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...
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