Post Disney Depression: The Disney College Program Version

When signing up for the Disney College Program one is excited that they get to either work in Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Once on the program one learns the ins and outs of working for the company, the park they work in, and what kind of work they will be doing. Once training is done, everyone eventually gets into their own little routine.

Once one starts, they get to see people just finishing up their three, five, seven months or a year programs and on their way home. Something no one (who is new to the program) thinks of because it is still very new. One still has that idea of there is a real world out there, and once the program is over, one gets to go home. But one is newly on their program with their arrival group. Ready to make a bunch of memories and friends that will be remembered forever.

Fast forward to being there for a month, or two months into the program, one will realize that time is flying by. This just like with anything, into one's new job or the semester. Also, one is highly adapted into the culture of the Disney Company, and also the culture of the Disney Internships Programs life. Once one is in their routine with others, it all starts to blur into one. Everyone is on their different types of programs, but they all have the fact that they are on this adventure together.

These other interns are your roommates, co-workers, friends, part of your arrival group, neighbors, and so on and so fourth. There is that one bond connecting everyone: you all live work and play on Disney property from anywhere between three, five, seven months up to a year. You are officially in the Disney bubble, as we call it. You exist in both the real world, and your Disney bubble. It's the real world with a Disney twist. Truly, that's the only way I can describe it.

 Another favorite picture of mine, from Rhodel (on your left), with

our trainer Carrie in the middle. This was Rhodel's last shift.

If one is doing the five month, seven month, and year stints; it could feel like your stuck there forever. Not really, but each time period feels like a long time before your even half way through. But on your program, there is always something to keep you busy with work, or outside of work with your friends. Program events or non-program events, there is always something to keep one's mind busy.

Once your so into your routine on the program, and feeling so happy that you are where you are. You would be completely comfortable if someone told you this would last forever, and would easily accept this news. That is usually when it strikes you or someone pipes up and mentioned the phrase: "Post Disney Depression". This is usually one of the full timers who are trainers, and who have trained at least all of your arrival group, or one of your coordinators, or possibly even one of your managers, that mentions the phrase. These guys are not new to this concept, they see the turn over of the Disney Program interns constantly.

The concept of watching interns come and go, and sometimes in some cases come back. Once one's program is over, it will hit them when they are leaving, by driving out of the state of Florida, or up to their driveways as they pull into home. Maybe not in a car, but on the Magical Express headed to the dreaded International Orlando Airport (we all know it's true, even as guests who went to Walt Disney World, Orlando, or Florida on vacation — that is a different form of Post Disney Depression). Trust me, I have been the one to be tear-y eyed on the Magical Express leaving my first program... the C of Mickey's name got me. I also was plotting possibly jumping off the bus James Bond style to run back to Disney.

I am not the only one who felt this way leaving their program, about mostly (basically) everyone goes through it. Working on the Disney College Program is an experience that effects everybody who does it anyway, any shape or form. It is one of those things that leave an impact on you. So much of an impact, where some of us do come back and do a round two, like yours truly.

What is Disney Post Depression you ask? It's not as serious as it sounds. Like I mentioned before it is something that the full-time cast members make up seeing a bunch of interns go through the various Disney Internships offered. Once you reach home, it hits you hard that you won't be able to wake up and go to the parks whenever you want, also you cannot get into the parks for free anymore. Goodbye cast member discounts, because your no longer a cast member anymore. You cannot hug Mickey Mouse, and crew anytime you want to, and also you don't get to work in the parks anymore. What really hits you, you do not get to spend time with your Disney O'hana (Hawaiian for family) anymore.

 

  One of my favorite picture of everyone who I worked with (including 

Scott's girlfriend, who did not work with us) between the months of 

January to June of 2010. Some of us actually, stayed on until August.

The group of friends you arrived with, worked with your whole program. You're awesome roommates, and your fellow cast members. You lose that bond; that bond you had on your program, it won't be the same after seeing each other day after day. No one will tell you to shut up after numerous: "This time at Disney..." stories. This group of people will appreciate them, because they understand. They understand what happened on the program and because they went through it with you. Another thing is you don't have to over explain things to them, because they know the ins and outs of things, and you won't have to filter the story because you maybe giving away the magic of Disney.

I am not missing riding the bus systems they had for us, or the cleaning inspections they had for us (but it was motivation to keep your apartment nice and clean). I am missing the idea of riding Space Mountain endlessly on rainy days when the wait times went down from their 125 minutes or 150 minutes to five minutes where I would just hop on with random friends I have made from this adventure of continuously riding the ride.  One thing I know we all miss is the fireworks every night. Always a show, weather appropriate, depending on rain storms in Orlando.

 Views like this everyday I would see when I was working in Epcot in 2010.

If it where a rainy night where the firework shows had to be canceled due to bad storms. If a group of friends and I would be in Epcot, we would go watch the Impressions de France movie in the France Pavilion in the World Showcase, then after the movie we would hang out in the big shop that the movie exits out to.  Our friends who where working in the shop and/or the movie at the time would hang out with us, until the storm has lightened up. I have been involved in a few soccer/football circles with friends, and random guests who we joined in with. If we where not doing that we would be just talking about random stuff and just hanging out like one would if they where at home with friends.

Rainy Epcot

Then after the storms would clam down, we would all leave (if our friends who where working at the time were done with their shifts) and walk back to the Disney Internship buses that would take us back to housing. We would walk by our other friends who would be leaving as well, and we would catch up with them on our way out. If not, I would eventually meet up with the group of people I worked with in 2010. Watching them unclog all the drains so the puddles (mini lakes) could be drained out. I remember once after a really bad storm, I saw a branches that where blown from the trees. As I was walking back to the housing buses, I was happy to see all my co-workers and friends where alright, and not hurt.

Lately or every now and then I will have strange little memories about the smallest things at Walt Disney World. Things that guests won't notice because they are to busy with going on and about on their vacations. As in a certain trashcan where I know you have to shut the door more than once after taking out the trash (same one maybe there from eight years ago?), or a certain tree, and bushy area where my friend had to shoo a duck family into so they would not be trampled by guests.

I have not done the Disney College Program in six years, so things have obviously changed. Because six years ago I used to work at Downtown Disney, that is now Disney Springs. From videos, and pictures of Disney Springs it is a total different place than what Downtown Disney was in 2012. They have this sky-way thing over the road that can take you into Disney Springs itself from a parking ramp. Yes, a parking ramp... six years ago that used to be a parking lot.

There are also changes that have been made in parks to, not only changes but the fact they added on to Animal Kingdom with Pandora – The World of Avatar a new part of the park, that was this last year (2017). Since I worked in Epcot eight years ago they changed a ride, in Norway they had the old Maelstrom ride, that they changed into Frozen Ever After where riders can join the characters of Frozen on a boat ride adventure. Now they have closed down Ellen's Energy Adventure in the Universe of Energy Pavilion and it will be replaced by some kind of Guardians of the Galaxy ride/show/attraction
– no matter what it will be, it will be something new. Disney Hollywood Studios is also getting a new Toy Story Land (open now, new as this year (2018)), looks promising! "Adventures for Kids 'n' Grown-Ups Alike," the website says, also the website itself is fun too. 

When I did both Disney College Programs in 2010 and in 2012 it was exactly ten years since I have been there myself. I was there during the Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebration, with Epcot having a parade, and Illuminations of Earth getting a revamp, of what it is today. The ride Toy Story Mania was a new thing in either the Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios (or was it still MGM at the time), and Animal Kingdom was a very new park. I remember around the World Showcase in Epcot they had these moving statues that would pose with you when you took a photo with them.

 Disney's Animal Kingdom Park is turned 20 this year on Earth Day!

*Photo Credit: Walt Disney Company*

Why are you bring up Disney World's future, present, and past? I think all of you are asking. The point is what used to be my Post Disney Depression is now memories. Memories that go with the memories before I was a cast member, to when I was. For the future, to help to cure the Post Disney Depression a little bit would be going back and paying a visit. I will be visiting as soon as I am able to. Just traveling and going on vacation right now as a young adult that just finished her college degree, it's a little bit tight at the moment. But, Disney I will see you again one day.

As, you can see life happens to you. Your Post Disney Depression blues can be overcome. If you just finished your Disney internship it may not seem likely, but one day you will feel better. Those words may not seem like they are helping now, but you will get over it. It may take longer for others, and maybe another program or two for people to realize if they do actually want to work for the Disney Company or not – that is truly up to you as an individual. If that is your plan to work for the Disney Company, good luck!

** I would also like to thank my friends for letting me use their photos I found on their social medias. Also is a picture from the Disney Company as well to in here too (it is not mine; copyright belongs to Disney). I took some of these from myself too. **

Bye Bye College, Hello Real World!

Well, I am officially done with school. It is SO wired to even say that! Ever since, I was five, basically my first day of Kindergarten, I have been in a classroom learning. First it was learning to write letters and numbers, then that turn into writing other words, then sentences, and then papers, and obviously how to read. Reading and writing both come hand in hand. Then it's no surprise I completed my Journalism Certificate, since I stuck with reading and writing in English. I may also took on the French language along the way. Let's just say I need to practice my French, because I am more fluent in English.

But after graduating high school, once I got to college I was not in college for the full time. I did a few semesters of college classes, but decided I need to take a break, and be in the world for a bit to figure out what I really wanted to do. That is alright. If you just graduated high school, and feel like you need a break from school. Take it! You're allowed too. No one is stopping you—you have every right to figure out who you are and who you want to be. It was something I suffered from when first starting in college feeling like I was forced to go to school even though I did not know what I wanted to study at first. A lot of college freshmen and students go through the same thing. Ask people around you how many times they switched their majors in college (if they did).

With having that feeling of not knowing where I wanted to go in life, and what I wanted to study, I felt lost. I managed to come across a poster for Walt Disney World on the Madison College campus. Truly, confused why there is a poster for Walt Disney World on a college campus. Spring Break trip? "Sure! Rollercoasters, spending time with Mickey Mouse, all the Florida sunshine to soak up," I thought to myself. "SIGN ME UP! I AM GOING TO THIS MEETING!"  I then head to the meeting to find out the opposite of little college trip. It was more of "Live. Learn. Earn." internship. Also, what I personally consider a internship of a lifetime (this is the 2010 and 2012 me, not the 2009 me).

So, the 2009 me considers this as an option for one day. I remember sitting around the Magic Kingdom or Epcot in the past (1998, 1999, 2000, or 2002... if dates are right), more I think of it I think it was a trip I took with my family in 2000. So, I was watching a custodial cast member on their trash run, or a food and beverage cast member busing off a table in a seating area for a restaurant outdoor dinning area (the cast member was probably also Disney College Program Intern, just thinking about it.). Just watching them do their job, and thinking: "how does one get a job at Walt Disney World?" I mean, just imagine popping that into a conversation that you work for one of the most famous theme parks and one of the most famous entertainment company in the world? It's nothing but a conversation starter! (Learned this from past experiences.) So, this was part of the decision factor for the summer. I could do an internship at Walt Disney World. This was no April's Fool joke.

So, in Fall of 2009 I applied for my first Disney College Program. Got it! Headed down to Orlando, Florida to work in Epcot (my FAVORITE park!), went in the Spring and Summer of 2010, FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! I believe you all know that story well. Then came home in August 2010. I started missing Walt Disney World like a mad person! It is something that everyone who has completed their Disney College Program, Disney Cultural Representative Program, Disney Professional Internship, Disney International Internship Program, and etc.—one will end up getting Disney Post Distress Disorder (it's a fake disease that full-time cast members make up working with a bunch of Disney interns). It's nothing serious, it's just that after living and working at Walt Disney World anywhere between three months, five months, seven months, up to a year, it is something that you get used to. Also, your Walt Disney World o'hana (family) is a tight-knit group as well. With those two things that you experience every day, plus it is something no one in the outside world understands, you long to go back to have that life again (in short, I will do another blog post to write fully about it).

Like I said above in the last paragraph, I FELL IN LOVE with the Disney College Program, I wanted to go back to work at Walt Disney World, again! I did a semester and a year at Madison College, so I could go back to Disney in the spring and summer of 2012, which I did. In August 2012, I came back from another completed program, and working at Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs). I learned a lot on my second one, very important lessons, I could NEVER had learned in a Madison College classroom (same with the 2010 program, but different life lessons). But after coming back in August of 2012, I ended up taking a gap year (a year and a semester off) to do some soul searching, and to figure out what I wanted to do. So, within that time I motivated myself to really look into myself to see what I wanted to do career wise.

Working for Disney one thing it reinstated in me was that I like stories. I like listening, reading, and watching stories, also sometimes myself I enjoy sharing stories of my own, or making up little stories in my head and throwing them down on paper. When working at Walt Disney World, I always enjoyed listening to stories of my fellow cast members, or my coordinators, trainers, or managers about how they found their way to Disney or just another story about their lives. Also, something that Disney reinstated in me was that everyone, every place, and everything has a story to be told, and maybe (if okayed) to be shared.

Another thing I took in consideration when thinking about a career path was, working with social media. As a kid who grew up in the 90's where I have memories of running around in backyards with my friends, or my cousins, I've got a childhood full of imagination, and outdoor fun. But when I got older around third grade being introduced to computers, along with the internet (the 90's version of the internet, before Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook, etc.—PLEASE DON'T AGE ME! NOR CALL ME OLD!), also a 90's version of Microsoft Word (I miss that little dancing paper clip (Clippy? Was that his name?)). I grew up in a world where you could run around outside, until mom or dad called for dinner, and a young age of computers and internet. I got both worlds, the outdoor adventures one, and the Information Age, where you can Google just about anything.

But the more I got older, and went through school, the internet and technology kept on changing, and quickly (faster today). By the time I started college, there where fancier Blackbarry smartphones out  in competition with Apple's iPhones. Then one day in 2011, according to 'How I Met Your Mother', it was mentioned in a line in the show how everything suddenly changed, and everyone had their nose in their phone (anyone remember that?). But, I believe that statement was true. Suddenly one day in 2011, everything suddenly shifted over to smartphones. I did not realize this until I got my first iPhone in 2013. BOY! That was an eye opener for me! If you needed something to know, you could Google it, and know who that actor is, in that TV show or movie your watching. Or tweet or Facebook you're opinion and reaction about what happened on the new Game of Thrones episode (don't spoil it for anyone).

With growing up around the newly formed world of social media, with MySpace being new in high school, and then when Facebook opened up to high school students. Then once I was in college Twitter became the new thing (around 2009), then Instagram became the newest thing (2012 or 2013), and then Vine and Snapchat. I was thrown into the world of self-teaching myself how to use these new platforms. So, with the people who are older and younger than me too. With having this new field of way to reach out to the world as a person, a famous person, or a business. That is where social media became handy in the work force, and the real world. I tried to learn what I could form the different social media platforms that came out. I mainly stick with the main ones, because there is no way I am keeping up with every little application that comes out on a daily basis.

So, with my love of telling stories, and working with social media... I thought I would be perfect going to the Communications field. As, was looking through the branches of Communications I did not see much for social media. I looked at Journalism, and saw that this is a way I can share stories. That was the major thing that caught my eye. I went back to school in the Fall of 2013 - Spring of 2015 to get some of my generals out of the way. I have not had a chance to do that hence, yours truly was considering joining the Mickey Mouse Club (and getting it started up again) while working at Walt Disney World, did not consider what credits I still needed to finish. Got to the school bridge, then realize I had to quickly take care of the generals that I ignored.

  

Thank you to my lovely friend (the hand model)

 helping me during Valentine's Day!

In Fall of 2015 I started my major path of Journalism. Took a good starting class (Introduction to Mass Communications) for my major. If you are going into the Communications field, you need to learn about the whole field and it's laws and ethics before you take anything on.  Turned out that professor turned out to be my advisor once changed my degree into a Journalism Certificate degree, and also my instructor for many other Journalism classes I took.

So, in that introduction class I had to write an article for the Clarion (Madison College's Student Newspaper) for extra credit. I wanted to do well in school, and general. I took that opportunity to write for the paper. The first meeting I went to I wanted to check it out to see what it was like. I also went with the guy I sat next to in the class too. We both are inspiring to become future journalists (I am. Him? Not sure, I think he is more leaning towards broadcasting—I lost touch with him, until this last semester he popped in shared interest working with our online radio station (more on that later)).  At first walking into the newspaper office was daunting, but interesting, it had this excitement to it. I did not sign up for stories at first, I was just there to get a feel out of it. I managed to comeback to another meeting, the advisor of the newspaper talked with me to let me know, that this whole deer in front of the headlights thing is normal. I managed to muster up signing up for my first article, and around that time I was offered the position of Sports Editor. The one before me was overwhelmed with everything going on her life, so I ended up taking the job over for her. I also mentioned during the first meeting I was interested in doing social media stuff for the Clarion.

So, I was on double duty: Sports Editor and Social Media (have been up until my last day). I was helping run the Facebook account, I would post about when our new issues came out, and any other exciting happenings. In the Fall 2015 I helped living up our Twitter account, by posting new issues, and help to highlight articles that we wrote (added on the new banner in Spring of 2016). Then the Summer of 2016 (going into Fall of 2016) I revived our old Instagram account. I saw a sticky note on one of the old computers in our old office, and thought I would joking try the password to see if it worked. Surprisingly, did! Got into it, did not think much of it, until a meeting we had for our first issue of the next school year (2016-17). Logged into it, to post a picture to prove a point of we got our Instagram account active again.

 The screen shots of the social media I helped with. 

With content posted by yours truly.

During my last year (2017-18) at the Clarion we got a new branch of the Clarion called, Clarion Broadcasting. This is where we have a YouTube channel for the Clarion, and staffs' videos that they have made appear and people can watch them (I have made a few videos myself for the channel). The videos are based off of the Madison College community, Madison Community, or Wisconsin. The content varies. We also got ourselves our very own radio station this year called Clarion Radio. You can listen to it here (under 'Listen to Clarion Radio'). They did a radio show for Halloween, it was a bunch of students who came together to voice "Wars of the Worlds" and put on a Madison College twist to this H. G. Wells's original version, and modernized it. My lovely sports section writers came together to put together their own show on Clarion Radio, called WolfPack Recap (they also have a Twitter account too; because I know someone would want me to add that in). It was originally one of them at first, then they added on. They also took on doing play-by-plays for basketball games and softball games (which they ended up with two others who helped them).

 

From the Clarion Instagram 

Working for the Clarion was one of the most fun, and exciting experience of my life, it's up there with working at Walt Disney World! I got to meet so many different people who where on staff, and also many different wonderful individuals that make up the Madison College community! With working with the Clarion one can go on many conferences around the United States to win awards, also to network with future employers and co-workers, and also learn more about being a journalist. Also, getting to see the staff everyday and just enjoying time with them. I am truly going to miss you all. I know I have said that more than once to you in person.

While working on the newspaper, and learning about the path of journalism (through classes, and also the newspaper) was an interesting experience. Even now, with the way the world is, and how our politics are in America—with the way they view journalists. Right now it is an interesting time to be a journalist (even though I was a student one), and to be in the world of Journalism. We have people deeming news real or fake. The Clarion reports on real news, we inform the public about what is actually happening around them (to a certain extent, hence it being a student newspaper). But, reporting the truth and nothing but the truth, and local events that are of interest of the Madison College community.

 

 Awards we have won. Top would be Best of the Midwest and

Wisconsin Newspaper Association (Winter 2017).

Bottom would be Best of the Midwest and Wisconsin

Newspaper Association (Winter and Spring 2018).

Like I mentioned in the introduction, it is wired to say I have completed my Journalism Certificate, and to say I am done with being a student (for now). The door is always open, there is always more time to earn more degrees if I see fit. There is nothing wrong with taking a break from education, and living in the real world for a bit. In college or the real world, you learn new things everyday about the world around you, and yourself. You do not need to be stuck in a classroom. One thing the Madison College experience taught me through these years, is that there is always something out there to be learned. One does not need to be on that path of what others set out for them, make your own path, go follow that. You will grow into a much stronger, and better person. The world values you, just for being yourself. Go out there, and find your adventure! I am off discovering my new one too! I know it's scary, but I believe I can do it, and I know you can too!

If you are interested in reading my other articles I wrote 

for the Clarion >> They all can be found here.

Disney Trading Pins

One thing that brings back memories from World Disney World would be looking at the collection of pins I have around home, and my dad's house of pins we brought from various trips at Walt Disney World. Pins from the original Millennium Celebration, and of the old Disney Institute Resort (or maybe those are just the t-shirts we amazingly still have from there) we would used to stay in, that is now Saratoga Springs Resort.

I have continued that collection while I did both my Disney College Programs in 2010, and in 2012. I would buy some pins here and there on my days off. I used to keep up with the pins, because on both programs I would be one of the many cast members who traded pins with guests. It was fun meeting different guests through out my program because of pins. I would learn about what their favorite rides where, what their favorite park was, where they are from, and etc. These guest would learn things about me too. Is that the main point of pin trading, is to bring people together? OF COURSE!

I am unsure if this is true or not, but I remember someone telling me that Disney started doing this because they do pin trading also at the Olympic games. So they borrowed the idea, and used it during the Millennium Celebration at Walt Disney World, and surprisingly Walt Disney World was the first place to do it (again, I am unsure about this). It didn't start until 1999. I remember it being a new thing when on one of my couple of trips with my family around that time. I still have my first pin and lanyard, I believe it is the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration logo pin.

A starter pin that I believe that every guest received when 
they checked in 1999-2000. Again, not to sure about 
that one. Feel free to correct me...

I am personally not surprised that it turned into what it has, okay I was taken aback when in 2010 during one of my first training shifts where I got my pin trading lanyard. Now, I am personally not surprised that it turned into a big thing. Because I learned quickly in 2010 that pin trading is a big thing. There is a little pin trading station outside in the middle of Epcot behind Spaceship Earth, where people can look at a book full of Disney pins, and also buy pins too. Well in 2010, you could, now I am not sure. They had that also in 2012, but that was six years ago, I am not sure what it is now. But I personally, hope that it is still there.

But one thing I absolutely loved about pin trading still being a thing was that cast members could trade pins. As a cast member you could check out a lanyard and some pins they had all set for you. You had to (as of 2010, and 2012) had to have a certain number of pins on your lanyard, like 12 or 16. I don't remember. I know that certain locations that people work were really big on pin trading, so every cast member had to have one. But, it was always a choice to the cast member if they want to trade pins or not.

I remember during the 2010 program, not much of my coworkers had pins. But by the end of the program, the majority of them had pins. It was something everyone enjoyed doing with guests, it also was fun conversations during breaks about pins we had, and also on the bus rides to and from housing.

Compared to when it started in 1999 (only a few pins available) to now in 2018 their are a hundreds and hundreds of pins to choose from. Pins showcasing Disney's history of old things like the orange bird (that used to be big when Magic Kingdom opened in the 70's), old Disney rides, and other old Disney favorites. Also there are pins showcasing new things to Disney I remember getting a Star Wars pin (the Rebel Alliance logo, which I constantly got -- in both programs), I had some flag pins from the different countries around the World Showcase in Epcot, and lot of pins from the newer Disney movies that where coming out. 

I always enjoyed asking people what their favorite pins where. The nice thing about pin trading is that I got to deal with people who where "professionals" at it, to the kids who where just starting out on their first pin trading experience. I am not sure who had the most magical moment, the kid who did their first pin trade, or I. It was special for me to be apart of one of their many memories from that vacation they had at Walt Disney World, more importantly their first pin trading experience. 

Also trading pins with guests made me learn about things, and the pins. Like that Star War's Rebel Alliance pin I constantly been getting in both programs. I was not sure where it was from. It was just a logo pin. I was not sure if it was actually a Disney one at first, but it did have that little Mickey black stopper on the back. So I asked around to guests and my fellow cast members alike what it was. I eventually learned that it was from Star Wars, and I learned that Star Wars was apart of Disney in 2012 (in a non-pin trading event). Also sometimes not knowing what things where, made it a little difficult to trade. Because I had that Rebel Alliance pin for quite a while, and it seemed like every Star Wars fan I encountered had it. Because they did not want to trade it. 

 To your left: the Star Wars starter pack, is what I call it. 

On your right: Figment, the purple dragon that is a "figment

of your imagination" at Epcot, who stars in the Journey into Imagination 

with Figment ride.

I remember one time where I was working, and someone was just looking for a Figment pin, any pin with Figment the purple dragon on it. Sadly at the time, I did not have an Figment pin, but I knew one of my friends who was working Impressions de France in the France Pavilion had one. I am not sure if he was working that day or not. But I told them to make their way over there and hopefully he was around with the Figment pin they where looking for. I remember my manager was impressed with my guest interaction. 

I highly recommend if you are headed over to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, or another Disney property you should pin trade, or get into the pins. There is a lot of cast members, and other guests who are willing to make memories with you and talk about pins with you. It is something that brings us all together, and build friendships off of. 

Also, if you are looking forward to working in either the Disney College Program, Disney Professional Internship, the Disney Cultural Exchange Program, or the Disney Cultural Representative Program you should consider doing pin trading. It is something gets you more interactions with the guests. You also get to learn things from people who are all over the world. It also adds to more memories on your program. It helps if your having a bad day, or feeling really homesick, doing a pin trade can help cheer you up. You will have a kid who did their first ever pin trade with you. You will be apart of their many Walt Disney World memories when they look back also. In the future they may also would share that memories with their kids, and their kids may want to get involved in pin trading.

RIDE THE BUS!

Most of my found memories of the Walt Disney World College Programs are on the bus heading to work, to have fun in the parks and mainly to go shopping in Walmart.

The majority of the interns use the bus to get around as transportation. Some people do bring their cars from home, but the majority of us (the interns) use/used the buses to get around. The main reason was because there are a bunch of other interns who are from different countries. They are not able to bring their cars with them. But some international interns do manage to rent a car during their year stay there.

One of my friend who worked in the France pavilion in Epcot in 2010 (who is still working there now) rented a car during his year program. I remember him giving us rides home from work when we where waiting for the bus. Also he would also ride the bus with us home sometimes too, because he did not want to use the car all the time. I also had a roommate who had her car actually die during her program, that poor jeep was on the last leg of it's life.

 

Silly times in 2012, when riding the bus. Two of 

some of my good friends from France. 

Everyone basically rides the buses. It is one of the social events of the program. I remember meeting some of my best friends on the bus on the way to work. Everyone at the one location they work at is like a family, due to the bus. There is always the bus stop that everyone goes to be picked up from work or just doing other things. Riding the Walmart bus was an one hour round trip. That again where a lot of other bonding happened. During your program you can easily spot who are the newbies, easily. Because they are on there with their roommates on their first night making their first Walmart runs to get the finishing touches of stuff they need for their apartment. But there where also people who have been on the program for longer who still make friends with people on the Walmart bus.

One of the things I loved about working in Epcot was there was a designated bus stop for all of us interns. It was in the cast member parking lot, right next to the cast member services building. You got to talk to people who you work with everyday. Seeing how their day is going and etc. The Epcot bus is always an interesting bus to be on because you have these people who are from Europe or across the world. When you'd be getting off around 11 at night or around 1:30 AM someone would be calling their loved ones who lived in France, Germany, Italy or somewhere else. It was interesting to think about because calling my parents when I got off work would be a little rude because they'd be sleeping. You would always see the people who would be from Canada, Mexico or the US would be calling their loved ones on the way to work. But when I would witness someone calling home in Europe, I knew they where homesick, which made me homesick.

There where nights where we all had to stay late due to Extra Magic Hours and also holidays. So one night when it was the extra hours we where going home on the bus and some girl from Japan or China fell asleep on my shoulder. It was probably spring break when we where working 50 to 60 hour weeks. We where all very tired, and also the extended hours had doubled their days. Epcot had theirs on Tuesdays and Thursdays nights.  I remember thinking, this is probably one of the oddest memories I will have on one of these buses. Another memory involving sleeping would be having to wake up one of my co-workers because he fell asleep on the bus we. We did not want him to end up go around and around and wake up and wondering where the heck he is or have the bus driver to wake him up.

 

This was my last month of the program. Everyone's was 

coming to an end. So the girl in the gray shirt whose the thrid

to the left we spent our day off saying goodbye to her and others. 

It was a very very very fun day that I will never forget. (2010)

The American Coach buses that Disney rents out for their interns get used a lot. So they don't have that many, they use about I want to say around 40 buses. Not sure. But I remember a bunch of times where I am riding the buses for fun, or to or from work and they broke down. Riding the buses all the time you get used to the sounds they make before they break down. I remember having a few close calls where we could tell the buses where getting worn down. I remember one breaking down and where on on the side of the highway. So we where awkwardly waiting for another one to pick us up. I remember having a little party in the back with few of the other interns I made quick friends with. Also there where times where it broke down and I was outside my workplace. We called to let management know that we where on that awkwardly broken down American Coach bus outside of Downtown Disney during my 2012 internship. About half the people I worked with where stuck on that bus with me.

Sometimes it takes forever for some buses to come to pick you up from a work location. Because you have to call and say, you are working here and you need to be picked up. That happened to us a lot when we worked at the ESPN Sports Complex. It was not a very popular spot for the College Program or other Disney Program interns to work so you had to request a bus. It was not like a park where they had buses running constantly through the day and night. So once and a bunch of my fellow co-workers had to wait for a bus to come and pick us up during our month stent at ESPN. So while we where waiting we swear, all of us to god, that there was a black panther in the bushes behind us. We ran from the bus stop benches and across into the grassy island area of the parking lot. It took a good while to calm ourselves down. We where all pretty tired at this point, we all got off at 2:30 in the morning and it was pushing three! Also the fact that some of us had to be to work the next day at an bright hour of eight in the morning. That was the strangest work schedule I ever had.

If you are interested in doing the program, or already signed up. Here is some advice for you. If you are taking a car, feel use the bus too. I am assuming you will be using the bus at sometime during your program, it will be smart on your first day to go over to the bus stop in your apartment complex and get one of the bus schedules. Those will help you out so much. Grab more than one, and post one of them in the common area of your apartment. This will help everyone greatly, even your guests who are on the internship too. Also memorize your work bus schedule, it will help you out majorly! They do change up the bus schedules every three months so keep your eyes and ears out for people talking about a new bus schedules. There also will be emails from the programs office to let you know too.

 

Brandon from Canada, the Epcot Bus King!

"Don't open that!" I remember the bus driver yelling. 

"It's not open.." I remember Brandon replying. 

We all had a good laugh about that. (2010)

Disney Internships: A MUST DO!

I did two Disney College Programs, which is something you can do as an internship (click for a list of internships available, if interested) for the Walt Disney Company. I did both of these programs in Walt Disney World in 2010 and also in 2012. I did work in Epcot in 2010 (also a small stint in ESPN's Wilde World of Sports in March during the Atlanta Braves Spring training season), then in 2012 I worked in Downtown Disney, as a custodial role in the big show we call Walt Disney World. Was one of the thousands of cast members to help the show run smoothly. It's actually quite a fun job, to help this show stay alive!

I been finding myself missing the happiest place on earth lately.  I am also listening to some Walt Disney World park music loops while writing this and the past week, so yeah I got the missing the mouse bug, really bad! It's been five years since I worked at Epcot and the Wilde World of Sports and three since working at Downtown Disney, so it's been a while since I have been there. I still have friends from both programs who are living there now and still working at Disney or have moved back to work there again. I also have some friends who stayed and extend their programs which you can do, or do a Professional Internship. I have thought of doing the Professional Internship, but never acted on it. May actually attempt to soon? Who knows, we have to wait and see. But at the rate on missing Walt Disney World like I am it may be a possibility.

So I am sorry for leaving everyone hanging on how to get involved in doing one, because I have gotten interests up, haven't I?! Well for the Disney College Program you have to be a college student in the United States, and who has one semester of college credits out of the way. You can choose to work at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida or work at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. You cannot choose both. What I would suggest would be if you want to work at both do two separate Disney College Programs at each location, if that is to your liking. The Disney College Program have Fall and Spring Programs that either run through five to seven months long. But what if I am living in another country, like Canada, Finland, Germany, Russia or etc. you ask? Well you can do the International Representative Programs, this is where you get to work at Walt Disney World for three months up to a year (you can do a year if you live in one of the countries who have a pavilion in the Epcot World Showcase and end up working in one of those pavilions, just click on Cultural Representative Program). For each Disney Internships Programs the arrival dates vary, so it will matter on the date you apply or what school you go to if your applying to the Disney College Program. If you have already done a full Disney College Program or the International Representative Programs you can do a Professional Internship or do another program if you really did like it.

I do have oodles of memories! I am willing to share those with you guys in different new blog posts, they are stories of their own! Also this post would be probably big as the largest book on the planet when I got done with it. Or bigger! But here are things that I will tell you now. This is an experience that will change your life. If you have any questions about this don't be afraid to ask me or Disney themselves. We're free to help and share our stories. But I learned a lot about myself doing this the first and second time I did it. I met some amazing people I still keep in touch with from all over the world. I would not have trade this experience for anything else.

Things that are a must during the program:

• Explore all of Walt Disney World or Disneyland that you can.
• Make a guest smile, a day. It makes the days when you really homesick and sad a lot brighter. The guest will also make you smile as well. 
• Become best friends with your roommates. 
• Learn a different language and culture. 
• Learn things about yourself. 

 

Splash Mountain with the roommates is a must!