From coming to Disney World for the first time as a little girl and eating breakfast with Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, and Aurora in Cinderella’s castle, I knew there was something magical about the place. I knew from the moment I stepped off of the monorail and onto Main Street in Magic Kingdom that I wanted to work there one day. As a little girl from a small town with a big dream, I thought it’d be a long shot…but here I am. Officially a Spring Advantage 2016 Disney College Program Cast Member.
The process all started after I applied. After I applied (and thought I would never, ever get accepted – I mean, there’s how many college students that apply to this? Too many, that’s how many), I completed the online questionnaire, which then led to my approval for a phone interview. I remember sitting down for almost the whole day looking up tons of blogs and posts about questions I might be asked. I asked every former DCP member I knew for advice (WORDS OF ADVICE: SMILE during your interview – it sounds crazy because they can’t see you, but trust me – it helps!), and wrote down every possible detail I could think of that I could include in my answers. I blasted “What Dreams Are Made Of” and “Hakuna Matata” on repeat until my phone rang (just to get my energy going – don’t judge, they’re great songs).
When my phone rang, my stomach instantly dropped, and I got super nervous. But after I answered and realized how genuinely happy my interviewer sounded, I calmed down a lot. After going over my basic information, the questions started with the first question:
“Why Disney?”
Conveniently, that was the top question on every blog and comment board I saw online about the interview process. Every person’s answer will be different, obviously. I explained my answer (how I’ve wanted to work for Disney my whole life and how every time I encounter anything Disney I’m that seven year old girl who saw Cinderella’s Castle in person for the first time trapped in a 20 year old’s body). The questions went on about my work experience, how I would handle different situations, my favorite attractions/shows/foods at the parks, etc. My phone interview lasted around 35 minutes, but this time differs for everyone.
The waiting game began. However, I was lucky enough to know earlier than expected that I was accepted. After applying on September 24, and having my phone interview on September 29th, I was accepted on October 6, and accepted my offer on October 10. I would be working for Walt Disney World from February 1 to August 4.
Then, the magic began…
Alexa's Internship Adventures 