Chris Saribay

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 •

I hope everyone has been enjoying the tips and info I’ve been passing along as part of this blog. While I intended to have another post up today, due to some unforeseen circumstances and a slight conflict of interest, I will be taking a small pause on this blog. Normal content will resume next Thursday. Until then, good luck with your interviews and getting into the program!

- Chris

Coming up next Thursday: The Large Envelope
Coming up next week: Acceptance, Moving up in the Ranks

Labels: This Blog •

The Disney College Program is quite potentially one of the most exciting experiences of a lifetime. People who remember visiting the Disney Theme Parks when they were young, those who follow the Disney Company religiously and those who are just looking for a change of pace from their college careers spend several months in a living, learning and earning internship program at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Of course, it’s quite likely you already know all of this. Introducing an offshoot blog on ChrisSaribay.com: Irrelevant Ramblings, Disney Edition. It focuses on the Walt Disney World College Program (and its own offshoot, the Disney CareerStart Program), and my participation in 2008. It’s available on ChrisSaribay.com/disney-blog, and is also syndicated on Facebook and elsewhere.

To begin, I should probably introduce myself. Like many who embark on this journey, I have had a (healthy) fascination with Disney since I was little. I had found out about the program shortly before graduating high school, and knew that this was something I had to do. As they say- the rest is history. My experience started in the spring of 2007, as a restaurant host at a popular full-service dining location at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, ‘Ohana. By the time I left in January 2008, I was a Disney Trainer for our front of house operations, and was also a Disney Facilitator delivering the orientation classes for new Polynesian Resort Cast Members. It’s my plan head back and complete one more program this fall.

The Disney College Program is truly an experience like none other, and I have some stories, tips and information that I’ll be sharing about my experiences and what I’ve learned after spending almost a year on the program. I can’t make any guarantees on how regularly I will post, but I’ll contribute as much as I can. Finally, in the interest of full disclosure, I am still currently a Cast Member of the Walt Disney World Company, and any views I express on this blog are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of Disney.

Having said all that, the journey of a lifetime begins now.

Labels: College and CareerStart Programs • Introductions • This Blog •