The Waiting Game IS DRIVING ME INSANE

This is going to be the most useless post of all time.
Things to do to take your mind off of the fact that Disney holds your future in its gloved hands. So you don't go insane. Really.

* Don't refresh your e-mail and dashboard every hour. No matter how tempting. Rrngghgghghhh...
* Take a walk
* Start a diet
* Play PokeMon or some other addictive game
* Get nervous with other potential CPers (though this option will still drive you insane, as it will lead you to refreshing your e-mail and dashboard over and over and over and over...)
* Play Skyrim. This is the best option.

FUS RO DAH!

The Waiting Game: Or, how to survive applying for the College Program Part 1

Wow, guys. I kind of fail at updating. Here's my excuse: National Novel Writing Month. I managed to churn out a 50,000 word novel that I'm actually really proud of, but it sort of killed my writing juju for... what month is it now? Three months? Dang.

Did someone say Disney?

Disney wasn't going to have any of that, though. On January 23, 2012, Disney opened applications for the Fall and Fall-Advantage 2012 Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort College Programs!
They're open! That means you should go apply! Go now! Go now before I run out of my quota of exclamation points!

Applying for the College Program

"But Sprinkles," you might ask, "What's the difference between Fall and Fall Advantage?"
Good question, hypothetical questioner! Fall Advantage actually starts in the summer, so it goes from May/June-January. Fall just goes August-January. There are many reasons why you might want to do Fall Advantage. For example, my hopefully-roommate wants Fall Advantage because she wants to get down to Disney ASAP. I applied for Fall Advantage because I want to room with my hopefully-roommate.
The downside is, of course, summer. Heat, crowds, busy busy busy!

Don' wake me up until my shift tomorrow.

The perks are that you get to see more holidays (Fourth of July, anyone?) and you get more time at Disney.

So once you've thought about whether you would want to do Fall or Fall Advantage, go ahead and head on over to the website that will be your best friend for the next couple of weeks: The Disney College Program Home Page. Ready to click that green button? Well, don't. I highly recommend (and so does the application) that you read the entire page and familiarize yourself with it. You all are big kids, I'm going to assume that you are going to do that.

Application time!
Here's a little guide to help you out with coming up with your password (so that you don't have to try making one five times like I did). It has to be case-sensitive, contain a symbol, and contain a number. So ThisIsMyP4ssw0rd! is an acceptable choice, while thisismypassword is not.

While you're filling out your application, you come to a section where you need to rank the available roles as High Interest, Moderate Interest, Low Interest, and No Interest. No Interest means that either you are not qualified for it, or you would rather not be accepted than have to work that role. I didn't put 'no interest' in anything, but I had to consider that they might very well put me in custodial again. That one was low interest, but it's still an option because I would rather go down to Disney as a custodian than wait another six months to apply.

Cinderella is judging me. 

So, if water terrifies you or you don't have a driver's license, don't select things like transportation or lifeguard.

Everything else about the application is pretty self-explanatory. Be honest, of course, and take your time. After you're finished and some time passes, you should get a "Thank You for Applying" e-mail. Then, it's on to the thing that strikes fear into the hearts of all potential CPers.

The Web-Based Interview (WBI)

Not so cheeky now, huh, Cindy?

 

Okay, first of all, calm down. Just because you've heard horror stories about the WBI doesn't mean that it is impossible to overcome, even if the answers are timed. There are just some ground rules to follow, and you should be fine:

1. Read the instructions.
2. Make sure you read every question twice.
3. Look over the scale each time to make sure you're answering how you want (strongly agree, neutral, etc)
4. CALM YO' MOUSE EARS DOWN!

Seriously. Stay calm, take a deep breath, and go. You'll be fine.

This is getting pretty long and I have some dishes to do. So, I'll continue with the next steps in the next post!

WDW College Program- Traditions

So, you've gotten into your apartment. You've met your roommates (joy of joys). You've found out which park you'll be working in.

Now, it is time for the Traditions class. You might have heard of it. There's a pretty big hubbub about what to wear. It's true, too, if you don't dress properly you will be asked to leave.

Here's my advice for your Traditions class.

1. Calm down
No, really, calm down. I met so many people at my college program who were practically hyperventilating over their Traditions class. You will be fine. I promise you, you will be fine.

2. Take the earlier class.
I know, I know. You want to sleep. You do not want to catch a bus at 6AM or whenever. Trust me, you want to take the earlier class. It will get technicalities over with and you will get access to the parks faster. You heard me, ACCESS TO THE PARKS. AS IN ALL OF THEM. AS IN EMPLOYEE PASS. AS IN FREE SPACE MOUNTAIN.

3. Dress nicely.
I think the dress code is fairly simple, but so many people were getting kicked out. Remember, you are dressing for this guy:

Not this guy:

Gentlemen: Wear a collared shirt. Wear a belt, and TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN. You want to look professional, here. A tie wouldn't hurt, either. Shave that beard and trim your mustache so it doesn't extend past your lips.

Ladies: If you're wearing a skirt, make sure it's an acceptable length. I would recommend knee-length, just to be safe. Stockings are a plus. Tuck your shirt in, and make sure you only wear one pair of stud earrings if you must wear them. Your hair should be a natural color, and not in a mohawk or something like that.

For everyone... wear close-toed shoes. No sandals. If you must wear heels, make sure you can walk in them. YOU WILL BE WALKING. For ladies, I'd recommend mary-janes. Not only are they cute, but it isn't painful to walk in them.

Pretend you're dressing for your grandfather. Even better, dress for your uncle. .... Uncle Walt, that is.

4. Take part in Traditions. Pay attention. Interact, make connectoins, socialize, and SMILE! Disney deals in smiles, they love smiles. Remember Barbie at the end of Toy Story 2? That was me at the end of some of my shifts at the Magic Kingdom. Get used to smiling. 

5. Calm down. I know this is a repeat of #1, but calm down. Just breathe... you will be fine.

Walt Disney World College Program: Where to Live?

I was looking for energetic Disney music to listen to while typing up this post, and I ended up getting distracted by YouTube videos of He-Man singing. How did I even get He-Man when I was looking up Disney? Ah, the mysteries of the internet.

One of the greatest debates in the College Program is this: "Can the Vista Way hot tubs get you pregnant or give you an STD?" Okay, so that was a joke. Well, partially. It IS a rumor that has been going around for years. I myself have never seen evidence of either, and I doubt that it's possible, but you know how rumors are. No, one of the greatest debates is which housing complex you should choose to live in for the next five-eight months. I am giving information on the three housing complexes available to non-international students. The Commons is where most international college programmers live, and looks very nice. Sadly, it also has the highest rent.

The three housing areas that CPers can choose from are (from oldest to newest): Vista Way, Chatham Square, and Patterson Court. I lived at Chatham Square, so I can give you my opinion on that place. For assistance on the others I got some help from Agent R and one of her alumni friends, Kelvin.

Vista Way
The stuff of legends. It is the oldest of the complexes which, according to Kelvin, can show in the apartments. Well, hey, after you host legendary Vista parties it only makes sense.
Some of the great things about living at Vista include the fact that being oldest does have its benefits. Lots of official College Program activities take place there (take advantage of the free food!) Something else to keep in mind is its location. Within easy walking distance is a Walgreen's and some food. There is a Wendy's, a Chick-fil-A, a Cici's, a Starbucks (mmm caffeine), and a Dunkin' Donuts.
Their computer labs are open until 12AM (compared to 5PM elsewhere) and they have a Learning Center where you can rent movies. Oh, and their bus stop is the final one before going on to the resort-- so you have moer time before catching the bus, and less of a chance of being late. Nice!

As for the cons... well... Vista IS known for its parties. So, if you're the type of person who needs your sleep and isn't much for loud revelry and tomfoolery, Vista Way probably isn't for you. There's also the fact that the living areas don't look as, well, new. It's been lived in-- but it's the least expensive! WOO!!
(Oh, as for the... uh... pools and hot tubs. I haven't been in them, but I've heard that the hot tub is really relaxing after work. I mean, they legally have to clean them-- seriously. However, romance can and does happen in them. Use at your own risk, I guess.)

Chatham Square
My complex of choice for when I went. Hope to stay there next time, too. It has a bus stop, it isn't as party-central as Vista Way, and it's pretty nice. Most people want to live there, so that means you'll have lots of company. Chatham also has a great pool and tennis courts. It is in walking distance of a grocery store, though it's kind of high-end. It's literally right down the street from Mickey's Retreat, which has lots of fun stuff like basketball courts and the like.

I had to ask multiple people for what they considered to be negative about Chatham. It's a much-loved complex. I -did- manage to get some things, though. For one thing, the kitchens are itty-bitty. Teensy-weensy. Also, navigating Chatham can be a bit awkward for drivers.

Patterson Court
The newest of the complexes, with wooden cabinets (WOODEN CABINETS). It is beautiful. Gorgeous. Well-lit. The pool is supposedly so clean that it's... well, it's clean. Very nice. I cannot get over the wooden cabinets. So nice. It's quiet, though not as quiet as Chatham. So it's kind of like the happy medium, I guess. It's also only $1 more than Chatham Square.

The bad news is that you have to walk to Chatham to catch the bus. However, if you have a car that shouldn't be a problem. It's farther away from everything, including the official CP parties. Mmmm, free groceries. Also, even though it's only a dollar more than Chatham Square-- CP also stands for "Constantly Poor". Agent R said, "That same dollar could mean a bowl of ramen."

.....
So, though in the end it's up to you, I would recommend Chatham. However, like LeVar Burton says, "Don't take my word for it." Ask around!

The College Program: When to Attend

So, you want to attend the Walt Disney World College Program. That's great! This leads to a few questions. When in your college career should you attend? What time of the year should you attend?

Disney thankfully says that you must spend your first semester at your school. This is a good choice, as I don't recommend people fresh out of high school to go to the program. I think you should wait until junior year or later, as it will give you a chance to focus on school and determine which degree you want to aim for. That way, you can take advantage of Disney's classes if they fit in. (As an English major, my college would not have given me credit for attending any of the classes. Sigh.)

As far as age goes, I wouldn't attend until you are about to turn 21 or you already are 21. That way, you don't have to worry about whether you're with a minor or not. Focus on having fun, growing up, and working... not whether you'll get caught being an idiot. (If you're drinking underage, then yes, you are an idiot. You WILL get caught and Disney is -not- tolerant on stuff like that. So just don't do it. There are many yummy non-alcoholic drinks, trust me.)

So, to sum up, I think you should be almost or over 21, and at least in your junior year.

But now, when should you attend in the year? Fall or spring semester? 

I attended during the fall semester, so for spring semester advice I asked my friend Agent R from The Best Days Ever: "...not as many busy holidays, so it's a bit more relaxed."
I have to agree, especially if you're one who tends to get homesick. I was miserable on Thanksgiving because I missed my family so much. Besides, Christmas crowds are insane. 

But then there are the benefits of fall semester: seeing Disney during the holidays. ... I'm not talking about Christmas, either. While that's magnificent, they pull out all the stops during my favorite holiday: Halloween!

Halloween, in my opinion, is not only the best time to visit Disney, but the best time to work there. September leaves the parks pretty much empty, which allows guests and cast members (especially during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party) the feeling of having the park all to themselves. Plus, the parade music is catchy (even after hearing it about seventy times) and if you're a villain lover... you'll have a blast. 

Spring:

+ Not as busy

+ Not as many emotional and family-oriented holidays 

- You don't get to see the parks during Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas

Fall:

+ Celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas at Disney

+ The season cools down as opposed to heat up

- Holidays away from family

- Insane hours during the holidays

- Parks super-crowded during the holidays

The choice is ultimately up to you, but when I go back it'll be during the fall. Halloween is just too magical a time to miss!