In the beginning....

How this all came about...
Ok…. so hey! My name is Jen and I’m from Glasgow, Scotland. I have spent the last 7 months on a crazy quest to be part of the Cultural Representative Program at Walt Disney World, Florida. I’ve avoided blogging about any of it until now as I really didn’t want to jinx myself but always kept in the back of my mind that I would do this at some point. Partly so that I could look back on this as a diary and from personal experience, other people’s CRP blogs make great reading! If you are starting the whole process with a blank slate it can be a little daunting but the blogs are such a great help! I did try using tumblr but wasn't completely into it so I'm transferring everything to here.


Why WDW, why CRP…? I have a LOT of experience in the hospitality industry, a HNC in Licensed House Management and I was doing a HND in Hospitality Management when I applied. About three years ago or so I was trying to decide what to do with my life as I was stuck in a crappy job, in a crappy flat and really hating life. I really liked the idea of going to work on the Disney Cruise ships but decided to go to college first and bulk up my CV even more. Having gone through a horrific experience of unemployment during the beginning of the recession, dream jobs (or any job at all) were pretty thin on the ground so I wanted to do everything I could to put me ahead. So off I went to college, where the lecturer who was in charge of us rowdy lot, graduated Disney University (yes there is such a thing) over 20 years ago! He spoke about it a lot and I really started thinking that this was something I wanted to do.


By November 2011 I was pretty sure that this is what I wanted. I’m a big Disney geek, I have a pretty scary collection of Disney Princess related stuff for someone who is soon to be pushing 30, and I have amazing WDW memories. My lecturer had really drilled into me though, that it would be at WDW that I would get the most amazing training as well as having the time of my life, and this would really put me as a prime candidate for future employers. By sheer luck I found the WDWIP forum and from there found the Yummy Jobs website. I was convinced that it was legit ( I’m always paranoid about dodgy agencies that will “sell” you the job), and by sheer luck applications were open! I quickly updated my CV and made a little profile on the website and sent it all off!