Disney was NOT what I expected for these reasons...

I just back from trying out the International Program, and let me say that I thought the overall experience was not really worth the while. Maybe because I am a bit older than most, I thought Disney was a bit unorganized at their training systems. I have nothing personal against anyone at all, just frustated that when you went to work, the managers weren't sure or aware of what you were supposed to be doing. My first thoughts of working for Disney would be organizational structure and professional, yet I couldn't believe what I saw. I guess my work experiences here in Canada must have been more valuable and superior than I give credit for. I met some great people and some people that I wonder what they were doing there except to party and to get laid. I just want to make newbies think of what they are getting themselves into. Maybe they want to get away from home to party and get laid....

 

Hey! I'm so sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy it. I am very worried that will happen to me. I am not there to party or get laid, believe me I am done my partying days. I am there to work, enjoy the people and enjoy disney world!

I would like to hear more about what you didn't like. Could you have stayed there and just enjoyed working and playing in the parks? Or is a huge part of everything down there partying?

I don't like an unorganized work place, but I think I could deal with it. If you could get into a little more detail about the work and home environment down there I think it would be much appreciated.

So sorry again that you didn't enjoy it.

*Emily*

 

That is too bad to hear.

Where were you working if you don't mind my asking? It may just depend on the workplace. I worked in Outdoor foods at the Disney-MGM studios and I found no problems at all. My managers were excellent and very friendly too so that was a bonus.

There is a lot of partying that goes on there, but if you don't wanna be in that crowd, you don't have to be. If you want to be there to work, enjoy Disney World and the experience, believe me you can, I know tons of people who have done/ are doing that.

But as its been said before, its not an experience for everyone. Personally, I would encourage everyone to go at least try it. If you don't, you may always wonder "What if I had gone?". Like I've said before, the most you can lose is a few bucks but there is so much more that you can gain.

~The only risk in taking an adventure, is not taking it at all~

 

I decided to give up the opportunity to go wdw,cause i have another good chance which will be better than going to wdw in China.Best wishes for me

 

Hey I defintly agree with you on that one. I went down for the program on May 14th and left July 1st, It wasnt worth it at all, I met some cool people but other than that all it did was cost me alot of money and alot of grief. I defintly should have looked into this alot more before I decided to go do it. I dont regret going because now I know what it was like, but Im defintly happy to be back in Canada...and im never leavin again! lol

 

I just got back from an amazing experience in the International College Program but from where I was I could see what happened in the IP program and I'm not sure I'd ever want to be apart of it. It's too much about drinking and sex for those people. Plus I don't think I'd ever want to work in the Canada pavillion. I am desperate to get back to orlando, though, so if worst comes to worst I may consider it one day. If ur still in school u shoudl try out the ICP program, it was definately worth it.

 

dezigner_gurl,

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who loves Canada that much!! I feel like maybe I should have stayed longer, but like you said, it costs $$ to live and there you won't make $$. Tell me more about you're experiences...

 

Chalet Dude,
If you have msn or an email address could I have it, I'd like to ask you a few questions about the program lol, if thats cool. I just don't like this site so I'd rather talk on something else. If you do have msn add me or email me dezigner_gurl06@hotmail.com Thanks

 

Dear all,
though i didnt come to WDW yet, and ofcoz i do have much expectation on it .. but thats the end after i have been told the reality from my colleage over there...
you know, i will be working in f and b department in china gp and they told me thats much thing under an unfair environment, even we dont have a right to request for our holiday, you know sometimes when u work in stress and pressure, just want to let ourselves to have a short break or gather someone together, but the head wouldnt allow to do so, and the merch and attration are different and even better than those who work in f & b.
one i have been accpeted to work in WDW, its amazing and wonderful trip for me, beside working, i could go around overthere with my fds, thats something i couldnt find in my place Hong Kong.
when u have been told abt that, what do u think....just like im going to the hell :'(

 

it costs $$ to live and there you won't make $$.

someone put this earlier on in the post, i was just wondering is it realli expensive and would it be best to go with a bit of money in order to live comfortably

 

Make as much money as you can to take with you.
It depends where you're working as to how much you should aim to take. If you're in merch - work your ass off now because you'll be poor lol If you're in f&b it won't be anywhere near as bad.

 

heyy.. i did the program from may 14th til aug 25th.. and i gotta disagree and say my time there was amazing. Yeah i came home with no money, and always had to get money off my rents while i was there (maxed out the old cc lots of times haha).. and work sometimes wasnt the best and not quite perfectly organized. But the friendship I came back home with made it all worth it. I have friends from all over coming to visit me, and im going to visit them. Its so hard to not see them everyday, but we talk on the phone almost daily as well as online. I would definitly say it was worth it, for the experience, friendships and of course to put it on the resumes. Plus getting to go to the beaches, shopping and just all around florida. plus how many people get to basically explore almost every inch of disneyworld? Vista way was fun, the partying unreal! I will almost miss PI! Apt 2008 for life!! Definitly gotta thank my bestest, the canadians and scotish especially!!

*carly, molly, jenna, ellisa, bianca, marissa, jordan, keith, nick... plus so many more. i love you and miss you all* <3​

 

Hi,
Sorry to hear your experience was bad. It really does take time to find your groove there. Sometimes too the program just isnt for you. We had a few go home during my year that just couldnt find their zone at Disney. Its a different life and I must admit ti wasnt what I went in assuming it would be but I wouldnt trade it. I met some of the most amazing people and did some great things. So I mean for those who havent gone just know its something u have to judge for yourself and if you try and its wrong its better than not trying

 

I'm really sorry too that you had a bad time out there, i go on Dec 5th working in f&b in the british pavillion. I guess some experiences arent for everyone but was it really that bad, from experience i also hate unorganised workplaces but i usually voice my opinion, maby thats one of my bad points haha. Im just gona go out there with an open mind I'm not expecting it to be the perfect workplace tho coz lets be honest that doesnt exist. Again, im really sorry but hopefully you did get something out of it.
carla xxxx

 

It makes me sad, when I heard about bad experiences in disney IP. I was there 03-04 and I enjoyed a lot, not juist the partying and sex issue, i met great friends, people from all around the world, and no matter that was a hard year cuase the war, we were short most of the time, doing schedules of 14 hours and so, I took the best part of the experience. Is great for you to had taken the decision to quit, cause sometimes during the whole year you hear bad comments or people who gets bitter every day but they stay waiting that the experience change for them. FInally everyone can make the experience special and the door is always open to leave the IP. But the good thing is that you tried it by yourself, all the newbies has to be conscious about the type of work, the wages, and stuff that you can face there, like living with people issues, cultural differences, works that are not intelectual challenging et all, etc. but my advice is that you must try it to be sure that the experience is or not for you. I left a great job in which I was making over 3000 dlls per month, so comfortable, with all the comodities that a good work can get you, but for me IP was a rest in my busy life among works and all that brainwork and stress, so I went to Disney to broom, clean, sweep, do garbage, etc. and I was so happy cause that was what I needed at that time, the most of the people couldn't understand me when I left my TV job, I was acting in a sitcom, besides producing teatre and opera, and stuff like that. Now I am back in the same as the head of the drama department in a university, I continue directing, producing and creating, and Disney gave me a lot of material to do my work but mostly gave me a time to breathe, I can compare earning over 3000 dlls a month to my salary in the IP the first months and the type of work, but for sure I will do it again whitout hesitate.
In life everyday we have to choose, and every choice implies a lost of one of the options, everytime we need to see how risky is that choice, what will be loosing for real and what will be in a long term the consecuences in your life. For you a decision of not going is completely justified cause what you have choosen is fullfiling, but If you are not completely decided, take the risk and go, you don't have to be there for the whole time, it is not a jail, so tried, live it, enjoy it, when you get enough, go back to real life if you can. I feel so positively affected for the experience, I am going back on vacation this next november, I am more excited than a child going to see mickey. I would like to everyone experiencing the IP feels the same.

RUBEN!

 

you should be ok.. in the rose and crown i thin its pretty organised everyone knows what needs doin and we all oull together to get it done!! cnt wait to see ya hunny xx

 

Hey everyone,

I worked on the International Program in UK merch from Sept 2003 - July 2004. I'll admit like every job it had its up's and down's but thats to be expected. You are moving to a country with a completely different culture and way of life than most people are used to.

It was the first time i had ever lived away from home, and in the beginning it was hard. I am a twin and we had never been apart. I come from a very close family, and i was home sick when i first arrived in Florida.

However, I arrived with 24 other people, from the UK alone. I had the best arrival group anyone could ask for. 8 of us went to merch, the rest to food and bev. I made so many friends, that i didn't have time to be homesick anymore. I called my family once a week (schedule permitting) and emailed my sis alot. I arrived when i was 20, and it didn't bother me not being legally allowed to drink. I still went to all the parties, PI, had the best time. When i turned 21 a couple of months later, it didn't make much difference. I never was a big drinker, but being able to drink in public now was good and get into other clubs that all my friends talked about.

Some of my managers at work where amazing and some i hated. Like any job. I went out with an open mind. I met the most amazing friends from all over the work (living with 7 other girls each from a different country was the best). I met my best friend and soul mate while on the program, whom i'm now engaged to. I had the best year of my life. I came back out to work for a particpant company within the UK Pavilion at Epcot. My life never revolved around Disney, to be honest 2 and a half years later, i'm all disneyed out. Its the life i made outside of work that made my year there the best.

I recommend everyone go out with an open mind. Make friends and don't be B*t*HY (i had some girls who hated me - don't know why - but i didn't let it ruin my time). Some people do go out to get drunk, get laid every night of the week. If thats your thing go for it. For me, watching movies, ordering pizza/chinese, going to the malls/beaches, socialising with friends was more important to me.

I got to be a trainer and train the newbies which was a great honour - especially as some managers stood up for me to get the trainers position. I had a reprimand for calling in too many times within a certain time period. It happened to fall over xmas were i had the flu. You were not allowed to call in sick over xmas even if you were sick, cos one of our managers was going to come to the commons and get you if you did. So, between losing my voice, coughing so much my body ached, etc, i called in 3 /4 separate days over a 30 day time period (working 6 day weeks). That caused my reprimand, which really upset me. Some people called in all the time but were working the system so they wouldn't get so many points. I got mine over illness. Oh well, it didn't ruin my year.

I did shorten by 2 months with the intention of going to college but having met Bryan, i came back out to the US to work at the participant store.

Some of the people in my arrival group left early as it just wasn't for them. Not everyone will be able to adjust to the way of life the commons brings, but you make it what it is. If you give it a go and decide to leave early, i have bigger respect for you for at least giving it a try. I waited 4 years to be able to come out on the Interntional Program. If i didn't like it, i had extra money saved to book my flight home. However my friends greatly made my year the best time of my life. BIG SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE 2003-2004.

Claire

 

that was a nice story to read

 

Claire THANK YOU for your honesty, for telling us how YOUR story went!! CONGRATS on your engagement........
I am a Dec.5th arrival from Canada and have taken the opportunity that this board gives us to meet and chat with some people I will not only be arriving with, but may ALSO be living with!! I am much older then MOST that take this term on so this is going to be a MUCH different program for me as well!! I can and have been legal in bars for some time, don't get me wrong, I enjoy a night on the town like most.....however, I am so interested in volunteering and going shopping and socializing with people......just as YOU did!!
of course as with most jobs, there will ALWAYS be good and bad days.......it's WHO you choose to deal with them with and HOW you deal with them that is important!! I am going open minded and ready to have FUN and to meet TONS of people and to learn.
If for some reason I hate it and cannot stay, then I leave.....but I go and give it my ALL....it's all anyone can do........all anyone could ask for!!

THANK YOU for telling us your story!!
Cheers!! ;D

 

Hey!

It is a tough year...I like to call it an emotional rollercoaster!!! There are some great highs, but the lows are pretty low. You just have to learn to balance them out and remember the highs when your having some lows. It was, hands down, the best year of my life. Like Claire, I too met the love of my life down there and we are also engaged. The first three months are the hardest by far, especially if you arrive near the holidays. Try to stick it out for at least 4 months. Get over that hump and if you still don't like it, definitely go home. The experience is what you make it. If you let whatever happens at work consume you, then you'll hate it. I tried so hard to make work fun. I played games with the guests as much as I could. It made the day go by so much faster. Yes, it costs money...but...if you are in F&B, once you get into service, you can make a TON of money if you are a decent server. I was lucky. I was a merchie in Canada but my fiance was a bartender/server in the UK and basically supported me. I didn't worry about money too much really. I had my credit cards and basically did what I wanted. It was one year out of my life to do whatever I wanted. I just added it to my school loans debt when I got home.

I waited to go down until I had finished school. I didn't want to have to think about going back when I returned. I know a lot of people who really had a hard time going back. So, I would suggest waiting a bit. It lets you get some life experience under your belt first too, especially if you go away to school. It prepares you a little better for life in the Commons.

Anyways, just don't let anything you read on here...good or bad...make the decision for you. Go and try it out for AT LEAST 4 months for yourself before you decide to go home.

Shan