The ideas in our head.

Before I arrived on May 19th and started the journey of my Disney College Program, I had all these ideas of what it would be like. Whether it was something I read online on a blog, or heard in a Youtube vlog, or even from friends that have also done the program, I formed these ideas about how living down here was going to be, and working, and just the program in general. After talking with fellow college program members I have also discovered they did this too, and so far this program isn't living up to anyone's ideas of what it would be like. 

Yes, we knew we would be working a lot. They do stress that you will be working a lot of hours, and by a lot of hours they mean some weeks you can, and most likely will, work 50+ hours a week. They do say you will have two days off most weeks. That can sometimes mean you will only get one day off, or no days off. It's stressful. Not to mention that sometimes (and by sometimes I mean often) they like to schedule shifts like: Monday: 4pm-11pm and Tuesday 7am-1pm. So you have the 8 hours in between shifts that way they don't have to pay you overtime. Those shifts are horrible, especially if you have to take the bus. which can take 40 minutes to 1 hours to get back to the apartment complexes. 

Let's just say that the Disney College Program has some Pros and a lot of Cons. If you plan to stay with the company after the program, you better apply for a Professional Internship (Also known as a P.I.), that is if you plan to move up in the company. You thought the CP was competitive, wait till you start the application process for that. 

Housing is another story in general. Your experience there totally depends on which complex you live in, and who your roommates are, and how well you all get along. These people are your family, basically, for the remainder of your program. You might as well make the best of it, no matter the situation. If you look at it the wrong way, you will make yourself miserable the rest of your time here. So why not try and see the positive, if the situation allows for the positive.  

You may not always like your job, or your leaders or fellow cast members, or even your housing situation, but you don't have too. You just have to focus on the opportunity at hand. 
I have said to countless individuals, a countless number of times, that I want to go home. I do want to go home. I don't want to be here another minute, but I am not a quitter and I am not about to give up on this. 

Sometimes, this program is all just too much to handle...and you feel like you can't keep your head above water. It's not an easy program. Yes, they pay us. but they pay us below minimum wage and take rent out, on top of taxes. So we bring home around $100 a week (give or take) but we need food,  some of us have bills to pay, and everyone just wants to have some fun. It's difficult to find the balance some days. 

I would never talk anyone out of doing this program, I have found my voice and myself in doing this program and it means the world to me. Disney will always hold a dear place in my heart. Although I will never work for the company again after I leave in January I will always return as a guest. 

I love Disney. I really do, and I have a love/hate relationship with the program. But I try sometimes to see the best in it. 
Have a magical day guys!