Just Applied For Fall 2011 Program and Did Interview

**MPoette** · 02-21-2011, 02:03 PM

Hi all!

I'm new to the WDW Radio! I am so excited to say I just applied and completed my phone interview for the College Program (yesterday) and am now awaiting notification of acceptance. I'm really excited and looking up so much more information from different blogs and forums about former CPs. I'm sure former CPs remember this feeling of excitement mixed with a gut filled with nerves. Drives you nuts!

Are there any other applicants for the Fall 2011 Season of this program on here?? If so, maybe we could share interview experiences and such. I'm also open to any suggestions, warnings, etc. about the waiting period and/or once we get there (IF I get there...PRAYERS UP!).

Thanks!

**joanna71985** · 02-21-2011, 07:24 PM

Welcome to WDWRadio

I'm not doing the CP, but I still work at Disney (so I'll be around).

**MPoette** · 02-21-2011, 08:05 PM

Hey Joanna! Thanks for the welcome! How long have you worked at Disney?

**20K** · 02-21-2011, 08:15 PM

Best of luck! If you had the choice, where would you want to end up?

**MPoette** · 02-21-2011, 08:44 PM

@20K In role, my top choice was Hospitality and my second was Merchandising, but I checked close to all of them. As far as Program Season, I would love to do the Fall (starting in August) because it would give me a chance to do some other things (I have another possible internship down at Florida State from May-June) with my summer. Are you a current CP or have you applied??

**20K** · 02-21-2011, 08:55 PM

Fair enough! By "checked close to all of them", do they assess your personality against the particular roles, or have I just totally misinterpreted that?

Haha no, not a current or prospective CP! The only job I ever wanted to do for the Mouse growing up evaporated before I got the chance. Working at Walt Disney World for minimum-wage (persumably?) during the summer would probably kill my love for the place stone-dead too!

**HauntedGabe** · 02-21-2011, 09:24 PM

Best of Luck! My son did the CP in the fall a few years ago. Had the time of his life and has opened several doors for him already. He is hoping to do one more tour of duty, maybe this fall.

**NC_WDW_Daddy** · 02-22-2011, 09:41 AM

Welcome and good luck.

**MPoette** · 02-22-2011, 12:09 PM

Thanks guys! Day 2 after my interview...Waiting is the WORST!! And @20K to a certain extent I believe they assess your personality against certain roles (positions at WDW Park and Resort) but they also have to look at the amount of room they have in each position or role. I think I answered your question correctly

**MPoette** · 02-22-2011, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by HauntedGabe

Best of Luck! My son did the CP in the fall a few years ago. Had the time of his life and has opened several doors for him already. He is hoping to do one more tour of duty, maybe this fall.

I'm glad he enjoyed it so much and I hope to see him this fall! Hopefully we will both be granted our desired opportunities this fall

**HauntedGabe** · 02-22-2011, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by 20K

Working at Walt Disney World for minimum-wage (persumably?)

Unless something changed, yes minimum wage. FL's is lower than IL's and will remain in 2011 at the same level of 2010, 7.25/hr or $290 a week if you manage to get 40 hours a week. My son did, my BF DD at DHS last time did not in the Spring Gig. Extra hours are available at times but she did not get much.

Disney deducts their rent for college housing from their check which runs around $100 a week if I remember correctly. Food not included. My DS had 6 CP's in his apartment, 2 per bedroom so Disney garners around $30,000.00 per apartment for a year.

Disney deducts their rent out of their checks right away so the first check or two is usually nothing of change since it is training time which doesn't normally hit 40 hour range.
Some of my sons roomies checks were in the negative the first 2 weeks.
This in mind new CP's need to have money to live for the first few weeks or they will be hungry.

My son is a very social kid, he also wanted to take advantage of the discounts. You can't take advantage of the discounts unless you have money to pay the balance of the activity. I've encouraged other future CP's to save money towards their CP'ing experience, it will make it more enjoyable. I also didn't look at CP'ing as a work experience more a college experience. I sent him money after the first month when I saw how difficult it was for him to make ends meet. Around 50.00 a week.
Now my niece who was not as social did fine with the paycheck and just hung around her building during her off hours or went to parks and just didn't buy any food or beverages, when you gross $7.25/hr you don't spend $2.50 on water.

**20K** · 02-22-2011, 12:49 PM

It's a win-win scheme for Disney... that's all I'll say.

But, at the same time, you're only young once and I'm sure it'll be a great experience.

**HauntedGabe** · 02-22-2011, 01:13 PM

I would not trade the experience for my DS. It was the best college semester of "real life" experience. A peek into the future.

The money was irritating and that is why I gave him some. Not washing clothes in that climate 'cause he spent his money already, yuck.

**MPoette** · 02-22-2011, 01:34 PM

@HauntedGabe Thank you so much! That definitely just made me even more excited about the program! I PRAY I get in! It would be a WONDERFUL opportunity and to experience it with so many different people at once has got to be priceless. How much would you recommend us saving up for the first few weeks down there?

**joanna71985** · 02-22-2011, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by MPoette

Hey Joanna! Thanks for the welcome! How long have you worked at Disney?

I have worked at Disney for 6 years (fulltime for 9 months).

Originally Posted by MPoette

@HauntedGabe Thank you so much! That definitely just made me even more excited about the program! I PRAY I get in! It would be a WONDERFUL opportunity and to experience it with so many different people at once has got to be priceless. How much would you recommend us saving up for the first few weeks down there?

I would start with $500