Pre-Disney: Finding a Roommate

So now that I've completed all of the post-acceptance stages after being hired, I need to find some roommates.

I'm sure some of you who know me well are probably laughing your butts off right now, but here's a fun fact: if I wanted, I could have my own apartment.

After doing, guess what? Research! I found out that it's well beyond my financial disposition to have my own apartment, and that it's a much better experience if you have roommates to go hang out with.

So, after joining a few Facebook groups, I started filling out a survey that lets people know who you are, and whether not you could be compatible roommates. Here's mine for those of you who are curious:

BACKGROUND

• Name: Kendra Staples 
• Gender: Female
• Orientation: Straight
• Relationship Status: Single
• Birthday/Age: 06/27/96
• Current Location: Columbia, MO
• From: Columbia, MO
• School: Stephens College
• Major: Graphic Design/Marketing
• Are you allergic/allergies to anything? Dogs, cats, any kind of tree, weeds, pollen, grass,
• Do you have any siblings? Three! I’m the oldest.
  DCP DETAILS

• Are you applying for WDW or DL? WDW
• Flying or Driving: Flying
• Your Role?: Quick Food Service
• Do you want to live in Wellness or Non-Wellness? Wellness
• How many people do you want to live with? 1-4
• Which housing complex would you like to live in?: Anything’s good
• Alumni? No
  LIFESTYLE

• Do you party? How often? No
• Do you smoke? No
• Do you drink? No
• Can you cook? Yes
• Are you a night person or morning person?  Night person
• Do you snore? No
• What does your bedroom normally look like? Slightly messy, but not to be confused with dirty!
• Do you like it when your room is hot or cold? Cold
• Would you rather go out or stay in? Depends on the day, I plan on going to the parks and going to a lot of the Cast Member stuff
• What do you like to do on your days off/the weekend? (Maybe) sleep in a bit, watch a movie, I’d like to go to the parks when I can,
• Do you work out a lot? No, lol.
• Everyone uses one… how annoying is your alarm clock? I’d say normal.
• How often do you shower? Mornings or nights? Every morning
  PERSONALITY

• Three words that describe you: Ambitious, mellow, and mischievous.
• One good quality: I don’t do drama, and anyone can always ask me for help,
• One bad quality: I can be to blunt.
•  
• How would you handle a “bug situation”? I’d go all Al Capone on it “I want you DEAD! And your family DEAD! And your bug home burned to the GROUND!” with a shoe.
• Are you outgoing or quiet?  I’m not one or the other, I’m outgoing when appropriate and quiet when appropriate. If you get to know me I’m pretty outgoing.
• Do you like hanging out with people or keeping to yourself? Depends on the people, I like to be around people who are fun and chilled out.
• What would you want in a roommate? Someone who respects both of our privacy, who is clean (takes showers, washes their dishes, ect ), likes music, someone who likes to have conversations about Disney, someone who doesn’t constantly talk about Frozen or their boyfriend, someone who wants to go the parks, and if you take classes that’s a plus!
• What are your biggest pet peeves/dislikes? When people are dishonest, aren’t self-accountable, or act like they can do whatever they want. I also am super hygienic, so I can’t stand it when people don’t shower after a day or two.
• Are you messy or organized? I’m organized through my messes.
• How do you feel about sharing? Depends on what it is, normally as long as you ask me I’m fine with it.
• Do you like having people over a lot? I’m fine with having people over, as long as I get a heads up and it isn’t every night.
• Favorite thing to do: Listen to music, try new things, learn new things, watch my favorite TV shows, go to the parks,
• Favorite Music: Disney, Disney Broadway, Rock and Roll, almost anything but heavy metal, I’m not a huge fan of rap but I don’t hate it.
• Favorite TV Shows: NCIS, Criminal Minds, Batman: The Animated Series, Psych, Kim Possible, The Muppet Show,
• Favorite Movies: The Dark Knight, Lethal Weapon, Lilo and Stitch, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Lord of the Rings (not The Hobbit), Star Wars,
• Favorite Food: Chicken Tetrazzini (which I’ll probably end up cooking at some point)
• Favorite Candy: Frozen Snickers (not the ice cream bars)
• Favorite Drink: Diet Dr. Pepper
• Favorite Color: Blue or black. Or red. Or-really anything that isn’t super bright.
  DISNEY!!

• Favorite Character: Stitch
• Favorite Movie: Lilo and Stitch/The Princess and the Frog
• Favorite Disney Channel Show: Kim Possible
• Favorite Park: Hollywood Studios
  Favorite Ride: Rockin’ Rollercoaster!

Pre-Disney: Why Are You Going?

Here's a list of ten reasons why I'm choosing to do the Disney College Program:

1. I've been waiting for this for over four years!
2. It's incredibly rare for a freshman to get accepted first application.
3. The Disney College Program offers special classes that I wouldn't be able to take anywhere else.
4. It will help me get into the Disneyland Summer DCP.
5. It looks great on a resume.
6. It will be a new experience, something that I've never done.
7. I'll have the opportunity to make connections and friends with whom I could potentially work with later in my career.
8. It'll be an interesting experience to reverse my schedule, spend day at work and evening at school.
9. I'll have the opportunity to see behind the scenes, which is incredibly interesting to me.
10. I'll have access to Disney history 24/7, which is heaven for me as my family could probably tell you!

Pre-Disney: I Made It!

 

I am so excited, you have no idea.

I recently found out that I've been accepted for the Disney College Program, Spring Advantage 2015.

To those of you who don't know what the Disney College Program is, it's a program sponsored and run by Disney, for college students to go and work a day job at Disney theme parks, and then if they choose, they have the opportunity to take specialized college courses.

I've been waiting for this moment, literally since I started High School. I have been waiting for this one moment, for over four years of my life.

And let's get something straight; I didn't expect to be accepted this year. I have done obscene amounts of research, and it's unheard of for freshman to get accepted their first time applying. But, I got accepted.

"So what does that mean? You got accepted, big deal."

Phft! Yeah it's a big deal! This program isn't only hard to get into, and known for it's awesome perks and fun experience, but it also looks insanely good on a resume because of Disney's high standards.

 

In case you didn't know, Disney is very particular about who they hire. Here is a list of only their visible requirements for any one single person that they may hire:

 

Male and Female

Body Alteration

Intentional body alteration or modification for the purpose of achieving a visible, physical effect that disfigures, deforms or similarly detracts from a professional image is prohibited. Examples include, but are not limited to: visible tattoos, brands, body piercing (other than traditional ear piercing for women), tongue piercing or splitting, tooth filing, earlobe expansion and disfiguring skin implants. Tattoos must be discreetly and completely covered at all times. Jewelry, spacers, retainers, or plugs are not permitted in any body piercing, including non-visible piercings, while working.

Eye Wear

The frames and lenses of both prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses should be a conservative color and stylefree from contrasting logos. Eyeglasses and sunglasses should not detract from the costume or contradict the theme of the show.

Male

• Hair
• Hair must be neatly cut on the back and sides, forming a smooth, symmetrical appearance so that it does not extend beyond or cover any part of the ears or the shirt collar. The overall style must be neat, natural and balanced proportionally.
• A shaved head is permitted, as well as a very short military-style cut. Shaving of the eyebrows is not permitted
• Conservative braided hairstyles for men without beads or ornamentation are permitted. They must be styled above the ears and cut above the collar and be neatly braided close to the scalp in straight rows.
• Tucking hair behind the ears, or pinning or tucking it under a hat to conceal an unacceptable hairstyle will not be permitted.
• Extreme or bi-level styles are not permitted.
• Hair products may be used to create a soft, natural hairstyle within these guidelines.
• Artificial hair is permitted if it looks natural and meets all of the above requirements.
• The Disney Look does not permit extremes in dyeing, bleaching or coloring. If the hair color is changed, it must be natural looking and well-maintained. Subtle highlighting or frosting is permitted, as long as it creates a uniform look over the whole head and meets all of the previously listed guidelines.
• Face
• For all male Cast Members, a fully grown in, well-maintained mustache, beard, or goatee is permitted, unless otherwise restricted by regulatory codes and standards.
• Facial hair must be neatly trimmed and may not present an unkempt appearance. Extreme styles are prohibited.
• All facial hair (beards, goatees and mustaches) must create an overall neat, polished and professional look.
• All facial hair must be fully grown in, neatly groomed and well maintained at no longer than a quarter of an inch in length. Mustaches may extend below the corners of the mouth to meet with the facial beard.
• Shaping the mustache or beard to a particular style is not permitted. Mustaches (without lower facial hair) must not extend onto or over the upper lip and must extend to the corners of the mouth, but not beyond or below the corners.
• Cast Members without a mustache, beard, or goatee are expected to be clean-shaven every day.
• For clarification on whether a mustache, beard or goatee is acceptable, please consult your area leader or contact the Cast Image and Appearance team.
• Fingernails
• Clean, presentable fingernails are a must. Fingernails should not extend beyond the tip of the finger.

Female

• Hair
• Hair should be neatly combed and arranged in a classic, easy-to-maintain style. Extreme styles are not permitted
• Hair below shoulder length should be confined if it falls forward over the face while working.
• Conservative braided hairstyles without beads or ornamentation are permitted.
• Hair products may be used to create a soft, natural hairstyle within these guidelines.
• Shaving of the head or any portion of the head or eyebrows is not permitted.
• Artificial hair is permitted if it looks natural and meets all of the above requirements.
• The Disney Look does not permit extremes in dyeing, bleaching or coloring. If the hair color is changed, it must be natural looking and well-maintained. Subtle highlighting or frosting is permitted, as long as it creates a uniform look over the whole head and meets all of the previously listed guidelines.
• Make-up:
• If makeup is worn, it should be applied in a blended manner and in appropriate, neutral colors.
• Fingernails should be clean. If polish is used, it should be an appropriate, neutral color. This includes deeper, richer shades of polish. Polishes that are not permitted include: black, gold, silver, multicolored or neon. Charms or decals on fingernails are not permitted. Fingernails should not exceed one-fourth of an inch (approximately 6 mm) beyond the fingertip.

Any questions regarding a medical accommodation or religious exception may be addressed to:

Disneyland® Resort (in California): Disneyland Casting at DL.Recruiter01@Disney.com. Walt Disney World® Resort (in Florida): Employee Relations Department at wdwemployeerealtions-eastcoast@email.disney.com.

Good Judgment and Stage Presence
As with all of your duties and responsibilities as a cast member, you are expected to demonstrate professionalism and good judgment at all times related to your appearance. For this reason, if you are ever in doubt about the appropriateness of your appearance, please keep in mind that anything that could be considered distracting or not in the best interest of our Disney show will not be permitted.
No matter where you work or what your role is, anytime you are in a public area, you are on stage. Your attitude and performance are direct reflections on the quality of our Disney show. Often it's the seemingly little things that detract from our guests' enjoyment – chewing gum, having poor posture, using a cellular phone or frowning. Of course, smoking and eating on stage are also strictly prohibited. All of this adds up to one of the most important aspects of your role in our show: good stage presence.
( Source: http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/about-disney-college-program/disney-look/ )

And this isn't everything. There are multiple codes and rules that you have to follow in order to meet this criteria. So obviously, the Disney College Program may not be for everyone. But it is for me!