Hi guys! I'm seriously considering applying for the International program in the next couple of years (once I've paid off my overdraft!) but I'd REALLY appreciate some help! I've been browsing these forums for hours now, so here goes! I'm a British 25 yr old girl 1) Not to sound like a REAL boring sap, but I'm not a HUGE party animal. I love bars, but I'm far more of cinema/bowling/pub/meals/waterpark/live music/open mic night kinda girl than late night clubbing and dance music! I know this makes me sound boring as anything, but I'm worried that everyone just clubs and parties in their spare time! All the accounts I've read from folks who have gone out to Disney seem to say the same thing; clubs and parties! I don't mind some occassionally, but I'm not gonna be the ONLY nerdy/quiet type girl in the groups, am I? *blush* 2) What happens if we really, really don't like being in Florida working for the Mouse? Is there a penalty in coming home early? Are there any other options (likea 6 month option?) for the INternational Representitive program? (NOT the college one) - or does it have to be a whole year? 3) Do you get any holiday time if family come over to visit, or do you have to cram them in days off and when you're off the clock? 4) What are the pros and cons of merch vs f&b in the Pub? I'd imagine the pub's busiser and harder work, but more money (once you get to tips?) while the merchandising area is less money but easier work? Are the hours the same? Sorry to have so many questions! I'm going through stages of being super excited and then second guessing it all again! I've been considering this for a year or so now, LOL! Thanks so much for any help!
Hi, I can't answer all of your questions and I'm not from the UK but I will tell you that there are a lot of people just like you working there. Somehow you just end up finding each other. My son is 24 and is not a partier by choice - he'll go out once in awhile but he doesn't do much in the party department or clubbing etc. He has a lot of friends - they get together and watch movies, and go to the parks, they go out for each other's birthdays etc., play video games, see shows. They go to the other parks in Orlando or out of town in Tampa. He did not join the drinking team. It is a fact that a lot of people there party all the time, every spare moment they get and every spare dollar they have because that's what they want to do but you don't have to. Most of the time you are working very long hours and you are happy to have a day off to do your laundry and have a good sleep. He has actually worked there on two separate visas and has been very lucky to have fairly quiet apartments during each of his programs. Don't worry, if you decide to go, there will always be someone there for you to hang out with that has the same interests as you! If you self term and don't finish your program you will not get the relocation cheque ($$) to pay for your trip home. I have heard that some people have been told they can reapply after 6 months. Not sure about options for the CRP in the UK, I assume its the same as Canada - and the only option is to go for the 12 months unless you are replacing someone on their visa and then you might just go for the time remaining on their particular program placement. When family comes to visit you can request extra days off (without pay) if its not a really busy holiday time of the year. You can also request your 2 days off a week together for instance Fri. Sat// Sun. Mon. - but you need to request these early and there's no guarantees that you will get what you want. My son has been lucky to get a whole week off while he has had visitors a couple of times during the year. You get paid holidays after working there for 9 months (I think) - but its only about 5 days with your 2 regular days off. The best thing is to plan way ahead and then you're usually successful with your time off. Thats all I can help you with but I'm sure someone else can answer your work questions and can tell you about their experience as well. Personally I think if you are even a little bit interested in going you should apply and see if you get accepted. It could be the opportunity of a lifetime and if you get there and give it an honest try and decide you want to go home after awhile then at least you will have found out what it was like and you won't wonder for the rest of your life. Good luck with your decision!
There's definitely more people like you there! I'm not a big party person either, and one of my best friends now is a girl I met there who's got a lot of the same interests as me There's so much to do there besides of partying
How does loving bars, going to the cinema/bowling/pub/meals/waterpark/live music make you a boring sap? I'm in exactly the samne boat as you and know that loads of others are too. I'm 25 and well past the getting plastered for the sake of it and party every night stage. I love a good time and where we are (hopefully) going is the good time capital of the world. I have every intention of taking and saving as much money as I can so I can periodically, during the odd (pre booked/unpaid) week off and at the end of the programme, travel about a bit, see the rest of Florida and with a bit of luck a good bit of america too. Read some blogs you will soon see that partying is not on the top of evryones agenda. Remember there are hundreds of people on these programmes, all wanting and doing different things and all finding like minded folk to do it with.
There's actually over a thousand participants I think! There's around 200 norwegians working in the norwegian pavillion alone So there's always someone else with the same interests as you
I am sure you will have lots of friends there. Most of my friends are there now, and from all their pictures, that is the main idea of partying... Like hanging out with friends more then wild crazy parties. (Though there is always some of them if you ever had the urge.) But from what you say I think you would get along with the majority of the people there. Including myself as I am the same. As others have said, if you don't want to stay the only thing that really is the big penalty is they will not pay for your flight home. If you do stay the full year they will give back the money you had to pay out to get there so you can return back to your country. Ya I believe you do. As long as you don't take too many days off. Your can schedule yourself 4 day weekends even and take off the one day. You do work a lot in that case. My friend had 10 days straight with 3 12 hour shifts cause she had a few days scheduled off in a row. But it is worth it to go hang out with friends and family. I am not from the UK and don't really hard core talk to anyone from there just yet. But from what I was told applying for the F&B will give you more chances of getting in. I heard somewhere the hours are later for F&B but then my friend who is in Merch said she worked till Midnight cause of EMH (Extra Magic Hours) I still have yet to really know too much of why or how late F&B stayed thoese nights. F&B you do make good tips I heard. That is nice, but you wont mingle with the public as much. Merch you get to mingle a bit more but you get paid less. Attractions is also a choice, Kid cot... you get paid to play with kids all day. LOL. Anyway I am probably repeating what others have said. But good luck in your decision. (Another way to help you decide is check out some Disney journals/blogs or Disney Vlogs. They helped me a lot in knowing what day to day life is like there.)
Hey Leaner, Just wanted to try and nudge you towards applying - I've just sent my CV and cover letter off today! I'm well excited to be applying and I'm pretty much in the same boat as you when it comes to going out and not being a clubber in any way. I realy do agree with you that going to a concert or bowling or to the cinema or a pub is my idea of fun so much more than clubbing and getting completely wasted! Don't get me wrong, I love to go out for a drink and like a bit of dancing too but nothing too crazy! Did you go to uni? It sounds like you might have done - i imagine it'll be like my time in uni halls most of the people were real party animals but I soon found people who were less in to that kind of stuff. Also, I'll turn 22 when I'm out there, which is a bit younger than you, but I've heard of 29 year olds going, so don't let age put you off. My advice to you is to go for it, you might miss out if you don't! Vicki xx
As everyone has already said, I'm very much the same and my idea of a good night out is soaking in the atmosphere at the parks! Once you get used to how requesting days off work and such its easy to plan in advance, but you can also ask your managers if there's a chance of ADO's (Authorised Days Off) in addition to your normal days off. As with all things, plan well in advance! Yup, F&B pays more, and I know people say the hours are later especially for EMH, but I worked EMH at the Magic Kingdom for a year and on some nights got out at 4.45am, so a 1am finish is fine with me! You'll get into a routine of working late and early shifts. It's true that you're more likely to get in if you do F&B and they tell you this at the interviews. It's because the UK merchandise is made up of a number of shops, but it doesn't require that many Cast Members to run them, whereas the Rose and Crown requires are fair few! You might as well apply anyway when the time comes. You can always turn down the role if you get offered one, if you decide its not for you! Hope this helps xx Skipper Loooooou
I knew I was sent to this board for a reason lol! Hi I'm James and I actually did the CRP program and lived at the commons in 2007, going back in 2009!! LOL! Good times, thats how good it is Anyways; 1. You're not going to be the only nerdy/quiet type, lol. The commons is probably one of the wildest places ive ever been, but remember for all the new arrivals there are more people there who are working and are looking for to relax, not everyone parties every night. Dont worry. 2. I actually did a 2-month international program in 2006 at MK, and im aware of people doing 5 month ones also, however if you want to live at commons and work at epcot, its a 12 month program. 3. You get holidays very easily, especially when family visit, management are usually very understanding about that. 4. Im a F&B boy lol, you eventually get to be a server or bartender and earn alot of tips! The work for some is harder, but its also more fun and the extra cash helps on trips to new york or mexico! lol! and for shopping! Any other questions fire them my way! jx
