Packing for the DCP- Part 2: What to pack.

If you haven't already, please read Part 1 of Packing for the DCP.

For this post, I will give you a description of what is already included in your apartment, and then things I would recommend bringing in addition to basic necessities like clothes, toiletries etc. Some of these items are things that you may have to talk about with roommates, so you don't bring multiples. All windows have blinds, and all rooms have ceiling lighting. You are not allowed to hang anything on the walls and each apartment is laid out differently, so you may not have the same things that other apartments do. These things are what are generally included.

Kitchen

What's Included:

Plates, Cups, Mugs, Bowls, Pots, Pans, Utensils, Basic Cooking Utensils (spatula etc..), Toaster, Microwave, Fridge (sometimes 2 fridges if you have 6-8 people in an apartment), Oven, Garbage and Recycling cans and landline phone.

Recommended to Bring:

Extra Plates/cups/Bowls/Pots and Pans (some of the ones provided aren't the best quality). Cookie sheets, blender, coffee maker, paper towel holder, spices (salt and pepper shakers), To-Go containers.

Living Room

What's Included;

Dining Room table w/6-8 chairs, 3 person couch, chair, coffee table, 2 side tables, bulletin board

Recommended to Bring:

TV, throw blankets/pillows, DVD Player/Game system, Wi-Fi box, bar stools (for kitchen counter)

Rooms

What's Included: 2 Person Room-

2 beds w/ mattress, 1 dresser w/mirror, 2 night stands, 2 garbage cans (one for room, one for bathroom), walk in closet, 2 lockers (in closet), vanity sink. 2 bulletin boards, medicine cabinet, towel closet,

3 Person Room-

3 beds (one bunk, one with drawers underneath), 3 night stands, 1 dresser w/ mirror, 2 garbage cans (one for room, one for bathroom) walk in closet, 3 lockers, 3 bulletin boards, *Typically bathrooms that are connected to a 3 person room have a sink with a counter in the bathroom, rather than a vanity sink.*

Recommended to Bring:

A 2 locks (for locker in closet and for locker at work location), laundry basket/hamper, hangers, shower curtain, rugs, pictures, mattress pad, comforter, lamps (if you don't like ceiling lighting), fan, extension cords, towels

Extras

Lunch Box, A decent Vacuum/broom (the ones from the Clubhouse aren't great), shoe rack, organizing containers, A bag with pens, pencils, markers, scissors, notepads (so you don't have to buy all that stuff down there), Formal clothing to wear for Traditions, Halloween Costume, Dress/Suit and Tie (for Winter Formal)

Tips

- You can't hang anything on walls, so if it won't fit on a bulletin board, don't bring it.
- Don't bring too many Souvenirs. You will accumulate a lot of Disney stuff, so don't bring anything you don't need
- Don't over pack clothes. Most of the time you will be in your costume, so don't bring too many shoes, tops etc. Just make sure to bring a few winter clothing items for those cold Florida days.
- If you want to save suitcase space, use Space Bags. They work wonders. *The vacuums that the Clubhouse provide don't have hoses on them, but they do provide special vacuum hoses for Space bags*

If you have any questions leave a comment below, or tweet me @ltddream1

Thanks
-S

Packing Tips for the DCP- Part 1: Trains, Planes and Automobiles

    Hey Everyone! Thanks for checking out my blog! If you haven't already, I would suggest reading Parts 1-5 about the Disney College Program. There is some very helpful information if you are considering doing the program. Today's post will cover things to pack, and how to pack when doing the DCP. I know that packing was my biggest problem when preparing to do the DCP, and there wasn't many places online where I could find specifics of what was included in the apartments, etc. Well worry no more! I'm here to tell you.

Flying

   If you are one of the brave souls who are deciding to fly to Florida (or have no choice) then packing is probably your worst nightmare at this point. I myself flew to Florida and yes, it was hard. I will tell you how I did it. Now I know you might not do the same thing I did, but for the most part it worked out for me.

  I flew in 3 days before my scheduled check-in date. My parents decided to fly with me, and it was nice having the company before I started my program, but they were essential in my packing strategy. My family has always flown with Southwest, and the nice thing about Southwest is you can have 2 suitcases for free (up to 50lbs). As much as I tried to squeeze what I could into 2 bags, it was nearly impossible. I didn't want to have to buy everything when I went to Florida, I wanted to save my money. I probably had enough stuff to fit into 6 suitcases, but with the help of Space Bags (which I highly recommend using) I was able to fit it into 4. So since my parents tagged along, they also got 2 bags fly free, so I just split the suitcases between myself and my parents, and we ended up having no extra costs with our flight.

    Now if you prefer to fly with a different airliner, you may have to pay for extra luggage, or ship the luggage down to Florida. So however you decide to do it, know that you will have extra costs if you decide to fly. Going down to Florida was the easy part for me, but coming home was more difficult.

A couple months later, my parents came down to visit me, and in doing so, I told them to bring an empty suitcase with them, so I could fill it with a bunch of souvenirs and things I didn't need, so that I would have more room in my suitcases when coming back home. This really did help me in the long run.

But like I said, coming home was the hard part. My parents weren't there with me, because I decided to fly home by myself. Which meant that I had a lot of stuff I had to fit in 3 suitcases (with a 50lb limit) So again I used my space bags to help squeeze everything, but I had a lot of souvenirs that I had bought, since my parents left that wouldn't fit in a suitcase, so I bought a big box and had some stuff shipped home a few days before I left. And again I did manage to fit everything into 3 suitcases, but the problem was that only 2 bags fly free, so I had to pay an extra $75 for an extra bag.

Driving

As I mentioned in previous posts, if you have a car, BRING IT! It may or may not save you more money than flying (depending on how far you have to drive) but it will definitely save you the struggle of figuring out what to pack. The sky is the limit (well the backseat of your car is the limit) but regardless, you can fit so much more into a car than a suitcase can.

Flying and Shipping

Now this is the smart way to travel to Florida, if you can do it. I'm not sure what the costs were, but I knew a few people who flew to Florida, and had their car shipped to them. This way you save yourself time, you save miles on your car, and you can pack your car with whatever you want! People have also taken trains down to Florida, that carry your car with you. So with whatever way you go, know that it is possible! You just have to be smart about it.

Go on to Part 2, where I talk about what to pack!

Thanks!
-S

Disney College Program. What Is it? Part 5: Extra Stuff You Need To Know!

  Getting College Credit

The DCP is an internship program, which means that you are able to earn credit if you choose too. Each housing complex has a special building with classrooms, so classes are held at different housing complexes.

   Not everyone can afford to take off a semester. Some people like to keep a student status at your school, which is very smart, if your school offers it. Not every college offers the DCP for credit, but a lot do. If doing the DCP is interesting to you, check to see if your school offers it! If it doesn't just know that would mean taking off a semester.

 My school did offer the DCP. There were a couple requirements I had to do, to be able to receive credit. I had to take a class, a seminar class, volunteer once, and write reflection papers. My school's DCP advisor also comes down to visit and meets with us to ask how we are doing with the program. For the most part, it didn't interfere with my schedule too much. Disney knows that if you are taking a class, they are required to schedule you off for that day. So it was nice, knowing what day I would have off, but my class was a 4 hour class, which did take up most of the day, but I would usually end up going out that night.

So if you can take credit, or need it, I would recommend doing so.

Security

Each housing complex is surrounded by a fence and the only entrance in, is a security gate. I felt very safe while walking around my complex. The only people allowed in are CP's. You are allowed to go to other housing complexes, but there are certain times where people from other complexes have to be out by, and certain times where they stop letting other complex people in.

They do allow guests in (and usually on check-in day the are less strict with parents) but you have to fill out a form, and they take copies of drivers license etc..

The bus transportation they provide also check your housing ID before getting on the bus. The buses are for CP's only! No guests are allowed on.

If you accidently loose your housing ID, just talk to security and they will give you a temporary ID to use for housing and buses.

Inspections

Inspections on your apartment occur once a month. They usually post the dates in which there will be inspections for your complex, although they don't tell you which buildings they will be inspecting on what day. This is hard because you have to make sure your apartment is clean every day until you get inspected. So hopefully your roommates are clean.

The inspectors can come at any time usually between 9am-5pm. They fill out a sheet and you will either Pass, Fail, or get a White Glove Award. You must Pass or get a White glove award, otherwise you and your roommates will be fined money. It depends really on how you will be fined. If one half of the room is clearly messier than the other, that roommate will be fined. If one room is messier than the others, that room will be fined, and if the whole apartment is messy, everyone will be fined. This is also the time when the inspectors will look for anything that isn't supposed to be there. Such as alcohol in Wellness apartments, drugs etc..

Getting the White Glove Award is a awesome thing! If you receive this, this means that your apartment was very clean. The firs time you get it, you get your picture on the White Glove Award Board in the complexes clubhouse, and each roommate gets a small prize. If you get a WGA again, everyone receives a better prize etc..

My apartment got the White Glove award twice in a row. The first time we got cookies, and the 2nd time we got really nice water bottles

Cast Connection

I know I briefly mentioned this in Part 3, but I didn't explain what it was. Cast Connection is a special store, only for Cast Members and their guests. This store has overstock or slightly damaged Disney merchandise items for sale at a very discounted price. They have items for everyone. Toys, clothing, even food. You can bring up to 3 guests with you, and when you check out they ask for your blue ID to make sure you are cast member.

Within cast connection is a small room called Property control. This area is for Cast Members Only! They check your ID at the door, and ask you to leave any items you found in Cast Connection, outside of the room. In property control they have damaged items, which are even more discounted than what is in Cast Connection. I found 2 pairs of Minnie ears that I paid $3.00 for and I saw nothing wrong with them. It is a very fun trip to go there once in awhile.

Housing Parties

Again, this was something that I briefly explained in Part 2, but it is exactly what the name tells you. Usually held at Chatham Field, are housing parties for CP's Only. They usually have free food, free stuff, a DJ, and rare character meet and greets. Along with this is Winter or Spring Formal, which is kind of like a Disney version of prom, and Graduation. I don't want to tell too much.. It's fun to be surprised.

Well that's it kiddos! There are some things that I can't tell you! I guess you just have to do the program and find out for yourself! If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me @ltdDream1 or leave a comment!

Thanks
-S

Disney College Program. What Is It? Part 4: Arrival

So you made it in the Disney College Program? Congrats! You know who your roommates could be, you know where you want to live, and you decided how to get there. But what do I do next?

 What should I expect upon arrival to Florida?

  Well the days before your set Check-In date is really up to you. Some people stay at a hotel for a few days before hand and some people drive in or fly in on that day. It's really however you would feel comfortable.

   I do recommend doing what I did, especially if you decide to fly. I flew in with my parents ( a lot of CP's parents come with them) and we stayed at Pop Century Resort for a few days. It worked out really nice. Since I didn't have a car, using the Magical Express from the airport (bus transportation that Disney provides for guests) helped us with costs. Plus we got to stay on Disney Property for a few days! One of my roommates I had met on Facebook was also staying there with her parents so we met up and got to hang out and get to know each other. Although we didn't get to go into the parks, we went to Disney Springs, and watched the Magic Kingdom fireworks on the beach at Polynesian. We kept ourselves busy enough before our Check-In day.

If you do decide to stay at a hotel before your check-in day, DO NOT SPEND MONEY ON THEME PARK TICKETS! I say this because, once you get your ID card, you will be able to go to the parks for free, so the wait is well worth it.

How does Check-In day work?

 Upon acceptance into the program, you will be asked to choose an available date to arrive (mentioned this in part 1) and you will be assigned a specific time to arrive. Check-In is held at Vista Way Apartments in their Club House. So because I didn't have a car, I had to pay for a taxi to take my parents and I to VW. This usually takes most of the morning (depending on your scheduled time) and they also have a designated waiting area for parents.

It's basically just a long line you stand in and you go through, get a folder, and find out which Park or Resort you will be working at and what apartment complex you will be in with what roommates. Once that is over you get your picture taken and you receive a Housing ID, which is used to show security when entering your apartment complex, and you receive your apartment key.
They then walk you through and you get a bag with some free goodies and go to Disney University to complete a background check. This is where you get your fingerprints done, etc..

 Once you are done with check in, you are able to go to your apartment and start moving your stuff in. My roommate I met before hand and we were the first ones to the apartment (along with our parents) I'm not going to lie, though, the place was a little dirty. The rooms were fine, and empty, but the tile floors weren't that great and the kitchen needed some work. Other than that it was pretty easy. We choose which rooms we wanted and soon enough our other roommates arrived and we met them.

Then later in the day I also had to go to VW by myself for a drug test. Yes, I had to pee in a cup and find my way around my own. This is when I first experienced the buses and figured out where to go. And if you don't know where your going, just ask. Everyone is pretty friendly!

What Is Traditions?

 When at Check-In you are given a program guide that has a date and time for your traditions class. Basically traditions is an all day class that every cast member at Disney has to go through. It's  the main start to your training. They go over different safety things etc.. This is also where you receive your name tag, and your Disney ID, along with a couple of surprises. (Make sure you wear comfortable shoes to walk in) So once you have your Disney ID, you are officially a cast member and you know what that means? Parks for FREE! Yes, traditions night is a big night, because this is usually when a lot of the CP's go to magic kingdom for the first time since they arrived.

What happens in the days proceeding Traditions?

  For most CP's you will be scheduled a housing meeting, which goes over all the housing rules and explains how to do what, and where to go.

And then after that, it is different for every person. It depends on the type of job you have. Because I was attractions, I attended a training day called Operations, which was mostly for those who would be operating equipment etc. Then usually you will have another training day specific to your park or resort. Because I worked at Epcot I went to a training day called Discovery Day, which was information specific to Epcot. Here is when I found out which specific attraction I would be working, as well as what my costume was and when my on-site training days were. This is the day to ASK QUESTIONS if you are confused on anything.

You then proceed to do On-site training, which is different for everyone! Some training takes longer than others, depending on your job. But don't worry about training too much. Yes, a lot of information is thrown at you all at once, but as long as you ask your trainer questions and pay attention, you will be fine.

Thanks for reading Part 4!
Next read Part 5 which will cover Extra info you should know.
Thanks!
-S

Disney College Program. What Is It? Part 3: Transportation

How does the bussing system work?

 The DCP offers Transportation for CP's who don't have a car to get to work, or prefer using busses to get to work, meaning that there are different busses that stop at every resort or park that is on Disney Property.

Each housing complex (besides Patterson Court) have bus stops. They all have benches and TV screens which display what time the bus should arrive and which ones are arriving. It was super helpful.

The buses each have a letter and once you arrive to your housing, you get a bus schedule which then tells you the times the busses are supposed to arrive and where they are going next. You also use the busses to go from complex to complex if you don't feel like walking, (unless you live or are going to VW because VW is not within walking distance to the other complexes) You may also use these if you want to go to the parks for fun.

Example: Bus A: Magic Kingdom

It would stop at The Commons, then Chatham Square, Vista Way, Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary, then Magic Kingdom Cast Services

So the buses have different orders in which they stop at the complexes, some only stop at CS and VW, and some stop at all , so if you wanted to go to The Commons, but you lived in Chatham Square, instead of going on bus A and waiting through all the stops, you would go on Bus C.

Example: Bus C: Epcot

Chatham Square, The Commons, Vista Way, Epcot Cast Services

Here are the rest of the buses...

Bus B: Magic Kingdom (CS,VW, Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, MK Cast Services, TTC (Ticket and Transportation Center))

Bus D: Disney Springs Resort Area ( VW, CS, Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans Cast Services, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West)

Bus E: Disney's Hollywood Studios (CS, TC, VW, Hollywood Studios Cast Services, Swan and Dolphin (on request), Yacht and Beach Club, Boardwalk Resort

Bus F: Typhoon Lagoon Waterpark and Disney Springs ( VW, TC, CS, Typhoon Lagoon, Disney Springs)

Bus G: DHS Resorts ( CS,VW, Caribbean Beach, Old Port Royale, Pop Century, Art of Animation, ESPN)

Bus H: Leisure (VW, TC, CS, Wal-Mart, Post Office, Publix/Walgreens)

Bus M: Florida Mall (This Bus would only go a few days a week)

Bus J: Disney's Animal Kingdom ( VW, TC, CS, DAK Wardrobe, DAK, DAK Lodge Resort)

Bus K: All Star Resorts, Blizzard Beach etc. ( VW, CS, AS Sports, AS Music, AS Movies, Blizzard Beach Waterpark, Coronado Springs Resort, Cast Connection)

So as you can see, sometimes taking the bus, especially on days off to go to a park or resort, it can
be a long ride.

Should I bring a car?

Yes! If you have one, and you can take it, BRING IT! Some people drive their in there car, and I know a few people who shipped it. Whatever the way, bring it if you can.

I didn't bring a car down, and not having one, made some of my days more difficult. If you don't have one, most likely you will know someone who does, so you can always tag along with them, but your schedules may not always be the same. There were quite a few times, where I had to go and get groceries and try to carry them all back by myself. It was really hard, I did struggle carrying 20 bags of groceries on a bus. And the trips were long as well. I was lucky enough to work at Epcot, so the C bus didn't stop anywhere else but housing and Epcot, but for others who worked at a resort, would sometimes have to catch a bus 2 hours before their shift.

So I recommend you bring a car to use for days off and shopping, then take the buses for work. This way you will save gas, and if a bus is running late, you will always have a back-up.

Go on and read Part 4 on arrival!
Thanks
-S

Disney College Program. What Is It? Part 2: Housing and Roommates

Thanks for coming to read Part 2!

What kind of Housing does the DCP offer at WDW?

The DCP offers 4 different Housing complexes. Vista Way (VW), Chatham Square (CS), The Commons (TC) and Patterson Court (PC). Once accepted into the DCP you will have to find roommates (which I briefly explained in part 1) and decide which housing complex you would like to preference first. You do have to pay rent each week and that rent can vary based on how many roommates you have and what complex you live in. All Complexes have pools, computer labs w/ printers, laundry,mailboxes and front desk areas to check out various cleaning items or to pick up packages.

Vista Way

   VW is known as the "party" complex. Don't let that scare you though. VW is actually a very nice complex. It is the oldest complex but the cheapest to live in. So the appliances can be outdated, and the buildings look a little old, but VW is the main hub for all the bus transportation and the Clubhouse sits on the VW property as well. The Clubhouse offers different services and also offers book and movie rentals for free! It is also close to a main street that has restaurants and shops. It is also

Chatham Square

CS is the next cheapest complex to live in, and in my opinion the best complex to live in. I lived in CS for my program and honestly there wasn't much wrong with it. Price wasn't too bad (I'll explain more about it later) and all the buses stopped here as well. The DCP also have Housing Parties which are held at CS, so it was nice just to walk over. So for the most part there weren't really many cons.

The Commons

 For a long time, The Commons were only for the International College Programmers or (ICP's) But they changed it, so all CP's can choose to live there. TC is a very nice complex. It's the only complex that has a small convince store and the only complex that has washer and dryers in each apartment. In the other complexes you have to walk to small laundry buildings. This is also the only place where they have a big meeting room, where they sometimes have parties, or grocery bingo. One of the cons about living here, is that not all bussing is available here. If there is a certain bus you have to take, a lot of times you would have to walk to CS and catch it there.

Patterson Court

Patterson Court is the most expensive housing to live in, but it is the newest, cleanest and quietest complex. It is a very nice complex, The only con about this is that NO bussing comes here. So if you do decide to preference living here, I would recommend having a car, otherwise you have to walk to CS to catch the buses.

How do I know what roommates I will be with?

You don't truly know until your check-in day. But before you go to do have to fill out a roommate/housing preference form that will be emailed to you. Once you find your roommates on Facebook, you all have to fill out the preference form the same to get a good chance of rooming together. So you all must collaborate and know how you want to fill it out ahead of time.

Ex. Chatham Square, 8 Person, 4 room
       Vista Way, 6 Person, 2 room

The list goes on.

So I ended up getting an 8 person, 4 room apartment in Chatham Square which is what I wanted. To me, having more roommates meant more people likely to be off of work when I was, so we could go to the parks together. It worked out really well. 6 out of the 8 people I had met on Facebook ended up in our group and we got 2 random people, who actually turned out to be really cool.

Read part 3 for Transportation!

Thanks
-S

Disney College Program. What is it? Part 1: The Basics

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to thank you for checking out my blog! It really means a lot to me. I want to share my stories, experiences and tips for any of you interested in doing the Disney College Program, or if you are planning your next Disney World Tip!

I did the Disney College Program for 4 months from Sep-Early Jan of 2015-16. It was one of the best experiences of my life! I would love to go back and do it again.

So...

What is the Disney College Program?

The Disney College Program or DCP is a paid internship for college students all over the world to get the chance to work at Disney World or Disneyland for a semester of their choosing.

How do I apply?

First off their are some guidelines to know before you can apply. You must be over 18 and be done with your first semester of college.
 Then you go to the website http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/default/ and click on the button that says apply. You will then have to fill out an application form, which consists of personal information as well as choosing what semester you would like to work, Spring or Fall, and then choose preferences on which area you would like to work in. Ex. Custodial, Attractions, Entertainment...

If they accept your application, you will then be asked to complete a Web Based Interview, which is answering "Agree" or "Disagree" to different statements. If you pass the Web Based Interview, you will then be asked to schedule a time for a Phone Interview, in which a Disney Recruiter will call and ask you interview type questions. Then you should receive an email, 2-3 weeks after the Phone Interview letting you know if you have been accepted or not and if accepted you will find out which area you will be working in.

For me, I applied to do the program for Fall of 2015, which meant that applications to apply opened on January 27th, of 2015. The whole process for me happened pretty quickly. Once I sent in my application, I received an email asking to do the Web Based Interview a couple hours later, and once I finished my Web Based Interview I was then asked to set up a Phone Interview. So this all happened within a day. Then 10 days later I had my Phone Interview and 2 weeks later I got an email saying that I was accepted into Attractions. So if you are planning on applying, I would recommend applying once the application opens for the semester you want to work.

What do I do after I'm Accepted?

For the most part, it's just getting through the struggle of counting down the days until you get there. It was hard for me because I got accepted 7 months before I would even go there. So it was a lot of planning and figuring out if I was going to drive or fly, what to pack etc. But you will receive a congratulations postcard in the mail which is a little something to keep and help you be excited to start working there.

   You also have to decide if you want to find roommates or go random. Disney provides off property housing and bus transportation for College Programmers or CP's. (Read Part 2 about Housing) If you decide to stay in Disney Housing, you will have to find roommates to live with. You can have anywhere from 2-8 people in an apartment. Most people find roommates through Facebook, because not everyone knows someone who is doing the program. They usually have Facebook pages created for that specific term and check-in date. People usually post personality surveys to see if you think you would get along with them or not.
 
   There are only a few rules... Boys must be with boys and Girls must be with girls. You must also know if you are going to be in a Wellness apartment or Non-Wellness. Wellness means that alcohol is not allowed in your apartment, and Non-wellness means that you can have it in your apartment. If you are under 21 you are automatically in a Wellness apartment, but if you are over 21 you can choose. People usually include this in their surveys so you know if it would work or not. And you must also have the same Check-In date. Upon acceptance, you will choose an available day that you can arrive.


Next go on to read Part 2. I will talk about Housing and Roommates
Thanks!

-S

What's In My Backpack?

   As a former Disney College Program Cast Member, I would pretty much go to the parks on my day off. Rest assured I would always have my backpack ready to go when I needed to catch a bus and head out the door. (These items are exclusive to myself only. As a 22 year old girl, I didn't have kids or a family with me, so what is in my backpack is meant for one person.)

Essentials:

Umbrella- I would always carry a mini umbrella in my backpack. Florida can be unpredictable with weather, so it really does pay to carry one.

Make-up Bag/ Emergency Kit: This is unique to everyone. I would carry foundation, extra contacts, a small perfume spray bottle etc.. Although there are a couple items that everyone should carry. A travel sized bottle of sunscreen, and hand sanitizer. These came in handy very often for me.

Empty Refillable Water Bottle: Now this is something that I will go over in a future money saving post, but carrying a empty refillable water bottle that you can bring from home can save you tons of money! Every quick service restaurant gives out free ice water. All you have to do is ask! I would then dump the water from the paper cup, into my water bottle, and Wallah! Free cold water. But why do I have to dump the water in a bottle? Why can't I just drink it from the cup?  Well for 1) You don't have to carry it, you could just keep it in your backpack, and it won't spill and 2) Most indoor queue lines don't allow food or beverage, so you would be asked to throw away your cup before you could enter. So keeping it in a water bottle in your backpack is key!

Wallet and Phone: Pretty self explanatory. As a cast member, I would always need to carry my ID and Main Entrance Pass so I could get into the parks for free.

Sunglasses: Florida is the Sunshine State. You have to keep the sun out of your eyes.

Extra Items:

Extra pair of Flip Flops: I would usually wear flip-flops around the park, and I would carry an extra pair, just incase mine decided to break.

Digital Camera: I would carry one of my small digital cameras with me just incase my phone died, or I wanted to take a really nice picture.

Autograph Book and Pen: If you are into meeting a lot of characters, like me, than having an autograph book on you at all times is essential. You never know when a rare character might pop out, so you want to have it with you at all times.

Trading Pins: I would keep a small plastic bag full of extra pins that I didn't like and use them to trade with cast members if I saw one I liked.

Portable Phone Charger: I would constantly use my phone when in the park. Either for a quick photo or to use the My Disney Experience App to look at wait times or change a reservation for something. This phone charger would be my back-up incase my phone decided to die.

Snacks: As a College Program Cast Member, I couldn't always afford to buy food in the park, so bringing a couple snacks along saved me money.

So those are my items I would always carry in my backpack. Again it is unique to each person, but hopefully this gives you an idea of what to carry with you! My next post will be Money Saving Tips! Until next time...

-S