Saturday, November 3, 2012

ACCEPTANCE!!!

Unlike my last time applying for the DCP, Disney Recruiting didn't send out acceptance emails in a chronological way (first to apply and interview, first to find out). For example: My boyfriend and I applied, did the WBI, and had our phone interviews just days after applications dropped; however, he found out he got accepted about two weeks after his phone interview, but I didn't find out I got in until 5 weeks, 4 days later! It was painful considering I only waited 9 days after my phone interview last time! Recruiting seemed to be accepting large amounts of people based on their role, not by when they applied and interviewed. I'm just grateful I got my top role!

Don't worry, this time I didn't record my reaction to getting into the DCP again or burst into tears this time, but my reaction was joyful and I hugged a number of the people nearest to me at the moment. I found out while I calling "Photo Call" for a show I was stage managing at the time at UNCW. It was hard to focus on THAT while trying to pick my program dates and notify my family at the same time. 

Just like last time, I also needed to choose an arrival date and pay the housing fees before I officially could say I have a spot in the program.


My arrival date: January 26, 2013
My departure date: May 15, 2013


My plan after my program is to go part-time or full-time if I can, and explore all the career opportunities I can involving the technical and/or management side of all the entertainment down there. It'll be quite the adventure!


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This post is my reaction to finding out that I finally got into the Disney College Program! It was (and still is up to the date of this post) an emotional topic for me because doing the DCP is so important to me at this point in my life! Anyway, by finding out that I got in, I also needed to choose an arrival date and pay the housing fees before I officially could say I have a spot in the program.

My arrival date: January 7, 2013
My departure date: May 17, 2013

But I have a good feeling that I'll love the program and want to extend into the summer and stay for another 2 months! We'll cross that bridge when we get there though. I'm beyond excited to be a part of the DCP in Spring 2013 with the role of Attractions! Woohoo! 


The Phone Interview


















After I “passed” the Web-Based Interview, I got an e-mail within the hour telling me to schedule my phone interview! This is probably the most important part of the “interviewing” process for the DCP!

You get to pick what date and time your interview is, but know that you should pick a time and date as soon as possible. I chose mine for September 17th at 8:30 am so I could go to work at 10 am without any problems; plus, I wanted to get it over with at the start of my day when I’m most full of energy. Keep in mind that your Disney recruiter will most likely call right on time. Mine technically called at 8:31 am, but still…everyone says that they are always punctual. Don’t freak out if they don’t call right on time. They may call up to 15 min. early or late, so just be ready!

Below are all the questions I came across in my online scavenging for DCP interview questions, so I prepared an answer for all these questions! I suggest you do the same! It helps SO much to be prepared!

The red questions are ones you just have to know and practice answering to do well in this interview. The underlined questions are the questions I was asked during my phone interview.  

  • Disney World or Disneyland?
  • Indoors or outdoors?
  • Are you familiar with the Disney Look?
  • Which park is your favorite?
  • What is your favorite attraction?
  • Who is your favorite character? Why?
  •  Why do you want to do the DCP?
  • What are your top 3 roles? Why did you pick them? (Be able to REALLY talk up your past jobs – leadership, responsibilities, skills, etc.)
  • Would you like to change your roles?
  • Are you willing to do any other roles?
  • Which park would you want to work in?
  • Why do I want to do the DCP at this point in my life?
  • Why do I want to work for Disney?
  • What would I look for in a DCP applicant?
  • List three positive qualities about yourself.
  • List three negative things about yourself.
  • Do you have experience working with cash/credit cards?
  • When’s the last time you received excellent service? How did it make you feel?
  • Was there every a time I went above and beyond what was expected of me?
  • Have I ever been in charge during an emergency situation?
  • Have you ever lived with roommates?
  • What problems do you think would arise with your roommates? Why? How would you handle those problems?
  • What is an example of good customer service?
  • Do you mind being interrupted?
  • If someone were to ask you, “Why doesn’t the character talk?” – What would you say?
  • Is there anything else we should know about you?
  • How do you feel about rooming/working with people from all around the world?
  • What would you say to a child who is too short for a ride?
  • What have you done to make someone’s day?
  • How would you define good customer service?
  • If you’re working merchandise and a guest wants something you don’t have or are out of, what would you do?
  • How would your co-workers describe you in three words?
  • Describe a situation when you had a conflict in a professional setting – How did you handle it?
  • How do you feel about moving away to Florida, and leaving your friends and family?
  • If a character attendant, what would you tell guests when you close a line? How would you handle a guest getting rough with a character?
  • Are you planning to bring a car with you?


General Advice
  • Listen to Disney music beforehand! I was so nervous, so do something that makes you happy and relaxed before your phone interview.
  • SLOW DOWN. Don’t talk too fast or say “um” and “like” a lot. This was something I had to make sure I did, because I struggle with it in general.
  • SMILE. It really does help you sound more cheerful!
  • TAKE NOTES during the interview. Sometimes questions pop up in your head and you want to be able to ask them later!
  • ASK QUESTIONS at the end. This gives you a chance to show your interviewer you did some research about the DCP and really care. If you have no idea what to ask, ask questions about what classes they recommend you taking and when you can register and stuff. And ask questions about what kind of professional connections you could make while doing the program. You can even ask (like I did) who their favorite character is!
  • WRITE DOWN your interviewer’s name. Use their name every once in a while. This shows them you made sure to know their name and makes them feel like you WANT to talk to them! Mine’s name was Trisha, and she was so sweet and helpful answering my questions!
  • WRITE DOWN information or answers to the questions you have – you don’t want to ask them and then forget!
  • Keep a WATER bottle handy-it sure helped me!
  • If you’re a Disney nerd-tell them! Be enthusiastic! 
  • Possibly have a calculator if they ask money questions? They didn’t ask me any of those kinds of questions, but it can’t hurt to have one nearby I guess, right?

I hope I don’t make the phone interview sound very scary and stressful. My interviewer was very nice. She told me several times how obvious it was that I had prepared and thanked me for that! It made me look very good! Knowing this stuff helped me get through the phone interview, so I hope it helps you too. Have a magical day!

The Web-Based Interview



















After I filled out my Application, I got an e-mail in less than 30 minutes telling me to take the Web-Based Interview (WBI) within the next 5 days of that e-mail. The WBI is an evaluation to see if you are the kind of person Disney would consider hiring. There are several different types of questions, so I went ahead and explained the types of questions I remembered answering below. If you are currently a Disney cast member (employee), you don’t have to take the WBI. The e-mail you get will give you a number to call for instructions.

***At the end of the Web-Based Interview, you will be informed about whether or not you will continue in the interview process.***

Here are the types of questions I remember answering…However, take note that  these examples are paraphrased and not word-for-word questions from the actual WBI.

The Multiple Choice Questions
This is self-explanatory. Read the question and answer what you think is the best answer. Here is an example of what one of the questions might look like:

How would you describe your energy level?
·      I have less energy than most people.
·      I have the same energy as most people.
·      I have no energy.
·      I have more energy than most people.

The “Strongly Disagree-to-Strongly Agree” Rating Questions
This means you will be given a simple “opinion” statement and then you will “rate” how much you agree with that statement by choosing one of the following rankings; strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly agree. HINT: I heard that people who choose “neutral” a lot don’t go onto the next part of the process. My guess is that Disney wants cast members to have strong integrity and convictions so that they know you can preform at their high and “magical” standards. I think I chose “neutral” twice maybe, but I didn’t dare do it for more than that. Here are some great examples of the kind of statements you may have to rank:

The guest is always right.

It bothers me when I see someone that is unhappy.

I am the most dependable person I know.

The “Most worried I won’t like about the program-to-Most excited part about the program” Rating Questions
This is very similar to the “Strongly Disagree-to-Strongly Agree” rating questions. Instead, you will have to answer with one of the following rankings; 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (with 1 being “Most worried I won’t like about the program” and 5 being “Most excited part about the program”). Here are some great examples of the kind of statements you may have to rank:

The number of hours I will have to work.

The different people I will meet in this program.

Managing my own money and finances.


 General Tips for Answering Questions

Mentally understand what it's going to take to do this program, and answer the questions in a way that reflects the BEST of you. Make sure you can give them a reason for why they should pick you over the thousands of other candidates based on the answers you give them. This program is going to be a lot of very hard work with long days and frustrations like any other job. Don’t be one of those people that don’t answer the questions honestly at all and then a month into the program leave because “it’s not for you.” If it’s not for you – DON’T APPLY. There are hundreds, if not, thousands of people that would have loved to be in your place. They just couldn’t do the program because you had what could have been their spot in the program.

Specific tips:
  •      Take it as soon as you can, and make sure you have plenty of time to take it. However, it shouldn’t take more than about 40 minutes to complete. It is timed, but don’t get so flustered about being quick that you end up misreading or misunderstanding a question.
  •       Find a quiet space to take the interview. You won’t need to record your voice or videotape anything, but you will want to take this web-based interview in a location where you won’t get distracted.
  •      Make sure you have a good internet connection and power source. You don’t want your internet to suddenly go down while taking this web-based interview. You also don’t want your laptop to die on you and cause the computer to shut down.
  •      Go with your “gut” feeling. Like I mentioned above, you can’t take forever answering these questions, so I strongly suggest honestly picking the answer your “gut” tells you to and then move onto the next question.
I hope I don’t make the WBI sound scary and stressful. Ultimately, it made me feel confident that I would be perfect for whatever Disney might throw at me during the Program in Walt Disney World. Knowing this stuff helped me get through the WBI, so I hope it helps you too. Have a magical day!

The Application & Role Descriptions

This post is about the first step in the whole process: filling out the application and ranking your roles.

Usually the applications go live in the first week or two of September. It's just like filling out any other standard job application. They ask for your personal information, education, work experience, etc. The only part that makes it different from other applications is that it asks you to rank how much you want to do each role that is offered in the program.

The DCP website and official blog have a list of the roles, and sometimes they give you information about them, but I personally found it very difficult to find a list of the roles and their descriptions and responsibilities. So when I finally found that information, I put it together in this post to share with others. 

If you want to see what I ranked for all the roles on MY APPLICATION, go to the bottom of this post. I hope all this information is helpful to you!

Costuming 

  • Issuing costumes to fellow Cast Members throughout Operation and Entertainment Location
  • Operating a computerized costume checkout system
  • Working around performers in various stages of dress
  • Operating basic laundry equipment
  • Repetitive overhead reaching, bending, and heavy lifting
  • Moving heavy costumes from location to location
  • Handling and laundering soiled garments
  • Standing for extended periods, working outdoors
  • Working independently, with minimal to no Guest interaction

Character Attendant

  •  Providing Guests with information about show schedules, Character locations, and visitation times
  • Providing audience control, including handling challenging Guest situations
  • Ensuring the safety of Character Performers and our Guests
  • Partnering with PhotoPass photographers
  • Maintaining show quality and Character integrity
  • Setting up and removing stanchions, ropes, and poles
  • Assisting Character Performers with putting on costumes
  • Retrieving and arranging strollers
  • Maintaining cleanliness and order in work location
  • Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Hospitality

  • Must be willing to work in all of the following areas but might only work in one: Front Desk, Luggage Services, Dispatch or Telephone Room
  • Checking Guests in and out of resorts and processing payments 
  • Assisting Guests with itinerary planning and ticket sales      
  • Handling complex Guest situations, problem solving     
  • Operating computer-based reservation and ticketing systems
  • Lifting, tagging, and delivering luggage
  • Handling large amounts of cash
  • Answering Guest telephone calls
  • Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Hopper

  •         Working in different locations within the same role, or working in multiple roles
  •         Must indicate interest in all the following roles: Quick Service Food & Beverage, Merchandise, Attractions, Main Entrance Operations, and Custodial

PhotoPass Photographer     

  •     Assisting Guests in photographing their vacation memories
  •         Operating digital technology including: digital single-lens (SLR) camera, PDA, and image fulfillment stations
  •         Carrying camera equipment for extended periods of time
  •         Approaching Guests and engaging them in conversation
  •        Answering Guest questions
  •         Suggestive selling: explaining features and benefits of Disney PhotoPass product
  •        Achieving monthly goals
  •         Partnering with Character Performers and Character Attendants
  •         Working in multiple locations – potentially all four Theme Parks in any given week
  •         Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Housekeeping

  •         Cleaning multiple Guest rooms including toilets, showers, sinks, and tubs
  •         Working with cleaning chemicals
  •         Replenishing linens Making beds, requiring repetitive bending and pulling
  •         Pushing large carts
  •         Dusting and vacuuming
  •         Emptying trashcans
  •         Responding to Guest requests for items or directions
  •         Heavy lifting, standing for extended periods
  •         Working Independently with limited Guest contact

Character Performer

  •         Portraying specific costumed character roles
  •         Working in hot, confining, heavy costumes with limited range of vision
  •         Communicating non-verbally to Guests
  •          Signing autographs and posing for photographs
  •          Interacting with Guests outdoors and in dining establishments
  •          Potential to perform in parade and/or puppeteer roles
  •         Due to costuming requirements, special consideration will be given to individuals 4’8” – 5’ and 6’-6’3”

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Hostess

  • This is a non-tipped role.
  • Performing all duties in character of “Fairy Godmother in Training”; therefore this role is open to females only
  • Styling hair on Guests of all ages, including small children
  • Applying facial makeup
  •  Painting nails or applying press-on nails
  • Utilizing a computerized reservation system
  • Checking Guests in for their scheduled appointments
  • Interacting with children of all ages, including calming upset children
  • Working in a high-volume, fast-paced environment
  • Receiving shipments of products, monitoring stock levels, and restocking as necessary
  • Responding to special Guest requests
  • Standing for extended periods


Quick Service Food & Beverage

  •         Selling food and beverages at outdoor carts and/or indoor restaurants
  •        Taking and filling orders, multi-tasking
  •        Preparing and assembling food items in a kitchen area, including the use of a fryer, grill, broiler, and other industrial cooking equipment
  •        Cash handling – both manual and using computerized registers
  •        Bussing tables, cleaning kitchen and counter equipment, and emptying trash cans
  •        Dispensing and selling alcoholic beverages
  •        Setting and stocking tables, outdoors carts, and restaurants
  •        Heavy lifting, pushing heavy carts
  •        Working with cleaning chemicals
  •       Working independently or as part of a team
  •         Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Full Service Food & Beverage

  •        Greeting and seating Guests in restaurants
  •        Managing a seating chart and resolving Guest situations
  •        Utilizing a computerized reservation/seating system
  •        Cash handling – both manual and using computerized registers
  •        Rolling silverware, folding napkins, and keeping area stocked
  •        Light cleaning, multi-tasking
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Merchandise

  •        Demonstrating and selling merchandise in indoor and outdoor areas
  •        Cash handling – both manual and using computerized registers
  •        Stocking and cleaning shelves and carts
  •        Receiving/putting away stock and deliveries
  •        Stroller/wheelchair rental – including repetitive lifting, stacking, and pushing strollers and wheelchairs
  •        Preparation of food/candy
  •        Selling of alcohol and tobacco
  •        Providing information to Guests
  •        Approaching Guests and engaging them in conversation
  •        Preparing packages for shipping/delivery
  •        Working independently or as part of a large team
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Attractions

  •        Working at one or more of the “rides” or theater shows
  •        Loading and unloading Guests from an attraction
  •        Operating sophisticated ride systems
  •        Memorizing and delivering lengthy narrations on a microphone to large groups
  •        Handling the evacuation of an attraction when necessary
  •        Monitoring Guest flow and providing a safe Guest experience
  •        Assisting with audience control, including during parades
  •        Operating a motorized vehicle
  •         Cleaning areas surrounding attractions
  •        Working with FASTPASS, the ticketing distribution system that confirms attractions ride times
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Custodial

  •         High Guest interaction while working independently
  •        Extensive cleaning – including restrooms and toilets
  •        Working with cleaning chemicals and equipment
  •        Bussing tables in restaurants and outdoors
  •        Sweeping and mopping
  •        Emptying trashcans, lifting heavy garbage bags
  •        Driving pargo carts
  •        Vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning pool decks
  •        Providing information to Guests
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Concierge

  •        Completing check in/check out process for concierge club-level guests by inputting and retrieving information from resort computer system
  •        Proactively greeting guests, exhibiting the expected high level of Disney show quality, often times interacting with VIP’s, celebrities, and executives
  •        Creating individualized ticket packages
  •        Being comfortable in a strong sales environment
  •        Making reservations and handling any special requests from guests
  •        Handling cash and other forms of payment, including foreign currencies exchange
  •        Maintaining cleanliness of common guest living/dining areas within concierge club-level
  •        Assisting with luggage and other deliveries to guest rooms
  •        Working concierge buffet line which can include maintaining overall cleanliness of buffet area and replenishing food, washing dishes, serving alcohol, maintaining inventory of liquor, and partnering with culinary team to ensure food quality
  •        Partnering with property VIP tour guides

Transportation

  •         Operating monorails and/or watercraft vehicles, including using on-board computers
  •         Loading and unloading Guests
  •         Delivering narrations via microphone during trips
  •        Using a radio and understanding radio communication
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors
  •        A valid driver’s license is required for this role

Main Entrance Operations

  •        Working in one or more of the following areas:
  •        Parking
  •        Staffing outdoor Toll Plaza areas
  •        Operating a large motorized parking tram
  •        Delivering narrations on a microphone
  •        Park Greeter
  •        Greeting all Guests who enter the park and validating their tickets
  •        Operating turnstile areas
  •        Ticket Operations
  •        Selling various ticket media at our water parks, Downtown Disney, or Disney’s Wide World of Sports
  •        Using computerized ticketing systems
  •        Strong knowledge of Walt Disney World Resort ticket media
  •        Cash handling – both manual and using computerized registers
  •        Assisting with audience control, including during the parades
  •        Cleaning main entrance areas
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Lifeguard

  •         Monitoring Guests’ safety in water and on slides/attractions
  •        Physically challenging work and prolonged expose to outside elements
  •        Providing first aid and basic life support in the event of Guest injury or illness
  •        Strong swimming skills
  •        Keeping recreational areas clean
  •        Providing Guest information
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors
  •        During off-peak seasons, assisting other operating areas throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, including performing roles other than lifeguarding
  •        Each individual must be evaluated and certified at the Walt Disney World Resort. All lifeguards must pass a swim test and vision screening that requires 20/20 vision with or without corrective lenses. In the event you do not pass the swim test described below, you will be placed in another role based on availability.
  •        Lifeguard swim test:
  •        Swim 200 yards (183 meters) freestyle or breaststroke
  •        Retrieve a 10-lb (4.5 kg) brick from the deepest section of the pool (minimum 8 feet/2.4 meters)
  •        Tread water with hands out of water for two minutes

Recreation

  •        Assisting Guests in one or more recreational areas such as waterslide operations, towel rental, watercraft rental, marina operations, arcades, or resort recreational facilities
  •        Prolonged exposure to outside weather elements
  •        Strong swimming skills
  •        Providing first aid and basic life support in the event of Guest injury or illness
  •        Keeping recreational areas clean
  •        Cash handling – both manual and using computerized registers
  •        Maintaining safety standards
  •        Answering Guest questions
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors
  •        During off-peak seasons, assisting other operating areas, throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, including performing roles other than recreation

Bell Services Dispatch/Greeter

  •        Assisting luggage deliveries, including directing bellmen
  •        Greeting Guests upon arrival at resorts
  •        Handling and storing luggage, which requires heavy lifting (including overhead lifting)
  •        Using a computerized dispatch system, multi-tasking
  •        Answering Guest calls and responding to service requests
  •        Taking luggage off buses, vans, and cars
  •        Tagging luggage
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

Vacation Planner

  •       Selling ticket media to Guests
  •        Achieving monthly sales goals and maintaining minimum sales requirements
  •        Working with a computerized ticket system, offering Guests tickets from a menu of over 128 different ticket configurations
  •        Having a strong knowledge of the Walt Disney World Resort and its ticket media
  •        Handling large amounts of cash
  •        Understanding the Guests’ need while helping them select the right-fit tickets for their vacations
  •        Being able to work under pressure and overcoming Guest objections
  •        Assisting with audience control, includes during parades
  •        Standing for extended periods, working outdoors
  •        Working in multiple locations – potentially all four Theme Parks in any given week






MY RANKINGS (for Spring 2015)


Quick-Service Food & Beverage = No Interest
Merchandise = High Interest
Attractions = Moderate Interest
Custodial = No Interest
Main Entrance Operations = Low Interest
Lifeguard = No Interest
Recreation = No Interest
Full Service Food & Beverage = No Interest
PhotoPass Photographer = Moderate Interest
Housekeeping = No Interest
Hospitality = No Interest
Hopper = No Interest
Bell Services Dispatch/Greeter = No Interest
Vacation Planner = Low Interest
Costuming = No Interest
Character Attendant =High Interest
Character Performer = No Interest
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Hostess = Moderate Interest
Concierge = Low Interest
Transportation = No Interest




MY RANKINGS (for Spring 2013)

Quick-Service Food & Beverage = No Interest

Merchandise = High Interest
Attractions = High Interest
Custodial = No Interest
Main Entrance Operations = Moderate Interest
Lifeguard = No Interest
Recreation = No Interest
Full Service Food & Beverage = Low Interest
PhotoPass Photographer = No Interest
Housekeeping = No Interest
Hospitality = Low Interest
Hopper = No Interest
Bell Services Dispatch/Greeter = No Interest
Vacation Planner = Moderate Interest

Costuming = No Interest

Character Attendant = High Interest
Character Performer = No Interest
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Hostess = No Interest
Concierge = Moderate Interest 
Transportation = Low Interest