Housing Events

I've previously written about the housing events Woody's Round Up and Oktoberfest, and DCP graduation, but there are a lot during your program that you can attend. They run pretty regularly and have different themes each time. Often times they will have free food, music, and characters. When you pay your $300 deposit for the program, $100 of that goes towards the housing events and it really is worth it to go. It's great times with friends and it's all exclusive to CPs. Take a look at some of the other housing events I've been to over the course of my CP and check out the housing tab for more!

Galaxy Blowout 

 Uh-oh!

 Darth Goofy and Jedi Donald came out!

The theme of the party was Star Wars so who better to show up!

Thanksgiving Diversity Event

 Photo booth with hats!

 "Thanksgiving Dinner" I say this with quotation marks because I am an American and I know what a real Thanksgiving dinner is, and this wasn't it! Still good though!

 Mickey and Minnie dressed in their colonial wear for the first time in 30 years!

There were also other events that I was not able to attend such as a Monster's University kick off in September and a themed bingo nights throughout the program. All are good fun and provide lots of special photo opportunities and memories with friends!

DCP Graduation #2

Back in October I had my 2nd DCP graduation. It was weird, I felt like I was just STARTING my FIRST program, not finishing my second one. People say time goes by when you're having fun and I feel like this program went by in the blink of an eye. I left for Disney in shorts and flip flops because it was July and it was hot and I was going from 4th of July fireworks to Disney fireworks. and then next thing you know, I'm heading on a plane home in jeans and a sweatshirt because it's November and cold back home.

Disney hosts a graduation for you before your program ends. There's free food, music, and prizes. You receive a free gift, a free pair of graduation Mickey ears, and you get the chance to celebrate your graduation with not only your friends, but Disney characters!

Most of the housing events are held at Chatham Square field because it's nice and open. We were there during an experimental phase where I guess they wanted to test out using it at the Vista Way welcome pavilion. It wasn't as much fun because characters had to change instead of all being out at the same time and there wasn't as much room. It was still fun though, nothing could damper your DCP graduation!

 The Epcot crew and our friends Pluto and Goofy

 Pluto and Goofy have moves!

The boss and Minnie Mouse <3

 Take your pictures in front of a castle backdrop, you can even pose with your country's flag if you're international.

 The best degree you can get!

After graduation, a lot of people go to get their ears engraved. My first program it was free but for the $7, it's worth it. It's just nice to have and makes your ears that much more special. My first pair of ears has my name on it but since I was paying for this one, I went all out and got a different color.

 Another hat to add to the collection!

There's a little hidden gem in WDW, the casting door. A great place for a photo with your new ears!

I was fortunate to have the day off for graduation. Make sure you request the day off as soon as you get the email about it so that way you have a better chance of getting picked to go. It's something I would list on my DCP Don't Miss List (I don't really have one,but if I did, it would be on it!) It's just something really special and something only done for CPs. Go celebrate all your hard work!

Woody's Round-Up!

Today Housing hosted a special welcome event with our favorite toys! Woody and the gang stopped by to welcome the new CP arrivals and to give us who have already been here a chance to relax. I had work today from 8-4:30 but since this event lasted from 4-7 I was still able to meet up with some friends and go!

Everyone gathered around for some Western pictures and line dancin'!

They served some food there as well: hot dogs, mac and cheese, and drinks. It became apparent to me yet again that I must be messed up for not liking mac and cheese!

The really fun thing about events like this are the characters! There's no families or screaming kids around and chances are they are inside. Woody and Jessie came around earlier but then we got to meet Jessie and Bullseye! For those who don't know, Pascal and Bullseye are my favorite Disney animals so I was SUPER excited!

Andy's Room comes to Chatham Square!

It was definitely fun! Even have a cowboy hat of my own! Always try to make it to Disney Housing events because with free food, characters, and oftentimes a lot of free goodies, what could go wrong! 2 weeks until the Monsters University welcome event!

Movie Night!

Boy have we been spending quite a bit of time in the Common's clubhouse lately! Tonight, two of my roommates and I went to the clubhouse at 7 to watch one of my favorite films, Despicable Me!

I meant to take pictures but alas, I forgot. There is a large screen in the center of the room and other screens surrounding the walls so there is always a good seat in the house. The line wasn't too long so we got in right away. Upon entering you get some free popcorn (which thanks to my vegan roommate we learned was gluten and also dairy free, Disney thinks of everything!) and soft drinks and you could also enter a raffle to win a dvd copy of the film. In front of each seat there were also little Disney Internships & Programs key chain lights.

Earlier today my roommate and I went grocery shopping at Publix. I always hate those initial stops where you have to get everything like your spices and flours and everything else. But, I did manage to get mostly everything and stay within a relatively ok budget for the initial shop. I believe I've mentioned it before but be sure to get at least 2 reusable bags. Disney gives you a free blue one and I always take that as a spare but I always try to limit my purchases to fit in those 2 bags. It makes it easier for you to carry on and off the bus, believe me!

Calling it an early night since Traditions is tomorrow! Technically I wasn't supposed to go and considered a bypass because I'm still an active Cast Member but I asked to be put in and thankfully they did. I have never been so excited to get up at 5:30! No of course I have, for last year's Traditions! I can't promise tons of pictures since it's professional and on the clock but I will try and capture something for everyone! So excited to see my boss tomorrow!

I also get my park access after Traditions and plan on hitting up New Fantasyland and watching Wishes! from within Main Street this time as opposed to the beach :)

Housing and Bingo!

When I woke up this morning I woke up for the first time in my new bed in my new apartment. I know you might hear from some people that the Disney beds are uncomfortable but I sleep like a baby! The day after your check in is usually pretty relaxed, you can do some shopping either after your check in or on day 2. Day 2 consists of a housing meeting in the Commons Clubhouse. They go over the do's and don'ts of living in Disney Apartments such as do have open communication with your roommates but don't bring in illegal substances, pretty basic stuff. They also highlight some of the housing events that you can experience during your stay such as Grocery Bingo, Pool Parties, field trips to surrounding areas, and everything you can think of!

Today I actually met up with one of my friends from school and my roommate and went to my first Grocery Bingo! This is a very popular housing event (the line snakes around the building!) because if you get bingo, you get free groceries! And we're not talking a box of cereal but a reusable bag filled with groceries and a laundry bag with some cleaning items! Today's theme centered around High School Musical, what team!?

 

The room fills up so get there early!

Did I win? Of course not.

The Bingo is run by Disney Events cast members and they keep it fun and themed. We had your standard classic and black out bingos but we even did H for High School Musical and T for Troy Bolton while HSM music played in the background. They will let you get up and stretch in between and throw out free goodies into the crowd like sun shields for your car, mouse pads, and ID cases. 

We had a lot of fun but because we didn't win, I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow!

Q&A: DCP Housing

Pomp & Pixie Dust

Recently, the Disney College Program held their graduation ceremonies for Spring 2014 interns and it made me reminiscent of how I was in their shoes exactly a year ago at this time.

For each session there is a graduation ceremony at Chatham Square. You get a bunch of freebies, I still have my Mickey wind chime, Snow White china box, and my DCP poster on display on my DCP shelf back home. There is free food, a DJ and of course you get your complimentary Mickey Graduation Ears and your certificate.

I had already gone through my high school graduation and I face my college graduation next year, but this graduation has to me my favorite because of what it stands for.

I worked long and hard for this and I was blessed with the opportunity to live with wonderful roommates, work in a wonderful kitchen with excellent cast members, while working for the company I have dreamed of working for because of the impact they have had on my life. Standing with Mickey and Minnie was more dignifying to me than standing with principals and Deans. Mickey and Minnie have been a part of my life since the day I was born, there was a Minnie "It's a Girl!" balloon when I was born, I got my first Mickey and Minnie dolls when I turned 1. and Now here I was, grown up and living out my dream with them. What more could I ask for?

I can't believe it has been a year since this moment and I am more than ready to head back down and start this journey all over again!

The DCP, It's a Splash!

So I've decided to bounce around a bit and make a post about DCP Events. Yes you are there to work, but they let you play too! Recently, the DCP held their 2nd Starlit Splash at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. Last year I was able to go to the very first one and let me tell you, it was a grand time!

Disney usually hosts a formal dance, not like Prom but more kind of like homecoming in a sense. Except these are better because Disney characters are there! I don't remember Prince Eric and Ariel being at my homecoming...oh yeah, because I never went to them. Besides the point!

Last year however, they decided to spruce things up a bit. I was there during the spring and springtime in Florida is b-e-a-utiful. Especially at night. So instead of hosting the party indoors, we had it outdoors! I, like other people, was a little skeptic about the idea, we had all gone down anticipating the formal because it is a highlight of the program. We looked forward to dressing up and going dancing and thought the idea of a pool party would be silly. We were wrong, very wrong.

What the Starlit Splash is is a big beach party held after hours at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. The DCP rents the park out for the night so it is strictly CPs in attendance. They bus you there and upon arrival you get a free tshirt (Disney gives you a lot of free stuff, I still wear my shirt all the time!) and you get nearly the entire park to yourself. We got to go on rides super quick because there was no regular tourists in line, we got to do the snorkeling with the sharks and fishes in the reef, ride the lazy river, swim in the big pool with the tidal wave, we had a blast.

and there was free food! a buffet filled with hot food food and FREE MICKEY BARS! I mean, hello, do you know what those costs in the parks?

In addition, along the beach was the party. We had a DJ who played awesome music and threw free stuff into the crowd. Every now and then he would go "scream if you're in the disney college program!" "scream if you're in the disney international program!" "scream if you're in the disney culinary program!" and us culinary kids made sure we did. They were dressed up as pirates and threw eye patches and pirate footballs into the crowd and even announced the arrival of the best pirate off all, Captain Jack Sparrow! We even got a little firework show, just for us.

at the end of the night we were all proven wrong, it was a great time. It was a tad bit on the cooler side and it drizzled but you were wet anyway so who cares? It was great to spend time with friends on my day off having fun and going swimming. Disney really took care of us from the free handouts and t-shirts, food, and locker storage. It's a great way to show that they care. They know that we work and that we work hard so they let us have our own magical moments instead of just making them.

So not only your program do you have the opportunity to have fun on the job, but fun on your days off! You are not entitled to go just because you are a CP, you do have to request the time off if you aren't given it but they are usually pretty lenient about it. I recommend making the most of the housing events during your program because not only are they free, they're fun!