Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Past Presenter Group Stats

Yesterday I looked at what my current presenter group is up to. This is easy since we have our own Facebook page that we talk on and we are all friends with each other.

Since I cannot watch TV without doing something, I decided to do some more investigating (aka creeping). I dug around and found out that the last few years each presenter group has made a Facebook group page. Due to my boredom I have decided to see what some other presenter groups are up to with their Disney careers. Below is what I have discovered (I feel like a *dun dun* law and order sound should be entered here, but that could be some exhaustion creeping in...)

Notes: 
+ CT is the number of people who are seasonal presenters. didn't include this is my overall count since these people work max a few days a year
AP is the number people employed by Disney still working within Animal Programs

Spring 2012: 12/27 = 44.4%
+0 CT 
6 AP 
A couple Wild Africa Trek guides, Merchandise, Welcome to Operations Facilitator, Merchandise Coordinator, a few Education Coordinator, PhotoPass Photographer, Custodial, Behavior and Technology Intern, Disney English Trainer

I couldn't find a Fall 2012 group

Spring 2013: 10/28 = 35.7%
+1 CT = 39.3%
10 AP (so that means everyone who is still employed by Disney is working within Animal Programs!)
Education Coordinator, some Animal Keepers , a few Wild Africa Trek guides, Education Content Manager, Trails Coordinator, Education Instructor, Science LOB Coordinator

Fall 2013: 9/28 = 32.1%
+0 CT
9 AP (another group that is entirely working within Animal Programs!)
Animal Keeper Trainee, Conservation Day Camp Instructor, Wild Africa Trek guide, Trail Guide, Animal Keeper, Education Manager, Education Instructor, Education Coordinator

Spring 2014: 8/29= 28.6%
+1 CT = 32.1%
5 AP
Wild Africa Trek guide, Education Instructor, Trail Guide, Reservation Center, Animal Keeper, Education Coordinator, Management Intern, Recreation

Fall 2014: 15/29 = 51.7%
+3 CT = 62.1%
10 AP
See my previous post about more on my Fall 2014 group: Fall 2014 Presenter Stats

Spring 2015: 11/30 = 36.7%
+ 2 CT = 43.3%
8 AP
A few Management interns, a couple other animal programs interns, a few got positions as a Wild Africa Trek guides, one on trails, and a couple on attractions



I think Spring 2012 is amazing in that almost half of them are still with the company, but Spring 2013 is perhaps even more amazing since over a third of them are still with Disney and ALL of those are with animal programs.

Well I think that I might have one more Past Presenter Stats Article left in me tomorrow...

2014 Fall Presenters Stats

It's been a little over a year since my group of presenters started our internship. Since I have had a ton of time on my hands I've decided to dig a bit to see where we are all now.

-There were 29 of us in the Fall 2014 Conservation Education Presenter internship Group.
-There are currently 15 of us still employed by the company (not including the 3 that are still seasonal presenters).
-Of the 15 of us left, 10 have positions still within Animal Programs. (This is a little lie since in reality one person works with Natural Encounters, Inc which is a contractor, so she technically isn't really a cast member and isn't in Animal Programs, but it's close enough...)
-The 10 who are in Animal Programs currently hold positions as Summer Conservation Camp Instructors, Education Programs Instructors, Wild Africa Trek Guide, Pangani Trail Guide, Animal Keeper, and Wilderness Explorer Coordinator Internship (called Conservation Education Operations).
-Most of the people in Animal Programs are part time. The Conservation Day Camp Instructors are on a Full Time TA for the summer but go back to part time Instructor positions afterwards. 1 person is an intern. The one who is a contractor with NEI is full time. The Keeper at DAK Lodge is on a Full Time TA.
-The 5 of us who aren't in Animal Programs are in widely different positions from Revenue Management to Secretary to Cruise Line Trainer to Attractions Host to a position that I don't understand.
-The 5 of us that aren't in Animal Programs are Full Time or have Full Time TAs

So that's a peek into what a Presenter Group looks like 6 months post-internship completion. I loved my group and can't wait to see where Disney takes us, whether it is a life long career or a place to vacation.


As a side note, the 14 who aren't employed by Disney have a wide range of jobs too, including Museum Education Manager, part time Zoo Keeper, a couple Zoo Educators, Au Pair in Germany for a year, one still in undergrad, an Education Coordinator, one going to dentistry school, one works with the Salvation Army, one is getting her PhD, and a few that are between things (such as just moving across the country and getting married to her marine fiance, another getting married in a week or so, and a few that are a bit of a mystery to be honest after finishing their second PIs a month or so ago)

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Moving Back to Florida

ahhhh! I have big news! I am moving back to Disney World! I got a full time job offer this week so I am currently working on doing the million and one things that I have to do before I move back down. My dash went to post-interview stage Tuesday night and then Wednesday morning I got the call! I am so excited that things paid off and the timing worked out that I got to have my foot surgery too. So see ya real soon gang!

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

PI Timeline Part 2

This timeline is a bit more confusing than the first since I am making it so much later. Additionally, I never got official emails/notifications about not being in consideration any longer about a few of the internships. I also applied to A LOT more internships than the first time around. I applied to internships and got NLICs at across a wide timeline so that makes it confusing. Ultimately, it is just a big mess, but I eventually got an offer and that's what counts, right?


Spring 2015 Professional Internships
5 Sept 14- Applied for Management Internship-Animal, Science, Environment Operation
12 Sept 14- Email request to schedule a phone screening interview
18 Sept 14- Applied for Consumer Insight Market Research, Workforce Management Science, Learning Analytics & Evaluation, Forecasting and Planning, Travel Ops Planning, Analysis, & Optimization 
1 Oct 14-  "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Workforce Management Science 
6 Oct 14- Applied for 3 Animal Programs positions (Conservation Education Instructor, Behavioral Husbandry, Education Project Specialist)
13 Oct 14- Applied for Pricing Strategy and Analytics 
16 Oct 14-"Application Complete" email from Animal Programs team
20 Oct 14- Email to set up Montage video interview for Conservation Education Instructor
29 Oct 14- Email to set up Montage video interview for Education Project Specialist
30 Oct 14- Montage video interview for Education Project Specialist
               - Montage video interview for Conservation Education Instructor
3 Nov 14- Applied for Strategic Initiative & Integration and Consumer Insight
7 Nov 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Learning Analytics & Evaluation 
12 Nov 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Management Internship-Animal, Science, Environment Operation
17 Nov 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Education Project Specialist, Behavioral Husbandry, and Conservation Education Instructor
24 Nov 14- Applied for CMR Tech Solutions, Marketing Campaign/Analytics
26 Nov 14- Animal, Science, and Environment email about NLIC/feedback
28 Nov 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Travel Ops Planning, Analysis, & Optimization 
3 Dec 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Forecasting and Planning 
4 Dec 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Management and Analytics
6 Dec 14- Applied for Travel Operations Reporting Analytics
8 Dec 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Consumer Insight Market Research
11 Dec 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for CMR Tech Solutions, Marketing Campaign/Analytics
2 Jan 15- Applied for Merchandise Planning Internships
14 Jan 15- Phone call to schedule a phone interview for Merchandise Planning Internships
15 Jan 15- Phone interview for Merchandise Planning Internships
               -Email from recruiter to set up follow phone call
16 Jan 15- Merchandise Planning Offer Phone Call!!! 
               -Accepted offer
               -Welcome to the Team Email
               -Emailed about being added to Housing Waitlist
19 Jan 15 -Got email about being added to Housing Waitlist
19 Jan 15 -Got email about a spot in Company Sponsored Housing
22 Jan 15- Email about Arrival/Transfer Information 
25 Jan 15- Transfer Date between internships
27 Jan 15- Start date
2 Feb 15- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Travel Operations Reporting Analytics


Monday, July 13, 2015

PDD (Post Disney Depression) and some Post-Disney Reflections

My time at Disney was- dare I say it-magical. I met so many friends. Had my first real relationship. Gained a lot of good experience, professional and otherwise. I got to freakin' live at the most magical place on earth for an entire year. It was amazing to not live with feet of snow and spend an hour or two at a park whenever I wanted. College wasn't always amazing for me, and Disney wasn't without some bumps here or there, but I truly was able to find myself and I was the happiest I had been in a long time.

That being said,  the first two weeks home I was really depressed. I was missing the warmth (it's been a cold summer in Michigan. When I first got home there were very few days above 80, but it has been a bit warmer the last week or so.) I was missing my cubicle at Maingate. I missed logging into SIMBA and seeing the weekly reports being updated. I missed modifying my Starbucks/DLR 60th forecasts. I missed my apartment at Falcon Square. I missed my friends. I missed (most) of the roommates I had had during my year in Florida (all 8 of them). I missed DAK. I missed the rides. I missed the resorts. I missed hearing the Sandhill Cranes calls. I missed running around Independence. I missed so many things. 

I had applied for a few positions and hadn't gotten most of the positions. When I found out that I hadn't gotten the one I was most hopeful for (and would have kept me at Maingate Merchandise) I cried. I cried a lot. I honestly felt like my dreams had been crushed. During the weeks since the bad news, I've actually had a few more interviews, including what would be a dream job for me. I found out I didn't get one position, but there is still one I am waiting to hear back on. I think I will still be really disappointed if I don't get the position, but I am beginning to be okay with staying in Michigan. If I don't get this position I might cry, but I have come to adopt the mentality that a few of my old Presenter friends who left Disney have said: Disney isn't going anywhere anytime soon. So if I don't get the position, right now I am going to hold of on applying to more Disney positions and look for some jobs around Metro Detroit. Then once I pay off loans (and maybe get sick of being at home) I can always go back with the added experience. 

I think all ex-Disney CMs should have that mentality: Disney isn't going anywhere. It's going to be there for the foreseeable future, whether or not it is just for a visit or if it is there to stay. 

That being said, fingers crossed for some good news in the next week or two. :)

Sunday, July 12, 2015

More PI Blogs

So I'm awful at blogging, but I am really good at googling. Therefore, I have updated the "Other PI Blogs" page to include some newer blogs. I try to only include blogs where people were good at posting semi-regularly throughout their internship (I know. I know. Ironic, since I am awful). If you know of any others or want yours included, let me know and I'd be happy to add it to the list.

I would promise to be better at blogging, but that is super cliche for bloggers and it rarely happens. I'll try, but for now, check out some other awesome Disney folk and maybe I'll have exciting news coming up. fingers crossed!