If you are a student that gets accepted into the Disney College program, there's a fairly good chance that you'll be working in Food and Beverage. About one-third of all college programmers are placed in Quick Service Food & Beverage, in fact, and I am one of those!
First of all, forget whatever horror stories you may have heard of QSFB. It isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Yes, it's hard work, and yes, the hours are long, but so far I love my role and I'm glad I was placed where I am now--Outdoor Foods at the Magic Kingdom.
A typical shift for me ranges from six to fourteen hours. It really just depends on the season, what land you are in, and whether or not you will be cleaning a wagon at the end of the night.
Outdoor Foods at the Magic Kingdom is responsible for vending three items: ice cream bars, popcorn, and cinnamon-glazed almonds. There isn't much prep involved in any of those, so I handle food less than you may think. In ODF, your main responsibilities are handling money and handling guests. You are placed in a certain section of the park for a day and usually work only two or three wagons in a given shift.
One of the biggest advantages of working ODF in the Magic Kingdom is we get to move around the park. I have can wear seven different costumes, one for each land in the park, plus a costume worn when I am acting as a breaker or a stocker. When you work ODF at Magic Kingdom, you get really familiar with the park, more than you would if you were zoned in a certain area (Tomorrowland Merchandise or Main Street East, for example).
Other pro's of working ODF:
-We get a lot of hours. This is great if you are needing the money.
-Like I said, we don't have to stay in one place, which keeps things interesting and helps expand our knowledge of the Magic Kingdom.
-You get to be pretty independent; some days you will have a whole wagon to yourself, all shift. This can get boring, but if you like to work alone, it's a dream.
-In most of our locations, we can see the fireworks, the parades, and other outdoor entertainment the Magic Kingdom provides. Every day.
Some cons of ODF:
-We work hard. This isn't a role where you can slack off. You are busy, you're outside, it's hot, and you'r constantly dealing with guests. It can be a challenge if you aren't a hard worker.
-Sometimes guest interaction can be limited. You want to work quickly to keep your line down and provide good service, but sometimes that means you can't have a ten-minute chat with a little princess about how her day is going.
Ultimately, though, I am very satisfied with the role I was placed in. I don't mind the work and I love the people I've met so far. If I were to do another program, I would probably asked to be placed in MK ODF. It's an excellent role if you're willing to work hard at it.
