Dan@Disney

3 weeks today I will be getting on a plane to Orlando International Airport. Wow! When I found out that I had got the role, over 6 months ago, March 2012 seemed like a lifetime away but tomorrow it is finally here. I am getting there with all my preparations but there is still quite a bit to get sorted.

Checklist Update

At 6 months to go I wrote a post with a checklist of all the documents that I needed to sort out. I thought now would be a good time to update that post and the good news is it is now all complete:

Criminal Background Check – ASAP | COMPLETE @ 6 MONTHS

Missing Documents – ASAP | COMPLETE @ 6 MONTHS

Flight – ASAP | COMPLETE @ 6 MONTHS

Medical and Travel Insurance – Required | COMPLETE

After my post about insurance a while ago I decided to go with IMG Insurance. I finally bought this about a month ago, it was certainly not the cheapest insurance I could have gone with but I feel like it has the kind of coverage I would like. They emailed me all the necessary documents including a letter stating that it meets all US visa requirements so that I can show that to Disney on arrival in the USA.

Visa – 4 to 6 weeks before departure | COMPLETE

My epic post on visas explains the process that I went through to get my visa but long story short, I received my visa documents about 7 weeks before my departure date. I booked an appointment at the Embassy in London for a week later, filled in the forms, went to the embassy and had my passport back about 5 days later.

Program Assessment Fee – 30 days before departure | COMPLETE

Last week I had an email from Disney Recruiting with a link to pay the fee ($100 + $4.50 processing fee) which also included a username and password. Pretty simple really, click the link enter the details. Pay with a card (some debit cards are not accepted, mine was – yay!) and then print out the receipt to take to Orlando.

More Shopping

Throwing away almost my entire wardrobe!

In a previous post I mentioned I had a bit of shopping to do. Turns out I had a lot of shopping to do! I decided to go through my wardrobes to throw out clothes that did not fit or were old and shabby so I would have less to go through for packing. Well I basically threw out most of the clothes I owned, I have not really bought much new stuff since ICP 2009 (did I mention I hate shopping?!).

When I realised I basically had nothing left there was a sudden need to buy at least some basics to travel with. Although, since I am travelling to one of the world’s shopping capitals I am not planning on buying too much.

I have done a couple of shopping trips to get a few bits and pieces and still have a few extra things to get but I think I am almost there now. I am hoping to start packing about a week early, just in case I have forgotten anything it will give me time to rush out and buy it. I think at the moment I am going to try to take just one bag but I suspect that it might become two! Either way I will be sure to write a post with my packing list to help people out in the future.

Extra Paperwork

There are a few extra bits of paperwork that I have also done in that last few weeks. First of all letting people like the bank know that I am going away so that they will stop sending me paper statements and adverts which will otherwise just build into a massive pile for when I get home. Some people will also need to contact the student loans company and revenue and customs to sort out any tax issues before they leave.

From previous experience of going away for an extended period I would also recommend a power of attorney. This is a legal document that lets someone you trust (like a parent) act on your behalf for dealing with organisations such as the bank or the tax man while you are away. This means that if things need signing they can do it for you instead of sending it on a 6000 mile round trip. It is really not difficult at all, you can buy a pack with the form which you simply need to sign and get someone to witness. Leave the form with whoever you are using as your Attorney (trusted person) and you are sorted – they just show that to companies they need to deal with on your behalf.