Complying With The Disney Look

Well, I've done it. I've dyed my hair to follow the Disney Look guidelines.I forgot how dark my hair is naturally, it's been so long since I had one color hair!
For those of you who don't know, Disney requires it's cast members to have one color hair. You can have highlights/lowlights but they can only be one shade lighter or darker than the rest of your hair and you have to keep up with the roots. I decided to go ahead and dye my hair back to it's natural shade, since I'll be lifeguarding and won't be able to keep up with the roots without risking having to get in a pool the next day. I've heard of people leaving their hair ombre'd and trying to hide it by putting it in a bun all the time, but that only works if all of the hair that shows in your bun matches your roots. If you go to check in and your roots don't match your ends, they give you 2 days to dye it one color. Having so many different shades of red in my hair from the sun, that was never going to work for me.

The Disney Look is pretty strict, and they expect you to follow it. They go over and over it with you time and again, so they expect you to know it. One piercing in your earlobe only, no visible tattoos, no pixie cuts, neutral colored nail polish only. They talk to you about it during your interview, you have to review it during your application, your acceptance, over and over they will email you to make sure you understand what they expect from the Disney look. Because they've reminded you so many times, they expect you to be within the look by day one. I've heard stories of people being made to hold their ends against their roots at check in, being told to take out piercings, and even of people being sent home for refusing to comply. One of my roommates has done the program, and during her Traditions last time around a girl had pink nail polish on her nails. They handed her cotton swabs, nail polish remover, and sent her into the hall until it was gone. They're serious about following the Disney Look. I certainly don't want to miss any of Traditions!

Morale of the story? Be honest about your tattoos, take out your extra piercings and dye your hair. No matter how many people tell you their coordinators never cared, you don't want to be the one that gets termed for breaking the rules.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from my family to yours! We're getting close! 17 days until check in and 15 days until I leave for Florida. Life has been absolutely crazy around here. I've been attempting to finish up my pre-Florida shopping, finished my Christmas shopping, gave my notice, and have started packing! I feel like the last couple weeks have been a constant go-go-go. I am so ready for a little break before I jump straight into being a lifeguard! The kids I nanny are out of school for winter break and life has been crazy in their household...

I finally found my Traditions dress! I have several business casual clothes for classes, but I wanted something different and new for Traditions. I ended up falling in love with this dress in a dark red color (they call it "tawny port") at this little store called Dry Goods USA [DGU]. I had gone to a bigger mall than the one we have locally (I hate shopping in Indiana, I'm telling you) and at first we walked right by DGU, because their display was all flannels and comfy scarves, and not exactly what I need for Florida! After a couple hours and countless stores, I was beginning to give up hope. I don't have the greatest body shape, and it's hard to find clothes, especially dresses and shirts, that fit me. They're never long enough, the chest area is always to tight, and the neckline to high. It's a mess. But for once I walked in and had a hard time deciding what to buy because I loved everything I tried on! All of the sales associates were great and crazy helpful! I'm sad that there isn't a DGU in Florida!!! This dress is perfect for work with a blazer or for going out (which isn't something I usually buy into... BUT IT IS!)

The one good thing about walking into five million and two stores before finding the right dress is that we went into H&M right away, and I was able to pick up this blazer. I was able to try dresses on with the blazer to see if I liked it or not. It was $20, though they don't have it on the US website, which is a crazy good deal for a blazer!

I also finished most of my shopping. In the last couple weeks I've managed to buy towels, bed risers, white lights, a toaster, carabiners, a coffee pot, shower curtain, and to be honest I've lost count of  what else. I still have a very few more things to buy (mainly black ballet flats and work shoes) but I'm waiting until after Christmas for the sales to hit. I've managed to save all of the money I budgeted for myself and then some, which is a huge relief. I was worried about my first couple weeks but now I feel okay!

I also started packing! Or... putting the big stuff in the trunk of my car to get it out of the way and out of the house! I've started sorting my stuff into piles as I'm washing it: pack for Florida, things I'm going to use before Florida but also in Florida, and things I'm leaving home. The clothes I'm not using before Florida are being shuttled into space bags, but a lot of that stuff is still sitting in my drawers, since I haven't worn it recently. Thankfully I have all of next week off of work, so I'll be able to take the time to sort and pack then. I'm starting to get a little teeny tiny bit nervous about having to bring all of my sisters stuff and all of my stuff, as well as all of my mom and sisters stuff for the week they'll be down there... but it'll work. My mom is the master of car tetris.

Giving notice was so nerve wracking I nearly had a panic attack (...that wasn't a joke about mental disorders, I have anxiety, and honestly almost had a panic attack.). I feel bad for the family I nanny for, because they are having such a hard time finding a replacement, since we live in such a small town. The baby I nanny is not going to be happy when I'm gone...

The next two weeks before I leave are going to be insane. I am going to visit my dad for a couple days, I have to visit my grandma, I need to get my hair dyed to one shade, go swimming a few more times, pack, work, a quick trip to Detroit, and pack up my bedroom. I'm not sure when I'm going to find time to sleep, but I'll get there. In the mean time I'll be enjoying the next few days of relaxing with my family before life gets crazy! Feel free to message me with any questions you might have or just to say hey! I can't wait to meet you guys in a couple weeks!

The Odyssey

I'm so excited to share some news with you guys! I received an email today inviting me to write for The Odyssey, which has recently become affiliated with the DCP! Rest assured I will still be writing and posting both here and on tumblr. The Odyssey is encouraging us not to write about Disney, limiting us to one Disney related article a month (which I have mixed feelings about...) so I will still be using this to write all about my DCP, Disney, and pretty much anything I can think of. I'll let you know when I post my first article (Monday)!

Giving Notice

Something I've found a lot of people headed into the program struggle with is the idea of having to give notice at work. Weather you love your job or hate it, the idea of having to tell your boss you're leaving can be daunting. As long as you go about it in a professional manor you should be fine, but often times people react negatively to surprises. So how do you give notice?

• Notice should be given two weeks before your last intended day of work. Some people choose to give notice early, but know that there is a good chance you will not be kept on for as long as you might hope. Always be sure to give at least two weeks notice, however, to give your boss time to find a replacement.
• Ask to speak to your boss privately during a quiet time. While you are on the clock or during a rush is not the time to have this discussion. Come in early, stay late, or go in during your break,  and make sure you let them know you can work around their schedule to talk.
•  Have a letter of resignation. Even though you are already talking to your boss, you should also hand them a letter of resignation. This should say how sorry you are to be leaving the company, when your last day of work can be, and offer to help train a replacement if applicable.
• Be sure to let your boss know how sorry you are to be leaving and how much you will miss working there. Even if it isn't true, it's what you need to say. Let them know you are leaving because you've been presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity, not because of anything that happened at work. 
• Don't talk about why your leaving. Don't talk about what has pushed you to take this internship. You're leaving, and this conversation, weather you like your job or not, will just lead to back lash. You are moving on, there is no need to look back.
• Shut down any negative talk. If things start going south, let your boss know you're happy to have had this talk, you'll be happy to talk about it latter, but you have something you need to do. You do not have to take any grief over leaving, nor should you. But it's important that you don't get caught up in an argument with your boss before leaving.
• Don't burn bridges. All of these points lead to the same thing; never burn bridges. You never know when you're going to need a reference or help from an old boss or colleague. It's important to not cut anyone out of your life, no matter how upset you might be at them at the moment. 

Whatever happens, just know that you've got something great waiting on the other side. I gave my boss notice Monday, three and a half weeks before my last available day to work. This is a hard time of year to find nannies, and they're going to be on vacation for a week of what would be my two week notice, but I'm also completely ready to be done. I wont' be desperate for work if I'm let go early. I can't wait to see you all in Florida! Have a magical day!

New Hire Paperwork

This is it! For those of us with a January 11 check in date, we are now under a month! So much to do, what feels so much time to do it. I've been shopping, creating lists, packing, and just generally trying to keep myself busy! Friday was one month until my arrival date, and my new hire paperwork came in! I received an email very early in the morning, as did most of my roommates. One of my roommates didn't get her email until early afternoon though, so don't panic if you don't wake up to yours!

If you are not an alumni of the program, and you've not worked for the Disney Company in any other capacity, follow the link for New Users to create a password. Once that is done, sign in to continue the process. Make sure you set aside a significant amount of time to fill out the paperwork.You start out with a few documents to fill out and then when they're all filled out it adds more, and then again. Before you get started, make sure you have the following information ready: Social Security number, bank routing number, and bank account number. You can find your bank account and routing numbers on your bank statements or on the bottom of your checks.

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information I can share with you. Disney likes to keep it's trade secrets close to the chest, and no one wants to risk getting termed before they've even started. So here's what I can tell you:

• This is your chance to change your preferred name. For most people, this probably isn't a big deal. But for those of you, like me, who put their legal name in the area for their preferred name during the application process, this is when you have the chance to put the right name for your name tag. YAY! (Okay, I was excited, I know most people won't be)
• In the past, you had to bring a blank check to check in day to set up a direct deposit for your paycheck. Now you set it up online before hand, which is super convenient. Make sure you have your banking information on hand. If you attempt to fill it out later, it can take a couple of weeks to set up the direct deposit. 
• Every document you fill out can be downloaded to save for your own reference. Always make sure to read any document you sign, and save a copy for later. 
• When filling out your W-4, there is a deductions calculator. Use it. The more deductions you take, the less they take out each month, but also the less you get back in April. Most people doing the DCP can take 2 deductions: 1 for being single and 1 for only having one job. Use the deductions calculator to figure out how many you should take.

Make sure you fill out your paperwork as soon as possible, so Disney has the most time to process it as they need. You don't want anything delaying you once you get to Disney! Let me know if you have any questions about your new hire paperwork, or if you need any help! Have a magical day!

Packing Lists

With just over a month left until my check in date, I sat down today to really finish my packing lists. I love the excel to-do list template, because it lets me organize my list alphabetically, by due date, or by what I need to do with that item (buy at home, buy in Florida, or pack!) and it lets me check things off once they're done.  My list is very specific to what I plan on bringing, but feel free to use it for yourself! Click on any of the pictures to make them bigger and feel free to message me for a copy of the excel file! Have a magical day!

Today at school, one of my professors let me know, in front of the entire class, just what he thinks of me doing the Disney College Program. I guess I talk about it enough that he felt like he had the right to weigh in on the topic. Whatever the reason, he talked about how “kids these days” (I am 23 and he is about 35, just 12 years older than me) have taken to working jobs outside of their field, and then want to be upset when they can’t get a job after they graduate. He despaired at how we have no work ethic, how all we want is to have fun, with no sense of responsibility. My response to him was a simple “you’ll never understand, because you don’t want to”. I refused to have this conversation with him because it had nothing to do with my education, and he took it as a defeat. But here’s the thing:

When I was 20 years old, I took a job at a local day camp as a reason to get out of the house. You see, I was taking care of my terminally ill grandmother, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before she was gone. I had no interest in being stuck in the house all summer. After one summer I was promoted to director, because I was really, really good at my job and at taking charge. It was a job that required a lot of off season work, like hiring, planning, scheduling, recruiting, and more. Sounds a whole lot like relevant work experience for my teaching degree to me. On top of that I was still going to school full time and had started nannying everyday after school and most weekends. Again, relevant work experience. I pay for school as I can afford it, because I work my ass off and I refuse to take out loans. The fact of the matter is, though, this man is just one of many who don’t care about what I’ve already accomplished, and are instead choosing to look at this internship as a foolish choice. Maybe he’d rather I was working in an office all summer, or grading papers for some teacher this spring. He probably would see that as a safe, more career oriented choice. But after giving more job references for my counselors than he has for students, I’ve learned a thing or two about why an office job is so much worse for you.

Every summer, hundreds of twenty somethings flock to cities to work the not so glorious unpaid internship. They’re lured in by the promise of a good reference, and the chance to learn from professionals in their field. The fact of the matter is though, when looking at applications, all nearly identical with their degrees and internships, the person looking at your applications knows exactly what they’re seeing. Because they’ve hired interns before, and they know all they let interns do is get coffee, run copies, and answer the phones. Now take what you know about the Disney College Program. Which sounds better?

When working at Disney or a summer camp, you’re going to be doing so much more than running errands for people who won’t remember your name in 2 weeks. You’re learning how to be a self starter, how to be a problem solver, and how to take REAL direction. When you create magic for that little girl who just dropped her ice cream cone? You’re learning how to put the guests happiness first. When you saw a co-worker struggling to get the floor stocked before closing so you go over to help? That’s team work. Those 12+ hours a day you work for a week straight without a day off? That’s dedication to your job. These are the things companies and schools want to see when they’re hiring you. This is why having a company, a job, like Disney on your resume is an asset, even if it’s not in your field of study.

Am I saying don’t take the unpaid, office job internship if it’s offered to you? No way. Lots of people have made it to where they are today by starting exactly there. All I’m saying is, if I had two nearly identical applications sitting in front of me but one had the Disney College Program on it? I know which one I would chose.

Making Decisions: What Should You Be Doing Right Now? (December)

• Make your lists: Santa isn’t the only one who need to be checking his lists twice this December. Now is the time to be creating packing lists, shopping lists, and to-do lists. Make sure you check the on boarding website to see what comes in the kitchen before buying any supplies. Items like cookie sheets, plates, cups, and mug are just some of the things that come pre-stocked in the apartment. Decide what you are going to buy in Florida vs at home. If you’re driving, buying things like bedding and coffee pots will be cheaper and easier at home than in Florida, while your shampoos and such are better left for Florida, so they don’t burst on the way down. Make your lists and move on to the next point! (Excel is your best friend in this endeavor. In fact, it has a list making template that will let you check things off as you go!)

• Talk to your roommates about whose buying what: first of all, if you don’t know whose going to be rooming with who, sit down right now and figure that out. Don’t do anything else until you’ve done this. Once this is done, talk to your roommate about who is buying the shower curtain, bathroom rug, and any other essentials for your room that you won’t want doubles of! Also talk to your roommates who you aren’t sharing a room with about cleaning supplies! Instead of getting 6 dish soaps and 6 Swiffer’s and 6 Clorox wipes, split it up so each person is contributing one or two items with fewer repeats.

•  Go Shopping: December is the time to get the bulk of your shopping done, while there are so many sales going on. You want to be able to save as much money as possible for your program!

• Roommate Gifts: Now is the time to decide if you and your roommates are doing roommate gifts! Decide as a group, and if someone seems hesitant, be sure to let them know that there is no pressure! My roommates and I decided yesterday that we’re going to do them!

• Start Packing: Towards the end of the month it will be time to start packing. Start sorting through your clothes and decide what makes the cut and what does not. Packing lists can be found all over (even on this blog!) as a good place to start!

• Make sure everything is sorted out with your school: the last thing you want is for something to go wrong with school while you’re in Disney. Make sure, if you haven’t already, that you talk to your counselor about what, if anything, they need you to do.

• Make sure you’ve done everything on the November list: if you haven’t done the stuff on THIS list yet, you need to get it done STAT.