A Typical Week On The DCP

When I was preparing for my college program, all I could find on Instagram and YouTube were snaps and videos captured on days off. Of course, this is what you’re going to share (the fun, magical side that makes this whole thing look like a holiday) but nobody ever gave a proper indication of what daily life looks like aside from the sweeping statements that “it’s a lot of work”!

So I went back through my journal from last summer and found a sample week to share with you from my time living and working as a college program cast member...

Warning: this post contains little sleep but may make you feel like you need some yourself

July 7th

An early start for an 8:30 clock in at Tatooine Traders means Belvita breakfast biscuits on the bus to work. I alternate between the build your own light saver station (with a slow start as the park doesn’t open until 9) and sticking after my 15 minute break. I clock out at 2:30 and head home to FaceTime my mum and sister.

After dinner, I head to Magic Kingdom for my first ever solo evening there, armed with fast passes for Peter Pan’s Flight, The Little Mermaid and Winnie The Pooh. I spend a while on Main Street taking a ton of photos before grabbing an 8 o’clock dole whip, ride Pirates of the Caribbean, and watch Happily Ever After before getting the bus home to be in bed by 11.

July 8th

I spend the morning doing chores; I was clothes and then walk to Publix with my roommate for some grocery shopping. We chill by the pool for a little bit before I catch the bus to work for an easy 6 hour shift from 4:45 to 10:45 on light saber and register.

I also get to talk to a guy who drives the Friendship boat between Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and get an ER (early release) at 10:20 after closing registers, stocking and tidying the store. I arrive home around 11:15, shower and crash in bed.

July 9th

My one day off for the week! Me and some friends go to 1900 Park Fare at Grand Floridian for a character breakfast!

We indulge in Mickey waffles, red velvet pancakes, bread and butter pudding and the speciality strawberry soup as we spill some tea with Alice, puzzle over riddles with Mad Hatter, bounce with Tigger, make small talk with Mary Poppins, and hug Pooh Bear.

We are almost sick in the process (definitely overindulged) but have a sugary sweet morning together. We get the bus back to attend the 4th of July pool party housing event at Patterson , grabbing free food (to enjoy later - far too full!!) and listening to some cheesy tunes before me and my friend got the bus to Epcot to spend the afternoon there.

We have a fastpass for Soarin, tick off a bunch of “one and done” rides like Living With The Land and Figment, visit a friend who works at Spaceship Earth and then meet Mickey and his pals for some hilarious interactions at Character Spot

Before heading to World Showcase, we also manage a Test Track fastpass and form a band with Joy and Sadness, and after a quick stroll around some of the pavilions and trying on sombreros in Mexico, I catch the bus home around 7:30.

July 10th

My first 12 hour shift on the program! I start at 10:15 and alternate between the various positions all day in Tatooine.

I’m flagging around 8 when I take my last break but a fellow CP is giving out homemade cookies in the break room so I take two for a final boost that fuels some lightsaber battles before we close out for the night, home by 11.

July 11th

This morning me and my roommate get to Magic Kingdom for 10am and a Buzz Lightyear fastpass. We take a ton of photos around Fantasyland, meet Cinderella and Elena, and head to Carousel of Progress for a break from the sun.

We squeeze in a showing of Country Bear Jamboree before grabbing a filling and delicious lunch at Pecos Bill where we generously fill ourselves with the free toppings bar on top of $7.50 kid’s meals!

After that, it’s a Space Mountain and Speedway fastpass before getting kids comes from Gibson Girls ice cream parlour and eating them with a view of the castle.

We then get the bus across to Hollywood Studios for work where I pull a costume I need for a shift later in the week and chill backstage before clocking in for a loop shift. This involves working in Frozen Fractals and Indiana Jones Outpost, closing out the former at 9:30 as the fireworks go off to my left.

I clock out at 9:45 to hop on the quieter bus before the CPs who’ve been playing in the parks go home after Fantasmic - so I get a seat!

July 12th

I have a chilled morning after a mad couple days, writing a blog post, sorting through photos and videos, and having a catchup call with Mum. I start work at 1:30 at Tatooine where I’m visited by some friends in the afternoon which is fun!

I finish at 10:30 are closing, stocking and dusting, and got a lift home from a coworker.

July 13th

This morning is my final training day (my area has so many different parts to it that it stretches on longer than most) which starts at 8am, so that means a 6am alarm!

I learn how to do cash apron vending, practicing it with waters and squeeze breezes in front of the main stage whilst watching the Stormtrooper March of the First Order 3 times across 3 hours. I’m then counted out and thankfully find that I broke even!

After that, me and my trainer get driven in a pargo backstage by one of our leaders to go to the cast member cookout the park has put on for us! I get a free veggie burger and some ice cream as well as a fruit pot to go, and I win a 25th anniversary pin for the park by answering a trivia question!

The last part of training involves learning how to embroider the bracelets we sell and personalise at Indiana Jones Truck, before a quick Stars Wars characters rundown and general recap on anything I’m still unsure of. I finish at 4:30 and head home for a chilled night of dinner, blog editing and preparing my food for the week ahead that I’ll be eating at work!

Just going through all that makes me question how I did this week after week, but I guess my love for Disney powered me through (as well as a few sugary treats!)

I hope this is helpful in giving a general overview of what a typical week could look like, and, if so, I’ll try to do some of these blog posts in the summer as I’m there (if I ever get the time!)