more purple!

My purple folder finally arrived today! I was beginning to get worried as it's been about 2 weeks since I got my email and others started getting them last week. For those of you still waiting or intending on applying in the future, some people never received an acceptance email and only got the folder! I'm saying this because there were a handful of people that had been waiting for weeks and had not heard a peep from disney, which as you can imagine may lead somebody to doubt themselves. So if you haven't received an email or any sort of notification- just stay patient and keep your hopes high! Anyways, I've been going out to my mailbox like 5 times each day before the mail would actually arrive in anticipation for my folder! What's in it, you ask? Your acceptance letter, of course! Also included is a brief overview of the program itself, earning, learning, living. This is the same information that is on the WDW college program website and already available to you. They provide you with a participation checklist of things that you should accomplish now that you have been invited to do the program as well as an overview of their costuming policies and size availability. You are also delighted with some pretty awesome 3-D glasses to play a disney game online!

I'll be posting a tentative packing list soon for anyone interested!

DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I GOT ACCEPTED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I was online talking on skype periodically looking out the window for the mailman, when all the sudden I hear "Welcome To Disney", which is the sound I set as an alert if disney recruiting emailed me. I literally jumped out of my skin when I saw "Your Invitation" as the subject! I have officially accepted my role as a Merchandise cast member for the Spring Advantage 2011 program!! It wasn't one of my top 3 roles, but it was the next in line and I am ecstatic! BBB was my second choice but I kind of figured that was out of the running because I am auditioning, but honestly just to be part of this...TO FINALLY KNOW is so overwhelmingly thrilling. The email came at 11:42AM and it was the perfect time because my sister wanted to be the first person I told and today just happened to be a day she is tied up all day but she had an hour in between school and work at that time so I called her immediately! After we freaked out for a moment I ran and told my parents and they were just as excited as me, my mom even went as far as to pick me up, lol.

As soon as I could even contain myself enough to get on the computer I logged in, accepted the role, payed the $100 assessment fee and chose my arrival and departure date. I will be there from January 19-August 5! I'm so excited to start planning everything out and find a roommate and whatnot!

I still plan on auditioning next month so my role may change, but if I end up staying with merchandise I have zero problem with that. Now i'll undoubtably become obsessed with researching all the merch areas and see if I can put a request in with my recruiter.

To those of you who have been accepted or get accepted I can't wait to get down there and meet all of you and to those still waiting I've still got my fingers crossed for you! I will wish upon every star and every 11:11 that you all get in :) I'm sure I will have more updates soon and i'll very likely record my first ever vlog! So be prepared for some possibly entertaining awkwardness, haha!

First Acceptances are out!

So, Tuesday (9/7) the first batch of acceptance emails went out! I happen to be online at the moment to witness the initial pandemonium, and was really excited for everyone but I'm not going to hide the fact that I was silently disappointed my inbox remained empty of a purple email. Since Then, i've been a little (and when I say a little I mean extremely) paranoid because I interviewed on the very first day possible, and haven't heard a thing from disney. People who interviewed after me have already been accepted. I'm hoping this doesn't mean anything bad; I don't know what disney's method is for picking and releasing acceptances and thinking about it probably isn't helping my nerves. The week isn't over yet, though and I'm trying to remain optimistic that I will be accepted by the end of the week.
For those that have been accepted already, they've had the opportunity to log in and do the paperwork and select and arrival/departure date. To anyone curious, the earliest spring arrival date looks to be January 10-May 13 (boo, the spring people are leaving on my birthday!), and the earliest spring advantage arrival date is January 19-August 5. I'm actually kind of surprised because these dates seemed later than previous programs, but I guess disney has a method to their madness! I'd like to get their on the earliest spring advantage date if I get accepted.

Hopefully a happy update in the days to come :)

no news is better than bad news

Today is day 17 since my phone interview and I'm still playing the waiting game! I have become best friends with the 'refresh' button on my email waiting for that glorious purple email to arrive. Earlier this week people started receiving pending letters via both email and snail mail. A note to those who plan on applying in the future- everyone makes the pending letters out to be a horrible thing. Some have said it's like a delayed rejection, but the truth of the matter is it's better than getting flat out rejected, yes? I've talked to some alumni of the program who received pending letters and were eventually accepted. Yes, it sucks you have to wait a little longer to hear your disney fate, but I wouldn't give up hope.
While the pending letters were testing on my nerves, yesterday I logged on to the facebook group to see people have begun getting rejection letters now! To make matters worse it's a holiday weekend so I doubt anybody will hear anything on Monday. I don't quite understand why they are sending out pendings and rejections first but I really hope we start seeing acceptance letters this week. The spring 2011 hopefuls group could use some good news- the rejections have made most of us a little anxious and unnerved. I've been trying to stay confident and think 'disney thoughts' to keep me from going insane.

Hopefully another update later this week with good news, fingers crossed! GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WHO HAS APPLIED!