Councilor = No help

So I talked with my councilor about the program. She had no idea what it was. I had printed out all the basic information because I expected it to be completely new to her. After explaining what it was I showed her the website and what classes they offered. She said I could not earn any credits for the classes because my school doesn't have anything close to them. I had also expected that. She told me she thought the program would be a waste of time. At that point i got a little frustrated. But I didn't let it show. I explained that working for Disney has always been a goal of mine. I told her how this program would help me get my foot in the door along with what I planned to do after the program. Again she said it would be a waste of time. I then continued with the things the DCP website says to check with your school about. I asked her if they would have any problem with me still going with the program. She was shocked that I still wanted to do it. She thought she had changed my mind and I would throw all my plans out the window because I wasn't going to get credit. I explained what this program and Disney means to me. Then I saw a change in her expression. She was done trying to tell me not to do it. She told me our time was up so I put my things away and left.

I went home with what I had wanted. I wanted to know if I could get credits, which is a no. I wanted to know if the school would have any problems with me leaving, again no. I'm still a little upset that she said this experience was a waste but I wont let that stop me.

I was going to talk to my manager about the program but decided not to just yet. I don't want them thinking I'm just going to up and leave at any minute and not give me shifts. So ill wait until late September/October and find out if I even get accepted first, haha. Then from there I'll decide when to tell them.

Overall the day was not wasted. I got the information I needed and I'm that much closer to the DCP.

Talk with parents

Yesterday I asked my dad to sit down and talk about the program with me. We went out to a local coffee shop and he asked me what exactly the program is about. I went to the Disney College Program and another blogger, Molly's, Blog (working for the mouse). I started telling him all the basics and after a couple minutes he stopped me. He started asking about basic things like the housing, the costs, the length and all sorts of things. I was ready for those questions, that's why I picked my dad to talk to about it first. So we went over all sorts of things and he told me the best thing to do right now is to start making lists. Lists of things I need to do prior to even applying, lists of what the budget will be, things I will need to have while I'm there like a car or a laptop, how much those are going to cost, and so many other lists. It was a bit overwhelming but I knew it would be. Again that's why I picked my dad, he's good at this stuff.

We then started talking about what I would want to do after the program. We discussed it for a while..a long while. He asked me a question I really hoped he wouldn't, "Do you still want to be an imagineer?" And well I answered honestly, "I'm not sure anymore". We talked about it for a while and he completely understood. As of now I'm not sure exactly what I want to do 5-10 years from now, but I know I want to be working for Disney.

After this point we went home and started talking with my mom. That point got really annoying. She doesn't think like my dad. She got upset about the imagineer thing, which I knew she would. But after some arguing back and forth for an hour we finally got into some adult form of talking..

So we talked about if I got accepted for the spring semester. And discussed possibly extending my stay if the program allowed me. My dad was neutral about that and my mom didn't like the idea. We talked about me coming back after school at what ever point it would be in 2012 or 2013. About finishing up at my community college and what I would do afterward. From what I'm thinking right now I would finish at the college I'm at and try to transfer somewhere close to Disneyland. I would try to apply for a part time job at Disney while continuing at a 4yr university. We don't know how likely all that is at this point.  But we all agreed that doing what ever I can to get into the program is what is best for me now. They don't want me to miss out on this amazing experience.

Today I'm going to talk to a councilor at my school to see if they know anything about the program, ask about possible credits, and what ever else they are thinking. After that I need to go to work and talk to one of my managers about the program, about trying to get more shifts to save up, about my availability, about coming back to my job if and when I come back, and so much more.. Wish me luck!

Oh and I think I might change my major to business? Eeek?

Reading the Site, Reading Blogs and Posts, Thoughts for the Future.

At 6:00am this morning I woke up, sadly still on Florida time. I could not get back to sleep so I decided to just get up. I went on the computer to check out the Disney College Program for the first time. The information was overwhelming! They really want to give you all the information you could ask for. After about four hours I had read every possible section, and even reread some areas. I'm a little bummed out that I didn't start all this back in January so that I could have applied for the Fall 2011 semester. But I don't want to have any regrets. So I'll just look forward to the future. It says I can apply in September so now I must sit and wait.

While waiting I thought about something Diana had told me. Tons of CPs blog about their experiences! So I started looking for the blogs and found countless entries. I began reading them and this experience keeps sounding better and better. I spent another two hours just reading blogs. I loved reading about people just thinking about applying, then in the process of applying, and then getting accepted. Those reactions were my favorite part. I just hope I get to post that in September-October.

After all this reading it finally hit me. Am I ready for all this? If I get accepted can I get a car by January? Will I have a laptop by then? Do I need to take out a loan? I started trying to look up information on these. I'm still unsure.. I did figure out the answer to the first question though. Yes I am ready. This is what I want to do.

Since the beginning..

I have never done this whole blogging thing, but it sounds like fun.

Please excuse any spelling errors or stupid things I say..haha

Well since I was in 3rd grade I have wanted to work for Disney, specifically as an Imagineer. Up until recently I have put off what I want to do. I don't want to consider it laziness, but I don't know what else to say..Anyways..

I just got back from my 24th trip to Walt Disney World. While in the Magic Kingdom I met two really amazing people, Justin and Diana. Diana  is currently in the Disney College Program. They both told me I should apply for it. They told me how amazing of an experience it is. We exchanged contact info and I continued my night in Magic Kingdom with my family. Right after talking with them I got a really bad headache. I couldn't stop thinking about the DCP. For the past couple of years I have been thinking about that program but never looked it up. That night I could not stop thinking about what I want to do. Do I want to leave my home, my family, my friends. Do I want to go across county for half a year? I went to bed that night with my head still throbbing.

When I woke up I realized the answers to all my questions. Of course I want to do it! Its the experience of a lifetime. It is the first step of many that I need to take to really get my life started. I left Disney World with one thought on my mind, The Disney College Program.