The Beginnings
After visiting Walt Disney World as a child I fell in love with the place. It wasn't just any amusement park, but a special place magic comes alive. I knew that someday I would work here but when and how were yet to be determined.
In the meantime I got my "Disney Fix" you could say by searching the internet for all sorts of useless trivia. I played the Saxophone for my high school marching band and got the chance twice to march down Main Street U.S.A. with the Magic Music Days program Disney has. Shivers ran down my spine as my school and hometown were dramatically announced over the sound system. I knew that it would only be a matter of time that I would be back, and for a much longer time.
When I was in Junior High I learned about this program Disney had, known as the Walt Disney World College Program. Disney went around the world to recruit college students to spend a semester working in the premier vacation destination. "This was my chance I thought", but alas I wasn't even in high school so my dream would have to be put on hold.
I go to Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, MA, and for those of you that have the recruiting schedule memorized it is not on the list of stops, yet this would not even stand in the way of reaching my dream.
I interviewed in March of 2000 at UMASS Dartmouth for the Summer 2000 session. That session is particularly difficult to get into because of the high number of applicants. I heard a number of figures but I believe something like 18,000 applied and only 2500 were accepted.
After a presentation about the program it was time to interview. Interviews were done in groups of 4-5 and only about 5 minutesd long, a very long five minutes. Needless to say I was relieved and anxious once it was over. Now the hard part, waiting and waiting, and waiting. It was rumored that if you got a small envelope in the mail it was a rejection letter, a large envelope, and you were in. I was away at school when my mom received my letter. She called me up and the first thing I asked was if the envelope was big or small, and she said...
...it's big. At that point I just knew that I had made it and would be spending my summer down south. She opened it up, not quick enough, and read that I was accpeted into the Quick Service Food & Beverage area. I must admit that I was a bit disappointed at this position but nonetheless my dream was about to come true. I quickly mailed in my acceptance and waited, again, until my arrival date, May 30th.
The time had finally come for me to leave home. I packed my bags, 2 suitcases full, and boarded the plane to Orlando. I stepped off, taking a deep breath of the Florida air and left for Vista Way, my new home.
Any College Program (CP) Alumni can tell you that the check in process is a definately a process. You get thrown into this long line and have to stop at several different stations, the id station, housing, work verification, health, etc. There's forms upon forms that need to be signed, I can't even remember what I put my signature to. At that point I was just excited to be there so it didn't matter what I signed. I got my room keys and left for my apartment, 1409.
My summer had officially begun and my dream had at last come true. Walt Disney World here I am!
The Adventure Continues
Last Updated 9-4-00