Maddy's PhilharMagical Adventure

The adventures of an Australian musician in the most magical place on earth! Program: Walt Disney World AUS/NZ Cultural Exchange, Jan-Jun 2019 Role: Merchandise

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Check out my first vlog in the lead up to my Cultural Exchange Program! I have been wanting to do a DCP Tag video for so long after binge watching so many of them!

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Disney Tag

So I think in the coming weeks I’ll be alternating posts between fun/hype and informational, so I thought I’d start off with a Disney Tag! Thanks to Steph for letting me steal her Disney Tag format, you can find her blog on her upcoming DCEP here.

So without further ado, let’s get into it... Grab your snacks, because this will be a long one!

Disney Movie: This is a hard one, but I think I have to go with The Little Mermaid just because of the number of times I watched that movie as a kid on VCR purely because my parents wouldn’t let me watch the behind the scenes footage that played after the movie unless I watched the whole thing through! FUN FACT: I was terrified of all animated movies as a kid, because I thought they were all as scary as A Bug’s Life, the crazy creations of Sid in Toy Story and the two terrifying scenes from Fantasia (Rite of Spring dinosaurs and Night on Bald Mountain)

DCOM Movie: Does The Lizzie McGuire Movie count?

Pixar Movie: The Incredibles. I love that soundtrack so much!

Disney Sequel: Either Lion King 3/1.5 or The Rescuers Down Under. Although I’m sure with Wreck It Ralph 2 coming out soon, my answer will probably change!

Disney Song: Belle. The writing is brilliant, the backing orchestral score is beautiful, and it sets the scene of the small provincial town so perfectly as the opening number of Beauty and the Beast.

Disney Love Song: It’s not a duet (well, it kind of is if you count the Muses), but I Won’t Say I’m In Love from Hercules is one of my favourites. 

Disney Villain Song: This one is easy. Poor Unfortunate Souls is such a classic.

Disney Song that gets stuck in my head: My brain will switch between Someday My Prince Will Come and A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes. But nothing is as much of an ear worm as It’s A Small World...

Disney Soundtrack: If we are including Pixar, it would be The Incredibles, because I love Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. If it’s strictly Disney Animation, then I would go with Sleeping Beauty since they used Tchaikovsky’s ballet score. Or maybe Princess and the Frog for that sweet Dixieland jazz? I don’t know, it’s too hard to decide! Never ask a musician what their favourite music is...

Disney Quote: “I give myself very good advice, but I seldom follow it” (Alice in Wonderland)

Disney Ride: I think I have to go with Expedition Everest after my younger brother and I tricked my dad into riding it (we didn’t tell him about the bit that goes backwards!). Plus I love that documentary about its construction, even if we now only have the Disco Yeti.... 

Disney Show: Wishes will always be my favourite. 

Disney Parade: Festival of Fantasy, although I don’t know if it’s as good now that the dragon has gone down in flames.... literally...

Disney Food: The beignets at Port Orleans French Quarter

WDW/DL? I have to go with WDW since it’s the only one I’ve visited

WDW Park: Has to be Magic Kingdom since it’s the one that I spent the most time in, but I also adore Animal Kingdom

Disney Photo:  It has to be my amazing candid shot with Gaston. 

Time for some characters!

Princess: Anna, she’s such a goofball!

Disney Princess Dress: I love the classic Cinderella dress. Although Merida’s looks super comfy!

Prince: Either Flynn Rider or Prince Naveen, I love those suave, charming personalities

Couple: Meg and Hercules

Side-Kick: Mushu

Villain: I love all the villains so it’s hard to choose, but I narrowed it down to Ursula and Hades. All the sass!

Animal: Maximus (the horse from Tangled)

Pixar Character: There are so many good ones to choose from! But I think Dory takes the cake

Disney character I most identify with: Probably Ariel or Anna because I am overly enthusiastic about the most mundane things

Pixar character I most identify with: The seagulls in Finding Nemo any time there is food around

Disney movie I would star in if I could: Probably Hercules because I would love to be a Muse.... but really, we could all do with having a new Disney film where the princess is an alto...

Disney movie that makes me laugh: Again, Hercules. Despite how badly inaccurate the movie is to Greek mythology (even the name itself is wrong), I still think it’s one of the funniest of the animated movies. Either that or Aladdin, because Robin Williams is a gem.

Disney movie that makes me cry: Not technically Disney since it’s Pixar, but Up. Every time. Storytime: my state orchestra were doing ‘Pixar In Concert’, where they played medleys of the soundtracks with clips of the movie up on a massive screen. But not for Up, no.... They played the entire first 15 or so minutes of the movie with the soundtrack live. I think everyone in that entire theatre was sobbing by the end of it.

Disney item I collect: I don’t have any at the moment but I’m hoping to start pin trading and collecting signatures once I get there! I’m more of an experience over material kind of girl.

Most treasured Disney item: A card that says “If you can dream it, you can do it”, signed by all the teachers of the music department from my high school that I was given at the end of my final year when I was music captain.

First Disney movie I ever saw: Fantasia. I had a Sorcerer Mickey plush in my room, but I was asleep for the majority of the movie. Except for the two sections I mentioned earlier that scared me off watching more animated movies for years...

What I would like to see in a Disney movie: Please make the princess an alto and non-belter! Please!!! For the sake of all of us girls with low voices who can’t belt out Let it Go or warble along to Sleeping Beauty or Snow White!

What I would like to see at a Disney park: Still waiting for that fifth gate based around Disney Villains filled with thrill rides! Or maybe shooting a bit lower in expectations, a revamped version of the old and forgotten Fire Mountain idea for Adventureland in the form of a roller coaster themed around the volcano from Moana?

Park character I was/am looking forward to meeting: I’ve met Gaston which was pretty great. But otherwise I really want to meet some of the other princes! In particular, Flynn Rider and Naveen. Also can’t wait to meet Chewie in Hollywood Studios!

Best Disney Story: So to set the scene, it’s just as the park is about to open after Extra Magic Hours, I had been hanging out in New Fantasyland solo while my dad was sleeping in. I go to try and find where the meet and greet for Cinderella’s step family are, only to be given the hint by a Character Attendant to get in line for the carousel. I end up on a horse in between Anastasia and Drizella, with Lady Tremaine a few horses away! But that’s not the end of the story… After getting off the ride, I end up walking with Lady Tremaine to her character spot, idly chatting about how awful Cinderella’s hospitality was at the Royal Table last night, how the matriarchy will rise again, etc. Finally get to the character spot and see a massive line has already formed. So I get ready to say farewell to the characters. But no! I get told by Lady Tremaine that I’m a “VIP” and as a lady of such high class deserve only the best. And so I skip the entire queue and get an amazing photo right away!

And that’s all, folks! 

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! My next pre-DCEP hype post will probably be a full bucket list - so probably even longer than this one!

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Applying for the DCEP (Aus/NZ)

So for those of you considering applying for the Cultural Exchange Program in the future, here is a quick run down on my application process. I am not sure how similar it is to other Cultural Exchange programs or the American College Program, so take all this with a grain of salt.

Where to apply?

For starting in January, I’m not entirely sure when applications open, since I applied very late (about two weeks before I had an interview) but I believe they opened up in March.

You can find all the information about the various programs and also check to see if applications are open here: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/international-programs 

What are the requirements?

To apply for the Aus/NZ Cultural Exchange Program, you need to be:

Over 18 years old

An Australian or New Zealand citizen

Have completed secondary education (high school) and currently studying full time at a recognised tertiary institution OR commence the program within 12 months of graduating from a Bachelor’s degree

If the majority of the courses for your degree are online, then you cannot be considered for the program

Have completed at least one year of tertiary education before commencing

You cannot defer the semester prior to starting the program

Be receptive to all Disney Look guidelines

Be available to work all days, including weekends, public holidays, etc.

What is the application process like?

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the hindsight to consider making notes on the application process as I was doing it, so this is all based on my recollection since I can’t access my completed application now that I have accepted my offer.

In addition to the basic personal details that they will require and checking off the boxes to say that you do meet all the prerequisites for applying, you will be asked to submit both a cover letter and resume. I will probably cover both these aspects in more detail in my next post. Despite having already submitted a resume, you will still be required to fill out an electronic form detailing your previous work experience. This includes your job title, who you worked for, when you had that job, and most importantly, listing your responsibilities/duties as well as skills that you developed/used while on the job.

So I’ve submitted my application, what now?

On the Disney Careers dashboard (where you will have submitted your application) you should now see the timeline with five stages.

Application Received: Disney has received your application. Let the waiting begin...

Application Under Review: Now you know that not only they have received your application, but someone is now looking through it! I received this notification about a day after I applied. And now for some more waiting...

In Consideration: Good news! If you made it to this stage, that means that you are going to get sent an email to attend an in-person interview! Unlike other program applications (both international and the college program), us in Australia and New Zealand applicants do not have a phone interview. Given how late I applied, I got the notification for this step about 2-3 days after first applying.

Interview: This stage pops up as being checked off in the timeline after you have booked in for an interview and stays this way until you either get an offer or receive the sad news that you are NLIC (no longer in consideration).

Offer: Congratulations! If you’ve got this far, it’s now onto the mountain of paperwork and visa applications, and program fees.... but it means you’re going to Disney World!!!

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About Me/FAQ

Hi everyone!

So I figured a good way to start this blog would be letting all of you know a bit about myself and how I came to be doing this amazing program!

I’m Madeleine! This is me. Well, several years ago at my last visit to WDW. It was a while ago.... And I can’t wait to go back! 

I am soon to be an Honours graduate with a Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance) on flute, and I realised about a month back that I would have at least six months next year of blank time to fill in. After visiting WDW a couple of times and often chatting to Cultural Exchange/College Program cast members (both on and off duty) about the programs that Walt Disney World offered, I’ve always wanted to apply. But I never thought it would be possible for me to apply, let alone that I would get accepted! Now that I am finishing up four years of intensive musical study, I am ready for a bit of a break before diving back in to full time study for a Masters degree. Of course, it does mean that I am going to have the challenge of keeping up music practice while I am there, but I’ll make it work somehow! 

I am a massive Disney fan, both of the IPs and the parks themselves, and I am also really excited at the prospect of getting a seasonal pass to Universal Studios as I am also an insanely obsessed Harry Potter fan! I have not visited Orlando since 2015, and a lot of new things have been added to the parks since then (Pandora, Rivers of Light, a few attractions at Universal Studios, Happily Ever After, etc.) so I can’t wait to have fun exploring the parks on my days off when I’m not working!

I’m hoping to use this blog to document the process that I go through all the paperwork and everything else to help any other future applicants who want to know more about the process. And of course, to share my experience working for the Mouse and what it is like to live in America for five months as an Australian!

At this stage, I am not planning on vlogging, but I will have an instagram account set up closer towards my departure date (I’ll edit this to include the username once it’s online) for which I will probably use as the source for all the photos on my blog posts. 

What is the DCEP?

The Walt Disney World Australia/New Zealand Cultural Exchange Program is basically an international equivalent of the American Disney College Program. I get to go work at Walt Disney World, live in apartments with other Disney International Program participants and have free entry to the parks on days off! All applicants must be Australian or New Zealand residents, and either be currently a full time student at university or start the program within a year of graduation. There are two times of year for arrivals - January or August. Both program dates last around five months, but there is an option to apply to extend out to a full year. 

For me, I will be participating in the program on the January - June program in 2019. Unfortunately that means I won’t be there for the opening of Galaxy’s Edge later next year, but I’m looking forward to the slightly cooler Florida weather in January before easing into the humidity and heat towards the end of my program, as well as being there for both the Festival of the Arts and Flower & Garden Festival at EPCOT.

As for why it’s called a “cultural exchange”? The idea is that we get to share our Australian culture with international and American guests as well as our fellow cast members. And at the same time, meeting other people from around the world and learning about their culture as well.

If you’re interested in learning more about the program, I suggest you check out the Disney International Programs website for more information and details on how to apply. They also have cultural exchange programs for other countries, in addition to the Cultural Representative program for the countries represented within the World Showcase at EPCOT. 

My Role

Merchandise! My top four roles were character attendant, vacation planner, merchandise, and attractions - so I am really glad to get one of my top roles! As part of the international program, we have a somewhat more limited selection of roles compared to what the DCP participants get to choose from, but there’s still a wide selection (something I may go over in a future post)

Still not sure about my location yet as I’ll find out closer to the date, but I am really hoping for either Hollywood Studios for that sweet Star Wars merch, or a themed attraction gift shop like Memento Mori.

If you have any other queries or things you want to know, feel free to ask, and I will probably add more to this page as I get closer to starting my program!