those questions Disney posts online? Yeah, they actually ask you those verbatim. I scribbled out each answer I had to the three questions and read those answers back to my interviewer. She didn’t see the notepad on my lap during the interview, but she probably noticed I’d thought a lot about why I wanted to work for the company.

Smile. Seriously. Smiling will keep you upbeat and in a pretty good mood throughout what can be a stressful interview. Also, I can pretty much guarantee the interviewer on the other end of the line will be smiling just as much as you. With both phone interviews in two programs, I’ve left my interviews feeling confident and happy rather than petrified and nervous. That’s largely because my interviewer was genuinely rooting for me and I could smile throughout the process.

They’re rooting for you. Recruiters know how incredible a program DCP is. They want as many students as possible to experience it. They want you to succeed. Don’t ever feel like they’re out to get you with a trick question. If you don’t understand a question, as your interviewer for further explanation.

Dress to impress. No, the person on the other end won’t see you. You should still treat this opportunity like a business venture and dress in something you’d wear to an in-person interview. Dress in a way that makes you comfortable and confident. I’ve had people swear they’ve worn pajamas to the phone interview and made it. Congrats to them that unprofessionalism bade well for once. I hope they never brag about that to any other employers, as that’s just a really sad accomplishment. You might as well start practicing professionalism now. “The Disney Look” is definitely something you can get a head start on before your DCP begins.

Be personal. Be the best you that you can be. Disney is looking for individuals rather than carbon copies of Mickey Mouse. They want types of people for certain roles, sure, but they want people whose different backgrounds and experiences can contribute to a diverse and thriving work location. Don’t give answers you’d think Walt would love to hear. Give answers you’re comfortable with and honest about. If you’re truly meant to work for Disney, then your answers will align with what the Company looks for in applicants.

A Disney College Program How-To: The Web-Based Interview

You want to apply, so now what? Let’s learn about the web-based interview. 

There are two sections to this part of the interview. There’s a general form that Disney uses to make sure you’re not a serial killer. Once you get through the basic eligibility requirements, you’ll receive an email about a web-based interview.

It’s severely tempting to think “Ah, yet another internet quiz. This will be SUPER easy!” Don’t think that. Nope. Don’t do it. MOST DCP applicants are cut HERE.

The web-based interview is where you have to know yourself pretty well. You should be honest in your answers, sure, but most importantly, you should be CONSISTENT in how you present yourself. If you say you’re timely on one question but then say you sometimes run 10-15 minutes late on another, the system will notice that inconsistency.

Five helpful hints to doing well on the web-based interview:

Use STRONG answers. You’ll rate things on a scale for most of the interview. Don’t put neutral; you’re effectively saying “I feel ‘meh’ about this.” Disney doesn’t need “meh;” it needs “yay” or “nay.” You either go a STRONG YAY or a STRONG NAY.

Know what you prioritize. Is it safety of Guests? Is it comfort? Is it making people smile? I’ve yet to discover if there are right or wrong answers with this, but I can assure you (and my fellow DCPers will agree) that SAFETY is the number one key with the Walt Disney Company.

Know yourself “Inside Out”

Know yourself. You don’t have time to debate whether you’re messy or clean (or “dysfunctional yet organized” like myself). They want you to push through the entire interview in about 30 minutes. There are a lot of questions. You have to keep moving.

Be honest. If you make it through the web-based interview, your interviewer in the next step will ask you about what you checked for the web-based portion. Not remembering what you put isn’t a great sign, so being honest and true to self helps. That never changes.

Be confident. You got this.

For an intro about the DCP, check out my last post here.

What questions do you have about the College Program? Leave them in the comments area below! There’s no such thing as a dumb question. 

A Disney College Program How-To: An Overview

It’s that time of year: Disney College Program applications are online and ready for YOU.

Ever considered spending a semester away from the hard desks of college classes and instead working for Mickey Mouse?

I spent a year and a half of my life participating in the Disney College Program. I worked

Just a regular night at Fantastmic!

Fall 2013 in the Magic Kingdom at the Stitch complex in Tomorrowland. I spent Fall 2015 at Disney Springs (then Downtown Disney) at DisneyQuest. And yes, #disneyquestisopen. I extended my program into Spring 2016 where I worked at Rock N Roller Coaster and Fantastmic! While I stayed an attractions cast member for all three programs, each work location had its own benefits and challenges. I had fresh experiences each and every day.

There are three elements to the application process:

1. General application.
2. Web-based interview
3. Phone interview

For the next week, I’ll be going over each part of the application process in detail. Feel free to leave any questions you have in the comments below, and I’ll answer them in the posts!

Here are some basics if you’re interested in applying:

– Must be at least 18 years old.                                         

– Must have finished your first semester of college.

– Must be currently enrolled in college at the time of application.

(The following aren’t must-haves but seriously help if you have them)

– Enjoy dealing with people. You’ll have new roommates with whom you’ll hopefully bond. You’ll more than likely be enrolled in classes with people very different from yourself. Oh, and there’s that little bit where you’ll probably work with thousands of people each day. I’m not saying you have to be extroverted! I’m an introvert myself. However, it really helps if you have patience with the Guests (and sometimes cast members) who frustrate you.

– Experience being away from home. Sure, you might try to plan a visit home for a weekend, but not everyone has that luxury. Fall program participants will spend Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas without their families. For some, that’s very difficult. There were several people within two weeks of my Fall ’15 program who quit because they couldn’t handle being away from family/significant others/friends.

– Willing to get out of your comfort zone and try new things. You get out of the program what you put into it. If you never leave your apartment fearing Orlando itself, you will be miserable.

– Know and love the Walt Disney Company. No, it’s not a requirement. It helps enormously. I grew up entranced by Disney movies. I vividly remember my family vacations to Walt Disney World. I know why the magic matters in my life. If you can find that connection, it helps when things get tough. It helps when you have days when Guests yell at you. You find the magic in your memories and it reminds you why you pursued this opportunity in the first place.

Mickey ears are all the cooler when you match your roommates. 

The perks are endless. There’s the whole getting-into-the-parks-free bit. You’ll rub elbows with all sorts of insanely talented people. You have opportunities to learn first-hand from professionals who are the best in the business. You get insane discounts for yourself and your family. You form close bonds with some of the best people you’ll ever meet.

You never know until you try! Apply today!

Applications for Spring 2017 are LIVE! Click here to apply!

My DCP Review

This fairytale came to an awkward close. The princess didn’t get a knight, prince or court jester. She didn’t even get financial stability.

My second DCP did not come with a fruitful return, and thus, I’m leaving the Disney Company indefinitely. And that’s okay.

I spent the last five months of my life watching a major powerhouse completely restructure one of its assets. I saw budget cuts devastate full-time and part-time employees barely clearing 40 hours each week as they were only scheduled 30 or less. I heard about my CEO’s paycheck, the streamlining of positions to save a few more millions. We can’t say “Thanks, Shanghai” sardonicly without a bitter pang that there’s more to the story.

I spent the fall portion of my program furiously applying to Professional Internships, adjusting my resume and cover letter to meet every specification listed on an individual application. I took pride in graduating Summa cum laude, completing a Masters-level thesis project and having my stories mentioned and quoted by Washington Post and Sports Illustrated. Maybe I assumed too much, but I sent each application in with a sense of success and with the expectation of two phone interviews. After all, “if you can dream it, you can do it,” right?

Silence.

The four rejection emails I received were automated and cold, which is fair given the size of the Company. I’m assuming never hearing back from the other five applications were also rejections as well. What I didn’t expect was the brutal honesty from one of my meet-and-greets: the resume section is ALL automated unless a department wants it another way. Most departments don’t want to read through the hopes and dreams of applicants; it’s clearly easier to have a computer do the emotional bits. I bitterly laugh at the irony of computers weeding out candidates for writing internships. The most impassionate creations deftly scanning for “keywords” of writers who spend time crafting a variety of ways to express themselves.

It all felt, well, very non-Disney.

I doubt if Walt himself would be able to land a PI interview. After all, he could barely negotiate contracts. (Roy, on the other hand, would probably make it to the final round of a management internship.)

You can be angry at me for not playing the system. You can call me naïve for my bitterness. I’m nothing more than a stubborn millennial who doesn’t want to earn her keep, right? My 60-hour work weeks during holiday seasons, dealing with thousands of Guests each day, telling irate parents their child doesn’t meet a height requirement and getting screamed at — none of it will ever show enough commitment to this place for some people.

“That’s what you signed up for,” the voices echo. “You’re supposed to be nice. You knew what you were getting into.”

Well, yes and no. I love making magic. I love seeing a kid terrified of riding a ride come off triumphant and shouting “we have to do that again!” I love having families reunite at their favorite place if only to spend a few days together. Those moments are truly inspiring, and they are why I worked for Disney.

But since when does making magic and offering excellent customer service stay confined to one company? In the words of Dream Along with Mickey, why can’t I “take the dream with [me] wherever [I] go”?

I had the honor of meeting Marty Sklar –Walt Disney’s personal ghost writer– several months ago at a book signing. The experience itself was life-changing, and his book offered an unexpected glimpse into Imagineering.

The first half of Sklar’s book explores the 10 Commandments of Imagineering and creativity. The latter half consists of over 75 anecdotes from current and former Imagineers. Nearly all of them admits to having most experience outside of the Disney company. They do not speak highly of the opportunities for WDI interns –the most coveted professional internship within the Company. If anything, overzealous interns are criticized for entering into their dream job unwilling to adjust to outside input.

I spent time recently thinking up the Disney executives who left the company and returned to a higher position. The list was quite lengthy, and Lasseter’s existence on the list was enough to comfort me.

To my friends still in Orlando pursuing their professional dreams, good luck. I know a majority of you were left with the awkward silence after putting in full-time and part-time applications, even after going above and beyond in your work locations. I hope that answers come and bring favorable news when they do.

I love Disney, and that will never change. I still tirelessly follow the Disney Parks Blogs, Oh My Disney and DisneyStyle accounts for new information about the company. I will forever love the thrill of walking down Main Street USA and hearing the Dapper Dans serenade a new set of ears.

I’ll keep blogging remotely from wherever when announcements are made or whenever I have an Oh My Disney moment of inspiration.

But I can’t become so enraptured with the constantly-evolving magic that 20 years of my life passes and I’m stuck with piles of untried dreams under Four Keys Cards receipts.

Sometimes, the best stories are the ones where a lofty goal isn’t reached. The princess lands a fresh adventure and a quest begins anew.

 

A Holly Jolly Disney Christmas Playlist

‘Tis the season for Christmas music! Why not add some pixie dust to your playlist?

 

This playlist features: Pentatonix’s “Let it Go”

Idina Menzel’s “When You Wish Upon A Star”

The Muppets, “One More Sleep ’til Christmas”

“As Long as There’s Christmas” from Belle’s Enchanted Christmas

Aly & AJ’s “Greatest Time of Year”

spotify:user:1211545499:playlist:6M0lYJTB6HRqPe01TWLPcC

Need more Christmas cheer? I’ll be updating the playlist with more music in the coming days! Subscribe to get all the new tunes!

 

Why Going to Disney World and Graduating are the Same Things

You’ve slaved away for four (or five…maybe six) years, just waiting for this moment. You even decorated your wardrobe to express your excitement.

Cap courtesy of Elyssa Carmony.

You have to stand FOREVER in lines with people who will not stop talking.

And then there are all these people you have to deal with.

Let’s not even get started on the pictures. All 2.5 million of them.

Then the moment comes. After nearly two hours of waiting, you finally get what you came here for.

Suddenly, the complaining stops as your dreams come true. You did it.

Image courtesy of WKU Media.

It’s only moments after you left that you’re overwhelmed with a sense of wanting to do it all over again.

Disney College Program – What I Learned 1 Year Later

It’s been almost a year since I completed my Disney College Program experience. I left an exhausted shell of a human (thanks, New Years Eve shifts), and I slept the entire drive back to Kentucky. I didn’t think I’d miss it. I went to the parks whenever I got the chance. I had enough Disney movies on VHS to sustain me. Disney depression might exist for some people, but not me. I was above it.

Wrong. ALL WRONG.

I confess my role with Walt Disney World had absolutely NOTHING to do with my journalism degree (much to the chagrin of my adviser and professors). I thought the only “practical” thing to come out of this experience was this blog, which I marketed as validation I put my writing skills to good use.

In doing so, I neglected a plethora of other skills I could actually put on a resume (GASP).

So, for those of you confused as to how to market your mad spieling skills from Attractions or ability to serve thousands of hotdogs per day in Quick Service, here’s how to break it down:

1) If you spieled, congratulations! You have excellent lung capacity, a knack for pantomiming, and a penchant for remembering/relaying information to Guests.

2) If you worked Attractions, your nimble and adept fingers can push multiple buttons in order to restart a 101.

3) Merchandise people, be sure to mention your ability to stay awake until ungodly hours of the wee morn as you stock and organize.

4) Character performers, congratulations. You’re so freaking special. Everyone worships you at the parks. Why do you even need a resume? Just get some headshots done. You’ll be fine.

5) Quick Service F&B, bless your souls. Seriously. Be sure to note your ability to operate often-faulty equipment (merch CMs could put this down, too). Mention your ability to take physical injury and excessive verbal abuses simultaneously.

6) Hotel people, you’re business-y types. You’re probably in hotel management and already have “people-oriented” listed somewhere on your resumes in neatly-organized serif fonts.

7) EVERYONE WHO MADE IT THROUGH DCP: You all have people skills. You all worked hours/shifts you didn’t think you could finish. You worked in conditions and lived with people you might not have liked against your will. You missed family functions, holiday traditions and other opportunities to devote at least five months of your life to making other people happy.

YOU make the magic in the parks, and the boss-mouse couldn’t do it without you.

Good luck putting that on a resume.