The Journey

So while this blog will be used to share my experience as a Conservation Education Instructor Professional Intern at The Sea’s with Nemo and Friends, I wanted to provide a bit of background information about my start with Disney and what inspired me to pursue this new journey. If it hadn’t been for my time as a College Program Participant, I’m not sure I would have found a passion for this particular PI and for that, I am very grateful! 

So without further ado: 

College Program Timeline

After years and years of Disney vacations, I always knew that I wanted to be among the men and women that helped to make the magic. I first found out about the College Program when I was in high school and promised myself that I would pursue the opportunity to work for The Disney Company as soon as I could. I began my freshman year of college in the fall of 2010 and eagerly began researching and scheduling and figuring out when I could apply to work for the company. Well, long story short, 2010 turned into 2011 which became 2012, 2013, and so on and it seemed that applying for the program wasn’t going to be nearly as easy I as thought with my major. As an elementary education student, my classes were fairly planned out for me and it seemed almost foolish to go against the grain in this case. I began to think that the College Program was not in the cards for me until I realized that I would be graduating a semester later than anticipated because of a second certification that I had picked up at school (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages or TESOL). So while I was completing my final semester of school and student teaching in inner-city Philadelphia, I applied for the Disney College Program with the hopes that I would be able to move to Disney World at the last possible opportunity - the semester after my college graduation.
In terms of dates and interviews and acceptances, my College Program journey looked a little something like this:

• August 20th, 2014: Completed the initial online application
• August 21st, 2014: Completed the web-based interview
• August 26th, 2014: Completed the phone interview
• September 5th, 2014: Received my initial acceptance letter as a Children’s Activities Hostess
• November 17th, 2014: Received a phone call from a College Program representative who asked if I would be interested in changing my role to a newly offered position under the Disney Event Group. This was only the second program to offer a role to CPs in this department. I was hesitant to change considering how little was known about this new role but in hindsight, becoming a Disney Event Group Cast Member was one of the most wonderful experiences I could have had during my College Program. My new title becameIn-Room Celebrations Hostess and I got to spend every single day visiting any number of the Disney Resorts and setting up small surprise parties in guests’ hotel rooms! 
• January 19th, 2015: Began my College Program as an In-Room Celebrations Hostess
• May 13th, 2015: Completed my final day as a College Program participant and flew home to New Jersey to spend some time with my family and friends before moving back to Florida to begin my Professional Internship

Professional Internship Timeline

I had never really considered a Professional Internship working its way into my Disney plans but like Tarzan taught us, “Trust your heart and let fate decide.” About halfway through my College Program, I began looking online and reading the descriptions of Professional Internships that would be beginning after my Program wrapped up. I ultimately decided to apply for two of them (the very night the applications were due… [insert screaming face emoji here]), the Conservation Education Presenter Internship and the Conservation Education Instructor Internship. The internships are fairly similar and both had a really heavy focus on education and children which is exactly what I was looking for - combining my passion for teaching with my love for Disney was perfect!
In terms of dates and interviews and acceptances, my Professional Internship journey [so far] has looked a little something like this:

• March 4th, 2015: Applied for both the Conservation Education Presenter Internship and the Conservation Education Instructor Internship
• March 12th, 2015: Interviewed via video-camera for the Conservation Education Presenter Internship
• March 17th, 2015: Interviewed via video-camera for the Conservation Education Instructor Internship
• April 7th, 2015: Received a call from a Disney Professional Internship with the wonderful news that I had been accepted as 1 of 5 Conservation Education Instructors for the Fall 2015 semester
• June 14th, 2015: My first day as a Conservation Education Instructor Professional Intern
• January 23rd, 2016: My final day as a Conservation Education Instructor Professional Intern

The Acceptance Letter

Just to make it more real. 

The Beginning

Hello! 

My name is Randi and in just 10 short days, I will be beginning my journey as a Disney Professional Intern! After tons and tons of research, I realized that there aren’t too many blogs devoted to Disney’s Professional Internships and absolutely none that pertain to my specific role as a Conservation Education Instructor. I’m hoping that through this page I’ll be able to help others who are interested in a Professional Internship, educate the general public about Disney’s different internships and offerings, and chronicle my own adventures as I take on the [Disney] world…again! 

I first began my career with The Disney Company as an In-Room Celebrations Hostess while on my College Program between January and May of 2015. While on my Program, I realized I wasn’t quite ready to leave yet and decided to apply for two different Professional Internships on a complete whim - literally though, I was filling out the initial application just moments before it was due. 
With a bit of faith, trust, and pixie dust (and some nerve-wracking interviews), I was selected to join the Animal Programs team and will soon be calling EPCOT’s The Seas with Nemo and Friends home for the months of June 2015 to January 2016. As a Conservation Education Instructor, I will be spending my time both ‘on stage’ and ‘off stage.’ Although I’m not entirely sure of every responsibility I’ll be taking on just yet, I know that through this amazing opportunity, I will be able to combine my passion for teaching with my love for Disney! 

So welcome aboard this journey - it’s going to be nothing short of magical!