The application process so far...

The Disney Cruise Line (DCL) job application process has been rather different from that of the ICP and CRP programs... firstly, they use a different recruiter. They use a company called Excellent Hospitality who are based in London and only recruit from the UK for DCL. If you're from a different country, you have to find your own country's recruiter and apply through them. This can be found from the official DCL Jobs website (www.dcljobs.com) as can lots of information about the different roles on DCL.

So, way back in August 2012,  I emailed my CV to the recruiters as I was starting to despair about what  I was going to do upon finishing my CRP program in Florida at the end of October. They emailed me back a few weeks later to ask me to interview for a role in Merchandise in November. Well, by this point, I'd managed to secure an extension to my CRP until January 2013 so I didn't reply to the DCL email. I continued on with my CRP program and then out of the blue, in December 2012, I received another email from the recruiters asking me to interview for Merchandise in February 2013. Seen as it was about 2 weeks after I was due to get home, I accepted with the notion that at least it was something to have in my calendar after I was home.

You have to understand that whilst you're in the Disney "bubble" on the College Programs, everything that happens after you go home is like a desolate wilderness that doesn't bear thinking about.

Anyway, I returned home and obviously became more excited about my interview. For a long time, I wasn't sure if DCL was something I wanted to do but it became clear that if I wanted to continue my "Disney Career" then this was one of the only options. Also, it was a new challenge and maybe I'd love it?

So, off I went to London on Wednesday 6th February, just over two weeks after returning home. Ironically, someone else I was in Florida with (Rob) was also interviewing that day so we met in Hammersmith at about 8.30am and walked together to Disney HQ. When we got there, we realised there was only 5 other people being interviewed (it turned out that one was Guest Relations, two were Youth Activities and two were Entertainment Host/Cruise Director). They said they'd had about 25 people interviewing for various roles the day before though. We started by doing some basic paperwork for the agency and then Rob was called through for his interview. We sat chatting and he came back about 20 minutes later and then it was my turn!

This was like no other Disney interview I've had before. It was more of a chat! We literally chatted about my "Disney career" (it's actually been 5 years to the day today when I got my email for my first Disney interview!) and she asked me where I saw myself in the future. We talked about Disney Look and the concept of working 70 hours a week with no time off as well as living in a confined space. And that was it! All done!

We were both done by 10.15am and good to go! We walked to near St Paul's Cathedral to get an Earl of Sandwich (had to be done) and then I had to head to Victoria Coach Station to get my coach home. I got home at about 5pm.

The next day, in the evening, I got an email saying I'd been successful! In case you were wondering, so had Rob. Additionally another girl, Sarah, who I was ALSO in Florida with got in from the interviews the day before! It said to await further information which I did... until Tuesday 12th morning I got another email with the details on how to book my visa appointment, medical and details about receiving the CRB form. Turns out I have to do a Criminal Record Check for the UK and the USA as I've worked there before.

Today I tried to do my DS160 form on the US embassy website but because I'm off to Florida (yeah.... like I haven't had enough of that place!) in a couple of weeks, I have to wait until I've come back before I can finish it as you have to list all your trips to the US and I can't put one in for the future! My embassy appointment is on the 14th March (one month today!) so I shall have to finish it when I get back (on the 12th....!). I am also waiting for my CRB forms. My medical is booked for the 15th March. Oh, and of course I'm waiting to hear for a date and ship!!

So, yes, despite returning to the UK less than a month ago from more than a year in the sunshine state, I'm actually back there on the 28th February for 10 days - little cheeky holiday! I'm actually spending most of it in California with a couple of days in Georgia thrown in there. I shall update in due course!

Surprise!

Well, well, well. What a surprise. I'M BACK!

For those that haven't seen my blogs before... I'm a re-offender with Disney International Programs - I spent 3 months working at the Magic Kingdom (Merchandise) at Walt Disney World in 2008, 3 months at Hollywood Studios (Attractions) in 2010 and then 14 months working at the UK Pavilion at EPCOT (Food & Beverage)... and now I'm moving to the Disney Cruise Line!

If you want to read my previous blogs I'm sure there are links somewhere on this blog but for ease here you go:

http://magicalsummer2008.blogspot.com

http://magicalsummer2010.blogspot.com

http://magicalyear2012.blogspot.com

So... I signed off from my year program with my last blog post about 3 weeks ago as I'd just returned to the UK. I got interviewed for DCL about 2 weeks after I got home, got offered the job the next day and now I'm just waiting on a date and ship!