Arrived!

So today has been super stressful. It was all good until we got around Disney. We ended up deciding to drive by the apartments the PIs live in. They are super nice, but we decided to get an idea how far they are from Animal Kingdom, and while we took a wrong turn or two, it seemed to take FOREVER! I am really wishing that the non-Disney housing I tried to line up had worked out. We did check to a CP at the gates to Animal Kingdom parking and she was super nice and helped us get re-directed and asked if I was starting a CP, too. Then we checked into my hotel. It is really nice and I am glad I stayed here over the Holiday Inn that a lot of people recommended since I saved $20. After checking out my room, we decided to find where I needed to go tomorrow, so it won't be as stressful. I luckily am pretty close to Vista (housing check-in) and Casting. Afterwards, we drove around property a bit more before heading toward Kissimmee. 

Tigger at breakfast at the Days Inn hotel (he is confused since it says that the Tiggers at Kansas City was postponed, when the Tiggers actually played the White Sox....)

I plan on it!

Since we had time before my dad had to go to the airport, we stopped to get my oil changed since I was due for it. It was looking good, until we got on the toll road and the check engine light came on. My dad got out and looked at the oil and it looked good. We were going to try and head back to where I got my oil changed, but didn't have time. So I dropped my dad off at the airport and headed back. Unfortunately, a big monsoon hit and I could barely see in front of me. Then my brakes started acting funny. I luckily somehow made it back to the oil change place right before they closed. They ran a diagnostic on it and said it should be safe to drive but I will need to get it checked out. After more stressful, rain filled driving, I finally made it back to the hotel and just didn't want to deal with the rain and decided to just make dinner out of the food in my car (potato chips, cookies, and muffins, ftw!). 

We made it to Flordia!

I spent a chunk of the night super stressed trying to find a car place and all the Chevy dealerships are further away than I would like. My mom found a mechanic closer to my apartment that has good reviews so I might try to call there or the Chevy dealerships tomorrow to figure out where I will take my car. Hopefully they can figure out what is wrong on my two days off before training on Saturday! After a shower and listening to music I am much calmer, but still a little anxious with having to deal with so much in a new state when I already have everything else (casting, moving in, grocery shopping, etc) going on. Despite today, I am super excited for tomorrow!

The hotel pool

Some birds by the oil change place

Made it to Disney!!!

Our hotel for the night. Tigger gets one bed and I get the other

My future workplace!!!

My apartment complex 

PI Timeline

So when I have been reading Disney College Program and Disney Professional Internship Blogs for a couple of years now. I even debated doing a CP or PI during a semester during college but couldn't find the time without delaying graduation. When I actually applied this semester I decided not to do a blog and just make a SmashBook to remember my experiences. However, as the time gets closer to my internship check-in I have been reading blogs again and decided that others might find this information useful. I also thought it would be a good place to get more of my thoughts down than I could in my SmashBook. I might decide to post pictures as I complete pages in my book, too.

To start out I will just give the timeline I experienced and will then spend the time leading up to my check-in going into more detail about the process.


Fall 2014 Professional Internships
28 Feb 14- Applied for 3 Animal Programs positions (Education Presenter, Chemistry, Reproductive Biology) and an Agriculture Sciences Biotechnology position  (on the last day apps were open!)
4 Mar 14- "Application Received" email from Animal Programs email w/ request for additional materials (1 Cover Letter and Questionnaires for each position) due within 24hrs
5 Mar 14- Submitted additional materials for the Animal Programs Positions
6 Mar 14-"Biotechnology Application Received" email from WDW EPCOT Science Internships w/ request for additional materials (cover letter, letter of recommendation, transcripts) due by March 14th
             -"Incomplete Application for Disney's Agricultural Sciences" catch-all email
               -"Application Complete" email from Animal Programs team
            -Decided not to proceed with Biotechnology application
10 Mar 14- Email request to schedule a phone interview
13 Mar 14- Reminder that Biotechnology material due by the next day
14 Mar 14- Montage Interview Information Email     

15 Mar 14- Montage Video Interview for Education Presenter
               -"Thank you for participating in a Montage Interview" email

17 Mar 14- Email from Chemistry Manager for Interview

18 Mar 14- Background check email
19 Mar 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Reproductive Biology 
24 Mar 14- Chemistry Internship Phone Interview
9 April 14- Request to Schedule "Brief Phone Call"
10 April 14- Education Presenter Offer Phone Call!!! 
                -Congratulations email!
12 April 14- Accepted offer
                -Request for Additional Information Email
                -Welcome to the Team Email
13 April 14-Signed up for Company Sponsored Housing
16 April 14- Invitation to join Animal, Science, and Environment Yammer Group
                -Long informational email about my internship from department
21 April 14- Another NLIC email for Reproductive Biology
               - "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Chemistry
22 April 14- Invitation to join Disney Professional Internship Yammer Group
29 April 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Biotechnology
4 May 14- New Hire Portal Instructions (2 separate emails for username and password)
7 May 14-DORMS registration  (2 separate emails for username and password)
             - DORMS roommate linking confirmation
9 May 14- Email with Casting Time for Check-In day
15 May 14- Invitation for Animal Programs Welcome Gathering
11 June 14- Check-in!


Wow! That was a lot longer than I thought it would be, but I thought others might think a detailed response would be helpful. Here are my past applications if you want to get an idea of how other Disney positions work. If you have any questions about these applications, feel free to ask!



Summer 2013 ESPN Statistics and Information Application Timeline
28 Dec 12- Application submitted
              -"Thank you for applying" email
2 Jan 13- Assessment request (had to take a Sports Knowledge Assessment)
Eventually went No Longer in Consideration (NLIC) on dashboard but didn't get an email

Fall 2013 Disney College Program
26 Feb 13- Application submitted
              -"Thank you for applying" email
              -Web Based Interview Request
              -Telephone Interview Request
              -Telephone Interview Confirmation
5 Mar 13-Telephone Interview
6 Mar 13- "Thank you for Interviewing" Email
8 Mar 13- Accepted as a Lifeguard
                 Ended up turning down position.

Final-ly End of Classes

Notice what I did with that title? It is time for every students least favorite week of the year: finals!

The last few weeks have been VERY hectic and have been a rollercoaster of emotions.

Vienna: Last Sunday we had a Vienna kick-off dinner. It definately made everything much more real. I found out my living situtation while in Austria and I am happy to see what comes in store. I am going to be living with 3 other girls with a Hope alum in District 13. We (at least Janelle and I) were all very excited that we will be having a dog! Apparently we will be in an appartment above the family with our own balcony. She seems to really want to do things with us, which I am excited for. Before we found out our housing, Janelle's sister had said to make sure we go to the zoo. I looked it up and it happens to be in District 13 and is the oldest zoo in the world! I am pumped. I am a little sad though, since it seems we take a bus into the heart of the city, while I was looking forward to the subway. :(

Tod: My boss, friend, and professor has been having heart problems since the summer of 2011. I TA'ed his section of lab this semester and about a month-month and a half ago he stepped down from his position as an instructor of the lab so different professors rotated in to fill in. Well, he had been in the hospital and passed away last Sunday. It has been really hard. I begin to get closer to him this year working his lab, doing prep, and just going into his office to compare heart stories. I visited him in the hospital and I have to say it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. This week was extremely emotional and many tears were shed. I hope that I can serve Tod's memory proud to aim to live like him. I think I have to stop; I just am having a hard time thinking about it.

End of Semster: My mom came last weekend to take a bunch of my stuff home. I was with her when I heard about Tod and I am glad she was here. Everyone came for the Honors Convocation on Thursday where I received the Cancer Federation Award and was recognized for being Honorable Mention for the Goldwater Scholarship and for being intiated into Mortar Board. Yesterday my housemates and I went to the state beach to watch the sunset, got Captain Sundae, and watched The Hunger Games. Today I made 100s of notecards for my two Monday finals (Genetics and Health Dy). Tomorrow is going to be super busy (gross); I have Gen Chem review session, APO composite pictures and possible meeting with my Math Bio group. I also need to finish 3 assignments for Math Bio which will be a big focus of at least some of my day tomorrow.

Also, I didn't tell too many people about this, but I had applied for some internships at ESPN and Disney this summer and have finally gotten all of my No Longer In Considerations updates. O well. I will perhaps apply again and maybe apply for some Animal Programs ones in the future.


Well, I believe that is far long enough of a post. Perhaps more when finals are done. (5 days!!!)