Welcome to Operations

Today I had my Welcome to Operations orientation at Disney University.

Ready for Day 2 of Training!

Checking Out my Location!

This morning my dad and I decided to go to Epcot to check out the Vacation Planner booths. Of course I've been to Epcot hundreds of times, but it was different knowing that it's where I will be working! I got such a wonderful feeling when I saw the booths today, knowing that it is where I'll be getting my start with Disney!

Say hello to my new home, the Epcot Vacation Planner booths!

I can't wait to start selling tickets and helping people plan their days!

Mine Train and Kitchen Sink

Today was the official opening of the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom! This ride marks the completion of the New Fantasyland expansion! My dad and I were lucky enough to get FastPass+ reservations to ride the Mine Train on Opening Day! This was the first attraction we've ever ridden on Opening Day, and we've been watching the Mine Train construction for years so we were really excited!

The attraction sign!

First of many Mine Train selfies!

Check-In and Casting

I woke up today and couldn't believe it was finally here! I've only been waiting for this day since I was accepted just 3 months ago, but in reality I've been waiting for this day for my entire life. It was finally my time to check in to the Disney College Program.

My roommate Hannah was also staying at Pop Century so we met up and followed each other over to Vista Way, one of the 4 apartment complexes and the place where Check-In is held. 

Seeing these signs made me so excited!

The Welcome Center at Vista Way!

Travel and Pre-DCP Disney Day

My dad and I left Houston bright and early yesterday morning for a very long day of traveling! We were expecting a lot of traffic since it was Memorial Day weekend, but the roads were empty! We made great time the entire day and it was a very easy drive. We stopped in Gainesville for the night and we were only 2 hours away from Orlando.

We stopped at the Florida Welcome Center!

This morning, we drove from Gainesville to WALT DISNEY WORLD!! It was so exciting to drive under the welcome gate and know that I didn't have to leave for 7 months! After checking in at the Pop Century, we headed to Magic Kingdom. 

I had to get an "I'm Celebrating" button!

Just Days Away

I still can't fully comprehend everything that's about to happen. I woke up this morning and my countdown notification on my phone said 3 days until I move to Florida! THREE DAYS! Something that I have been waiting for forever is happening so soon and I am beyond excited.

"How do you pack for 7 months?" is a question that I've been getting a lot recently. And I wish I knew the answer! Packing is never my favorite thing to do, but packing for the DCP makes the task way more fun!

For the past two weeks, I have been cleaning my room, packing my suitcases, and running errands non-stop, along with eating at my favorite Houston restaurants and spending time with my family! It has been crazy trying to get everything done and packed. The most I've ever moved is 3 hours away for school in 2 cars, so trying to figure out how to move halfway across the country for 7 months in 1 car is definitely an adventure. 

Getting Closer

Well, in less than 2 weeks, I will be checking in to the Disney College Program! It still seems incredibly surreal. I have been imagining and dreaming about this program for so long that in some ways, it just doesn't feel real yet. I'm not sure when it will hit me that this is actually happening!  It's a wonderful thing.

I'm officially done with school, and now I get to turn my focus to packing! It will definitely be quite a process, but an exciting one! My dad and I will be driving down in my car, so luckily I won't be too tight on space. Disney apartments are also fully furnished and they provide lots of essential items in the apartment, so that makes it really easy!

My roommates and I registered on DORMS (Disney Onsite Resident Management System) yesterday. This is Disney's online system to register for our apartment complex ahead of time. There are four complexes for program participants, and they're located near Disney property. We'll find out which complex we're in when we arrive, but we got to indicate our preferences and link together in the system. I am super excited to meet my roommates! We found each other through the DCP Facebook groups, and we all get along really well! I'm excited to share this experience with them!

About my Program

The Disney College Program is a paid internship where students can work in the parks or resorts, take Disney classes and seminars, and live with other program participants for the semester.

The application process consists of three stages: the online application, the web-based interview, and the phone interview. I will be doing a series of posts describing my personal experiences at each stage.

I was accepted for the role of Vacation Planner, which was one of my top choices! This is a very small and competitive role, so I feel extremely fortunate to have this opportunity! I will get to interact with the guests all day long, and help them figure out which of the 100+ ticket combinations that Disney offers will best suit their needs. I am so excited to get to put my knowledge of the Walt Disney World property to use! I will be based at one of the 4 parks, and I will find out which one when I arrive.

Welcome to my Blog

Welcome to my Disney College Program blog! I will be sharing my experiences, my stories, and my memories from this incredible journey on which I am about to embark. I have been waiting for this opportunity for my entire life, and I can't believe that it's finally my time to live and work in the most magical place on Earth. I know that this is the beginning of the best time of my life!

Walt Disney World has become more than just an annual vacation spot to me. It is my passion. My dreams. My life. And now, it is becoming my career and I couldn't be more excited.

My first trip to Walt Disney World was in the summer of 2000, with my parents and my sister, Megan. We loved everything about it -- what family wouldn't? But something stuck with us, and we kept returning, year after year. Sure, we get questions, and lots of them. "Don't you want to go somewhere else for a change?" 
"Aren't y'all too old?"
"Haven't you done everything there?"
And the answer is always no.