Concierge

I love my job.

That's something I haven't been able to really say before.  I have loved the money from certain jobs, the people from other jobs, but this time, most of the time, I really love it.  I usually have that nagging feeling when I have jobs that I need to look for what's next and find something better.  However as a concierge I am really enjoying myself.  There are days where it's tough, and a lot of the time in the beginning I found myself never leaving work happy because I felt like I had to ask for help too often. The thing is, we are asked so many random questions about EVERYTHING all the time.  Every single day, every single guest is totally different.  I've been asked anything from the best restaurants on and off property, to secret soft opening information, to where to buy cigarettes at 2am, to where can you buy constipation medication.  My friend got asked for a 1 cent refund.  I've heard incredible stories of love and compassion, of families using this trip to bond back together after tragic events, to celebrating the adoption of their children, to reuniting after deployment.  I've seen proposals, set up numerous magical moments, and turned angry guests into want-to-be friends.  There is so much empowerment as a concierge to own situations and take the opportunity to ensure lifelong guest loyalty.  I know it's a business, and honestly I love that side of it as well.  I think the masterminds behind the marketing, the synergy between products and the understanding of low cost, high impact recovery is incredible.  Yes a lot of my job is checking guests in and booking reservations.  But I'm helping to create memories.  I'm helping to create happiness, excitement and fun.  I may be checking you in, or booking your Chef Mickey reservation, but I'm also the gateway to hopefully one of the best vacations of your life.

I work a lot.  I also am going to university full time.  I thought 'oh full time school, full time work - I got this.' But in all honesty if I wasn't so passionate about both it wouldn't be working.  It's hard.  I have to manage school with work with housework and then throw in some sort of relaxation, fitness, and lets not forget friends.  I know that it will all be worth it when I finally get my degree, and I also know that this degree won't be the last schooling I take.  I definitely see a Masters in my future; especially if my company at the time will help pay for it.

But that, in a nutshell, is the last couple months of my life.  I was a part of the pilot team in the roll out of MagicBands and MyMagic+ as a whole at DisneyWorld.  I've gotten to drive a Cadillac and purchase or create amazing gifts for numerous people.  I made a family cry from happiness with an upgraded room.  I assisted people who had an incredibly tough year, feel like kids again.  I've also seen the magic my co-cast work everyday, and the hard work and ridiculous hours they put in to create the experience.  I work with amazing cast, and throughout meeting with almost all of them by now, amazing managers.  They have been nothing but supportive and hoping to help me get ahead.  I appreciate their advice and assistance so much.

We're going to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party tomorrow and I'm SUPER EXCITED.  The Halloween parade is the best one at Disney World in my opinion and I cannot wait to see those grave diggers!

Crunch Time!

April! Can you believe it?? This month is going to be JAM PACKED with.... HOMEWORK.  Yup, it's my last month of my semester and you know what that means. So many essays. So many projects. So many exams.  It's as if the professors decide to throw all the assignments in the last month, just to make you really work for it before those evil exams.  However once the month is over, May is going to be incredible.  So it's nose to the grindstone knowing an incredible reward is waiting at the end.

It's also my last month as a 23 year old.  I'm about to leave my early twenties and secure a spot in my mid twenties.  That's just frightening.  Life evaluation time!!!
...not right now.  We'll leave the pondering of life for May when my mind isn't crammed full of guest service quilts, service blogs, theme park projects, english papers (so many murderers in that one!), lodging tests and all that good stuff.

This month will be a bit quite on the blog as I work hard on my school work, but expect some great things to follow.  I'll keep you updated on the coolest trip ever, as well as the preparation and beginning of my College Program!!
I did get one step closer to my College Program today by meeting with my internship advisor.  I had to get a letter from her saying the program will count as internships to give to my international student advisor so that it can be added to my visa.

Oh the joys of being foreign :)

I'm really excited though either way.  My mind has been totally consumed with my family lately as well. There isn't an hour that passes that I don't miss them so immensely and wish I could be home.  I know that they strongly support me and what I'm doing, but it's times like this that the 3000 miles separating us feels like so much more.  I love you all so much!

Have a great day everyone! Stay positive! Stay focused! Stay Happy! And spread the love <3 nbsp="">



....this is my 200th post! Woooooo! A writer we'll make of me yet ;)

More Secrets

I guess they aren't really secrets when I tell you about them...

There are two things that I've been meaning to let out of the bag.  First of all a College Program announcement:

I opted out of housing for my Disney College Program.  I know that housing 'is an important part of the experience,' however I already pay rent and live in Orlando.  Therefore it didn't make sense.  For anyone interested in living outside of Disney Housing (you can't on any of the international programs) the process goes like this:

1. Pay $200 housing fee
2. Email housing (I actually had to do this twice because the first time their inbox was full - oops!)
3. Housing emailed back and asked for my candidate ID, full name, address where I would be living.
4. I responded with the needed information.
5. They approved me!  After completing my first 30 days of the program successfully I will be refunded the $200.  I also found it interesting that I don't get to check in for my program at Vista Way like everyone else, because I opted out of housing I have to check in at casting and they are going to email with further information about it.

I guess this could be considered a secret but it wasn't one of the planned ones... the reason I would be paying double rent if I lived in housing is because I'm moving in with my boyfriend!  Yup, craziness right?!  We pretty much have been co-inhabiting for a while now, and have been paying double rent and maybe going to my actual apartment once every week- two weeks so it's just not making sense financially or logically.  It's a really huge step and something we have spent a lot of time talking about.  I've never lived with a guy before, and I know we are going to have some things to figure out once everything is moved together.  I also know that everyone is different and has different opinions on living with someone before being married (I've been called old-fashioned by 4 different people around this topic!), however for us this makes the most sense and fits us the best.  I'm very excited and think it's going to be great!  It's not our ideal living situation yet, but not everything happens exactly the way you envision it when you're a little girl.  We are taking advantage of the opportunities given to us now to have a better foundation for the future :)  Exciting!  

Okay on to the actual secrets...

I signed up for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon in November! I'm excited and very, very nervous.  I used to run a lot, and love it.  I don't exactly love it anymore.  I more am excited for it to be over.  Not how you want to feel heading into runs that take a couple hours....

However I'm motivated by both myself and my friends who are in the race as well.  I don't have a time I'd like to run it in, except that I know the faster I finish the more I get to enjoy the Food and Wine After Party at Epcot.  I actually have a bigger goal that this race is a part of.  Don't get me wrong, this is a BIG goal! When I finished my half marathon in 2011 I said I would never do another one.  And here I am gearing up to do it again.  But there is an ultimate goal that has many, many steps along the way.  This is one of them.

Ahhh half marathon! It'll be neat to have completed two! :) I'm glad I have friends who are also training and it's kind of awesome to looking forward to activities that are based around healthiness! Who would have thought he part of the Food and Wine Festival I'm looking forward to the most is running?  The only thing that could trump it is if some certain family members come for a visit!

Secret number two...


I have an amazing boyfriend. That's not the secret.  Okay, it goes like this:

K: Hey babe have you ever been on a cruise?
F: Nope
K: We should go some day, they're so fun and you get an awesome cast member discount.
F: Oh yah? *looks up cast member cruise discounts and options*
F: Look at this one! 14 nights through the panama canal
K: WHAT! So cool!
*Look at cool destinations of cruise.  Tell friends they should all go (I should work in sales) while saying there is no way we can but maybe someday. *

*Re-look up cruise and it's gone.  Full.  Fake fantasy cruise actually gone.*

A month later....

F: Hey Babe, guess what?!
K: What?
F: We're going on a cruise!!
K: WHAT?!
F: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Yup.  he secretly looked it up hoping someone else would cancel or not pay, and magical found a spot. AND he got an unbelievable deal!!! Think two week cruise with all your food and entertainment and everything for about the same price as one night at the Grand Floridian! (Well two nights, because there are two of us!) But still...isn't that insane?!!!!

I couldn't believe him.  I can't believe him still.  I can't believe it's real.  Who just goes "Hey babe I bought you a cruise..and it's two weeks long" ?!!!?!  This guy apparently.  Have a mentioned I really love him?? lol.  We even watched the cruise DVD, and looked into all the features and things that happen and ports and I still can't believe it's real.  I don't think it'll hit me until we board in Miami and take off.

But wait, there's MORE! One of the reasons this cruise had such a crazy cast price is because it's a repositioning cruise, meaning the ship is being moved from it's winter departure port to it's summer departure port.  So it's not a roundtrip.  We leave from Miami, and dock in Los Angeles!!! Which means...yup.. PANAMA CANAL!!!

And just when you thought the world couldn't get better... My Grandparents, being the most fantastically AMAZING grandparents on the planet, gave us a resort in ANAHEIM for my birthday which means... DISNEYLAND!!!! DISNEYLAND!!! DISNEYLAND!!! Did I mention I'm going to DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!

FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WHOLE WORLD!! DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!

I'm a little excited.  Also... flight from Santa Ana, Orange County to Orlando? $150 dollars.  How is this even possible? We can use Francel's main gate so we aren't paying for park tickets. It's like all the stars in all the universe aligned.

I almost forgot... The cruise leaves May 6th.  A week after my exams end for the semester.  Two days after my birthday, we arrive back a week before Francel's birthday (double birthday?).  And two days after Francel's birthday my College Program starts.  The whole thing magically fits together perfectly.

It's things like this

Accepted!

This morning while having a casual Friday lay in (veggie omelets! YUM) I picked up my phone to check my messages and came across an email from Disney. I opened it and....

Dear Kate,

Congratulations!

You have been selected to participate in the Disney College Program at the Walt Disney World® Resort! This is a valuable résumé-enhancing experience for all students, and we are proud to offer this opportunity to you.

You can find out additional details regarding your offer, including your role and program season, by following the instructions below. You must complete all three steps listed below in order to fully accept your offer.

I got accepted into the College Program! We were having such a laid back morning it took me a moment to actually realize what I was reading! I freaked out and told Francel! Then I had to know what position they were offering!  I had said I would do a bunch of different roles, so I impatiently opened the email on my computer and freaked out in excitement again... 

Dear Kathryn,

Congratulations! On behalf of Disney Worldwide Services, Inc., which is part of a business segment we call Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, we are pleased to let you know that you have been selected to participate as a/an Concierge cast member on the Disney College Program at the Walt Disney World ® Resort for the Fall Advantage 2013 season. This is a valuable résumé-enhancing experience for all students, and we are excited to offer this opportunity to you! This program will allow you to gain academically-oriented work experience - the kind that provides participants in any major with the tools they need to compete effectively in today's job market.

Please review your major responsibilities below:

Responsibilities may include completing check in/check out process for concierge club-level guests by inputting and retrieving information from resort computer system; proactively greeting guests, exhibiting the expected high level of Disney show quality, often times interacting with VIP's, celebrities, and executives; creating individualized ticket packages; being comfortable in a strong sales environment; making reservations and handling any special requests from guests; handling cash and other forms of payment, including foreign currencies exchange; maintaining cleanliness of common guest living/dining areas within concierge club-level; assisting with luggage and other deliveries to guest rooms; working concierge buffet line which can include maintaining overall cleanliness of buffet area and replenishing food, washing dishes, serving alcohol, maintaining inventory of liquor, and partnering with culinary team to ensure food quantity; partnering with property VIP tour guides. 

CONCIERGE!!!! I can't quite believe it's real still! Concierge was definitely my top choice! I can't believe I'm going to be doing a Disney College Program! 

Step one was accepting the offer, then paying program fees.  I am planning on opting out of housing (that's a whole other post :) ) but still had to pay a housing fee.  Once they approve of me not living in housing, then I have to work in the program for a month, then I'll get the fees back.  There is also a $100 program fee and a $4.50 processing fee.  Bye Money! Hello Disney!

Step three was my arrival date!!

JUNE 3RD, 2013!!! I start June 3rd!!! June 3rd until January 3rd 2014!!!

I can't believe this is real!

It also will count as my internship for my degree and I'll be able to go to school during the fall still of course! It's so exciting.  I'm on cloud 9 :)

I don't get to know which resort I'll be in until my start date.  Of course I'd like a deluxe because they have club levels and I'd get to deal with the club lounge and such, but any resort will be incredible! It's just so neat to think that I'll be working for Disney somewhere other than Canada!!! I LOVE Canada (the pavilion and actual country) but as I can't be a server at Le Cells, the fact that I can work somewhere else is SOOOO COOL! And my name tag will say my university instead of my hometown.  Kind of neat! Costuming will be somewhere else! I won't have Discovery Day! Gosh, it'll be so different!

I love that I get to go to Traditions again too!!! I LOVE Traditions! It's so magical! 

So my day has been full of excitedly tell my family then friends then the world! I'm going to be a cast member again! I get to go to the parks! I'm SO excited!!!!!!

My BIG Secret!

So my dear friends. I went through the Cultural Representative Program application process with you twice.  I went through the Cruise Line Interviews with you.  I went through the University of Central Florida application process with you.

I had a gut feeling about all of those. This time I don't.  That is why I am wary to discuss that I even applied.  But with success comes failure, and with failure comes lessons learned to turn those failures into successes later on.  I have not been accepted for many jobs in the past. I have been offered many jobs as well.

The closest I've ever felt to this before was when I was in the running to be one of the West Coast Trainers for Boston Pizza Corporate.  I would have traveled through Western Canada as a corporate trainer for new restaurants and revamps.  I didn't think I had a chance, but I got called for a phone interview. Then I made it to the next round.  Then the last round! I was one in three candidates left.  I had to go to a Boston Pizza and write a report on it.  I poured hours into this report.  Then I had to train the interviewers to do something in 20 minutes.  I chose to teach them the dance to Thriller.

I didn't even know the dance to Thriller. So I learned it.  And then I rocked it teaching it to them.  They were two late 20 something guys, it was intimidating, and perhaps not the right choice (their examples were 'how to put on hockey gear' and 'how to build a card house') but I thought it was interactive and fun.

I really thought I had a good chance when I was in the top three.  I was already imagining myself travelling around the provinces, teaching, learning, exploring and loving life.  I was contemplating not applying for a second Disney program if I got this job and sort of starting a life. (Crazy, I know.)

Then I got an email...that I didn't get it. I tried to justify it to myself that I wasn't really qualified anyways and that I made it way further in the process than I should have, but I was still sad.

Walt said everyone needs a good failure when they are young - hopefully this was mine and now I'm good to go.  I have this weird way of thinking that I should get whatever job I apply for because I know I can step up and perform the role amazingly - it's getting that across through my resume and interviewing that seems to be the problem.

I got through that interview failure, and I survived and am incredibly happy with how everything went even though I didn't get that job.  Plus I learned a lot in the process (besides amazing dance moves).  I learned that I can write reports and overcame my fear of public speaking/shyness by teaching a dance to men in suits.  I learned that even though I may not have gotten the job, I worked hard at trying, and as clique as that sounds, there was just someone else better suited for the position.

So where is all this going?

I applied for the Disney College Program.  I also applied for Disney Professional Internships.

Thank goodness only my family reads this or else it would be way scarier putting that out there. Oh public rejection. Hopefully we won't have to deal with you...but if we do...it will be graceful (mostly).

Let's do the College Program first:

The Disney College Program is a Disney geeks dream.  You get to work in also ANY POSITION PROPERTY WIDE (all non-tipped of course!) and make magic for guests.  You get worked to the bone, with super long hours, and then get to go home to housing! So it's like Le Cellier...but without the restaurant, the tips or the other Canadians.

There are a variety of roles from housekeeping to hospitality to attractions to character performers to merchandise etc. and when you initially apply you rank which you are most interested in.   What made me really want to apply is that Hospitality and Concierge were on the list. CONCIERGE! Can you imagine? (Hello, dream in life being realized!) On the Disney website they pretty much NEVER have this role or front desk because the turn over is so long for part-time and full-time cast members.  Therefore I thought if I were able to get in on the College Program, we may be able to work some Disney magic afterwards.
The problem with this is that I could be offered a role in any of the jobs I listed as interested in, and they include main entrance operations, housekeeping (whoops!) and attractions.  The good thing about this is once you're in, it's easier to stay in, and I've become very talented at making a bed (ask Francel!). So if I do a program in a different role there may be a possibility to switch to a seasonal position in a role that is more relevant to my major.

Now that we have that spiel out of the way...here is the process so far.

I applied online.

I got an email asking me to complete an online interview.

I completed the online interview. Upon completion I was invited to schedule a phone interview.

I completed my phone interview.  20 minutes ago.

It was scary. All interviews are scary.  Why? Because you are trying to sell yourself to someone who listens to thousands of college students trying to sell themselves.  You are trying to make that person see you as someone who should work for the best entertainment company in the world. That's an intense sell.

The lady (I'm a horrible person and forget her name already) was very nice and laid out how the phone cal would go.  She asked me a series of questions to start.  Of course 'Why do you want to do the college program?' was a big one, and she made reference to the fact that I had already worked at Le Cellier ('it's such a great restaurant but so hard to get in to!') Then we talked about roommates and working in the weather (good thing I already live here and did popcorn cart in August!).  She also asked me how I deal with having a ton of things to do at once and I discussed prioritizing and list making. oh dear.

She asked me what my top roles were and I said Concierge/Hospitality then Character Attendant (in my mind character attendants have to deal with a lot of anger...lines being cut off, scared children, saving characters being harassed...it's like guest relations but in the field!).  She asked me what I thought the difference between concierge and hospitality (front desk) was and I was not expecting that.  I gave my best answer though, and the next question was if I was comfortable putting out food in the club levels, but then answered herself by mentioning all my food and beverage experience...I said yes to and used the example of myself being a banquet captain so I was familiar with the buffet style set up, stocking and take down.

I got asked about a time when guests were upset and I turned the situation around. I told the story about the anniversary couple that was really upset they had to wait a long time to sit, and how I was really excited for them, celebrated their anniversary, and in the end completed their pin set that they had been working on for years by presenting it with dessert. So magical.  (They actually cried and hugged me, and gave me an unreal steamboat Mickey pin, because you 'have to trade').

She asked me about how I would deal with a scared child coming up to a big character and I talked about turning the nervous energy into excited energy, talking about the character, how friendly they are, getting them down to the child's level as well, that sort of thing. Going over to the character together perhaps? I don't know, I've always been a thousand feet tall and only scared of Frolo...who has creepy fake human hands.

She then asked about my student visa and if I had a driver's license.  I think that's about it? She told me I had to wait 2-3 weeks and to continuously check my Disney Dashboard as sometimes the emails get sent to the junk mail folder.  I asked a few questions about the program and extending, and voila - it was over.

Now we wait.

As for the Professional Internships Program:

I applied for a couple of the 'College Program Alumni Only' Professional Internships.  They count the CRP as alumni too thank goodness! The roles vary quite a bit but the two I am most interested in are an International Recruiting Internship and a Guest Relations Internship.  I think everyone and their brother wants to be in Guest Relations so that will be intense, and I think international recruiting would be the coolest thing ever as I've gone through the process twice and being able to be a part of doing that for other people? UNREAL.

I applied and had my interview for those in the beginning of February so I don't remember the questions as well.  I was told (not in my interview but by others applying) that there are about 6000 applications and about 100 Professional Interns, so your chances are slim.  I don't know how true this is, but college program alumni are intense individuals, all with Disney experience and magical examples.

What I wasn't expecting in this interview was all the questions about what I was hoping to gain from the internship.  I had prepared a lot more on the side of what I could bring to them, not exactly what they could give to me, besides experience, knowledge, on the job training and that sort of thing. The interviewer was really nice though (as they always are) and I think it was a good experience.  I have plenty more opportunities to apply for PIs (until the semester after you graduate) so at least I got the chance to see what it was like if I don't get one this time.  I will admit I really want one though.

Applications just closed for the Professional Internships on March 8th (last Friday) so they have to do all the phone interviews for the people who applied recently.  Apparently the individual departments don't even start looking at resumes until about a month from now because of all the phone screen interviews and such.  So we shall see.

I'm horrible at waiting.

So there you have it. I let you in on my big secrets.  My fingers are crossed that something works out, but if it doesn't there are other places I can work until the opportunities come around again.  I can also apply for regular part-time and seasonal positions in a couple months so that's always an option as well.

Plus, there is always Universal? I would look mighty cute in that Harry Potter World wizard hat....