WDW Guide: Magic Kingdom

Saving the best park till last, this is a guide to the main park of Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom.

As soon as you hop off the monorail, boat or bus (these are the many different ways to get to the entrance), you will be greeted by the vision of Walt Disney.

This park oozes the classical Disney themes throughout. As you wander through the turnstiles and under the bridge of the rail station, you will be greeted with the town square. Carry on walking and you will see the sight that makes my heart melt every single time: Cinderella's castle.

Main Street USA is a wondrous place to walk down. Here you will find a vast array of shops selling all the merchandise you can think of. If you want candy, character ears, ice cream, christmas decorations or anything else, you will probably find it in one of the shops. Do take the time to wander in and out to take in the detail, and escape the heat for the AC!

For coffee lovers, a Starbucks can be found here as well.

Main Street USA

Directly in front of the castle is a statue of Mickey and Walt which I really think is worth a picture. The castle often has welcome shows featuring dancer's, princesses and the famous characters. It is a Disney way of welcoming you to the Magic Kingdom.

The various lands surround the castle where the attractions await. I don't think there is a particular route you should go, as it will likely be busy everywhere unless you get there as soon as the park opens. The lands are summarised below:

Tomorrowland

Sci-fi is the theme of this land with Disney favourites located here such as Stitch's Great Escape, Monster's Inc laugh floor, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (very popular) and Space Mountain (also very popular).

My top tip: Go on the People Mover. It may not seem like a thrill ride but it won't be a waste of time and its great to have a quick rest. You can also get great views of the castle and see the rides in Tomorrowland from a cool behind-the-scenes view.

Also, make sure you catch a character dance party. These are so much fun and are great for making you laugh. Details of these are available on a program at the entrance to MK.
If I could give advice on what's not worth doing in Tomorrowland, it'll be Walt's Carousel of Progress. Its great for Disney fans but in my opinion, not worth the time doing if you are only there for a few days.

Fantasyland

Every little prince and princesses' dream place is Fantasyland. Here you'll find the classical Disney fairytales played out in various forms, such as roller coasters, tea cups or even a flying elephant. 

Must do rides are Peter Pan's Flight (be prepared to queue or get a fastpass), Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid and Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

I actually couldn't do the mine train as the queue was ridiculously long but I've heard that it is good. You can also get fastpasses to meet the popular princesses or if you love Beauty and the Beast, then you can meet Belle at her Enchanted Tales.

Be Our Guest

One thing I love doing is the carousel. If any of you have seen Saving Mr Banks, Walt Disney rides it in Disneyland, CA. Whenever I go on the carousel in any Disney park, I feel like I'm being transported back to when Disneyland was brand new and Walt could see his vision become reality.

Recommendations for eating here are Be Our Guest, which is very popular and sadly we weren't able to go. We did eat at Pinocchio's Village Haus, which is a great QSF&B serving pizza's, salads and flatbreads. Do try the Blue Raspberry frozen slushy, it is seriously the best thing I've ever tasted but it will turn your tongue blue!

Flat bread and Blue Raspberry slushy 

Also, don't forget that you can board the railroad here to take you around the park, which is great if you want a little sit down.

Liberty Square

The next themed area is Liberty Square. Catch the Haunted Mansion, a classic Disney ride. Apart from that, I'd recommend the riverboat if you have nothing else to do. Liberty Square is quite small, so really the Haunted Mansion is the main attraction.

For food, the Sleepy Hollow is famous for the waffle sandwiches although I am yet to try one!

Frontierland

Home of two of the mountains and the former being my favourite ride- Splash and Big Thunder! These are the top attractions and can have hefty wait times so fast pass is recommended. Some cool themed merchandise are also located here.

Adventureland

Do ride the Jungle Cruise, a hilarious boat ride that is so enjoyable because of the Cast Member operating the boat. Pirates of the Caribbean is another favourite. For kids, they'll love the flying carpets of Aladdin and if they are keen explorers, the Swiss Family Treehouse is cool to climb and get great views of MK.

If you want to meet Aladdin and Jasmine, you'll find them here also!

One thing I will always get in Adventureland is a classic Dole Whip. Opt for pineapple, vanilla soft serve or a mixture of both. The float comes with pineapple juice, but either in the Floridian heat is refreshing and will cool you down nicely.

Overall, this is a miniature version of a guide to MK and is based on what I have experienced and therefore recommend. MK really requires two full days to get everything done. 

Do not miss the Festival of Fantasy Parade or the night time Main Street Electrical Parade. Make sure you pick up a program with the parade routes and times to ensure you get a good spot.

Festival of Fantasy Parade

At the end of the day, you can saw goodbye to MK by watching Celebrate the Magic. Projections of famous disney scenes can be viewed on the castle itsself, followed by the night time firework spectacular that is Wishes.

Celebrate The Magic

Wishes

This will send shivers down your spine and almost make you well up (it did to me). It's times like these when I watch the show and realise how special Disney can make people of all ages feel. It'll be at this point when all the planning, money spent and travelling to get to MK is way worth it. You will not want to leave after this. 

I hope this has given a good insight into the main park of Walt Disney World. What you do with your time is up to you, and members of your party of all ages will feel so special in this park. 

If you are going, I hope you have the most magical time!

WDW Guide: Epcot

Oh Epcot. You either get it or you don't.

I've heard a lot of people say this is their least favourite park because it has no solid theming throughout.

Like Animal Kingdom, this park should not be underestimated. This is Walt's baby, as EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Centre of Tomorrow, and he had a heavy influence on the attractions seen their today.

It can easily be done in a day, or half if you are hardcore and don't take in all the details.

Popular rides here are Test Track, which most definitely will have a long queue in peak times, so fastpasses or single rider is preferable on this attraction.

Similarly, Soarin' is popular and has the slowest and most boring queue in the world so try and get a fastpass for this (single rider isn't applicable).

Other attractions include going into the big 'golf' ball, called Spaceship Earth, and Mission Space. These are great to experience, but I wouldn't say they are must do's in my opinion.

There are other low key attractions at the park, but since I haven't ridden them, I feel I can't really comment on them.

The other big attraction is the World Showcase, an area featuring 11 different countries where you can walk around each pavilion and immerse yourself in the different cultures.

Mexico

The countries featured are Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, Morocco, France, UK and Canada.

UK

Each pavilion features the architecture typical of that country, as well as merchandise, food, drinks and some attractions/entertainment.

Morocco

This could take half a day to walk around if you really wanted to see everything, but if you aren't that bothered then I would suggest visiting Mexico, Morocco, France, Japan and China.

Of course, as I'm British, a visit to the UK is a must for me!

I ate at the Akerhusus Banquet Hall in Norway for breakfast, as it was character dining and included in my disney dining plan. You get to meet most of the princesses who come around to your table for a chat, as well as performing a princess parade around the restaurant where they lead little prince and princesses around in a procession.

The food was nice, in a buffet style featuring traditional Norwegian foods along with the usual american fare. They also have a hot plate with sausages, bacon, eggs and hash browns which can be replenished if you ask the servers.

To work of all the food we ate, I wandered around each country, stopping to buy a drink in the Rose and Crown pub in the UK and also to take a look at the delicious french patisserie in France. Next time I go, I will most definitely be buying a treat from there.

 

My favourite shop was Karamell-Kuche in Germany, where they sell a selection of Caramel treats. The smell of that shop made me want to live there forever. It smells like a Werther's factory a.k.a. heaven!

Germany

Here you can buy caramel apples, caramel corn, caramel chocolate, caramel cupcakes... yeah you get the gist! Unfortunately I didn't get anything which I really regret but next time, that will be my first stop.

Another highlight at Epcot that stood out for me was browsing the merchandise at Mouse Gear, which I think is one of the best places to buy merchandise.

Also, you can have a go at tasting the flavours of fizzy pop from around the world. Some are horrible (Beverly) and some are yummy (Fanta Melon) but its fun to try them all.

To end a long day here, IllumiNations is the evening show to watch. Not only are there spectacular fireworks set to an amazing musical score, but it is also magical to watch at various places in the world showcase where the lights on the buildings are in sync with the show.

Definitely make sure you see this show, and if you want to splash out then certain restaurants around the world offer dining packages where you can eat in the perfect firework viewing area.

WDW Guide: Animal Kingdom

If you find yourself visiting WDW then I have blogged about my 2015 experience of each park. This first one is about Animal Kingdom!

 This park often comes at the bottom of peoples top parks list, but I think it is underestimated and it is great for kids who love animals. The thing I enjoy most about this park is the theming. It is so wonderful to be able to walk around and feel like you are in Asia, then to walk across to Africa, and if you have an appreciation for this then take the time to have a wander around.

There aren't as many rides here, but the ones they do have are great. Do check out:

- Kilimanjaro Safaris

Your driver can really make this ride so much better so it does depend on individual experiences as well as whether the animals are actually awake and not hiding somewhere! If you're lucky, this can be a really great attraction.

- Expedition Everest

A high speed rollercoaster that goes backwards! It took me by suprise at how fast it is but most kids and adults will enjoy this and the queue theming is amazing.

- Festival of the Lion King Show

A great choice for a chance to sit down on a busy afternoon. The Lion King's famous and well loved songs are recreated with dancers, actors, singers and guest interaction. This is one of the best shows of WDW so do make sure you check it out.

- Kali River Rapids

You may or may not get soaked on this, so be prepared! Queues for this can get really long so try and fastpass if possible. It's great fun for the family and one of my favourites.

- Dinosaur 

This has been at this park since I first visited when I was 4 or 5, but this was my first time riding it and it was actually fun! Very bumpy so not for those who hate rides, but the storyline is cool and usually the wait isn't long.

If possible, take a walk around the Maharajah Jungle Trek which offers you the chance to get close to animals and takes you away from the busy crowds.

 Where we ate:

Yak and Yeti Restaurant
Amazing cuisines from Asia/Africa and I tried the chicken tikka masala which was amazing! After craving one for months as America don't do Indian cuisine as much as the UK, this was the perfect treat that reminded me of home and was delicious.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Selection of sorbets

Do check out the other choices of food as street vendors are everywhere and offer so many cuisines as opposed to the usual American food. Here you can stimulate your taste buds with the different flavours from all over the world.

Animal Kingdom is a great park to visit in one day but can also be a great choice for a relaxing day at the park if you are not bothered about getting everything done in one day. Do not miss this park out because of other peoples advice. WDW wouldn't be the same without it and with the upcoming expansion, this park has great potential.

Disney HHI: Final Checklist

Ok so with 3 days to go, this post will be the final checklist for your Disney International Program. Of course it may differ from the Orlando programme, however it is roughly the same and includes a general checklist of things you will need to take.

Firstly and most importantly, the documents you need to take that will allow you into the country are:
- DS-2019
- Passport with Visa
- Disney offer letter
- Proof of medical insurance
- Flights tickets
- Onboarding paperwork
- Photocopies of passport photo page and visa page
- Travel Insurance

Towards the end, these documents aren't necessary but good to have on you just in case. For Hilton Head programme, we don't have to pay a program assessment fee therefore I haven't included it, but do check the requirements for your program.

Next is a general list. I've tried to pack as little as possible with the intention of buying everything else out there:

- Clothes (for the suitable temperature)
- Shoes
- Underwear
- Make-up/toiletries
- Smart business wear (a few days worth)
- Medications/painkillers
- Hair/Jewellery
- Waterproof
- Chargers/adapters
- Towel (Hilton head have bedding provided)
- Suncream
- Litte satchel
- First Aid- plasters
- Swimwear

This list is for hand luggage but could be optional or taken in your luggage:
- Phone/charger
- Sunglasses
- Documents!
- Money
- Camera
- Ipad/Things for the plane

There are other things that you will need but this post only aims to cover the basics. One thing I've done is bought travel miniatures of shampoo/conditioner etc and then buy bigger versions at Walmart. This saves space and weight! Make-up is cheaper out there as well as outlet malls so I am aiming to take as little as possible and come back with more than I went out with. It's proving harder than it looks!

My Summer Awaits...

I can finally say that exams are OVER!!!

It feels so good to not have to revise, or feel guilty about not revising! I have worked my butt off for these exams and I have revised properly since January. I have to say, second year of university has been tough in so many ways, and I would be lying if I said I didn't struggle.

There have been times where I have felt like giving up, but I persevered and I am so glad I did. My one piece of advice for anyone in a similar position is that no matter how hard it is, it is only temporary and by working hard and having motivation, it pays off in the end. I now have one more year of my degree and then I will hopefully be a graduate! But for now, I have 3 months of living and working in the USA to look forward to!

So now I am back home and I have begun packing and sorting out all my documents. This week I have my dad's birthday, my birthday on Thursday and then New York on Saturday. A very exciting week up ahead.

Hopefully I will be blogging over summer, so expect lots of posts about my adventures! For now, its back to packing!

Disney HHI: The Countdown Begins!

Well it's been a long time since I've written a post about my Disney CEP, but I've been in the midst of 4 massive exams so I've dedicated all my spare time to revision. I still have two more to go, but I've managed to exclude myself from textbooks to update everyone!

It's exactly two weeks till I leave for the US, yep thats right, TWO WEEKS! That gives me 14 days to finish exams, move out of university, pack and get everything sorted. Not to mention I also have my dads birthday and then mine! Talk about last minute stress!


So in two weeks I will be flying to New York for 3 days, then I fly down to Hilton Head Island to begin my 3 months working at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. I am so excited!! All my paperwork is done including visa and medical insurance, plus I've sorted out a Fairfx card for spending dollars in America (you can find a link to this at the bottom of the post). This basically means I don't have to carry around big lumps of cash, instead I can use it like an ordinary debit card.

I'm not sure what to expect when I get out there, I have been given instructions about the first few days including training, and details of our accommodation but apart from that I'm flying out there not knowing much (which slightly scares me!)

I guess I should start packing soon, the advice I've received from others has been to pack as lightly as possible as you buy lots out there, so I'm trying to take this onboard. It's proving very difficult!

As soon as exams are over I will post a packing list including all the documents you need to take. For now though, its back to the textbooks...


This is where I bought my cash card, which had the best exchange rate:
https://www.fairfx.com/

Disney HHI: Visa Appointment

Today was finally visa day! 

My appointment at the London embassy was at 11.30am, however I made sure I got to London in plenty of time as the queue outside is notorious for being long. I got to Bond Street station at around 10.30am and made the short walk to Grosvenor Square. It's easy to spot the embassy, just look for the queue! 

So I joined the queue just after half 10 even though my appointment wasn't for another hour because they don't really care what time it is at this point as there are so many people.

The queue moves quickly, just make sure you have all your documents to hand. These will be checked about 5 times! Also, there will be so many other people there for Camp America etc so not everyone there is for Disney (which I thought so I went up to randomers asking about disney, embarrassing!)

Once you're through security, which is basically airport style, you will be given a ticket and directed to a waiting room with an Argos style number system that directs you to a window. As it was very busy when I was there, I waited for around half an hour, but the time depends on the amount of people there.

Once called, you go up to a window where they check your documents again! Here they take your finger and thumb prints, so no papercuts! They also ask about reading your rights or something similar, although I couldn't understand the lady very well.

Once this is completed, you walk through to another room and visit another window more or less straight away. This is where you have your interview and your documents are checked for the final time. The questions are easy, just what you are doing, how did you find out about it etc. The stamp of approval is then issued and you are free to go! Your documents and passport are kept and sent back via courier.

Overall I was in and out within an hour and there really is nothing to be afraid of. For some reason I was nervous but it was very relaxed and really not a lot of hassle, as long as you have all the correct documents.

A few tips I would give are:

- Bring supporting documents just in case, like flight confirmations, offer letter. They only checked my passport, DS-2019, DS-160, and I-901 form but it's better to be safe then sorry. 

- Bring a visa size passport photo. You may or may not need it but if you do then you will need to hand it in. 

- Phones, keys and bags are allowed in now. I took the bare minimum just in case but they seem to be a bit more relaxed about it. Although it changes regularly so do check before you go!

- Getting there earlier means you will be out earlier, so more time for shopping!

So not a complicated process and now I can legally work in the US!
Currently all flights have been booked so all that's left is medical insurance, American sim card, travel insurance and to start packing! It's all feeling very real now, and I'm flying to New York on May 30th for a few days before flying to Hilton Head Island! 

Disney HHI: Visa Information!

It's been a long time since I posted a Disney HHI post...

So, I can finally write a blog post about Disney Hilton Head Resort Summer Program! After many many weeks of waiting to hear something, I finally had my visa documents arrive! These have arrived earlier than normal this year, which is really good as it means I can book an appointment for when I'm home and not at university.

The documents included my DS-2019 form and various other instructions which means I can now book my visa appointment at the London embassy. Exciting times Ahh!

As I was looking online, I saw that there were many blog posts from various other blogs that give you detailed instructions on the whole visa application. I've decided I'm not going to go into too much detail as it is the same for this program as it is for the normal Disney CEP. If you do have any questions then feel free to email me :) I have linked the ones I used as these were the most helpful, so thank you to whoever wrote them!

Yummy Jobs do send out detailed instructions of their own which gives you the links to the embassy website for you to fill in the DS-160, which needs to be completed first before you can arrange an appointment. This form takes a lot of time and patience! It requires a lot of detail, such as your last 5 visits to the USA, so if this is the case then you need all your old passports. After this is completed, you can then phone a premium phone number or use the new online system to book the actual appointment. It is here that you will need to pay the visa fee which is I think $160 (not entirely sure) so have your debit card at the ready. A lot of the time you will need to refer back to a particular form, such as your DS-2019 which includes your program and SEVIS number, so my advice is to have everything handy.

Unfortunately I couldn't come home for the weekend to book this, so I had to make do with skyping my parents for all the details, which wasn't practically best, but it was manageable. In the end I have an appointment booked for April 10th at 11.30am! I will post another blog post about details of the day, as I know that regulations change frequently so this will be an up to date post.

I will include a checklist about what to take to the embassy, as this tends to change often:



http://danatdisney.com/category/crp/visa-crp/

(although this post is related to the CRP, if you substitute in the relevant documents then it still applies)

Disney HHI: It Begins!

Ok so I can finally reveal to you that I AM GOING TO SOUTH CAROLINA THIS SUMMER!!

I finally got that all important email- I have been accepted by Disney to participate in the Hilton Head Island Resort program. I have been allocated the role of Quick Service Food and Beverage.

My dates are Jun 2nd till Sept 11th- a whole 3 months and a lot longer than the normal cep program. Also, the pay is significantly higher than the cep, its around $10 accounting for any tips.

The best part about it is that I still get to go to Disney world for free! Although it isn't based in Orlando, it's a four hour drive which is less flight wise. I will be blogging through the whole 3 months so if you are interested/have been offered the program yourself, hopefully it will help. As far as I know/could find, there are hardly any blogs about this program so I am hoping to change this and help a lot of people out.
If you have any questions, I will answer them!

Disney HHI: Hilton head Island Resort, South Carolina

This is the information that Disney sent me about the program:

Summertime at the Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort has so much to offer. Enjoy the Atlantic Coast in sunny South Carolina, where you can experience local island shopping,

tempting regional dinning, and marvel at an East Coast sunrise. Immerse yours elf in this naturally beautiful landscape and enjoy stunning beaches, perfect for recreation or relaxation. You’ll also get to make magic for our Guests everyday at this Disney Vacation Club Resort, and have another unique Disney International Programs experience to add to your CV!

Interested? Here are additional program details:

 Disney will sponsor work authorization on a J1-summer work/travel visa. Students must be enrolled in a university during the time of application and be on their summer break during the scheduled program dates.

 Applicants must be fully available for the duration of the program. 

 Rate of pay will be $9.90 USD per hour, with a guaranteed 32 hours of work per week.

Participants will live in a nearby resort, approximately 2 kilometers away from Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

 The unit will be shared by six International Cultural Exchange Program Cast Members

 The rate of housing will be $90 to $100 USD per week (payroll deducted). A $300 USD

deposit is required upon arrival at Hilton Head Island, which will be refunded, less $75 for

cleaning the apartment within 30 days of your departure.

 Transportation to and from work will be provided. 

 There is no public transportation on the island – taxis are available at your cost and

DHHIR can provide a bicycle to use during your program

 Participants will fly into Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (Airport Code SAV)

and will be provided with transportation to Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort.

 Participants will pay South Caroline State taxes.

For more information, please visit the following website: http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/index Then click on Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort 

For more information about Hilton Head Island visit: http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/vacation- visitors-guide/

Disney HHI: ...

Ok so by now I should've found out my fate and most people who applied this year have! I on the other hand never have a simple life, and this disney application was no different.

So they let everyone know on December 19th, at the very last minute (we're talking 20 mins before the office closed in Orlando time). Classic Disney. So there I was expecting an email, and nothing comes. They told us we would know by December 20th. As this was a Saturday, I expected to hear the following Monday when the office was open. As most people had found out that they had a place, I was quite doubtful that I had one as there was only a few of us remaining that hadn't found out.

So Monday came and the remaining people found out that unfortunately they had made it on to the waiting list. However, my inbox was still empty! At this point I thought there was no way I had a place and that I must be on the waiting list, and that my email must be on its way!

This is where things got complicated.

I received a phone call from Louise from Yummy Jobs saying that I wouldn't hear anything from Disney as I was being considered for the Hilton Head Resort in South Carolina.

They had told us about this in the interview, but there wasn't much detail and as the interview was months ago I had forgotten all about it. One of the interview questions was 'would you be interested in the South Carolina Program?' I obviously said yes, however I did not expect to actually be considered for it!

So after research on the web, I found nothing really. I emailed disney to send me information about it which I will link in this post. Anyway, this gave me the idea that I would do my own blog about it! I won't find out till late January/early February but as not many people are considered for it, it is likely you will get the job! So all that's left to say it watch this space!

Disney HHI:Face to Face Interview

Face to Face Interview

So I had my last interview on Friday 7th November at Disney HQ! It was really scary, not the actual interview part but finding the place and the pressure there was building up to it made it terrifying!

My trip to London for the interview started the day before, when I rushed home from lectures, jumped straight on the train to London Waterloo and met my sister for dinner. We went to Wahaca's in Westfield Stratford, really recommend it! So I stayed with my sister the night before as it made it easier to get to Hammersmith. The next morning, I was up at 6.30 am and on the tube by 7.15am making my way from Stratford to Hammersmith (a.k.a the other side of London basically). The tube was so busy with rush hour workers and I had to change trains, but I managed to make it to Hammersmith by 8.30! I didn't have to be at Disney till 9.15am so I was very early. I hadn't had breakfast though so I went to McDonalds and chilled there for half an hour. At 9am I made my way to the back entrance on Disney HQ. I didn't bother with the front entrance because a lot of people who had interviews earlier in the week had just been sent to the back. For anyone interested, when you come out of Hammersmith tube station it exits in the shopping centre. From here you turn right and then take the first right up a ramp and out to the bus station. If you continue to go round the corner to the right then Disney is in front of you!

Being inside Disney was really cool! The TV's play Disney channel and all around are movie posters and statues of various chracters. You get given a visitors pass and we were lead up some stairs to a waiting area, where there were loads of people for the interview. Here we signed in with yummy jobs and then waited around until we were called into a cinema/auditorium. This was so cool, the seats were plush velvet and reclinable. It's here that you have your presentation done by cast members from WDW! We had Jill, Alyssia and Reggio (can't remember if that's their exact names but pretty close!).

The presentation lasted about an hour and a quarter. Its much more detailed and the videos are ones that you've never seen before (if you haven't applied before). There is also a pop quiz where you can win pens! After the presentation, you are asked to leave the building unless your interview is straight away. Everyone chooses their interview time shortly after being accepted from the group interviews. Mine was somewhere from 12-1pm and the presentation finished at 10.45 am ish so I had around an hour till I needed to be back. I literally just walked around Hammersmith and looked in a few shops and then it was time to head back. I didn't know anyone from the facebook group purely because I didn't realise there was one till that week and also I got scared to become good friends with anyone unless I didn't get accepted as I hate telling someone that I'm unsuccessful. I prefer telling family and thats it. None of my friends even knew about it! Obviously if I was accepted then I would make friends with people who are going.

So 12pm rolled around and I was lead back up to the waiting area where they checked my passport and collected my proof of student status form. A lot of us with the same time slot were sitting on the sofas just chatting. The disney recruiters would come out of the interview rooms and call your name. There were loads of people who had turned up before me so I expected to be waiting till nearly 1 but I got called at 12.15 by Reggie/o (something like that). He lead me into another room and we had my interview! It was very short, I felt like it wasn't enough time to sell myself! The only question that he asked that I prepared for was Why do you want to work for disney? The rest of the questions were more like meeting requirements such as do you have experience with chemicals? What are your top 3 roles? Can you handle the heat/living with other people?

Once the interview was done I was free to leave. I have to say I left not knowing what the outcome would be. There are so many people who I would employ there and then and its hard to think how I am better than them/more deserving of the role. Disney told us we would know by mid December (I know... 6 week wait!!!) so here it begins...

Disney HHI

Just a quick update to say that I have made it through to the next round of interviews!! I had my interview on the Monday, and found out on the Tuesday! They do not wait around. So now I am one step closer to spending next summer in Orlando. I was really nervous and honestly didn't think I would get through purely because there was so many other good people. Next round of interviews are at Disney HQ, and these will be so much harder. I'm so nervous but trying not to think about it as I've got so much uni work due in before then. I guess my next post will be after this interview... :/

Disney HHI: A (possible) new adventure awaits...

7.15am: I'm out and on my way to the station, ready for a nerve wracking day. I have my pre screen interview with yummy jobs. This is a UK recruiter for Disney. I'm applying for their cultural exchange program, in other words, the disney summer international program. For those who don't have a clue what this is, it basically means I get to spend roughly my whole summer working and living in Walt Disney World (not literally living there). It's a unique and once in a lifetime opportunity, hence why I thought I should blog my experience. Now I'm notoriously bad at remembering anything let alone the fact I have a blog. But I'm am going to try and make the effort because ultimately I want to create a blog where I can create memories that I can look back on.

Anyway, to the point of this blog post, today is the first of the two assessments in order to get the actual job. I'm nervous, mainly because its a job I've wanted for ages, but also because I know how many other people want it as well. Somehow I have to stand out, and I struggle with that. This is a group interview, the worse kind for people who find it difficult to stand out! 

7.47am: so I'm currently standing on a packed out train heading to London Waterloo. I'm early (thankfully) which is a good thing. I'm still just as nervous though, I don't know anyone going to it and have no idea where it is being held.

14.24pm: and I've done it! Im making my way home after what seems like a ling day but wasnt too bad. Not as bad as I imagined, I will go through exactly what happened:

So the recruitment day started off with everyone meeting outside the restaurant where it was being held. I got talking to some people just to break the ice. Everyone was really friendly though and this made me feel a lot less nervous! Some people from yummy jobs came to meet us and we were lead into a small room with chairs to watch a presentation. The PowerPoint was informative but most people would have already read about the program and knew all the things they were saying. They played the official icp videos made by disney about the different aspects of the program. Very staged! After this they did a little quiz where you could win frozen lollies. The question were easy trivia questions about disney. Now for the important part. They divided us into our interview groups. Luckily it was in alphabetical order, and my surname begins with a D so therefore my interview time was at 11am. The presentation finished at 10, so me and some of the other people who had the same interview time as me went to get a coffee. By the time we had walked to costa, it was time to walk back! We waited outside the restaurant until we were called in. Once in the room we had to sit in a semi circle and go around and introduce ourselves. My actual group interview was so relaxed and more of a casual discussion than an interview. The only thing was that everyone in my group was confident and bubbly making it hard to stand out. I managed to answer every question although I don't want to over anylse my answers but I think they were alright? The interview lasted for around 30mins with around 10 questions being asked. At the end we found out that we would find out our fate by the Friday! My interview was on a Monday, so only 5 days! Crazy! We were the last day of interviews though.

And this is the part where I put this blog on pause, as all I can do now is wait! Well... Here goes!