Working for the Mouse » Disney http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse One Lynn University student\'s experience in the Disney College Program Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:27:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Now its time to say goodbye to all our company http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2008/01/27/now-its-time-to-say-goodbye-to-all-our-company/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2008/01/27/now-its-time-to-say-goodbye-to-all-our-company/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:49 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2008/01/27/%e2%80%9cnow-its-time-to-say-goodbye-to-all-our-company%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/ Well, My journey as a Walt Disney World College Program participant has come to its end. It has been a little over a month since my last entry, and about a month since the conclusion of my program. I have been bloging from just days before my program up until now. I have enjoyed sharing some of my experiences with you, but just as my program has concluded following this entry so will my blog. If you continue to have an interest in the Walt Disney World Theme Parks & Resorts College Program I encourage you to check out the official website at www.WDWCollegeProgram.com, and for the stories of various other participants throughout the years, “Mousecatraz” is an unofficial look into several leading aspects of the program, and some highlights of what students may encounter.

Personally, my experience has been beyond amazing! There is so much I have learned from Disney in the past seven months that I never would have been able to learn from a textbook, or sitting inside a classroom. I have learned about cultures not only from our guests, but also from the Cast Members I interacted with. In fact several of my close friends from the program came from Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Brazil, etc. Not to mention all of the amazing people I have met from so many different states within the United States. I was very fortunate to have gotten an excellent work location; in fact I was able to work four attractions, and one very exciting special event. Each location presented challenges to learn from and experiences unique to that attraction.

Beyond working, I also got the opportunity to experience behind the scenes tours, both in personal and group environments throughout the property, and I can’t forget I went on The Disney Cruise Line! I volunteered at the Give Kids the World Village, I took classes with Disney, and so much more that I can only look back on and remember how incredible it all was. I was able to learn and do so much from my experience that I am terrified to be back in the real world again, how much I would love to be back there making magic for those guests, and watching guests enjoy their time together escaping the hassles of everyday life. I will never be able to forget some of the amazing people I interacted with, and even the occasional ones who yelled at me for something that went wrong during their vacation. As Walt Disney said in reference to Cast Members, “They will be the people who give, who like to bring delight to other people, and therefore gain pleasure and satisfaction for themselves.” I can only hope that in my past seven months as a Walt Disney World Cast member I have been able to truly build lasting memories for all those I interacted with, for those are truly the priceless moments our guests look for. So thank you again for allowing me to share my journey with you, I hope you have enjoyed reading about my adventures! And very special thanks for all those friends, Cast Members and even the Guests for making all of these stories! And of course, as always, I hope you have a Magical Day!

]]> http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2008/01/27/now-its-time-to-say-goodbye-to-all-our-company/feed/ 2 A Picture can say a thousand words… http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2008/01/27/a-picture-can-say-a-thousand-words/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2008/01/27/a-picture-can-say-a-thousand-words/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:30 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2008/01/27/a-picture-can-say-a-thousand-words/ As a part of the year of a million Dreams campaign, Walt Disney World has come out with several slogans such as “Where Dreams come true” or “Where the incredible happens every day.” Inspired by The Year wherechar-final.jpgof a Million Dreams, a friend and I got together to create our own version, which we like to call “Where every Character has a Story.” With around 60,000 Cast Members at Walt Disney World alone, an average guest will interact with around 300 of them during a one week visit, each and everyone has a story to tell; both Cast Members and Guests. You have gotten the opportunity to read all about my story as a Disney Cast Member and sometimes pictures can say so much more than words, so below I have added some of my favorite photos that I feel highlight my experience…

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]]> http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2008/01/27/a-picture-can-say-a-thousand-words/feed/ 2 Ready to make some magic http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/19/ready-to-make-some-magic/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/19/ready-to-make-some-magic/#comments Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:33:38 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/19/ready-to-make-some-magic/ Well I’m back in Orlando to finish up my program. I had a great time at home with some family and friends, and I’m now well rested for Disney’s busiest season of all. These next few weeks are going to be so crazy, with a six-day workweek coming up, and all those thousands of people joining us for the holidays, not to mention, trying to spend time with friends before everyone goes in different ways. I can only hope the rest of my program doesn’t go by too fast!

]]> http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/19/ready-to-make-some-magic/feed/ 1 Disney Fun Fact: Spectacle of Lights! http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/16/disney-fun-fact-spectacle-of-lights/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/16/disney-fun-fact-spectacle-of-lights/#comments Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:49:56 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/16/disney-fun-fact-spectacle-of-lights/ ☆ The Osborne Spectacle of Dancing lights required 30 miles of extension cords, 2 million tie wraps and 20,000 man hours to create the dazzling display of over 5 million lights(including 40 hidden Mickey’s)!

]]> http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/16/disney-fun-fact-spectacle-of-lights/feed/ 1 Flying home for a short break http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/14/flying-home-for-a-short-break/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/14/flying-home-for-a-short-break/#comments Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:20:01 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/14/flying-home-for-a-short-break/ This is the second time I have flown out of Orlando international airport during my program, and just as the last time, I surprisingly felt a warm feeling I usually don’t expect to get from an airport. Last time I actually had one of our guests recognize me from work and begin talking to me about how him and his family remembered the experience I helped to create for them. This time I just took the time to look around and see the different families that are returning home from their vacation. Although not everyone at the airport is there for a trip from Disney, it’s obvious to see those that are. They are the ones who are wearing their newly purchased Disney shirts, hats, or carrying a Walt Disney World shopping bag. During this trip I encountered two different families, one was an older woman who was on the phone with a friend or relative and couldn’t stop talking about all her experiences, and how much fun she had. She loved the fact that she felt like she was “Sorin’ at EPCOT, she loved all the holiday celebrations, and from what I saw this woman wearing her 2007 Walt Disney World shirt had an amazing trip! Another family I noticed was one that had on their make a wish shirts. From what I saw it was a family of three and this little boy gave off a vibe that he had had the most wonderful trip ever! While other little kids ran around me in Buzz Lightyear costumes, this little boy sat contently in his seat with a look that seamed like he was reflecting all of the experiences he had. I don’t know what his story is, anything about him, all I know is that they where there for a trip to Disney World, and from what I saw it seamed like they had the opportunity to make amazing memories together!

]]> http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/14/flying-home-for-a-short-break/feed/ 2 College Program Graduation http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/12/college-program-graduation/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/12/college-program-graduation/#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:45:01 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/12/college-program-graduation/ Well today was one of three days that this programs participants where able to attend graduation.  A Disney College Program cp-grad-07-006.jpggraduation is more like a picnic that gives us a chance to spend some time with some friends we’ve made, take pictures with our favorite characters, receive our completion certificates, and of course not to mention free food and our mouse ears with tassels.  It was nice being able to be there with friends from work and from other various encounters.  cp-grad-07-020.jpgAlthough the program isn’t over for another few weeks, our graduation is done early since we are about to get into the busiest time of year.  It was so much fun, I took pictures with friends, ate food, and won a paddleboat race! I can’t believe my program is almost over, but it has been an experience that will always stay with me!

]]> http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/12/college-program-graduation/feed/ 0 Past, Present, and Future! http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/10/past-present-and-future/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/10/past-present-and-future/#comments Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:07:18 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/10/past-present-and-future/ As my program gets closer to wrapping up, I’ve begun to realize that the current lifestyle I’ve gotten so accustomed to will soon change faster that a pumpkin turning into a golden carriage.  I’ve had such an amazing time these past several months, I have learned so much, and met so many amazing people, that it is most defiantly an experience I will never forget!  The other day after work I wondered over to EPCOT just to enjoy an evening in the parks.  I had heard that Spaceship Earth, which has been closed for refurbishment has been randomly opening its doors to run test runs with some of our guests.  Luckily for me I happened to have passed by at just the right time to go in and experience the changes made to the attraction.  Although many aspects of this classic attraction are untouched, several scenes have been technologically advanced, including touch screens that allow guests to choose from various futuristic outcomes than illustrating one of many possibilities the future may bring.  It appears as though my program may be coming to an end, but I know that the future will only continue to bring more great experiences!

]]> http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/10/past-present-and-future/feed/ 0 Playing in Pirate Cages http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/06/playing-in-parate-cages/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/06/playing-in-parate-cages/#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:25:46 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/06/playing-in-parate-cages/ The other day I got to work and noticed we had a little over double the amount of people pirates3.jpgrequired to open our attraction, so with so many people opening, we obviously finished our duties abnormally fast. Once we were all done, since we had some time before the park was open I got a group together to go over to the cages featured in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chestpirates1.jpg to take a few pictures before work. These cages are not typically accessible to our guests, and it was fun being able to go in them knowing that actors from the film such as Orlando Bloom, and Johnny Depp were in them during the film. It’s always a refreshing surprise going into work and having more people than needed, because you never know what may come of it, but its usually always something good!

]]> http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/06/playing-in-parate-cages/feed/ 0 Being a part of the Magic! http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/04/being-a-part-of-the-magic/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/04/being-a-part-of-the-magic/#comments Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:48:19 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/04/being-a-part-of-the-magic/ You never know the type of things that will happen to you when you walk into work each day at Walt Disney World. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a repeat visitor to the Walt Disney World Resort, in fact a few months ago I had written about a family that I had passed by that was watching a video of their new home being built.  Well yesterday the family that was getting a makeover came specifically to our attraction.  Although I wasn’t able to do their show, some of my co-workers were and they will most likely be shown in the episode.  I was exciting to be able to see a behind the camera look at how one of my favorite shows is produced.  But even more importantly, I got see first hand how this family truly was having the most amazing time here, and I could see that they might have had some struggles at home, but that returning home will no longer be a burden to them.

]]> http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/04/being-a-part-of-the-magic/feed/ 0 Christmas Day Parade http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/03/christmas-day-parade/ http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/03/christmas-day-parade/#comments Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:15:45 +0000 Allan http://blogs.lynn.edu/workingforthemouse/2007/12/03/christmas-day-parade/ Once again it is that time of year where people tend to be in a happier state of mind as various groups of people celebrate varying holidays.  Here at the Walt Disney World Resort, Christmas is xmas-taping-003.jpgundoubtedly the dominating presence.  And for the past 24 years, Walt Disney World has broadcasted our Christmas Day Parade on ABC.  This year in conjunction with the Disneyland resort in California, many celebrity performances include Hannah Montanah, The Jonas Brothers, Katharine McPhee, Patti Labelle, and several more.  I was able to find out a few weeks ago that the taping of this event for us in Disney World was actually this past weekend.  Although Disneyland taped their part several days ago ours was this weekend.  So of course I made sure I could attend at least one day of this two-day production.   

The day I went to was the one where all of the numbers done in front of the castle xmas-taping-048.jpgwas filmed. It was so awesome to be able to see all elements of how this major production is put into place.  I got to see first hand the opening act and the grand finale starxmas-taping-041.jpging Jessica Simpson and several groups of varying talents.  Even though I had to wake up at around the crack of dawn to get there early and didn’t end up leaving till mid afternoon, it was quite an experience to see how it was all done! So on Christmas Day when you’re at home watching it live on your local ABC station be sure to look out for me, I’m wearing red, much like everyone else in the crowd!

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(Above) A glimpse of the parade’s big finale.

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