Hey guys! I’m back at it again with another interview! Are you excited? I’m excited. Let’s just jump right into it.

What is your name, what was your role, and when did you do your program?

My name is Morgan E, Quick-Service Food and Beverage, Spring 2019

Was your role your first choice? If not, what was your first choice?

No! QSFB was not my first choice, Children’s Activities or Front Desk was my first choice.

Can you tell more about your role? Take me through a typical work day?

a. I worked at Cosmic Ray’s in the Magic Kingdom. Cosmic Ray’s is known for being the second busiest restaurant in the world.
b. A typical work day for me would be walking about around 11-12 (due to late night hours), eating lunch, getting ready for work. I’d leave my apartment around 4 pm every day to go to work. I’d have to be at work around 5-6 pm sometimes even 7-8 pm at night and wouldn’t get off till 11 pm -12 am or even 2-4 am. When I arrive at the MK Cast parking lot, I get on the MK bus to take me to the Utilidors (basically backstage behind beast castle). I’d walk to the Tomorrowland breakroom and drop off my dinner and backpack; sometimes I’d arrive early enough to talk with fellow cast members. To clock in we would have to go up into the kitchen to our CDS office, where we would clock in and get our assignment for the first half of our shift. (I was placed in the kitchen for my program, not where I thought I’d be placed) A few of the positions I could of held are Fryers (fries or nuggets), salads, KTF (cleaning the kitchen, taking out trash, stocking, food waste, etc.), Food runner, the Anchor, middle or window (getting orders put together for guests), and the boiler (1, 2, 3, 4, 5,) (basically making the buns and burgers we serve.) Normal, depending on length of shift you will be that spot for 3-5 hours before you get your break and can get a different position. After your break, you will get another assignment (normally to bump someone out; since CP means Closing Person). You would get put into your closing position till an hour or hour and a half till we closed. Some of the closing positions you could be would be closing a bay (takes an hour and half to two hours to close – 1 person closing), fryers (takes an hour to hour and half to close – 1 person closing), boiler (30 minutes to close – 1 person closing), salads (30 minutes to close – 1 person closing), and Take Downs (takes one and a half to three hours to close – 3 to 4 people closing). Once you have closed your area you have to have the kitchen coordinator and leader walk you to double check everything before you are able to clock out. Normally, once you have walked the kitchen coordinator has to change your time because normally they schedule us to get out earlier than we actually do.
c. Also, depending on who the closing coordinator and leader are you may actually get stuck doing extra work or helping out someone else that’s behind. Or they may make you redo your area.

Did you live in Disney Housing? If not, how did you find housing on your own?

Yes, I lived in Disney Housing – I lived in Chatham Square.

How many roommates and which housing complex (if applicable) did you live in? How did you find your roommates?

a. I had five other roommates (we lived in a 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom apartment. Yay, no bunk beds!) Like I said in the previous question I lived at Chatham Square!
b. I found my roommates on the Disney College Program Spring 2019/Spring Advantage 2019 Facebook page.

If applicable, did you get the complex and apartment you wanted?

Yes, we got the complex and apartment we wanted! When we had to register for roommates and apartments we could only link 3 others, so we linked the 4 first roommates and had the 2 other roommates link and then we sent the DCP housing and DCP program and email asking if we could all be linked together no matter where we were placed.

How did you hear about the Disney College Program?

I heard about the DCP when I was in elementary school, and knew someone that did the program in 1970s! I started applying in January 2017 and after finally got accepted in Fall 2018 (My fourth application!)

Why did you want to do the program?

I wanted to do the program because I thought working for the company long-term once I’m done with college would be the dream. I wanted to work in Human Resources or Guest Services.

What did you learn from the program?

I learned how to be on my own and how to make friends. Back home, I’m the type of person that goes to school and goes home or to work. So, being in a totally different place miles away from home I knew I needed to meet some people and learn how to be on my own working 30-40 hours a week and managing a schedule.

Are you happy you did the program?

I am happy that I did the program. Once it got closer to me leaving I got very nervous about leaving and not wanting to leave, but I’m glad I did it and moved 2,000 miles away from home for 5 months.

Did the program have an impact on you?

The program did I have impact on me because I was able to come home and know exactly want I wanted to do in the future and I was able to break out of box and be more open to staying on campus longer to meet people.

What do you wish you did differently? Any regrets?

I don’t wish I did anything differently. I do regret not going to some of the late-night work outings due to work early in the morning. I was able to achieve everything I wanted to on my program and more.

Did you make a bucket list? How much of the list did you complete, if it all?

I did make a bucket list, I complete about half of my bucket list. If I had more days off and stayed through the summer, I believe I could have completed my bucket list.

Did you network? Take any classes or seminars?

This year Disney changed how you can take classes or seminars to more of a lottery taking and I was unable to get into those classes and seminars that I wanted to take.

Did you extend your program? If so, did you stay in the same role and location, or did any of that change? Did/would you do another program?

a. No, I didn’t extend my program. I came home to take summer school and work for more money back home so I wasn’t behind and could graduate on time.
b. I don’t know if I want to do another program. I think if I did another program I would want a different role or would even try for a full-time position with the company.

Would you recommend the Disney College Program to a friend in college?

I would recommend the DCP to a friend, but I’d tell them to be picky with the role they would want to do for their program and not put interest in a role that they really don’t care for.

Lastly, what advice would you give to future CPs doing the program?

a. Some advice I would give to future CPs to do the program for you and not for your family. Make sure you are prepared to make little money and have only 2 days off a week to explore in the park. Enjoy your program by going to the parks before work to have more park days. Get to know your coworkers because they will be your long-life friends, since you will see them more than your roommates sometimes (depending on everyone’s work schedule). Make sure you are only putting interest in roles you actually would consider doing for the company!! Take days off to doing do stuff in Florida, I regret not asking for a day off to go to the beach, so take a day off to do that stuff.
b. IT’S OKAY TO CALL OUT!! Don’t be afraid to call out to explore Florida or for a mental health day! I called out 4 times because I wanted to explore and needed mental health day and it was totally worth it!! Disney doesn’t care, as long as you don’t call out too many times! (Hint: if you call out bereavement versus call out, you don’t get a point!)

Thank you so much Morgan for taking the time to do this interview. I know that you’re very busy doing amazing stuff. It means so much that you answered all my questions.

Thank you to all of you for reading this post. For those who have QSFB/Cosmic Ray’s as their role and location, I hope this answers all your questions and gave you some insight. If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I’ll try to answer them as best I can.

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As always guys: stay magical! Stay safe!