The "Sören´s Way To Disney" Thread

[Erik Johnson]

Very cool Soren. Once you get to Orlando we will take you out to dinner to celebrate!!!

[Hattuchili]

Looks like I should start looking for a new moderator for the phishybrewer forums

 

Why do you want a new modeator? Do you want to fire me?

 

--Sören

[Hattuchili]

Will you still be able to go on the UK Trip since you will be at Disney?

 

I hope so! Be sure, I want t do everything to go on the UK trip!

 

--Sören

[Hattuchili]

Very cool Soren. Once you get to Orlando we will take you out to dinner to celebrate!!!

 

That sounds great! I can´t wait to meet some people from the boards, in Florida!

 

--Sören

[USRoadTripper]

Yay for Soren! Congratulations...you're gonna have the time of your life! I'll be down there at some point next year, and I'm already looking forward to meeting you!

 

-Julie

[Nrthwnd]

Will you still be able to go on the UK Trip since you will be at Disney?

 

I hope so! Be sure, I want t do everything to go on the UK trip!

 

--Sören

 

Um, how long does this thing go for? Guess it's schedule doesn't run into June, right?

 

*** Congratulations and have a great time while there! ***

 

[SharkTums]

It's 12 months then they boot him back to Germany.

 

Soren, we've talked about this a lot, you need to do whatever makes you happy. Just please understand what you're getting yourself into. Do not worry about coaster trips or silly stuff like that, that should have no influence on your decision.

 

As for the rest of you, don't pressure Soren to come to the states just to 'hang out' with him for your selfish reasons! From what I've heard and seen he could be working 60 hour weeks and scraping by on a Disney Budget...he won't have the time or money for hanging out!

 

I think you should keep poking people in the eyes in Germany and visit us more often! You're too old for 'Vista Lay' anyways!

[PhishyBrewer]

^SharkTums bites :shock:

 

I'd totally understand if Soren couldn't hang out at all. I know what amusement parks pay. I've been there, you've been there. It's enough to get by and maybe a beer.

 

Although... if Soren ever did have the time, I would surely buy him dinner.

 

I have also talked with Soren through the week about Disney. And the way I look at is, hes not married, he doesn't have any kids, he should do it while he can and have fun. Despite the money issue I'm sure after some years after working at the park, I'm sure he'll say he was glad he did it.

 

And I already told him I'd hook him and Chrissie both up with Busch tickets!

[USRoadTripper]

You're too old for 'Vista Lay' anyways!

 

From my experience, the average age of an International Program participant seemed older than that of a College Programmer. Average for College Program might be 20 or 21 where International seemed to be 24 or 25...I'd bet most people there will be right around his age. That's how it was when I was there at least!

 

-Julie

[robbalvey]

I think all Elissa was saying is that this is a VERY big decision for Soren.

 

As much as Elissa and I would LOVE to have Soren here in the US so we can hang out with him during our visits to Florida, that's also a very selfish reason for us to be in favor for him doing the program.

 

Remember that he has an established career in Germany and from what I understand makes some decent cash!

 

Doing the Disney program would be quite a change of pace. And to be honest, while we gave him as much constructive help based on our experience working at parks, I actually think, as much as we hated to say it, we ended up advising him against doing the Disney International program.

 

If Soren was in his early 20s, just out of school and didn't have an established career, I would be telling him to go for it in a heartbeat!

 

And while I'm very happy for him that he made it in, it's a very difficult decision to give up everything you've worked for already and do the Disney program. It's a cut in pay, it's crazy insane hours, and it's a very different lifestyle.

 

I mean, on the plus side, I worked for Disney theme parks for nearly 5 years and LOVED every moment of it. But I was also 18 at the time, just out of school, and had nothing to lose.

 

Congrats to Soren for making it in the program and we'll support you 100% whatever you decide, but everyone here please remember, he needs some real constructive advice as this could be a life changing event.

 

I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just trying to be realistic.

 

I know Soren wants to come and work in the US very badly and my advice is instead of taking the Disney job is to try to use his current career, apply for an H1b work visa and try to get a job with an eye doctor in the US.

 

--Robb "I hope what I said makes sense." Alvey

[Jose Eber]

I'm kinda glad you guys are saying what you've said (Alvey's).

 

I've heard good and bad about a Disney program. Its not all roses for everyone.

 

There are two sides to working at Disney. I see some cast members just not regretting it one bit, and others hating it, and others in the middle having both sides at times.

 

Nobody but Soren really knows whats best for Soren. My decision to move out here (to a Disney Town) was so much about me and nobody else. I needed to do this to get it out of my system and appreciate a place like WDW/Celebration in the only way I could appreciate it.

 

Its getting old now, i.e. I miss disneyland too, so I need to be bi-coastal!

 

I guess I don't want to encourage or discourage? I might be being too swiss here.

[Wackyboxer]

I think that's some very wise counsel that the Alvey's have given you Soren.

 

I think it's so very exciting to have been accepted and I was extremely excited for you when I saw that you had been accepted to the program.

 

I'm still think it's an honor to be accepted, but I also started wondering how this would affect your career. I wasn't wise enough in my younger days to establish myself in a good paying career and my life has suffered for it.

 

I worked as a ride op at Knott's Berry Farm back in 1981. Honestly, it was the most fun job I've ever had, and I've often said that I'd do that for ever if it would support my family, but sadly it wouldn't.

 

I know that your still a young man and don't have a wife and children to provide for, but I would imagine that you've had to work very hard to get as established as you are in your career, and to walk away from that career, even for a job that's likely to be a whole heck of a lot of fun, is such a huge, potentially life-changing decision, you have to be so very careful in your decision making.

 

Most likely, I'm not telling you anything that you haven't already thought about, and only you truly know what the best thing is for Soren to do. I know we have nothing in common in the paths our lives have taken, but if I were in your position I don't think that I could walk away from what you've worked so hard to achieve.

 

Again, only you know what's best for you, but I think you would be very wise to consider every conceivable thing that could change if you were to decide to enter the Disney program.

 

I know that the great people on here will support you in whatever decision you make, just please make the decision that will contribute the most to the path that you want your life to take in the future, whichever one it may be.

[PhishyBrewer]

I'll start a "Soren Disney Charity Fund" and help you find a wife so you can stay in the states

[robbalvey]

I'll start a "Soren Disney Charity Fund" and help you find a wife so you can stay in the states

YES!!!! Now that's the kind of "out of the box" thinking we need around here!!!

 

--Robb "Know any hot coaster enthusiast chicks that want a German husband?" Alvey

[Hattuchili]

After reading all this, I am not sure whether this was the right decision or not? It was very hard for me, to say: yes I want to go there! I know, I will leave all my friends and family for a long time and maybe it will not be easy there at WDW! I hope it will not be as bad as a few people said here!? :?

 

--Sören

[Louise]

^ I hate to sound cheesy, but you need to follow your heart. (Wow, even cornier than I imagined. )

 

All of the above, particularly what Robb said, sounds like good advice to me, but at the end of the day you have to make your own decisions. I'm a huge believer in following your instincts, something will tell you whether you're doing the right thing or not, and you have to go with that, regardless of what the rest of us are telling you.

 

And as Elissa said, don't worry about little things like coaster trips, etc, there'll be plenty of others. You know where I am if you want to talk more.

[CoasterEricHP]

I agree, even though it sounds cheesy

 

I did the college program 2 years ago (i was 21) and although it wasnt moving across an ocean, it was still enough that I was a little worried that I'd be 30 hours away from everyone. But it was fine, I made great friends that still work down there and have moved up pretty good in the company in a short time. My friend Carrie (she likes older guys.. haha) started in merchandise in downtown disney and now is the head group reservation person at the Yacht and Beach club (just a short walk away from German Epcot ) and my friend Glenn presented at Innoventions in Epcot and now works for the Disney Design Group. So.. you have to start out somewhere and if you're dedicated and you want to, you'll move up!

 

Anyways, I have some pictures of random stuff on here-

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/coastererichp

 

if you arent too tired of looking at college program things! Just remember that you only live once!

 

Eric

[moinab]

Soren, I am the queen of bad life decisions, so I won't offer you any advice!

 

What I can offer you, however, is to let you know that my landlord has been an optician with Pearle Vision, here in Florida, for many years. He also travels to Germany every year for vacation! I don't know anything about the visa situation, but I'd be very happy to talk to him for you, to find out about job opportunities.

[SharkTums]

^See if the US Wife thing doesn't work out that sounds like another good plan!

[moinab]

^See if the US Wife thing doesn't work out that sounds like another good plan!

 

Well, you know, I am in nursing school, so I know lots of cute, single women...

 

[Hattuchili]

^ Thanks Maureen,

that sound very good! It would be nice, if you could talk to him! Maybe we finde a way for me! Or we can talk about your cute single women!

 

However, I am glad to have you guys! I am sure I´ll find my way in the US!

 

--Sören

[moinab]

I will talk to him soon - I need him to fix my dining room fan! I will definitely talk to him for you, and see what information I can get for you. We have been living here for over 4 years, so we have a good relationship with him. I'm sure he will be happy to help in any way that he can.

 

And I'll start talking to my classmates, to find out who likes German men! LOL!!

[RCTfan]

I did the College Program just last Jan-Aug and had a fantastic time. My situation is different since I'm in college and you have a career and such, so I probably won't have any useful advice for you.

 

My program was amazing. I got to work at the Living Seas and Soarin' (HA, I worked at your ride) and I learned a lot that will help me in the future. I also learned alot about myself, which I probably wouldn't have learned elsewhere.

 

The most hours I ever had was 58ish, and I brought that upon myself. I asked for the extra hours, so I received. During most of my program, I worked 6 days a week, but the Living Seas was short staffed. I was only moved over to Soarin' when they were short staffed and we had enough. The World Showcase is open from 11-9, which is 10 hours. I don't think Germany is open for the Extra Magic Hours, unless they changed it since I've been there, so you wouldn't have to stay until midnight on those nights. After your Merch location closes, you'll have to count your money and such, but that isn't too horrible I guess.

 

I'm not going to tell you whether you should go or not, but if you have any specific questions that maybe I can answer, feel free to ask here or PM me.

 

Oh, and if it counts for anything, I'll be back down there on the program January - May (probably longer) 06 as a Character Performer, so I'll just be next door if you need a familiar face/SN. Ha. I'll have my car so we can go to some parks. So you may miss out on some trips but you'll have some nice parks in Florida!

 

I couldn't tell from your posts if you made a decision or not, but I take it not yet since people are still giving you advice.

[robbalvey]

Soren, I am the queen of bad life decisions, so I won't offer you any advice!

 

What I can offer you, however, is to let you know that my landlord has been an optician with Pearle Vision, here in Florida, for many years. He also travels to Germany every year for vacation! I don't know anything about the visa situation, but I'd be very happy to talk to him for you, to find out about job opportunities.

What I would reccomend is perhaps once Soren moves out to Florida see if your landlord would be interested in meeting Soren and see if there is an opprotunity there.

 

I know several people who work for my company have applied and gotten their H1b work visas on their own, but it's always much easier if you have someone sponser you.

 

The other advice I would give to Soren (and anyone else that might be interested in doing what Soren is doing) is that while you are working for Disney, do everything you can to research other companies within your field. Go on interviews and meet as many people as possible. That way, when the job with Disney is over after 12 months, you might have someone else in Florida sponser you for an extension of your visa.

 

In some ways, that might be the best of both worlds. You get to do the job at Disney AND you have a pretty good shot of staying in the US after that job has ended. It might take a lot of work and research, but if you're really looking to move your life to the U.S. is the best advice I can offer.

 

Having been on the "sponser" end of the visa process many times before, I can tell you that it's not easy, but VERY rewarding once it does come through. I'd say about 20% of the people I work with at Activision have been through this process.

 

--Robb "....if only you were an animator or a programmer instead of someone who pokes people in the eye!" Alvey

[Hattuchili]

^ Thanks for that kind of words, Robb. I´ll see what I can do, in Florida! Maybe I really finde someone who want to sponsor me!

 

^^ Hey Jeremy,

First of all thanks for your infos! I would be great to meet you there and visit some parks. Oh, and a WallMart trip on my second day wouldn´t be bad!

 

--Sören