Preparing to Apply

Ok, so you know a bit about the program, you fit the requirements and you've decided you want to apply.  Great!  Congratulations!  This is a very exciting time, but before you apply there are a few things to think about.

1. Research

I cannot stress this point enough.  Before you even apply for the program it is so important to understand as much about it as possible and the best way to do that is research, research, research!  The fact that you're reading this probably means you've already started researching but don't stop with my blog.  There is so much information out there and most of it is pretty easy to find.  I would recommend starting with the official Disney programs blog and website if you haven't already.  Next up you can check out my resources page which has links to the official Disney pages and a few other sites and blogs I've found helpful.  A Google search and YouTube search will also bring up a ton of results.  Remember, even if someone is writing or vlogging about a different program from yours, a lot of the information will still be helpful and relevant.


2. Personal Considerations

Now while you've been researching I'm sure you've been considering a lot of different factors, but there are a couple of personal things to consider before you make that final step and apply.

• Are you eligible?  You probably already have, but just double check you meet all requirements for the program.
• Why do you want to do the program?  This is a pretty important question, in my opinion.  6 or 12 months is a pretty long commitment, especially when you consider that you will be moving to the other side of the world.  If you're looking for a great experience, an opportunity to live overseas and experience a new culture, make new friends, gain experience for your resume and enjoy being surrounded by Disney 24/7 then that's a pretty good start.  If you're just doing this because you want a holiday or to make money or because a friend is doing it etc, then maybe you need to reconsider. 
• Are you willing to Move to Florida for 6 or 12 months?  As exciting as moving abroad sounds, it's a pretty massive life change and it's important to consider whether or not it's a commitment you can make.  Can you put your studies or career off for a year? Are you prepared to be away from your friends and family for that whole time?  Can you live independently in a foreign country?  It's not going to be magical 100% of the time, are you willing to deal with that?  It's a lot to think about.
• Can you afford to do the program?  This is going to be a pretty big financial commitment, you're going to need several thousand dollars minimum before you ever get paid from Disney when you take into account flights and other travel costs, passport, visa, insurance, accommodation for your first night or two in Florida, not to mention a buffer since you don't get paid for the first week or two that you will be over there.  The good thing is that applications are early enough that you will have plenty of time to save if you need to.
• Is your family ok with you doing the program?  Now this won't apply to everyone, it didn't actually apply to me because I'm an old lady at the grand ol' age of 30, I've been independent for many years and have lived away from my family in the past.  But if you're younger or still live at home or still depend on your parents financially (which are all perfectly valid because let's face it, being a student is expensive!), is this something you need to discuss with your family first?  On a slightly different note, if you're worried about your parents being against you doing the program, there is a great blog post here about how to deal with that.
• Is your Uni/TAFE/School ok with you doing the program?  This one is pretty important because remember you have certain visa requirements to work with and you want to make sure you can come back and continue your studies once the program is finished.  Ask at you student services office or whatever you have that is similar about this if you have concerns.
• Are you ready to work full time?  Remember that your minimum hours will be somewhere around 35 hours per week and many CP's do upwards of 50 or 60 hours per week in peak season.  You might have dreams about how much fun it will be to hang out with your favourite characters every day, but the reality is you may be working serving food or selling souvenirs to pushy tourists all day.  Every experience is what you make of it, but just remember that you will be working long, late hours and your job may not always be super exciting. This site here has some interesting and anecdotes about the less-than-magical moments that may happen to you while working at WDW.

So you've researched until your eyes hurt, you've considered the program from every aspect and you're still keen to apply?  Excellent!  I'm so excited for you!  Your next step is the Online Application which I will be covering in my next post, but before you do the application you will need a CV (Resume) and Cover Letter, so you might want to prepare that before you start your application.  I'll go into more detail in my next post when I look at the Online Application or you can return to the Masterlist.