WDW college program experiences

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Sat 07, 2006 12:31 am

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I just checked into Chatham Square. Today we got our room assignments and tomorrow I get to find out where I'm working and when.

I thought I'd just open this thread and keep ya'll posted on my experience doing the program. If the thread gets spammy or OT, just move it! Feel free to ask questions and I'll try my best to answer them. Bye for today!

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Jan Sat 07, 2006 2:32 pm

I've seen this program stop by my college, Lion. Sounds very cool to me, and I've always wondered what it would be like. Just out of curiousity, what's your major and are they trying to give you job specific to that?

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Sat 07, 2006 5:15 pm

My major is Radio and Television. The interviewer told me they would try and put me somewhere related to my major. Today I just got my location assignment- I'm at MGM Studios doing custodial.

Tomorrow is Traditions, which is like orientation to the Walt Disney Company's culture and heritage. I think it's half a day long and it starts at 7:am sharp. But since I gotta take the bus, I need to be outside the bus stop at 5:45 in the freezing cold.

Yes, freezing cold.

G2-4T · Post by **G2-4T** » Jan Sat 07, 2006 11:00 pm

Wow - nice work landing the gig. So how is the broom pushing? What shift do you work - I'll be in the parks this coming week and will be sure to place a lot of garbage in strategic locations all over MGM! "Can we get clean up in RnR? A guest just let loose a package of Mickey napkins on the ride and it is snowing paper..."

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Sun 08, 2006 10:24 pm

LOL, G2-4T. Actually tomorrow I have to report to Disney-MGM Studios at 7:15 for "On With the Show." Not sure what we're doing, but I think I get my costume and learn about the park more. Got to wear formal attire for that.

Traditions today was exhausting. 5 hours of learning about everything and anything of the Disney Co. It was held at the Disney University- which is near the Magic Kingdom. Woke up and saw the stars, entered the building and didn't leave until high noon. The cool thing was, we got our nametags. Made me feel a little special.

Mickeymac · Post by **Mickeymac** » Jan Mon 09, 2006 7:15 am

G2 - shame on you! Now every time Lion's got to pick up a pile of crud, they're going to think of you!!! LOL!

Lion - my cousin was a television producer for NHPTV up here - kind of a bigwig. She wanted to break into commercial TV, and applied for a job at Disney. They flew her down there - she was so excited. She walked into Casting and they took one look at her and said 'go here, do this...' it was a bit of performing. She thought they got confused and was going to put her in front of the camera. She got home, got the job, packed up and moved down. Showed up for her location assignment and found out she was a special friend of Mickey and the 'gotta work your way up' spiel. Nothing like a rude awakening!

I hope it goes well for you, you will get to see a ton of stuff behind the scenes. We'll look for you on ESPN weekend!

QuickGold · Post by **QuickGold** » Jan Mon 09, 2006 10:22 am

My girlfriend just finished her College Program last week and she loved it. Have fun with the Studios and be sure to pass along any nice news/rumors to me if you hear them

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Mon 09, 2006 4:52 pm

Hahaha! Im so exhausted right now, and i just want to sleep. Today we had out Studio walk, and it took two hours! It was cool because it began before the park opened so it was all empty. It was funny because when it did finally open, some of the characters were just standing there hanging around cuz no one found them yet.

After the walk, was a break for lunch in the cafeteria. then it was onto some online learning which was really boring and i don't really remember anything from it.

then after that we finally got our costumes. of course the sizes i wrote down didn't fit and it took me over an hour to find something that fit best. My jacket is way too big and my pants look like parachutes.

So yea- costuming is one of the worst experiences in my life.

Tomorrow Im back at Disney U for a Global Custodial Class. Laters!

G2-4T · Post by **G2-4T** » Jan Mon 09, 2006 7:45 pm

Sounds like an adventure! Must be slick to be there with no one else around. I can't wait to hear what that class is all about. Global Custodial Class - "This is a trash can, this is a broom, and the pop quiz today is how to give directions to the nearest bathroom in 8 different languages. Closed book - good luck!". The on-going saga - great to hear the experiances!

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Tue 10, 2006 9:34 pm

It is pretty cool to tour the park when no one is in it. it's also very cool to learn the story behind all the buidlings and signs.

So today was the class at Disney U. The campus, is super duper nice, btw. if only all colleges were that clean and carpeted and well kept. oh and the lobby looks like a hotel lobby with a nice cafeteria right next to it. there are disney images on many of the walls around the campus.

The class was taught by two custodial trainers. they used video and power point as well as props to teach us about the tools, the methods, the chemicals, the dangers etc... that come with our job. it was a bit boring and I almost fell asleep a few times. we did have a quiz at the end, but it was pretty easy.

well tomorrow is actual on the job training at disney-mgm studios. i'll be in the icon area....

Mickeymac · Post by **Mickeymac** » Jan Wed 11, 2006 7:12 am

This is going to sound silly, but some of our most magical moments have come from the custodial CM's. One woman on Main Street took my daughter into the Emporium and had her pick out a wand since she was going to CRT the next morning. Another man had her picked to start Spectromagic. Another woman brought us to the VIP section of the parade and said we were related to someone famous and had us put in there (that was a total hoot.) I have great respect for the custodial team - they seem to really go out of their way to make magic. It's almost like most Guests see them as 'invisible' so they go out of their way to spice up life for Guests.

I'm enjoying your posts, btw!

QuickGold · Post by **QuickGold** » Jan Wed 11, 2006 9:40 am

Lion, don't forget to plug my site whenever you can....we love having CM's on the site: http://www.mgmstudios.org

Keep up these interesting reports!

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Thu 12, 2006 12:05 am

Mickeymac, your story may have sounded a little silly a few weeks ago, but now I know exactly what you're talking about. Anyone can make the magic happen, from bell hops to operations to custodial cast members. since the custodials are always near guests, we have the opportunity to go the extra mile and make someone's day more magical.

it's true that custodials or "show keepers" as they're called tend to not get a lot of respect, they are an important part of the "show" without us, you'd be very very very unhappy.

today was my first day of on-the-job training. I went with a trainer to all the front and back areas of the "icon area." we went through all the guest and cast member bathrooms as well as the backstage and onstage walkways to get to the restrooms. it was really overhwhelming and i sure as heck don't remember where all of them are. i believe there are fifeteen bathrooms in that area.

tomorrow i get to learn about sweeping the streets and doing the trash runs in the icon area. im not really looking forward to it, because today was just exhausting. but at least i get to go to work a little bit later, but i don't clock out until 8pm.

And Quickgold, i will sure and plug in your site when i get the chance. it would be a little awkward to do it when im still a n00b.

i still haven't been able to visit any of the theme parks yet! it's driving me nuts. all of my roommates have been to at least one, but i've been so busy with training that i've just had no energy to go.

QuickGold · Post by **QuickGold** » Jan Thu 12, 2006 9:56 am

Question for you Lion, why did you choose to do custodial? Why not ride ops or anything else?

zenmondo · Post by **zenmondo** » Jan Thu 12, 2006 12:14 pm

Lion, how long will you be in the program? I hope you get to a park soon!