Magical Moments: My Disney College Program Experience

#1 Get out and have fun. Walt Disney World consists of four very different theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, mini golf courses and SO many unique hotels and resorts to explore on your off days. Take a couple days during your program to go resort hopping or go up in the hot air balloon with your friends at Disney Springs, you won't regret it. Aside from Disney, there is so much to do in the Orlando area that is beyond just the parks. Just a few examples include: the Orlando eye, beautiful Florida beaches, Universal Orlando, Sea World, Bush Gardens and so much more. Likewise, the Disneyland Resort is located in a prime spot for adventures in Southern California as well. Personally, I wish I had taken the time to get out and explore more, but I hardly ever left Disney property. The main point is that you should take every opportunity you can to go on adventures while you're on your Disney College Program.

#2 Take Advantage of what the DCP housing has to offer. The Disney College Program offers classes you can sign up for, backstage attraction tours hosted by extremely knowledgeable cast memebers and even trips to special events going on in the Orlando area.  Be sure to check in with the career center, they have so many helpful tools to plug you into future job and internship opportunities Additionally, very special Disney characters stop by housing from time to time. Every month, you will receive a new calendar with events listed, be sure to look through it and sign up for anything that seems interesting to you. You won't regret it!! I would highly recommend taking the Disney Heritage and Disney Leadership courses, if they are available to you.

# 3 Drink LOTS of water. I can't stress this enough, if your DCP takes place anytime between May and October, it is likely that you will be experiencing heat and humidity that is beyond what you are used to. Long shifts of standing outdoors or long days playing in the parks with friends in that heat will leave you feeling sick and dehydrated if you don't prepare yourself. Also, remember to supplement that with salts and electrolytes too. This can be as easy as adding clear electrolyte powder to your water, keeping gatorade with you backstage or bringing salty chips and pretzels with you as a snack. Take water breaks at work whenever given the chance and remember that most of the restaurants in the parks give out free water. This means forgetting your waterbottle at home or in your car is no excuse for becoming dehydrated while on the parks on your days off. In order to prepare for an outdoor shift on hot summer days, I would usually drink close to two tumbler glasses ...

# 4 Don't forget to stay connected to Family and friends back home. With how busy you will be during your DCP and all the new friends you'll be making, it's going to be very easy to forget to stay in touch with your loved ones back home. Even just posting pictures to social media or giving a family memeber or friend that you know is missing you a call, means a lot. I can't tell you how many friends and family members of mine told me how much they loved being able to see my pictures from Walt Disney World when I was away.

#5 VoluntEAR! One of the best the things about the Disney College Program is being able to VoluntEAR for various events.  I had the opportunity to VoluntEAR with a group of my fellow cast members from EPCOT serving dinner at the Give Kids the World Village and it was one of my favorite experiences during my DCP. If you don't know about GKTW, it is the housing set up for Make a Wish children while they are with their families on vacation in Florida. It was such a special time, I loved being able to speak with and encourage those families, even if it was just a smile and asking them about their adventures that day. VoluntEARs events are a great way to give back to the community and further enrich your DCP experience. Sign up for these early through Disney housing and keep an eye open for anything involving VoluntEARs that comes up within your work location.

# 6 Take time for yourself, your health comes first. When you're working long hours and being exposed to thousands of people, it is critical that you get the rest and nutrition you need to stay healthy. Bring fruits and vegetables with you for lunch and if you are given a night shift followed by a morning one, plan on taking a nap when you get home the next day if you feel tired. I was only sick once during my program, but I took it easy and ate well and recovered within four or five days. Additionally, I've gone through several reconstructive surgeries on my hips and knees and often tend to have pain and swelling in my joints. So I had to remind myself to put my feet up higher than my heart after work due to the swelling. Whatever your specific situation might be, put your health first. One point on your attendance record in order to rest and get well is alot better than pushing through and getting sick.

#7 Pick up shifts at other locations.  If your role is one that gives you proficiencies at other locations, pick up shifts wherever  you can. You can do this on the HUB website where you can check for available extra hours shifts. Joining a closed facebook group where fellow CMs post about trading shifts allows for this too. When you pick up at other locations, you meet more people and get the incredible experience of changing up your work environment. During my DCP, I worked at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Each location had it's own unique feel and way of doing things, as well as wonderful new people.