MY BIGGEST REGRETS FROM MY DISNEY ACADEMIC EXCHANGE PROGRAM - WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?

*ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN AND NOT OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY OR YUMMY JOBS*

Hey there, pals!

I cannot believe that it's been an entire trip around the sun since I got the devastating news that my Disney Academic Exchange Program came to a sudden end! At times, it feels like I got the news yesterday and other times it feels like it happened years ago. One things for sure, I am glad I took part in the Disney Academic Exchange Program and I will never look back! I may not have my closest Disney friends by my side like I used to 12 months ago, but that doesn't mean their love and support is not there! The next time I can squeeze my friends again will be the sweetest thing and it will be well worth the wait whenever I can travel back across the pond again 💕

To mark the one-year anniversary, I'm reflecting on my own Disney Academic Exchange Program and came up with my top 5 biggest regrets and what I would do differently if I had the opportunity to do the Disney Academic Exchange Program, or another Disney International Program, again.

*Disclaimer: everyone's Disney programs are all unique to that individual and there's no right or wrong way to do a program. The list below are just things that I wish I could've done on my Disney Academic Exchange Program*

03.15.2020 - I was disguising my smile when this picture was taken...

03.16.2021 - my smile is as big as in this picture. Importantly, the smile is genuine and I am ready to reunite with my Disney friends when it is safe to do so

1. I wish I attended more of the Disney and CMU education classes and took part in the volunteering opportunities

If you read my post last week, you'll know that I touched upon the different studying offerings that come with the Disney Academic Exchange Program. During my program, I only participated in two classes from Disney - I fully completed the Hospitality and Guest Services course and completed one class on Leadership before the pandemic terminated all Disney classes. Also, I was signed up to a CMU class but had to call out because I was feeling incredibly unwell on the day of the session. I wasn't able to see how Disney create some of the magic nor was I able to participate in any Disney's voluntEARing events.

If I had the opportunity to do a Disney program again, I would definitely just go out on a limp and sign up for as many things as I can, even if they are a little further afield meaning I would have to get an Uber ride to the location where the event is taking place. My advice to anyone on a Disney program is just to sign up for as many things as you can!

2. I wish I created more Disney park challenges

Hands down, one of my favourite memories of my Disney Academic Exchange Program was doing my six parks one day challenge! If you haven't read about my challenge, please, please, please click here. I promise you, it is worth the read!

Sadly, this was the only challenge that I actually set for myself during my Disney Academic Exchange Program. And, I so wish I did more park challenges instead of just going to the parks. Other challenges that I would've loved to tested include:

• Riding every ride in Magic Kingdom in one day

• Experiencing every attraction in Epcot in one day

• Experiencing every attraction in Hollywood Studios in one day

• Experiencing every attraction in Animal Kingdom in one day

• Meeting all the characters in Epcot/Magic Kingdom in one day

• etc.

However, that just gives me an excuse to do these challenges whenever I plan future trips back to the Walt Disney World Resort!

3. I wish I splashed more cash

I think most people would struggle with trying to control how much they are spending when on the Disney Academic Exchange Program, but I had the opposite! If you know me personally, you know that I'm such a money saver and this was my absolute nemesis!! I know a lot of people on my Disney Academic Exchange Program spent so much money on Disney merchandise, Walt Disney World Resort staycations, amongst many other absolutely awesome things that I wish I did!

4. I wish I travelled around Central Florida and the United States more

One thing that a lot of my peers did on my Disney Academic Exchange Program was travel around during time off, which I thought was the most awesome thing! Plus, it's so much easier to travel around the United States on a student visa than it is to travel from the UK into the United States on a tourist visa.

Image courtesy of Astro-Landscapes.com

A popular destination that Disney Cast Members on College Programs like to go to is over on the west coast and experience Disneyland in California! Also, I know people travel to nearby states or even drive around Florida for a little 'state-cation'. My problem was definitely not having enough time off because I worked in two quite intense and unique locations that people do not get placed in that often!

If you are able to travel and have the confidence to do so, I would definitely say get out there, be a wilderness explorer and tick off a few states 👌

5. I wish I had a bit more 'me' time

Above everything, I wish I had a bit more 'me' time. I was such a hardworker and was unfamiliar with how to book extra days off that I ended up working for 9 months straight! I didn't realise how exhausted I was until I found out that my entire Disney Academic Exchange Program came to an end. And so, I wish I booked that extra day to have an extended weekend and explore somewhere new or have that extra day to try out another Disney park challenge.

As a Disney Academic Exchange Program participant working in the United States, I believe that you'll be entitled to annual leave, which I think is currently 10 days per calendar year. So, I would definitely make sure that you take advantage of these whether you have friends or family visiting, want to have a fun trip away somewhere or just have that extra day to relax!

I really hope you enjoyed reading this bonus post, and hopefully you may have taken some tips and tricks, so that you're not taking away the same regrets from your Disney Academic Exchange Program. Like I said earlier, this post is only about my regrets and things I'd do differently and there is no right or wrong way to do a Disney program. In the end, you are the one who is in control of your own experience, so do what makes you feel happy and will make memories that'll last a lifetime!

And that brings me onto the end of this post and the end of consistent posting on Once Upon Hannah's Dream! I do have one more post planned, but I do not when this post will be published because of the current pandemic situation here in the UK and what things will look like for me after I've finished university. You may be able to guess what the post is about, but I really want you guys to know what the possibilities are for careers after completing the Disney Academic Exchange Program.

A quick side note, just because my blog will now be going to occasional posts does not mean that you cannot contact me! If you have any blog post requests that I haven't already covered or any questions about the Disney Academic Exchange Program, please do not hesitate to drop me a message on the contact form or on my socials and I'll be more than happy to help you out!

Thank you so much for reading this post and supporting my blog throughout!

Have a magical day!

-Hannah

DISCLAIMER: this blog is my personal experience on the Disney Academic Exchange Program (DAEP) 2019-2020 and may not reflect everyone’s experience. Other programs and future participants on the DAEP may have slight adjustments to their programs that may not be featured in any of my blog posts. That being said, if you do leave any questions, I will try to answer them as best as I possibly can 😊