Staying in touch with Mickey

Congratulations, you made it through the Disney College Program! If you were a good employee and did not call in too many times you now have good references from your managers and coordinators and you may also be able to keep your job with the company.

There are several different ways to remain a Castmember, assuming you do not have too many points on your record card.

1. Become a Campus Representative. Being a campus rep. allows you to keep your "Disney Benefits," namely getting into the parks for free, while working on your school campus for Disney. You are responsible for organizing events to recruit other students to go on the College Program.

2. Become a full-time Castmember. You would have to quit school and move to Orlando and find a place to live but then you can start working your way up the ranks, going from regular Castmember to trainer to coordinator then to manager.

3. Become a seasonal Castmember. The requirements for being seasonal continuously change. At one point you had to work 40 hours every six months. Now as long as you work a full shift once every six months you keep your seasonal status. I have kept my seasonal status for two years and plan on keeping it awhile longer.

Joseph, a friend that worked on the CP, went full-time and became a trainer

By keeping contact with Disney you are able to go back to work at any time, and it is much easier to get chosen for a Professional Internship which is more prestigious and closer related to your career.

The Circle of Life

All good things come to an end and the College Program is no exception. It might be extended but eventually it will draw to a close.

As the CP is winding down the apartment parties amp up, the romances heat up and everyone starts buying as much Disney merchandise as they can make it home with. The Disney classes finish a few weeks before the program does so there is time to get the paperwork completed and credit awarded.

A great thing about the end of the CP is the graduation party that is put on. There is a big barbecue with a lot fun activities and prizes to win. You get a Disney diploma (called a Ducktorate) and a Mickey Ears hat with a tassle to celebrate graduating. Several iconic characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy are out and about to take pictures and sign autograph books.

At work everyone brings their camera and takes photos of the people they will never see again. Some bring autograph books and ask coworkers to write something, similar to a yearbook in high school. Since my coworkers and I are witty, everything written in the books was funny or facetious.

As one program ends, another begins. In the words of the majestic Mufasa, "we are all connnected in the great circle of life."