There are certain people who work in my department here that, how to put this nicely, get everything handed to them on a silver platter. Take for instance the girls who go to auditions, get asked to stay behind everyone else for a fitting and then somehow get the idea that they are going to be friends with said character they had a fitting for.
In all honesty, having that opportunity is a privilege. Dancing in a parade or show is a privilege. For some reason they miss the whole reason they were hired into this company, it's to don grey shirts and blue sweats and hang out with some famous furry friends.
This is what they are doing
Take for example a story a friend told me about one of his groups of new performers. He told me that one girl was adamant that because she had had a fitting in Cinderella's dress, she was going to be dancing and singing just like Cindy does in her movie. He gave her a reality check and told her that she would be spending majority of her time walking Pluto.
Then comes the CP's who get everything. It seems nowadays all the princesses are still in college. And of course because you get to play in the parks with them that makes you 100 times better than everyone else.
I really think that the people in charge need to wake up to all the bitchiness that is caused by people getting handed things so freely and change the way they do things, so that it can go back to the way it used to be where people had to earn their right to be in said show, parade or costume.
Following on two days after our less than happy welcoming, we received a new roommate. His name was Pavlo. Pavlo was a homophobe. He told us that he was moving in because the place he was originally at was disgusting. We didn't see him much, he was always visiting friends till late at night. Two days after he arrived, he left. Apparently it was because the housing people made an error and were going to force him to pay the $100 moving fee. We heard rumours that he moved out because we left our sex toys laying around the apartment. Another one was the Josh and Chris met the first day and had sex in every room. A few nights later our friend Brii, confronted him at a party. He was drinking. Pavlo is underage, that shit can get you termed. Brii told Pavlo off for saying things about her friends. There was no one else around. Pavlo cried. Pavlo got his friends to say they witnessed it. Pavlo's friends reported Brii and made ludicrous accusations against her and what she had said. Brii went to a meeting. They made her sign a confidentially agreement. Brii called her mum in New Zealand. Someone filmed Brii calling her mum. Brii was termed. Pavlo left a few days after and sent Brii a nasty Facebook message. Recently Pavlo's friends have all started leaving, I think they're scared.
Welcome to Disney World! The most Magical place on earth.
Yeah, not really. When we arrived at our apartment, it was a pigsty. There was a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, there was clothes strewn all throughout, the place was a total mess. Good thing I didn't get here first, the two boys who arrived before me went to the main reception area and told them, they were all like "oh it should have already been cleaned, i don't believe you." So a manager came up to the apartment, had a look and got Consuela* and her team to clean it, they did a great job. They spent the best part of two hours cleaning.
We then returned home from shopping to find our locks had been changed, and we had to wait three hours for the key man to come and unlock our door, all the while our frozen food perished. The next morning when we went downstairs to collect our new keys, the staff at the front desk were less than helpful. The woman basically said that the locks were changed because someone left our apartment, she couldn't grasp the fact that we had moved in the day before.
So later that day at our housing meeting where we got our ID's that they stretched the pictures to make us look like how we would at the end of our program, fatter, one of my housemates, Chris, spent forever talking to one of the ladies and we got really worried it was something bad, turns out he was just filing a complaint with her because she's second in charge of the housing company. As two of the people in our apartment are over 21 in a wellness apartment, the housing people printed our ID's saying we were under 21, good thing I noticed, or else we wouldn't be able to drink.
The lady that Chris spoke to, settled everything with the people at the front desk, we even got an apology from the woman there who wouldn't believe us. and we ended up getting a gift card to cover the loss of our frozen foods.
The past four days have been super busy, I'm really tired now.
Day 1
After spending 15.5 hours on a plane, 5 hours waiting in airports, and an hour getting through customs, I arrived at the terminal entrance for Eer Neuw Zulland. I caught the shuttle bus that would take me to the station so I could catch a train in to get to my hotel. The ticket machines wouldn't accept my card, :/ so I went to "Lindy's Liquor" to get cash out, went back to the station and bought my ticket.
My first night I walked about 7kms to Hollywood and Highland to see Cirque Du Soleil's Iris, it was an amazing show, funny and spectacular. Sadly we weren't allowed to take picture's inside the auditorium, because the Dolby (nee Kodak) Theatre is spectacular. After the sow was over, I decided to go take some photos of the Chinese Theatre all lit up.
Day 2
Today I went on the Paramount Studio Tour. It was really amazing all the TV shows and Movies that have filmed there. Our tour guide, who is also a page, told us about stage 19 and it's association with being the "haunted" stage. If it is, it would make sense seeing as how the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is right over the back wall...
Our tour did manage to catch a glimpse of Scott Bayo (Happy Days), as he walked past our cart in a mullet wig, and a random Cheerio from Glee. We got to see the exterior of the Greendale Community High building which was rather exciting, and turns out they film sections of their show all over the lot. As does Glee. Turns out the studio's dining hall substitutes for BreadSticks and the Studio Store is the Lima Bean Cafe.
I took a trip up to the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store to have some lunch, or rather an ice-cream (that came with a limited edition pin). I explored the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, was really average, and the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, which was super impressive. Day 3
I spent this morning at Universal Studios, it's not really a full day park, especially if you get there just after 7.30 when they've just opened. The first thing I did was ride the new Transformers ride. It was super impressive, and I was wowed. I skipped out on the mummy because after being jolted around for 8 or so minutes, all I wanted to do was sit and see if I could spot any stars on the backlot. Turns out Weeds was filming that day, super shattered. I freaked out in the house of horrors, why would somebody go through that without friends or people they know? Bitches who do, be cray.
I took in the sights of Far Far Away next, and watched the Shrek 4D movie, Lord Farquadd's banners look like the Facebook symbol, I lolled. WaterWorld was a good show, as was the Special Effects Stage. I didn't want to stand in a queue for ages, so anything that was too long I skipped... I'm definitely going to get a shock at Disneyland.
I got home and found a message on my wall from Colleen about dinner, she said that there was a group heading to Hollywood for dinner and that I should join them. I did. It was nice meeting them, and eating something proper for once.
I'm sending you all my love and a super big hug all the way from California. Chookas on your opening night. First years, enjoy the excitement and the buzz you get from performing in front of an actual audience. Everyone else remember to smile heaps (DT gives out smile awards), projects and have your head to the front!
It's finally here, the day I leave for the US. A little part of em is scared, but I know that it's going to be a great experience, and I'll have so much fun, yada yada.
A big shoutout to the amazing cast at Camberwell Showtime, who open in two days on Friday 27th July. Make me proud kids!
I set up a flickr account, you can follow me, and biew all of my wonderful pictures.
So update: I've gotten my visa. I was so nervous, but calm at the same time, I had fellow cast member Sofia with me...
Flights are booked. Tickets to Cirque Du Soleil's Iris, USH, and DL. Now that everything is falling into place, all I have to do is save up more money. From here on out, it's the agonising wait till I leave on July 25.
Welcome to the second instalment of my tips and tricks of applying to the Walt Disney World International College Program.
Last time I said how I was waiting for the email from IntRecruiting about our "What's Next?" emails, that came.
The email from Disney explains how you will need to submit a background check. For New Zealanders this is free. For us Aussies, it's another $45 you need to shell out. We were originally told that our checks needed to be submitted no later than June 1st, about a month after receiving that email we got another one saying how they needed them before the end of March, which as we found out from the January group could potentially hold up everyone receiving their welcome packs.
Back to the first email, they also listed information about our medical insurance, and apparently, no, your regular travel insurance won't cover you. Basically when you pay your housing fee of US$100, you also pay your medical insurance fee of US$100, depending on what your dollar is like when you apply, it could be less, mine was.
The next email to come from Disney was yet another one stating our roles and dates, but this one contained more exciting info, like, how to pay your fees, apply for classes and if eligible their roommate matching service.
Another issue that could arise when waiting for your Welcome pack to come, is your Proof of Student Status Form, remember that one, the one you had to get your Uni/Tafe to sign saying that you are actually a student? That could pop up, I had to get it resigned, thankfully I'm about to begin an Advanced Diploma at work, so my trainer just signed it for me.
Then after more waiting you'll receive your Welcome Pack. It's important to check every detail on your Visa paperwork, not doing so could result in you not obtaining your Visa.
But I leave in 140, the plan is to go explore LA, be a tourist, buy some Andrew Christian underwear, you know usual stuff you do in LA. But as an exciting 150 days to go surprise, the t-shirt i ordered came today!
Yeah, that's all for today! sooo excited. need to get onto paying for my second flight. :D
Gah this bugs me so much. We need to have Medical Insurance whilst we're over in Florida, but I think I need Travel Insurance, for things like cameras, laptops, etc... and then they go and say that travel insurance won't cover us whilst we're there. If it won't cover us, why can we get policies for twelve months?!
Some day my prince will comeSome day we'll meet again And away to his castle we'll go To be happy forever I know
Recently I've had some fairly amazing guys come into my life. It's really bugging me why would the universe do this when I'm going overseas. The most recent one I haven't learnt that much about other than that he's a vet, who's recently graduated and is moving to Queensland, he also likes yoga, in several different forms. We met a a bar, I was a wee bit intoxicated, so I can't really remember what he was telling Banj, the friend that I was with at the time, he was totally hitting off with this other guy.
I guess if one of these amazing guys and I were to continue seeing each other and a relationship developed, I wouldn't complain. It's just that, when I leave the country I don't want to be in one, because there'll be heartbreak and sorrow.
I'm sure that if you're reading this post, it's because you're thinking of applying to become a Cast Member (CM) at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.
Believe me, you are going to have the time of your life. Here are some of my tips from when you send in your application to the point when you check into your housing complex. This is a compiled list of things that I've noticed other people posting on their Facebook profiles and just from my general experience.
The first thing you'll need to do is send in your resume. It doesn't need to be overtly flashy, but it does need your interests, previous work history, and education, so the recruitment cast members know a little about you to get the ball rolling in your interview.
Your cover letter shouldn't state how much you love Mickey and Minnie and you want to be friends with them because they are super awesome cool. It does however need to state your intention for why you wish to apply to the program, something along the lines of "I would love to have the opportunity to meet people from all around the world whilst working and learning about how a company such as the Walt Disney Corporation runs their highly successful theme parks."
You can also state how it will help you in your future career, i.e. if you are a marketing student, taking the marketing class will allow you greater insight into the organising and implementation of large nation-wide advertising campaigns.
Once you've sent in your resume a recruiter from Walt Disney World will contact you via return email in order for you to fill in and complete three forms. The first form is the Online Application, it just asks you for all your details again. Second is the Proof of Student Status Form (PSSF), it basically says that you are in fact a real student and not someone who's trying to get into the program without studying at a university.
Lastly is the Role Checklist, each country has a different set of roles they may perform within the park. College Representative Program Members have different roles based upon which country they come from. Summer Work Experience CM's can perform such roles as Merchandise Hosts, Operations and Lifeguards, Academic Exchange and AU/NZ Work Experience have the largest list of roles available to them, from Character Performing to Merchandise Hosts, Park Gate Greeters to Custodial work.
Each program lasts for a specific amount of time, and based upon which program you decide to choose, you could be working for Mickey for anywhere between 3 Months all the way up to a year. I was selected to be a Character Performer for the entire year, something that rarely happens.
You then have the most agonising waiting period ever, between your application being received, and the check in day.
Your interview will happen in one of two places, your home, or at your university. For those of you who have their paperwork all sorted, and there is an interview/information session at your university, you will be able to meet with the recruiter there and then. If, like myself, you were still waiting on forms to be returned to you, you will have to send the complied of the above forms, plus a copy of your passport bio page to your respective recruiting email.
Once you've done that you will need to organise an interview time for yourself with the Disney recruiter. Times will be in relation to Orlando time, for instance, mine was scheduled for 6pm Orlando time, or 8am/9am Australian Eastern Time. Mine happened just after we had Daylight savings come, so 8am was really 9am, the whole hour I stressed something shocking.
During your interview, try not to be overtly nervous, this is only but the biggest thing you will ever do. I mean not to scare you or anything, just try to remain calm and think of it like any other interview for say your local supermarket or pizza shop.
After another agonising seven to fourteen days, you will receive an email that either confirms or denies your place in the program. If your email says congratulations, then YAY for you, however if it doesn't, don't fret, you can always apply for the next round of intake, and hope that you impress the recruiters then.
So the time between when you apply and when you leave is the crazy saving period. You'll need to have proof that you can afford flights home (incase you get kicked out of the program) as well as enough money for Passport, Visa, Servis fees, plane tickets, accommodation for before you arrive, and you'll also need money for your first two to three weeks.
About four months before you depart, you will receive an email from IntRecruiting, as to what to do next. That's where I'm up to, waiting for the "What's Next" email. IntRecruiting say that it's going to be sent very soon. Very soon in my books is like in a weeks time, that was about a week ago that we received this news, hopefully it comes soon.
Until next time, for Part 2 of my tips and tricks of applying to the program...
There is now 200 days till I begin my International College Program, which means we're now in the home stretch. Things that the August group are starting to discuss things like flights, and visas and such.
I freaked out last night, my sister, who's going to europe the month before I leave, we were talking about electrical things we're taking over with us. I went to look at adaptors so that I can plug in my shit, none of them convert energy! But thanks to Contiki, they say that we'll only need an adaptor, but things will take a little longer to charge than usual.
I'm also going to be joining a gym, I have a feeling I'm going to have to be somewhat fit to be friends with a character, especially if I get to be friends with Tigger. Or if I become friends with Goofy, I'll fall over lots, because isn't that what he does, he is very clumsy.
We're supposed to be meeting up today, for like the first time ever, (i'm completely free)
so hopefully the girls want to, I'm' not sure if we've even got any other Melbournians in the group, besides Sofia, Lezly and myself. Hell we may even go to subber's and get cookies and coffee and shiz...
