Being as this is my second program, I’ve been spending time looking back at my last program and what I’d like to do differently this time round. Upon reflection, there’s a number of things that may have affected my program experience in 2013-2014 and I thought I’d talk about some of these with you. Someone reading this (maybe you) may learn from my mistakes when beginning their program.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the notion that you’re going to be in Walt Disney World and living in Florida for a whole year! Sometimes the thoughts and considerations of the actual job and life on the program get pushed to the back of your mind until the very reality of them slaps you in the face during your first month. The experience of my first program is testament to this theory as there were so many things that I look back on now and wish I had given a thought prior to arriving in Florida.
Stuck in my Comfort Zone: When I received my program start date in June 2012, I was eighteen years-old. I had my first proper drink mere months before then, didn’t consider myself one for ‘going out,’ I’d had very few life experiences outside of school and I’d spent most of my school life being intimidated and bullied by my peers. Don’t worry, this isn’t a soppy X Factor audition story... What I’m trying to say, is that looking back I was incredibly young and had few ‘real world’ experiences and life lessons under my belt. Of course I didn’t know that at the time and thought I was as mature as one could be.
| Before starting my program I worked at Chessington World of Adventures for a season. This job was a massive help in building me before I began my program. It helped me get out a bit more and not take life too seriously. I learnt to work with people I didn’t get along with socially and it taught me what it’s like to work hard for days on end. |  |
When I first arrived in Florida on March 5th 2013, I had come a long way in the preceding months but I was still pretty young and only beginning to find my confidence. It was this that ultimately let me get intimidated within the first two days of my program and terrified of even going to my throw-in. For those of you that may not know, a throw-in is a chance for the ‘newbies’ to get to know the rest of the pavilion and vice versa. There are no terrifying trials and it’s really just an evening in a local bar where you may introduce yourself and answer questions about yourself. I however let myself fear the worst and imagine that everyone in the pavilion would have it in for me, instead of imagining that they may just like to welcome me to the pavilion. *rolls eyes at past me*
Instead of going, I let myself stay behind with a few people that didn’t want to go out that night. Whilst I didn’t have a bad time, not going to my throw-in ultimately meant that I only got to meet people if I met them at work. My apprehension and intimidation meant that I avoided all invitations to nights out and I never took the time to consider going as I was too stubborn to think otherwise. That meant that I spent about five months of my program not knowing some of the friendliest and funnest people working in the pavilion at the time… All because of the intimidation I had conjured up myself, in my own head, from mere assumptions.
All of the above ultimately limited my social life opportunities. Whilst I still had a great group of friends, I didn’t get the chance to meet some of the people that became major parts of my program sooner. It took me a good five to six months to even consider ‘going out’ and a lot of the time I used my ‘I’m only nineteen years-old’ excuse… Despite the fact that you can get into most bars and clubs at 18 (you just can’t drink until 21). It was only when I took the plunge that I got to know more people and make more friends.
 | I wasn’t looking to go out every week on my program but the times I did, I had a great time because of the people I was with (and the 90s hits tearing up the dancefloor). It was only then I realised just how silly I had been and how much of my ‘intimidation’ was really my imagination running wild. |
What I’m ultimately trying to say, is don’t make assumptions when beginning your program. Don’t listen to what your friend of a friend whose roommate is working out there now is saying. It’s your program… not theirs. In the lead up to your program, anyone and everyone will share their opinion of what the program is like and what people are like (especially in Facebook groups). My best advice is to take everything you hear with a pinch of salt. It’s your program and there’s nothing to worry about. Be brave, do some things you wouldn’t do normally (you are moving to Florida… who calls that normal?), meet people yourself before you listen to what someone else has to say about them and ultimately live your program to the fullest. Whilst you may be putting yourself in an initially uncomfortable position by doing things that go against your gut feeling, you may just see a world beyond the one you know.
You always have the chance to change your perspective and opinions. You will always find someone on the program that will share qualities with you and who will ultimately end up becoming one of your closest friends. Above all, you don’t have to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. All I recommend is to have a little faith, take a little leap and look for the light, not the dark in new possibilities and opportunities.
Underestimating the Job: As I mentioned earlier, my only experience of full-time employment and hard work was at Chessington a few months prior to arriving in Florida. However at that point, I was under the impression that I could handle anything the job at Disney threw at me. It was this expectation that ultimately gave me a pretty big culture shock once I started my training.
| I hadn’t really taken the time to think about the kind of cast member I wanted to be before arriving on the program. I hadn’t thought about how I’d look to overcome challenges or just how hard I’d have to work. I was too busy thinking of all the stuff I’d like to do on my days off in Disney (raise your hand if you’re guilty of this). You spend about 25% of your week at work, 35% sleeping, 10% on modes of transport and 30% with time to eat, drink and be merry. Work takes up a pretty big slice of your active week so does deserve some thought before you start heading up the creek without a paddle. |  |
Whilst I never felt overwhelmed at work, this was only because of the amazing training that Disney offers. I had to spend a lot of time changing my perspectives of work and that it’s a hard job that takes dedication and effort to become enjoyable. Originally I thought that it was just the gateway to a year playing in Disney parks. In reality it’s a year of work experience where one of the perks is that you get to go to Disney parks.
As far as I’ve learnt, you get out of work what you put in. Luckily for me, I learnt this sooner rather than later, which subsequently allowed me to enjoy the second half of my program far more than some on my program. If you’re willing to make the effort with the team (cast members and leadership team inclusive), everyone’s more willing to help you in return. By doing my best early on to support other people, those people were more willing to spend extra time training me, making me more comfortable whilst I learnt the roles and basically supporting me throughout my program because they cared. If you’re looking to rock up, do the basic job and get out as fast as you can, your time at work is not likely to be as enjoyable or fulfilling.
After a year on the program, I learnt to make the effort and remember that I was there to make magic, not just live it. Whilst the work was hard, the support, friendship and satisfaction I got in return was worth more than the short-term gains of doing the bare minimum for an easy day at work. The job is something truly special and whilst I’m super excited about going back, this time round I know to put my best foot forward from the offset.
Getting Caught Up in the Bubble: This is one of the things I was certainly guilty of on my program. When you’re working in a British pub, with British people, serving British food… you sometimes forget where you are. I know I often lost sight of the fact that I was working in the number one tourist destination in the world.
Families will spend months, years, even decades saving for a trip to Walt Disney World. Each guest you interact with has a story of how much they’ve been looking forward to their trip and what they’ve most been looking forward to. When you’re seating hundreds of guests a day, serving countless portions of fish & chips, selling the same plush over and over again or even doing the same menu spiel so many times that you’re saying it without realising what you’re saying, each of those guests on the receiving end may have been looking forward to this moment for months on end.
| It’s because of this you need to take a moment to remind yourself where you are and what potential you have to make or break a guest’s experience. In the Rose & Crown there’s a permanent cast member called Janet. Janet’s role is the assignor, the person that keeps guests moving through the restaurant, maximising the number of guests coming through, coordinating the seating plan and ensuring guests are seated as soon as possible etc. Janet once said something to me that has stuck with me ever since. |  |
At a time when the restaurant was bursting at the seams, the rain was pouring down and she was obviously under pressure, I asked why she didn’t increase the wait time when it would buy her more time and ease the pressure. Her response was “because each family is looking forward to their meal and I wouldn’t want to be waiting longer if I was them.” That ability to consistently place herself in the guests’ shoes ultimately showed me how to work in Walt Disney World. At times when I felt like slouching, not wearing a smile, taking my time or doing what I had to do and not going above and beyond, I imagined what it’d be like to be the guest on the receiving end. I genuinely believe that this compassionate perspective is the key to providing quality guest service and I have Janet to thank for teaching me that.
If you’re starting your program soon, just remember the power you hold at work. You have the ability to make little girls’ and boys’ dreams come true, make parents laugh so hard they nearly wet themselves and let couples escape from the real world if only for a meal or shopping experience. In my opinion, it’s by not getting caught up in the bubble that allows you to be the very best cast member.
Fewer Staycations, More Vacations: I love a Disney resort. Like… really really LOVE a Disney resort. So much so that whenever I had enough money for a staycation, I’d be straight on that phone to the cast member booking line!
Whilst my staycations were some of the highlights of my program, I could have very well afforded to fly to New York, visit Nashville or even see Washington had I not spent my money flippantly on countless Disney resort stays (I literally lost count). I’m not the best when it comes to saving my money and the temptation of a mini vacation in the way of a discounted Disney hotel room is pretty well received when you’re working God knows how many hours and you make a particularly nice pay cheque that week.
In short, whilst you have the whole (Disney) world on your doorstep, there’s still a big wide world outside the gates of the Walt Disney World resort and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to casually hop over to New York for a weekend or take a road trip to Nashville for a fraction of the cost ever again! Your time in the U.S. is limited and whilst you may be more than happy to spend your weekends chilling in Disney resorts (it’s pretty great), see if you can save enough to get away a little too.
On my program I managed to get over to Tampa, pop over to Disneyland and go on a Disney cruise. Upon reflection, I had the ability to see far more of America during my days off and holiday time on my program. Whilst I don’t regret staying in most of the resorts on property and enjoying my staycations, I do regret not travelling a little more when it was so easy and cheap to do so. This is something I’d certainly like to change this time round. My advice is to look beyond the short-term of a delightful double bed in a Disney resort and look to the potential of a weekend away in some of the best places the U.S. has to offer.
Trying to do Everything: I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read a CRP bucket list that has ‘ride every attraction,’ ‘see every show,’ or ‘stay in every resort,’ let alone all three! A lesson I had to learn the hard way was that Walt Disney World is bigger than you think and it’s not physically possible to do everything. Even after a year of living in the area, I barely scratched the surface when it comes to what’s available!
One of two things will happen if you try to do everything. 1) You’ll work eight hour shifts then spend every spare moment in the parks, do that for weeks on end and completely burn out. Either making yourself sick or just constantly exhausted and unable to enjoy your program. 2) You’ll get to the end of your program and look back at everything you didn’t do and not what you did do.
Take it from someone who tried their best… It’s not possible to do it all. Even people who live in Florida haven’t been able to do everything Walt Disney World has to offer. Choose a few things that you’d definitely like to do (e.g. like my bucket list/dreams & wishes list in my last post) and be satisfied in that you did those. Everything else that comes on top is then a bonus and will only improve your program. What I’m trying to say is don’t set yourself up to be disappointed as doing everything is not physically possible, no matter how hard you try!
WOW! That’s a long post and somewhat deeper than my other ones. Hopefully I’ve given you some food for thought if this is your first time on the CRP. If you have any questions, concerns or dramatic outbursts regarding the program, feel free to tweet me @adamdoesdisney or use the contact page.
Have a magical day!
Adam
31 Days to Go! - ONE MONTH!
Have a magical day!
Adam
31 Days to Go! - ONE MONTH!
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