Dorms: The New Disney World Cast Member Housing System

Hey! I have abit of spare time before bed so though I would write about the brand new Dorms system that has just been implemented for Disney college program housing! In previous years us ICP’s wouldn’t have a choice for roomies, BUT this new system is open to everyone! No more to the Americans have to queue from 4 am to be able to get their desired complex and room mates. It’s all done online before you arrive. So how does it work?

Approximately 10 days before the start of your program you will receive an email which states you can register for housing. During this you can put a preference for complex and flat size as well as linking up with roommates with the same start – end date as you. How many people you can link with depends on what date you arrive. I was allowed to link with 5 others, but those starting on June 10th could only link with one other person. Just get one person to set up the links by following the instructions, then the others can accept (see below)!

We requested a 3 bedroom in Chatham, which we luckily got! I know everyone got their roommate links, but not necessarily complex or room size. Remember that Disney cannot guarantee anything.

If you have any questions feel free to message me! I'm regularly uploading vlogs over on my YouTube channel also, if you want to see what me and my roomies are up to in Florida.

xox

Arrival & First Few Days!

So the past few days have been hectic but amazing! Our plane on Monday was an hour & half delayed so we ended up getting out of Orlando airport around 7pm, getting a mears shuttle to Vista and finally arriving in our apartment around 9pm. I'm in Chatham 3 bed with my 5 amazing friends Jenn, Hayley, Rachael, Jade and Ashleigh. Ecstatic that we got our first choice of housing and links :D

Our days have been filled with house meetings, outlet exploring, welcome party, Downtown Disney and having a nosey at the resorts, plus fun apartment times! We had a day off today and were originally going to head to universal, but weather is shit in Orlando at the moment and we cant get proof of residency passes yet for annual pass discount. Instead we went to the outlet mall and walmart before jumping on a bus to the Grand Floridian. After an explore of that resort we hopped on the monorail, catching our first glimpses of Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I was bouncing around the carriage like a mad woman trying to get a look :D The evening ended with Me, Jenn and Ashleigh having a little wander around DTD, picking up a treat from Goofy’s!

 





Tomorrow is traditions! Finally! Me and Jenn are in the same group at 2pm so the plan is to head to Hollywood studios after and meet the girls for some Starwars weekend fun, then make our way over to Magic Kingdom for the parade and wishes. We both also have Saturday off together so will be heading to HS again to Starwars it up :):) (Wrote on Wednesday 6th June, posting this abit later!)

The summer of a lifetime has begun.

xox

The Application Process: Final Interview!

So apparently I just completely forgot to write about my final interview. Oops. I do have a video here about the whole application process if you would like to check that out. Anyway, I found out I had gotten through to the final interviews on Friday 12th October at 6:11pm.

Again I got the 5am coach from Southampton to London, meeting up with Kerrie at Victoria coach station before heading to Hammersmith together. There I met up with Becky & Jamie plus a few others. Off to Disney HQ we went! We had to go around the entrance, so in the little shopping centre follow the signs for the bus station then turn right. When we got to HQ, we were all given guest passes and told to wait in the lobby. The next few hours are a blur thinking back. We were led upstairs through a room adorned with Disney posters and sat in a movie theatre style room where we were introduced to the Disney recruiters and watched a presentation video.

Times were then read out for what “group” you would be in. I was in the 11am group… the first one! It turns out, I had the first interview, of the whole ICP 2013 intake final interviews. I was bricking it. The two American ladies but me at ease though, being very welcoming and friendly.

Some of the questions they asked were

• What course are you doing?
• Why do you want to do the program?
• Tell us about your top roles (I went into detail about each of my top 5 roles and why i wanted to do them).
• What do you think is good customer service?
• Any tattoos or piercings?
• Anything else to add? & Any questions?

During this we had abit of a laugh about British tea and I emphasised the cultural aspect of the program while mentioning I was interested in volunteering opportunities out there. I reckon the interview lasted around 15 minuets, but don't hold me to that. It was so long ago that I cant remember too much about it. What I do remember is how terrible I felt afterwards. I was so anxious and didn't know how I had done at all. I met up with the rest of the guys at the weatherspoons afterwards but just couldn't focus with how worried I was! I ended up getting an early coach home. As it turns out, my angst was nothing as on Friday 2nd November I got the email informing me that I was going to Florida! It must have been my in depth knowledge of British tea  

At the end of the day, the process can be scary (I had so many nights worrying about it, researching until the early hours and making notes on things I could say) but if you want this enough, you’ll be fine!

Remember,

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

- Walt Disney

Good Luck.

xox

1 Month to go Update, Disney Hoody & VISA/Embassy Appointment!

In exactly 1 month I will be on a plane over the Atlantic ocean, heading to Orlando. Is this real life? Other than university deadlines there's been a few exciting Disney bits happen over the past few weeks! For starters, my Disney Hoody arrived! These are not provided, you and your other participants have to design and order them yourselves. The lovely Rachael F designed our logo and Jack C organized where to get them from, thanks guys! We ordered them with hoodietee and I believe they are £25, actually being amazing quality!

  

Secondly I had my embassy appointment on the 24th April and I’m delighted to say my VISA was approved! I’ve spoken more about the day in a video and some pre-information here. I’m going to list some pre-to do things down below. If you have any questions on this fee free to comment/message me and ask!

Pre-Visa To Do

• As soon as you receive your welcome pack phone up the embassy to book your appointment and pay the $160 fee. You will be sent an receipt & appointment confirmation letter for this. Print them out.
• Fill out the online SEVIS form, pay the $35 fee and print the receipt out immediately. You cannot print this off at a later date so only do it when attached to a printer.
• Fill out the online DS-160 form and print out the completion page as instructed. You will need a photograph of yourself for this, but it’s alright if you don't have an appropriate one. Just make sure you take one to the embassy.

These forms will take about a hour and half in total, just get it out of the way so you don't have to worry about it.

Embassy Appointment Documents Checklist

• The non-immigrant visa interview confirmation letter (send by email after booking your appointment).
• Print out of the MRV application fee receipt (sent with the interview confirmation letter).
• SEVIS receipt (printed after completing the form).
• DS-160 Confirmation page (printed after completing the form).
• DS-2019 visa petition (sent with your welcome pack).
• Passport (valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay).
• Passport sized photograph.
• Official Disney welcome letter (sent with your welcome pack).
• Supporting documentation showing intent to return home (most people weren't asked for this but take along a university letter saying you intend to return for your next year, a job offer letter, postgrad offer letter or anything that shows ties to your home country).
• Payment for the courier fee – London (they only accepted card when we were there. If you are getting your passport processed in Belfast take a prepaid special delivery envelope).

As I said, I have done a video about the actual day which you can find below!

31 days and it still doesn't feel real!

xox

Disney World ICP 2013 Vlog #5: Pre-Disney Meetup

Hey guys! So the other week I met up with some of my favourite ICP buddies at Medowhall Sheffield. It was amazing how we instantly clicked and I’m really looking forward to spending the summer with them. Also included in this vlog is some bits from my Lion King the Musical adventure. Remember if you have any questions feel free to email/comment and look forward to seeing more from me next week when I attend my visa appointment.

xox

The Lion King Musical

 

On Tuesday 2nd I went to see The Lion King Musical! My boyfriend got us tickets for Christmas as it was coming to Manchester and I've never really been to a musical before (and Disney)! I had a great time and would 100% recommend it. Of course being me I couldn’t resist the souvenir table, where I picked up a beach towel for Florida (justification right there). My ticket came with a program and a tote bag also. I did vlog a little so I will combine the footage into one video when I meet my Disney chummies next week and go to the visa appointment.

 

I filmed a little tutorial of makeup inspired by the show here if you want to check that out! It’s also the makeup I wore to the theatre =]

xox

Disney ICP Welcome Pack and Visa Update!

So the welcome pack finally arrived! It was sent out on Friday 22nd March and I received it on Tuesday 26th March. To be honest I was pretty disappointed. After all the hype and Yummy Jobs saying it contained a few surprises, all’s it contained was:

• A letter from YJ
• Official Disney Job Offer (okay that was pretty exciting)
• DS-2019 Visa Petition
• I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
• USA and Canada Sim Card
• Visa Application Instructions

No Disney Look Book. I am beyond gutted we didn’t get one this year. Instead we got directed to a website where all the information was. I guess it’s more up to date and practical but I was really looking forward to having it as my first souvenir.

Of course this has set off the all important Visa process. My $35 SEVIS Fee and $160 Visa Appointment Fee have now been paid via the website I was directed too! My appointment is 24th April at 11:30am in London. Let me tell you, the pre-appointment stuff is a little bit of a pain but I’m going to create another post about that when I’ve had my appointment. All worth it!

xox