Check-In, Day #1

On Monday I checked into my third Disney Culinary program and it was definitely a little different from even last year.

Check In happens at Vista Way. When you arrive to Vista whether you're driving or walking, at the security gate you explain that you are there for Check In. Security is well aware of the Check In dates, and usually your luggage is a giveaway! Once you get through the gate you will see all the signs leading you to the welcome center in the back. Once you get to the welcome pavilion you will be greeted by a CM who will hand you your program guide. You will then enter the little building and get in line to find out your housing complex, get your key, and have your ID made. Following the excitement of finding out where you live, you will proceed to the patio outside where you will get you itinerary for the next few days and you will get debriefed on Traditions and what to wear and where to be. The itinerary will disclose your schedule for casting, the housing meeting, and Traditions. You will receive all your other information at Traditions.

What is new with this year is that you go straight to Casting from Vista. In years past once you were done at Vista you grabbed your luggage from where it was stored during Check In, board the luggage bus to your complex and put your stuff down at your apartment before catching a scheduled bus to Casting. Now, you go on the scheduled bus that leaves right outside from the Check In building down to casting. Don't worry, they have fruits and bars out to help tide over the hunger!

Our bus back from Casting. You better believe there was Disney music and trivia!

Once you get to Casting, this is where all the fun paperwork starts, by fun we mean government specifics that aren't really fun. but there's Disney stuff on the walls so who cares! You need to be sure that you have a government issued photo ID, passport, or social security card. This will be used when completing the I9 documents. At Casting you will also be fingerprinted and be given information in regards to signing up for direct deposit and other payment options.

The good news is once you're done with Casting, you're done for the day! All you have left between you and Traditions is a simple housing meeting the next day that is at most a few minutes past an hour, and it's held right at the Commons.

So, you get here and don't have access to the parks, what do you do? Downtown Disney is an option of course!I actually went there first things first to get a new case for my new phone. In case y'all didn't get the memo, my favorite Disney character is Dopey. He doesn't get as much love as he deserves (all the Grumpy merch Disney? Seriously?) But, I love him. So obviously when I saw that you could make a custom phone case at the new D-Tech On Demand shop in the new Co-Op at Downtown Disney, I obviously got it

I mean look at it!

 

Two of my roommates are actually working in DTD so we went and toured their stores and got to know each other a little bit more. It was a fun night to unwind and still have some Disney fun. We grabbed a bite to eat at Earl of Sandwich and I was torn between like 4 sandwiches but was so happy with the vegetarian one that I went with! It had avocado, zucchini (my favorite!), cabbage, tomato, and pesto. SO good

 I've never labeled myself as fully vegetarian or vegan, but I do try to incorporate it when I can. and this was definitely a great choice!

The Sunshine State?

So, a bit of an update. I'm in Florida! I arrived on Sunday after a really emotionally draining day. I had said goodbye to my aunt and uncle and my grandma on Saturday and it takes a lot for me to cry in front of people, and I was bawling. and then I had to say goodbye to my dog, UGH.

 and then I had to get in the car and pull away. We dropped off my brother, and HE cried.

and then there was saying goodbye to my parents. It was different this time. I'm used to staying away from home, I've done the whole leaving thing but there is something so finite about knowing that the next time you come home is only to visit for days to a week at a time, not for months. and I can't even describe the guilt and selfishness that I felt knowing that I was the one making everyone cry, that the only reason we were upset was because I was leaving, it was all my doing and it made me feel horrible.

But, I boarded the plane. I slept through most of it but I landed in Florida safe and sound. and what was it doing? Raining. No, not raining, pouring.

 So things have definitely not changed in that aspect. My plane was a little delayed and we had quite a bit of turbulence but other than that it wasn't too bad. This is an example of why I stress arriving the day before check in. Flying in in the morning and hoping to get there in time is just too much of a hassle in my opinion. And with Mears, it's a shuttle so on the route for all the guests in the van that night, I was the last to get dropped off. At least there's no rush!

I took Mears Transportation over to my hotel, the Holiday Inn Resort Lake Buena Vista on State Road. I've preached before about this hotel because it is literally right across the street from Vista Way which is where your check in will take place. I was able to put my things down and cross the street to get dinner (there is an Applebee's in the hotel though if you want!) And I basically just came back and lounged in my big king bed all to myself!

As you can see, Tangled was playing so I instantly felt better. And a Jessie/Dog with a Blog marathon was on after and I have to say, not too bad!

In the morning, make sure you allow for ample time to get across the street. Walking by yourself is different than walking with 2 suitcases, a carry on, and a laptop bag. Keep that in mind when you're packing too. A friend I was with had 3 bags with wheels and it was hard to get them over. My carry on was able to go on top of my suitcase and then I lugged along my others duffel bag like suitcase. We were a few minutes past our check in time of 8 but the line was actually quite long so we were alright. More on actual Check In day in the next post!

So if you need any accommodations before the day of your program check in, be sure to look into Mears Transportation from the airport if you're flying (you can reserve it online or even at the airport) and staying at the Holiday Inn Resort.

Where Am I?

Where in the world is Meg?

Still New Jersey, but not for long! 3 weeks from right now I will be sprawled out in a big king size bed all to myself probably eating vending machine crap for dinner watching whatever is on the TV in the Holiday Inn across from Vista.

I hope these 3 weeks go by fast but I hope they drag on so slow all at the same time. I want to go back to my Epcot job but I don't want to punch out of my job up here for the last time. I want to go back to seeing the cast of characters but not leave the cast of characters I call my friends and family. I feel a little bit more torn up this time knowing that this is it, I'm buying a one way ticket not knowing when I'm coming back. I know I'm going to try and take a week off to come home in the beginning of next year but still, you just don't know.

Hercules was sad to leave his family, Rapunzel was reluctant to leave her tower, but man oh man, look at what they went on to.

Hopefully I end up like Rapunzel and find myself my own Flynn Rider...a girl can dream right?

Congratulations? Now what?

You've sent in your application, gone through a nerve wracking interview and now think every *ding* on your phone is the arrival of that all too important you've been waiting for. It can be junk mail or....it can be an acceptance email from the DCP!

And yes, this is what you will do. You will scream and jump up and down. And then you'll start crying. You'll compose yourself and then start calling your family and all of a sudden, you're crying again. And you keep rereading the email making sure it does say your name and that is is in fact followed by a congratulations. At least that's how it went for me anyway....

So, what do you do next?

You will continue reading in that email that you have 10 days to accept your offer. Keep in mind it is not 10 days since YOU read the email, it's 10 days from the time ticker on the email, this is why it is important to check your email everyday.

At the bottom of the email there will be a link directing you to a page where you can review your offer letter. It will contain your role and your pay rate. It will also go over again information about housing and its fees (which I talk about next) and the Disney Look guidelines. When you accept your offer, you accept those guidelines so make sure you read everything through. Don't show up to your check in with gauges in your ears, a crazy haircut or hair color because they will send you back home immediately.

After you accept your offer, you will receive another email with a link directing you to pay your deposit. BOTH the acceptance of your offer and payment of your housing fees need to be done within the 10 days to completely accept you offer.

You will notice that the fee is $300. This fee gets broken up into 2 divisions as follows:

Rent: $200 will be going towards your first few weeks of rent. When you get down for your program you will notice your first week or two isn't loaded with a lot of hours. But you are in Disney housing for those first few weeks and still have to pay rent. This $200 goes towards you first rent payments so depending on your weekly rent fee, it can cover the first 2 weeks an some of the third. This is REALLY helpful. In your first few weeks you will be doing a big initial grocery shop, possibly buying bedding and bath linens, and any odds and ends you find that you need as you get settled in. Knowing that the money you will be earning in those first few week directly comes to you and not rent gives you enough of a start.

Events: $100 will go toward DCP Housing. Housing is always throwing great housing events and trips, check out the Housing Events tag right here on my blog for a quick preview of what you can expect! Movie nights include free popcorn and drinks, grocery bingo gives out free groceries as a prize, and housing events always include the DJ, free food, and really awesome character meet and greets. One of the housing events is your DCP graduation where you get your certificate and free Mickey ears. There's also a chance your program will fall in the time frame of Starlit Splash where they rent out Typhoon Lagoon just for CPs, or the CP formal. These are all FREE. I don't know about you, but I like free. I can't tell you how many things I have accumulated over my programs. I have my Mickey ears, 2 memory boxes, a DCP poster, DCP speakers, a free t-shirt, a lot of free food, and great memories with friends! You definitely get your moneys worth and then some!

After that, you will get another email with a link directing you the onboarding website. This is where you can review all you need to know about Disney Look, what to pack, I9 document information, and anything else you can think of as you start getting ready for your program.

After this, you are pretty much on your own. It's up to you to figure out how you are going to get down for your program which can include getting a hotel and purchasing train or plane tickets, that is all up to you and on your budget. Approximately 10 days-2 weeks before your arrival date you will get an email regarding selecting your apartment and filling out the last bit of paperwork.

Know that when you accept your offer to be a member of the Disney College Program, you are an accepting a great life experience. You get the magic and entertainment of Disney at your fingertips, the chance to work in a worldwide cherished company with a team filled with wonderful talent and leaders, and the chance to make new friends who you will make memories with to remember well long after your program is over. Yes it does come with a price but believe me, the experience itself is priceless!

Have you gotten your acceptance email? Congratulations! Leave your role and program dates in the comments!

Hello There, Remembe Me?

Happy New Year everyone!

Yeah, that's how long it has been since I have made a post on here and I feel really bad about that. My second trimester was my last set of baking labs for school and with my work study I ended up being out from about 7-7 and that the last thing my fingers wanted to do was type.

But this past week the recruiter from the Culinary Program has been at my school so as a Rep I have been busy recruiting and giving out information and doing presentations. and I thought you know, why not give this blog a shot again? My other blog is way too cluttered with other things for anyone to find anything on it so at least with this blogger, it's just my Disney journey.

Which, is starting again! On September 8th I will be checking in to my 3rd Disney Culinary Program and will be going back to the Epcot Bakery to bake for the Food & Wine Festival!

As of right now, my dates are 9/8-1/2 but I do plan on extending and if full-time becomes available, finding my own place and permanently residing in Florida.

I'll be returning to Walt Disney World which is all too familiar to me but this will still be a major life adjustment. I have never been away from my family for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's. I have never completely moved away from my family as far as Florida. I will be apartment hunting, car shopping (mind you I haven't driven in nearly 3 years) and going from the CP life to the CM life.

But I'm excited. This is where I'm meant to be, I know it. and I am so thankful to have a job and boss who is so understanding back home that if for some reason I have to leave and come back, I have something to return to. My family says they may even move to Florida in time.

So that's where I'm at right now. Graduating in May, working throughout the summer, starting a CP in September and after that, I have no idea!