FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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What exactly will I be doing at Walt Disney World?

I am a part of the cultural representative program, meaning that I am specifically going to the Walt Disney World Resort to share my country's culture and customs with guests who visit. I will be working in the Canada Pavilion at Epcot as a food and beverage server.

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How did I get this opportunity?

As described above, I have been to Disney enough times to know that Disney hires from countries around the world to particpate in a variety of programs (college program, exchange program, representative program, etc). Over the past couple years I would randomly check out the Disney job site to see what types of positions they were hiring for. This past January (2016) I was browing the careers site and came across the Canada Cultural Representative Program. In all the times I had looked I had never seen them specifically hiring for that program so after considering it I decided I might as well apply! After applying I didn't hear from Disney until March when I found out I was selected for an interview which took place in Toronto in April. About two and a half weeks after the interview I recieved an email congratulating me because I had a successful interview and was offered a position!

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How long will I be gone? When exactly do I start? When will I come home?

The cultural representative program is a one year program. My arrival date in Disney is September 12th, 2016, however I will be leaving Canada on September 9th with my parents who are driving me to Orlando. My last day at Disney is September 7th, 2017.

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Will I come home to visit?

I am planning to come home to visit at least one time during my year working at Disney. When that will be will depend on my schedule but I expect I will at least have to come home for a few days sometime around February/March due to tax season (so lame, I know! adulting sucks). I really don't know how much time I will be able to take off to come home, especially since there are other adventures I would really love to do (see my Bucket List)! And besides, I am in the happiest place on earth so why wouldn't you want to come visit me?!

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What do my family and friends think of this?

My family and friends have been extremely supportive as I made this huge decision to move to Orlando for a year and pursue my dream of working at Walt Disney World. When I first applied and had my interview, I told a very limited number of people for fear of applying and not getting the job. However after being offered a position, I began to tell more close friends and family and the support for me to take the risk and follow my dream was overwhelming. There was a small fear inside of me that people would think it was a bad decision to drop my teaching career for a year to work at Disney, but since I am a huge Disney fan and everyone knows that, there was no question in their minds that I had to do it. Having the support from my family, closest frends and even my employers and students means the world to me and made making this decision much easier. 

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What about my boyfriend?

I am very fortunate to have an amazing boyfriend supporting me throughout this journey. Matt and I have been together for almost four years and we have been living together since September 2015. He knows that Disney is a huge part of my life and was supportive of me even from the beginning when I submitted my application in January 2016. Leaving him for a year will most certainly be difficult and we will obviously miss each other very much but we will talk everyday and will facetime as much as possible and we are even already planning when he will come to visit me in Orlando!