WDW college program experiences

wdwannabe · Post by **wdwannabe** » Nov Mon 12, 2007 2:55 pm

packwingfan, glade you enjoyed your time off..I've not been to wcc so...would you recomend it? how was the food?
I know the second spectro is less crowded. Happy that you got a front row seat!

Yea, that pixi dust always works for me too!

castmember04 · Post by **castmember04** » Nov Mon 12, 2007 7:11 pm

Let me just say to anyone considering doing the WDWCP, it will be one of the greatest experiences of your life time. I was so glad I did it. I still am keeping in contact with some of my roommates, back from when I was in the college program in 1997 and 1998. If you are any kind of fan of the parks, this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity!

coasterphil · Post by **coasterphil** » Nov Mon 12, 2007 10:11 pm

My SSW shift was uneventful overall. The event crew was terribly disorganized, so we spent most of the time waiting around for them to come and tell us where to go and what to do. My task for the day consisted mostly of parade duty at the front of the park, so I didn't have too hard of a time with that. The only point where things got hairy was after the Grand Motorcade at the end of the day. The CMs were supposed to follow the rope in a big group to keep a buffer between the end of the parade and the guests. Needless to say, some of the guests didn't appreciate that too much and a few of my counterparts were close to being trampled. I didn't have the same problem though, and actually held my own pushing people back up onto the curbs as we passed. After that parade we were in charge of clearing the fall zone for the fireworks.

Overall, I definitely preferred it to a normal shift simply because I had a bit more freedom in where I could move to and I was with someone else from my area that I'm pretty friendly with so we would just stand and talk between the parades and helping guests out. Almost all the guests I talked to during the day were extremely friendly and a little "rough". They were very blunt about what they thought about certain stars and how the event had changed over the years. Probably the only time I'd had guests swearing during a conversation with me where I was laughing instead of glancing around for the nearest security officer.

I spent most of the afternoon and evening at MGM today to get some of my Christmas shopping done, see Fantasmic! for the first time (I'm such a horrible fan

), and then enjoy the Osbourne Lights. Fantasmic! was underwhelming, which is probably because I'm not really a Disney fan just a WDW one. Seeing all the characters, films clips, and live action from the Disney films just doesn't excite me. I'll just take the more "straightforward" fireworks of Illuminations and Wishes. As for the Osbourne Lights, I could've sat back there and watched the guests all day. Everyone was in a great, festive mood and the kids were running around trying to catch the snow. I wish I were one of the CMs that just stands back there all night to help control the crowd and answer questions.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Nov Mon 19, 2007 12:17 pm

coasterphil wrote:My SSW shift was uneventful overall. The event crew was terribly disorganized, so we spent most of the time waiting around for them to come and tell us where to go and what to do. My task for the day consisted mostly of parade duty at the front of the park, so I didn't have too hard of a time with that. The only point where things got hairy was after the Grand Motorcade at the end of the day. The CMs were supposed to follow the rope in a big group to keep a buffer between the end of the parade and the guests. Needless to say, some of the guests didn't appreciate that too much and a few of my counterparts were close to being trampled. I didn't have the same problem though, and actually held my own pushing people back up onto the curbs as we passed. After that parade we were in charge of clearing the fall zone for the fireworks.

Overall, I definitely preferred it to a normal shift simply because I had a bit more freedom in where I could move to and I was with someone else from my area that I'm pretty friendly with so we would just stand and talk between the parades and helping guests out. Almost all the guests I talked to during the day were extremely friendly and a little "rough". They were very blunt about what they thought about certain stars and how the event had changed over the years. Probably the only time I'd had guests swearing during a conversation with me where I was laughing instead of glancing around for the nearest security officer.

I spent most of the afternoon and evening at MGM today to get some of my Christmas shopping done, see Fantasmic! for the first time (I'm such a horrible fan ), and then enjoy the Osbourne Lights. Fantasmic! was underwhelming, which is probably because I'm not really a Disney fan just a WDW one. Seeing all the characters, films clips, and live action from the Disney films just doesn't excite me. I'll just take the more "straightforward" fireworks of Illuminations and Wishes. As for the Osbourne Lights, I could've sat back there and watched the guests all day. Everyone was in a great, festive mood and the kids were running around trying to catch the snow. I wish I were one of the CMs that just stands back there all night to help control the crowd and answer questions.

Good to hear that your Soap Weekend wasn't too hectic. Just imagine if you had to do attractions!

I saw the lights being set up for the Osborne Lights, but haven't gotten a chance to see it yet this time around.

Do you know if Disney does anything for Thanksgiving, or did they just skip it totally and go right to Christmas?

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Nov Wed 21, 2007 12:51 pm

Ok I'm back!

My friends from home came to visit me last week so I spent all my free time with them at the parks. On Sunday, I met them up at the Magic Kingdom around 10, It was alot of fun being in the parks with them after talking about our vacations without being there together you know? I got them to go on Splash Mountain (both havent done it) and they loved it. We did all the rides that I wanted to ride with them before I had to go to work at 430.

Since I dont drive, I just took the monorail to EPCOT but since I got there a little earlier then expected, I went inside Wonders of Life which could possibily be my last time in that building. Yeah I know it might reopen for other conventions or food & wine but who knows if I'll be down in Disney when that happens so I took a lot of pictures and alot of crying was involved.

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The old making of me theater

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Then I had monday/tuesday off so I was able to spend all day with them so I met them at DTD to buy some stuff then we went to MGM. It was interesting, both were afraid to ride Tower of Terror but I knew Amy would be but I didnt know my friend Dan would be but I slowly talked him into doing it with a little help from his wife who pretended she was gonna go on it but ditched us once we got in line. He was scared the whole time in line (mind you, he's 27) but in the end, he really enjoyed it which made me not feel so bad.

I also became an extra for the 3rd time at Indiana Jones so I was able to show off in front of my friends. This time, I made sure not to get picked right away so I could do something different. There was 2 girls and me in the group, they made the girls give their giddy laugh then made me give my most sinister laugh and they piped in music while I did it hehe. There was a lot of pictures taken but it's on their camera so I will show them off later.

Finally, Tuesday was Beers Around the World Pt 2! It was just Dan & I drinking while Amy took all the pictures. We decided to take a picture with a cast member from each country. Well Dan's Camera died in America so he has half the pictures from Canada to Japan while I have the pictures from America on so here they are:

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America
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Italy
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Germany
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China
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Norway
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Mexico

Well what has been going with work? Not much, I worked 7 straight days after that Tuesday so I've been pretty tired considering I spent almost every morning with Dan/Amy. Yesterday was a little funny, I'm in the Canada outside restroom maintaining it (cleaning the sink) when these 2 drunk guys in suits*FIXED* start singing Zip a Dee Do Dah. They end up seeing me and say "You're a disney guy, start singing" so I joined along. Everyone in line for the ladies room could hear us and was laughing.

If I can think of anything more to say, I will return later but I may be going to Disneyquest today! Yay!

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Nov Wed 21, 2007 1:47 pm

packwingfn wrote: 2 drunk guys in a suit

Sounds funny just from this.

Looks like you are having a great time down there, all be it exhausting still a great time.

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Nov Sat 24, 2007 1:42 pm

Today is the start of HELL!

All known as the Holidays at Walt Disney World!
First of all, The christmas loop has started to play and it's annoying after the 3rd time hearing the same songs.

I miss the world showcase background music so much already. Second, the dumb holiday tourists that don't know where ANYTHING is. Third, everyone is messier now then they were a few months ago. Fourth, moving a banana boat is impossibile to cross traffic with too because all the people do isi keep walking without stopping to look at anything so it doesnt give me any room to get to the other side. So please if you see a poor custodian looking to cross the pathway, Please Stop

Thank You!

Yesterday I was doing just trash runs in the United Kingdom. The UK Trash Cans get filled up fast so it was hard to keep up with most of them. Especially the one in the secluded garden area, because everyone at the Fish & Chips line comes over there so after eating, they empty all their garbage into one trash can (or so I thought). I didnt realize there was 2 trash cans in that area, so by the time I realized there was ONE trash can over there, it was overflowing so I'm like that should be fine for a bit, and I come back 20 minutes later, overflowing again and I'm like why oh why did they put one trash can over here? Until I see that there is another one hidden (at least in the dark), overflowing and had a bunch of trash on it too. I felt so disappointed in myself, and embarassed as people watched me take care of it. At least it's somewhat hidden so not everyone walking on the main path could see it.

On Wednesday, I went to Disneyquest and it was the first time where I actually did everything. Usually I get there late and never have time for everything but since we got there around 3, we spent a few hours there and it was a good time. Then we ate at Cookes of Dublin and we all agreed when we first saw the sign that we thought it said Cookies of Dublin lol.

Then we went and saw the Adventurers Club, I havent been in there since i was very little so I barely remember any of it and I loved it. It was hilrarious and I wasnt even drunk. I couldnt imagine going there drunk, it would wild especially the mask room.

Today I work 4-10 at the American Gardens Theatre for the Candlelight Processional. I have never seen it before as I usually skip through that area whenever it was on. Today David Robinson (former basketball player) is the celebrity so it will cool to see him. I hope I'm working the theatre when Gary Sinse or Kirk Cameron is there!

TikiTikiRoom · Post by **TikiTikiRoom** » Nov Sat 24, 2007 4:18 pm

cool information guys. I was hoping I could do the College program, but i attend the NH Institute of Art. Oh well..

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Nov Sat 24, 2007 10:57 pm

TikiTiki...You might be able to do the College Program. The College Program is open to anyone who goes to College even if your college hasnt heard about it (like mine)

Tonight wasn't so bad and it brought back some magic to me working for Disney again. I worked the Candlelight Processional and it was the first time I've seen it and I really enjoyed it. The band, choir, and David Robinson were all very good (maybe except the singer who protein spilled and I was called to clean it up jk, it wasnt that bad).

Before the Candlelight began, I was in the breakroom when I see Al Weiss and a bunch of other important people pull into backstage as they were all there to see the first Candelight show. As I am sitting back here doing nothing, I decide I should get to work in front of the big cheese of Walt Disney World himself! Unfortunally I didn't get to formally introduce myself (nor that I would anyway cus I would probably embarass myself) but still very cool.

On my way to leave for the night, I decided to check out the Peace on Earth Finale again and I love it. It gives me chills hearing the music and the amazing firework finale at the end.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Nov Mon 26, 2007 6:47 am

packwingfn wrote:Today is the start of HELL!

All known as the Holidays at Walt Disney World!

First of all, The christmas loop has started to play and it's annoying after the 3rd time hearing the same songs. I miss the world showcase background music so much already. Second, the dumb holiday tourists that don't know where ANYTHING is. Third, everyone is messier now then they were a few months ago. Fourth, moving a banana boat is impossibile to cross traffic with too because all the people do isi keep walking without stopping to look at anything so it doesnt give me any room to get to the other side. So please if you see a poor custodian looking to cross the pathway, Please Stop Thank You!

Tell me about it. I feel your pain. Really, I do.

At least you get one week of off season before the real fun begins.

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Nov Tue 27, 2007 2:35 am

Today was a GREAT Day!

I had an odd shift today, I worked 1130-10 so no special cleaning detail but I still get 10 hours of work in so that means a lot of guest interaction BUT it's a restroom shift so you have to find the guest interaction. It's the Morocco/France Restrooms which I've never had and they arent the best bathrooms to maintain but it keeps you busy so it makes the day go by at a steady pace. Now with a restroom shift, you can usually sit for a few minutes before going back to your restrooms but I had a few extra minutes so I just stayed on stage and enjoyed the beatuful weather.

I finally stood and watched the France Performers with their chairs, I saw Aurora hold a young girls hand and walk her through the France shops with her, I saw Pierre Noel tell stories of Christmas in France. Then I also had a few comments of people thanking me for making the park so clean. One lady even acklodged me by name and thanked me personally. Then when I was cleaning the sinks in Morocco, a little boy thanked me for keeping the restrooms so clean. That defnitely made my day when people go out of their way to thank a custodian

Post by **acp** » Nov Tue 27, 2007 5:49 am

packwingfn wrote:One lady even acklodged me by name and thanked me personally.

That always made me smile, when people would thank you or acknowledge you having bothered to read your nametag.

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Nov Tue 27, 2007 12:25 pm

Yeah she was a mother with some kind of school tour group and while walking right by me without even stopping, She goes Thank You Derek for keeping this park so clean

One week until my parents come down!

jumrungle · Post by **jumrungle** » Nov Tue 27, 2007 5:13 pm

Reading these are making giving me such nostalgia! I did the college program in 98, 99 & 00. First year, was a tour guide at Great Movie Ride which was awesome ("a slow moving tram ride through the history of the movies" is what we had to tell people who asked what the ride was).

Second year, I got too big for my britches, asked to be on Jungle Cruise and got stuck... at Tomorrowland Speedway. Ugh. The worst. Great co-workers, but seriously the hottest I have and ever will be. I think I still have the tan line from the tacky Tomorrowland V-neck.

Third year, did an internship in Travel Industry sales & marketing and stayed for six months. Had a great time, but it's always funny to tell people that I studied abroad... in Orlando!

Last trip to WDW was in October and I drove by Vista Way. WHAT a flashback. Nothing has changed. I drunkenly threw a coffee mug (shaped like a breast, of course) into one of the complex ponds as a sacrifice on my last night there and I'd to imagine it's still there.

Good luck to everyone who is doing one or considering it. I had the best summers ever and made some of the closest friends I still keep in touch with.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Nov Wed 28, 2007 11:20 am

I can just imagine how bad the Speedway must have been. It's bad enough to stand there as a guest but to have to be there for 8+ hours. For some reason I keep thinking of Stewie from Family Guy.

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WDW college program experiences

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