Roommate Anxiety + Finding Your People on the Disney College Program – Season Seven, Episode Two
ON THIS EPISODE OF THE DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM PODCAST
Welcome to another episode of season seven of the Disney College Program Podcast! In this episode, meet former Disney College Program roommates, Emily and Izzy. The girls were matched as random roommates on their first Disney College Program and quickly realized how much they had in common. They worked in the same role, both loved musical theatre and shared a strong passion for Disney.
Emily and Izzy discuss how to make the random roommate transition smoother, tips on sharing a living space and the best ways to make new friends on the Disney College Program.
Welcome to season seven of The Disney College Program Podcast, where we explore all things life on the Disney College Program! For more than 40 years, this one-of-a-kind internship has brought students and recent grads from across the country to Walt Disney World® Resort—and many go on to build lasting careers with The Walt Disney Company.
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ABOUT OUR GUESTS:
Emily is a sophomore studying hospitality at the University of Central Florida from Fort Myers, Florida. Applying and working for the Disney College Program has been her dream since she discovered it watching Disney vlogs on YouTube in 8th grade.
This is her second Disney College Program, and she is so excited to be back! Her current role is a Disney’s Hollywood Studios Character Attendant, and she thinks it is the best job ever. She loves making magic for guests of all ages from around the world. Her goal after the Disney College Program is to work her way up to a leadership role in Walt Disney World Resort Entertainment.
Izzy is from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and is a current student at Trident Technical College with plans to further study Costume Design and Technology. This is her second Disney College Program, and she is a proud Disney PhotoPass photographer kiwi over at the Magic Kingdom Park.
She completed her previous Disney College Program in food and beverage at Pinocchio Village Haus. She plans to return home after this program is completed but hopes to return to Walt Disney World someday in the future!
RANDOM ROOMMATE DOS AND DON'TS:
Do: Fully complete the housing enrollment form
Before you move into your new home at Flamingo Crossings Village, which is owned and operated by American Campus Communities (ACC), make sure to fully complete the housing enrollment form! Here, you can submit floor plan preferences, accommodation requests and manage a vehicle if you choose to bring one.
This is a mandatory first step in the housing process for all participants, and it’s important to note that all requests may not be met.
Don’t: Get caught up in the “what ifs” before arrival
On your Disney College Program, you are guaranteed to live with random roommates in Flamingo Crossings Village. It’s easy to start thinking about all possible outcomes, but Emily and Izzy recommend not getting caught up thinking “what if.”
“You have to be open,” Emily said. “You have a random roommate, and you’re also assigned a random role; you can’t go into it with a closed mind.”
Izzy said the best mindset to have is letting go of the fear, and that in her experience, having a random roommate was never something to worry about.
“You have to take a deep breath, walk through that door and say hi to the person on the other side,” Izzy said.
Do: Make small talk while moving in
While you’re adjusting to your new living space, don’t be afraid to break the ice with your roommate! Share your interests, role, college experience or even your favorite Disney movie to find where you overlap.
This is how Emily and Izzy discovered their mutual love of musical theatre! They played showtunes on the way to work and spent a day in Hollywood Studios attending the For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration multiple times.
Don’t: Assume your roommate will have the same schedule as you
No two Disney College Program schedules are exactly alike — shift time, length and off days can all vary by role and location. Take this into consideration when moving into your new room!
Be mindful if you’re leaving or returning from work while your roommate is sleeping and be respectful of their alone time if they ask for it. In Emily and Izzy’s case, they spent a lot of time together and would need occasional breaks.
“There would be days when I’d just let her sleep and go sit somewhere else,” Emily said.
Do: Have open and honest communication
Communication is key!
Be open about how clean or messy you’re okay with the room looking. Share if there’s something you’d like changed, but remember to always be respectful.
If you’re looking for someone to go to the parks with in your first days after moving in, ask your roommate! You never know if it could be the beginning of a friendship like Emily and Izzy’s.
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