Yesterday, Friday the 10th of April 2015, I did receive an email from The Disney Culinary Program, and it went a little something like this,
"Dear Mel,
Congratulations!
You have been selected to participate in the Disney Culinary Program at the Walt Disney World® Resort!".
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Friday, February 20, 2015
Application Process
Since there isn't very much information, or at least that I have found online about the process of The Disney Culinary Program, I have decided to blog about the entire process from beginning to end!
Saturday, Feb 7, 2015 I applied online.
Immediately following I received a thank you email.
Up until yesterday, Feb 19, 2015, my dashboard showed
"action required". I emailed and received an almost immediate auto response. I called in and said that I was having trouble understanding what that could mean, because there was no information made available to me on what action was required.
I received an email today, Feb 20, 2015, telling me that action was on their end, and they welcomed me to "The Family". Utterly exciting.
*Edit to update*
Feb 25, 2015 I received an email informing me that I was being moved on to the next phase in the process. In the next 3 weeks I will be scheduling a video interview!
*Edited to update*
March 19, 2015 I received several email's inviting me to attend an online video interview. I have to schedule it for April 6th.
*Edited to update*
April 2, 2015. Today I received my official video interview email. I'll be having my online video interview on April 6, 2015 at 9 A.M. Woo-Hoo!
*Edited to update*
April 6, 2015, Monday, I had my video interview. I definitely was not prepared for all of the question's that I was asked. I felt rushed, pressured, nervous, and stressed during the entire interview and I really wish that I would have been more prepared, prior to it.
Basic run down: Business first, the chef I had told me about how this all works. We spoke about housing, the fee's involved and even if you're not planning on taking advantage of housing, you still have to pay the fee, but it is refunded to you later. We spoke about how he would be in contact and what to look for, he also asked me how long I wanted to be in the program and offered me 4 and 6 month choices.
After business came food and cooking questions. He asked me to prepare an appetizer from start to finish, then he asked me questions about that process.
Then I was asked to create a main entree salad, kids meal and was asked if I could invite anyone to my home for dinner, who would it be and what would I cook for them? What vegetables are in season now?
I was asked how to tell if a piece of salmon was done, or not. I was asked about sauces for grilled pork chops and cooked chicken. I was asked exactly what was in mescalin greens because I chose those for my entree salad.
I was also asked if I had any questions, and I wanted to know more about continuing ed classes. Chef was very knowledgeable on this subject and even went so far as to tell me that it would be difficult for me, because most of those are held in the student housing areas.
I was also given quite a bit of feedback, which I welcomed.
I wasn't as proficient on sauces, or fish cookery as he would have liked for me to be, and so he had some recommendations. Casual or quick service dining. I'm fine with that.
He urged me to literally sit on top of my phone, and constantly check my email this Friday. You can bet I will be.
*Edited to update*
April 10, 2015. Friday.
I got the congratulatory email that I had been hoping for. It told me that I had been accepted. Immediately I began the acceptance process, paid my fee's and filled out the required additional information that was requested. My status bar went from 2 places from the left, "In Progress", to second place from the end, "Post-Offer Stage". I did it! I can't believe this dream of mine finally came true.
So far this is all that I know.
Saturday, Feb 7, 2015 I applied online.
Immediately following I received a thank you email.
Up until yesterday, Feb 19, 2015, my dashboard showed
"action required". I emailed and received an almost immediate auto response. I called in and said that I was having trouble understanding what that could mean, because there was no information made available to me on what action was required.
I received an email today, Feb 20, 2015, telling me that action was on their end, and they welcomed me to "The Family". Utterly exciting.
*Edit to update*
Feb 25, 2015 I received an email informing me that I was being moved on to the next phase in the process. In the next 3 weeks I will be scheduling a video interview!
*Edited to update*
March 19, 2015 I received several email's inviting me to attend an online video interview. I have to schedule it for April 6th.
*Edited to update*
April 2, 2015. Today I received my official video interview email. I'll be having my online video interview on April 6, 2015 at 9 A.M. Woo-Hoo!
*Edited to update*
April 6, 2015, Monday, I had my video interview. I definitely was not prepared for all of the question's that I was asked. I felt rushed, pressured, nervous, and stressed during the entire interview and I really wish that I would have been more prepared, prior to it.
Basic run down: Business first, the chef I had told me about how this all works. We spoke about housing, the fee's involved and even if you're not planning on taking advantage of housing, you still have to pay the fee, but it is refunded to you later. We spoke about how he would be in contact and what to look for, he also asked me how long I wanted to be in the program and offered me 4 and 6 month choices.
After business came food and cooking questions. He asked me to prepare an appetizer from start to finish, then he asked me questions about that process.
Then I was asked to create a main entree salad, kids meal and was asked if I could invite anyone to my home for dinner, who would it be and what would I cook for them? What vegetables are in season now?
I was asked how to tell if a piece of salmon was done, or not. I was asked about sauces for grilled pork chops and cooked chicken. I was asked exactly what was in mescalin greens because I chose those for my entree salad.
I was also asked if I had any questions, and I wanted to know more about continuing ed classes. Chef was very knowledgeable on this subject and even went so far as to tell me that it would be difficult for me, because most of those are held in the student housing areas.
I was also given quite a bit of feedback, which I welcomed.
I wasn't as proficient on sauces, or fish cookery as he would have liked for me to be, and so he had some recommendations. Casual or quick service dining. I'm fine with that.
He urged me to literally sit on top of my phone, and constantly check my email this Friday. You can bet I will be.
*Edited to update*
April 10, 2015. Friday.
I got the congratulatory email that I had been hoping for. It told me that I had been accepted. Immediately I began the acceptance process, paid my fee's and filled out the required additional information that was requested. My status bar went from 2 places from the left, "In Progress", to second place from the end, "Post-Offer Stage". I did it! I can't believe this dream of mine finally came true.
So far this is all that I know.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Big Deal
Last Saturday, I took a giant leap and submitted an application to The Disney Culinary Program. It is similar to the Disney College Program in that you learn as you go, but this is different because I would actually be like an apprentice working under Disney chef's. It's just one good way to get my foot in the door, so to speak. It's kind of a big deal.
My friend, Trey, has already begun his journey in The Disney College Program. I am super excited for him. We were classmates, but he graduated in the Fall.
I'm going to be making a small trip down, this weekend coming up. I hope to accomplish quite a few task's while there, and we will definitely go to at least one park while we're there.
I shall post pictures, later!
My friend, Trey, has already begun his journey in The Disney College Program. I am super excited for him. We were classmates, but he graduated in the Fall.
I'm going to be making a small trip down, this weekend coming up. I hope to accomplish quite a few task's while there, and we will definitely go to at least one park while we're there.
I shall post pictures, later!
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
I am Disney
I am Disney...there isn't a single day that goes by that I'm not seeing it, or feeling it, or thinking it. Everywhere I look I see Disney, from "Hidden Mickey's", to toys, decorations, garden gnomes, commercials. I am Disney, because I am so consumed with the magic of it all.
2 night's ago I had a dream that I had been hired on at Disney. I don't know what job it was, because all I remember is speaking to other Disney employees and whistling in a long hallway.
Maybe it's a sign of thing's to come, and maybe it's just a dream. Who knows!
2 night's ago I had a dream that I had been hired on at Disney. I don't know what job it was, because all I remember is speaking to other Disney employees and whistling in a long hallway.
Maybe it's a sign of thing's to come, and maybe it's just a dream. Who knows!
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
The End.
So it's December, and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Ok, maybe not so much at my house, but everywhere else I look it is!
This is the end of a very, very bad year for me. In February my "Papa" died. As totally expected I got into this deep, dark funk and didn't come out for quite some time. I was not in a good place emotionally or mentally for a long time. I quit my job, and all but quit school also. I was just, depressed. My life had started looking up, and in June, 2 huge trees fell on our home and destroyed it. There went that!
In August I started a new semester of school and since then things have taken on a whole new meaning and I am seeing thing's through a whole new light. My grandson was born on the 27th, too. I'm happier now, and looking forward to the end of this semester, my month long break over Christmas, and beginning what is going to be my last semester of college. I have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to look forward to. It's going to be smooth sailing from here on out. Except for one thing. I have a business math final to take tomorrow, if I don't score at least a 60 on it, I fail the entire class. Yes, regardless of the fact that I have a strong B in this class, if I make less than a 60% I fail what I've done for the entire semester.
-sigh-
Just keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer, light a candle, send me good vibes, whatever you do, do it. Please! My whole semester is riding on this test!
If I fail this class, that means I have to retake it in the Spring. Something I was not counting on.
Wish me luck!
-Mellie
This is the end of a very, very bad year for me. In February my "Papa" died. As totally expected I got into this deep, dark funk and didn't come out for quite some time. I was not in a good place emotionally or mentally for a long time. I quit my job, and all but quit school also. I was just, depressed. My life had started looking up, and in June, 2 huge trees fell on our home and destroyed it. There went that!
In August I started a new semester of school and since then things have taken on a whole new meaning and I am seeing thing's through a whole new light. My grandson was born on the 27th, too. I'm happier now, and looking forward to the end of this semester, my month long break over Christmas, and beginning what is going to be my last semester of college. I have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to look forward to. It's going to be smooth sailing from here on out. Except for one thing. I have a business math final to take tomorrow, if I don't score at least a 60 on it, I fail the entire class. Yes, regardless of the fact that I have a strong B in this class, if I make less than a 60% I fail what I've done for the entire semester.
-sigh-
Just keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer, light a candle, send me good vibes, whatever you do, do it. Please! My whole semester is riding on this test!
If I fail this class, that means I have to retake it in the Spring. Something I was not counting on.
Wish me luck!
-Mellie
Friday, November 21, 2014
Scared
Have you ever wanted something SO bad, but were scared at the same time?
I have.
Welcome to my life! This is my journey, my mission is to become a full time employee at Walt Disney World. I am currently a senior in college, I graduate in May 2015. I'm a culinary student, so I get to play with my food Ü
Hopefully my journey will be fast, and rewarding. I will be blogging about my experiences throughout my last semester in college, as well as my experience in the application process for Walt Disney World, and finally, our move to central Florida.
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