Chris Saribay

No matter what program you embark on, there’s a number of different roles to choose from, and sometimes there isn’t a lot of information on them. Today, I’ll be talking about two roles: Full Service Food and Beverage and Vacation Planner.

Full Service Food and Beverage

Full Service Food and Beverage (FSF&B) is probably one of the most underrated role offerings for both the Disney College and CareerStart Programs. Having worked in this role previously, it’s one that has a great mix of personal freedom, responsibility and its own share of fun moments, given its high guest interaction. Better still, a lot of these roles take place in a highly themed, fast-paced and dynamic environment.

As a FSF&B cast member, your primary responsibilities will revolve around two basic tasks: greeting guests at a restaurant podium, and seeing to it that they be seated as quickly and efficiently as possible. These roles alone are pretty simple, but due to the nature of the business, this role can involve a lot of guest interaction and can require some skill in resolving challenging guest situations. Particularly with busier locations (like Cinderella’s Royal Table, Chef Mickey’s and ‘Ohana), a willingness to be flexible and see challenges through to their resolution makes for a great cast member, and at the end of the day, can be quite rewarding. In FSF&B, you may also be called upon to assist in other areas of the restaurant front-of-house operation.

I also found that in FSF&B, if you prove yourself to be a strong, steady cast member, there may be additional responsibilities that you can take on, including FSF&B Assignor (which essentially dictates the ebb and flow of the dining room seatings and coordinates other podium cast) and F&B General Teller. This is a role where you can really make a very big impact to the operation if you want to.

Note that Full Service Food and Beverage is a non-tipped role. You will not be able to work as a server at any point during your program.

Vacation Planner

Vacation Planners are the one-stop-shop for guests before entering the parks. These cast members are the ultimate resource on the multitude of park admission available, and also are able to help day guests plan their visit.

As they’re stationed just outside the theme park gates, their primary responsibility is to help guests select and purchase admission media (tickets) to the various Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and water parks. To go along with this, these cast members should be pretty comfortable cash handling, as they handle a high amount of cash during their shifts. They also assist guests with any questions they may have about the park they’re visiting that day, and can provide tips and their own personal expertise to ensure a great experience for guests.

Many shifts for these roles tend to start earlier in the morning, since many park visitors will enter during the first few hours a park is open. While I would be cautious in making any assumptions, this probably points in the direction of having more of a consistent schedule than not. To go along with this, vacation planners should be very open to the idea of working under pressure while still personifying the heart of the Disney experience- Vacation Planners are often the first cast members day guests interact with. Lines are sometimes long, and Vacation Planners must still take the time to individualize their planning for each guest, while being mindful that there are others waiting in line.

Vacation Planners may occasionally be scheduled for other parks operations tasks, including Parade Audience Control, at certain parks.

Publishing Note: As the recruiting season winds down, this blog will now be posted as needed. I still plan to blog once or twice a week on a subject of interest, but the publishing of this blog may vary a bit in the coming weeks.

Note: The photo above is by Flickr user Thomas Jung, used under the “CC By/ND” license.

Labels: College and CareerStart Programs • Roles •

Lee Cockerell was one of the most venerated cast members at the Walt Disney World Resort before retiring a few years ago. As Executive Vice President of Operations, Lee never ceased on developing the company’s most important assets: its own people. While I never personally had the opportunity to meet or work with Lee, the legacy and the foundation he left in professional development and guest service is certainly evident throughout the fibers of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Lee started a blog earlier this year named Lessons in Leadership. I’d encourage you all to check it out, it is an excellent resource for anyone looking to gain real-life expertise from a real professional in leadership.

Labels: Development • Roles •

In the second part of this two part series, I’ll be focusing on one of the most discussed housing topics: differences between housing complexes.

It’s certainly a topic worthy of discussion. You’ve just arrived in Central Florida, and now you’ve got to choose where you’ll be living for the next couple of months. No easy task! I’ve had the benefit of living at the two key complexes that are currently open- Vista Way and Chatham Square, and they are definitely two distinct environments.

We’ll start here with a detailed look at these two complexes.

Vista Way - Supplanting the venerated Snow White Village Trailer Park down in Kissimmee at some point in the late 1980s, Vista Way is the keystone College, CareerStart and International Programs housing complex. This is where everyone checks in, and where about half of the events take place. This complex is by far the most talked about housing community for program interns, and in some respects it earns this designation.

If there’s one way to describe Vista Way, it’s a people-oriented environment. People living in this complex tend to be more outgoing, and it’s not uncommon for everyone in an entire building to know each other. While I disagree with the notion that it’s a constant party place (I think it’s more mellow than some people make it out to be), there are a lot of great parties and events that happen at Vista Way- and everyone seems to lend themselves to being open and communicative. 

The apartments themselves have been maintained well over the years, recently undergoing an extensive refurbishment to add laminate flooring to living spaces, replacing carpet and appliances and other general improvements. The apartments are good in size, but are smaller than those found at Chatham Square. About half of the domestic program participants stay at Vista Way, which has around 450 units.

Chatham Square - With the programs cast rapidly expanding in recent years, it was felt that additional housing would be needed. Thus, Chatham Square joined existing housing complexes Vista Way and The Commons (a complex built exclusively for International Cast some years earlier) was brought on board in late 2000 with about 480 units. Located close to The Commons in the Disney designed subdivision of Little Lake Bryan, Chatham Square was literally across the street from Disney’s cast recreation area, “Mickey’s Retreat”.

The best way for me to describe Chatham Square is that it’s a more intimate complex. Participants who live at Chatham Square tend to be a little more private and perhaps a bit more reserved, but by no means anti-social. Participants have events and parties every once in a while like their Vista Way cohorts, but it’s less prevalent here than it is there.
The apartments benefit greatly from their later design and construction however. Apartments at Chatham Square tend to be larger than their counterparts at Vista Way, and this complex features the elusive one-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments not found at Vista Way. Like Vista Way, Chatham Square is professionally managed and maintained by a third party partner, Price Management.

Now for some direct comparisons:

What they share - All Disney housing complexes share fully furnished environments, which includes kitchen appliances and related service wear, seats/couches, a formal dining table, beds, nightstands, dressers and more. All complexes also share an identical basic-cable lineup and high speed internet access. They’re all professionally managed and maintained by Price Management. The apartment complexes are also exclusive in the sense that they can only be accessed by their residents and invited guests (housing has a security gate and team from Price Management that enforces this ideal). All complexes also feature a pool and gym facilities.

What they differ in - Far and away the largest difference between the two complexes is the different feeling each embodies. Participants living at Vista Way tend to be more outgoing and definitely enjoy large social gatherings. They’re a fun crowd. Chatham Square participants tend to be a little more reserved and composed, but still have a lot of fun. One way to think of it is that participants who live at Chatham Square tend to have a smaller group of really close friends, while those living at Vista Way tend to have a much larger network of friends. Another key difference is space and ‘newness’- while apartments at Vista Way are by no means small, their counterparts at Chatham Square are larger and have less wear, simply due to their age. Finally, Vista Way exclusively offers a hot-tub, basketball and racquetball courts, something you won’t find at other complexes.

...and on the subject of size - Occasionally I am asked to compare the size of individual apartments at each complex, and I’ve drawn up a quick layout guide comparing two-bedrooms at each complex. Note that while the scale isn’t perfect, it is roughly correct in terms of size between both complexes.

Both of these housing complexes are great living environments to experience while on your program, and I can personally recommend both. What’s important to mention is that while housing attempts to have both complexes open and available in even amounts for each arrival date, sometimes this isn’t possible, and they may only have a certain complex or size of apartment available. If given a choice, just go with what you feel will work best for you- you’ll have a great time either way!

Later this summer, Disney will be opening a brand new apartment complex next to Chatham Square named ‘Patterson Court’. This development will have 288 units and house just over 1300 participants. Time will tell what atmosphere this complex will take on, and I’ll cover it later this summer.

Coming up next week: Inside the Roles, Part II

Labels: College and CareerStart Programs • Housing •

Just a quick personal update- after several long weeks (seven weeks exactly), I have finally received the official decision on my application. It looks like I’ll be heading back to Disney in late August, in Full Service Food & Beverage (keen observers will note that this was my previous role).

Needless to say, I am quite excited.

Now back to your regularly scheduled material.

Coming up on Sunday: Housing, Part II
Coming up next week: Inside the Roles, Part II

Labels: College and CareerStart Programs • This Blog • Waiting Game + Response •

In this two part series, I’ll be focusing on the two most discussed housing topics: the check-in/arrival process, and choosing the right complex for you.  Today, we’ll take a look at the check-in process.

Over the course of the past 25 years, Disney has honed the arrival process for the Disney College and CareerStart Programs into an art- for most it is a very simple and painless process. On your very first day, the expectations are clearly laid out: this is your day to move in and get settled. It’s also the day to fill out a bit of a paperwork related to your company-sponsored housing.

There are a couple of key steps in this process:

Arrival: On the day of arrivals, housing security at Vista Way will be a little more relaxed in terms of gaining access- as long as you can produce your participation confirmation, you’ll be admitted into the complex and provided a temporary parking pass. As soon as you clear security, you’ll be directed to the Vista Way pavilion. At that point, you’ll store any luggage (if you don’t have a car) and begin the process of checking in.

Paperwork and Placement: After you finish that, your next step will be filling out the first round of paperwork for the day: the back of the program guide you’ll be provided. You’ll also be given a copy of the apartment community codes, which you should review in detail before signing (these housing guidelines are hard and fast rules- if you’re caught breaking them, you could be sent home). The next step is apartment selection. If there’s any choice in housing the day you check-in, you can make requests and Price Management (Disney’s housing management partner) will attempt to accommodate them. At this point, if you haven’t done online roommate selection, look around before you collect your keys- it’s likely that the people you’re standing next to will be your roommates. You’ll also sign related paperwork at this point to give authorization to directly deduct rent from your weekly paychecks. You’ll also take a photo for your property ID immediately after this. Finally, if you’ve brought a car, you’ll need to provide proof of registration and insurance so they can provide you a parking decal during this part of the process.

Compliance Checks and Portal Registration: Next you’ll be evaluated for Disney Look, to make sure you’re within compliance. They’re looking at hair, nails and any visible body modifications at this point. Among the final steps include submitting your fingerprints and information for a full background check, and registering for ‘The HUB’ company portal.

After this, you’re free to retrieve your luggage and head to your apartment- if you’re living at Chatham Square, there’ll be a special bus (in addition to normal transportation) that will drop you and your luggage off right in front of your building. If you came early, you should have a few hours before the next (last) step. The whole process up to this point takes about one hour to complete, though depending on the number of participants, it may take longer. Arrive early in the day if possible.

Housing Welcome Session: The final step for most is attending the housing welcome session mentioned on the back of your program guide. This is a two hour session goes over the rules outlined in the housing community codes, apartment orientation by Price Management and a presentation by Disney’s Partners Federal Credit Union relating to payroll and potentially opening an account at the credit union.

Lifeguards only: You’ll also need to complete a skills test at Mickey’s retreat later in the afternoon at Mickey’s Retreat, across the street from Chatham Square. Lifeguards are given more information at check-in.

All in all, it’s a pretty painless first day. The following days will initiate your paperwork and training to become a Cast Member at the Walt Disney World Resort. Check back on Saturday for a look at the different housing complexes available, and choosing the right one for you.

Coming up on Sunday: Housing, Part II
Coming up next week: Inside the Roles, Part II

Labels: College and CareerStart Programs • Housing •

Every once in a while I’m asked about opportunities that present themselves once you’re down on the program- and there are many. Today, I’ll be talking about this part of my own journey.

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t enjoy talking too much about myself, but I think it might help those looking for perspectives on things that can be accomplished while down on the Disney College and CareerStart programs. Suffice it to say, that there a lot of program participants, and the desire to distinguish yourself among the crowd can be important to many. There are definitely opportunities that Disney mentions on the program websites (like networking events), but there are other things that can distinguish yourself from the ranks, and even lead to a stellar performance review.

1. Work as hard and as smart as you can. This is true anywhere you go. When you show initiative in your work location and show that you truthfully care about your performance, the leaders in your area may be more inclined to stick their neck out and help you on your way. It’s like the old adage—nothing ventured is nothing gained. If you don’t put in the work, don’t expect to bear out the rewards.

2. Network, network, network! Despite what you’re told, “what you know” is very important. The thing is though, it’s all worthless if you have no one to share it with- “what you know” is all a function of “who you know”. Disney provides several great paths for networking, three of which I highly recommend. The first one is a weekly class that is a available in numerous disciplines named the Disney Exploration Series (DES). Leaders from different facets of the Walt Disney World Co. (and affiliates) come out to lecture and field questions from participants, and almost always stick around afterwords for follow ups. Another great resource that I’ve used is the “Career Insights With…” series, which is similar to the DES. Finally, something a lot of people overlook is simply talking to your leaders- if you develop your relationship with them, they may extend their network to you.

3. Keep an eye out on opportunities. You may be taking a semester off from school, but you never cease to be life long student. There is something that always surprised me about participants- many aren’t looking at the vast amount of opportunities that present themselves while you’re on program. I was fortunate enough to stumble upon one of these opportunities myself.

A posting in my local work area was soliciting for facilitators for our resort orientation classes. I didn’t think much of it at first, but one of the coordinators of training stopped me one day and pushed the idea on me. Hesitantly I went along with it, and auditioned for the role a couple days later. To make the story short, I ended up getting this cross-utilization role, and the more I thought about it, the idea grew on me. One full week of training later, I was an official Disney Facilitator & Trainer and was good to lead classes. By the time I finished I had over 120 cast members go through my classes, including the new General Manager of Disney’s Polynesian Resort and his related support staff.

I was extremely fortunate for having had the opportunity, and to think I almost passed it up! It definitely distinguished me from the pack, and I even got a set of company-issued Polynesian Leader Kukui Nuts! Wherever this journey may take you, always look for ways to move up in the ranks- I’m sure glad I did.

Coming up next week: Housing, Parts I and II

Labels: College and CareerStart Programs • Development • Roles •

“I have often dreamed of a far off place… where a hero’s welcome would be waiting for me… where the crowds will cheer when they see my face… and a voice keeps saying ‘This is where I’m meant to be.’ “

You’ve gotten that big packet in the mail, and you’ve been extended an offer to participate in the Disney College or CareerStart Programs. You’re definitely excited (rightly so), and you’re pining to take the next steps. Feverishly, you look through your packet, and you find a couple of things you need to do in order to make sure everything is in order.

Respond to your offer: The first thing you’ll want to do is respond to your offer. While this doesn’t officially seal the deal, it confirms the acceptance of your position and arrival date until you can get everything else done. For the College Program, you’ll want to login here to accept your offer and complete a profile. For CareerStart participants, you’ll want to complete the electronic participation acknowledgment form at the URL listed on your role offer.

Pay your Program Assessment Fee: The next step after recruiting receives your response is to pay the program assessment fee. This step officially reserves your position in the program.The fee currently stands at $75.50, and goes to support your application process and the various housing events. It unfortunately is not refundable if you decide not to participate at a later time. If you don’t receive this link, be sure to email recruiting at the address listed on your offer packet.

Complete special requirements for your role: if you’ve been selected to either perform your role in the show as a lifeguard, or need special medical accommodations in your work area, you’ll need to submit additional documentation. Follow the the instructions listed on these forms carefully. If you don’t have a copy of the form you need, just email the recruiting address listed on your offer packet.

Get ready for the experience of a lifetime: You’ve completed all the steps necessary to reserve your spot in the program- congratulations! Start packing and preparing now: your arrival date is sooner than you think! I’ll be discussing what to bring and how to prepare for your arrival a little later on.

Just a note on this blog- as you could probably tell, my publishing schedule obviously got a little backed up this past week or two, but everything it back on track now, so thanks for your patience!

Coming up on Sunday: Moving up in the Ranks
Coming up next week: Housing, Parts I & II

Labels: College and CareerStart Programs • Waiting Game + Response •