You're Never Too Old to Wish Upon a Star - Why I chose the DCP

So why do the Disney College Program? Why drop everything you are doing to move to Florida and work crazy hours with little sleep, and graduate a semester late (in my case)? Well, there are LOTS of reasons why the DCP is a valuable experience for everyone! It doesn't matter what your major in college is - there are many, many opportunities to learn and grow through the DCP! These are some reasons that are important to me:

1. My dream has been to work for Disney for just about as long as I can remember. Every time I visit Disney World, the cast members go out of their way to make my experience special. I want to do that for others.

2. Working in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, I will work with little girls everyday from around the world. I will learn about different cultures, and will be able to implement the skills I have learned in my special education classes into my job to create a more magical experience for children with special needs.

3. I will have an amazing costume.

4. I will be able to put Disney on my resume. This is an amazing thing to speak about in an interview, and is something that will make me stand out when applying for jobs.

5. I get to take classes only offered to DCP participants. The two I am most interested in are Disney Heritage and Disney Leadership. While I will not get credit for these classes, there are classes that do offer FREE college credits. That's right. Free.

6. I'll be living in Disney World in an apartment suite with several other girls. I really wanted to go away for college, and this will finally be my chance!

7. I'll be working for Mickey Mouse!

8. I can go into the parks for free whenever I'm not working! Feel like watching wishes tonight? Just head over the Magic Kingdom after work! In the mood to ride Soarin'? Just stop in Epcot.

9. I get 6 free credits from my school for going!

10. Disney offers special opportunities like backstage tours, volunteer opportunities, events like "Night of the Stars," and more!

This is such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could not pass up! I first learned about the program when I went down to Disney World my senior year as a graduation present from my mom. I was looking like crazy for Mickey graduation ears that looked like this!

Cute, right? Well, I couldn't find them ANYWHERE since we went down in August :( BUT, I did see a lot of these!

My mom and I asked a couple of college students who were wearing the ears where they got them. They explained they had just completed the Disney College Program. I started talking to different cast members when I was down there. I had heard about the DCP, but didn't know much about it. I spoke with one cast member who actually started to cry talking about the program because she was having such a wonderful experience. She loved it and gave us a little magical moment by writing my name on the ears for free! Not the graduation ones of course =) When I went home, I started researching like crazy! I knew this was something that I HAD to do! I was in the Honors Program at my school, so I knew I couldn't leave until my junior year because the Honors Program was going to Ireland in Spring 2014 AND I became an executive on the campus activities board, which was a year-long commitment! However, I'm glad I waited because it gave me time to become really involved on campus, and I love my school! While I will definitely miss SJC while I'm gone, I'm so excited about going to Disney World!!!