how to stay healthy during your disney college program

i know i know, you’re freakin STOKED that you are doing this disney college program. i get it, i was in your place! i was so unbelievably excited when i got accepted for the fall advantage 2018 program as a lifeguard (holla at me if your location is blizzard beach, blizzy b is LIFE). the last thing you’re thinking about right now is staying healthy.

just like the rest of life, everyone’s health journey is different and the disney college program is no exception. some people lose weight, some people gain weight, some people get jacked and others lose muscle. lots of it depends on your role, your location, your roomies, the friends you make, if you have a car, what apartment complex you’re in and more.

i came into the dcp healthy as shiz. i had a dedicated workout regimen, i eat a ton of fruits and veggies, and i had been preparing for the lifeguard swim test for months (months was definitely overkill, the swim test is 10x easier than everyone makes it out to be). i thought i was going to be even healthier on the dcp, since i got one of the most active roles and would be attending monthly lifeguard trainings which were a ton of swimming. i had a healthy nutrition base that i wasn’t planning on changing. i rarely drank and wasn’t planning on it while i was in florida. things couldn’t change THAT much.

boy, was i wrong.

within a month, my health was in the garbage. i was eating waaaay more unhealthy food than i was used to. i was indulging on all the crazy vegan disney treats on the daily. i wasn’t working out anymore, and my job wasn’t active enough to offset my eating habits. i started binge drinking at least once a week (curse you, señor frogs, ibar and vista 2210).

by the end of my program, i had gained 26 pounds, i had massive brain fog, and i was hating my program because i never felt at the top of my game. i came home in the worst shape of my life.

this doesn’t have to be your fate! in know plenty of people who stayed hella healthy on their program. it’s just a matter of being conscious of your habits and make a commitment to staying healthy.

now that i’m back in school studying holistic healthcare and nutrition, i know the exact steps that would have let me enjoy my program without sacrificing my health, and i’m so grateful i can pass this information off to you.

i’ve collected some of my favorite easy recipes from my dcp into the unofficial disney college program cookbook. it includes 20+ healthy recipes that can be modified for all diet types, including vegetarian and vegan. it also includes some wacky recipes my friend’s and i came up with, including loaded brownies that are not at all healthy for your body but healthy for the soul. you can buy it on etsy by clicking here.

without further ado, here is my tips for staying healthy on your disney college program!

1. meal prep

the easiest way to make sure that you are eating properly is to make your own food at home. although most locations have a cafeteria or small cafe that you can buy food in a pinch, most of it isn’t healthy.

find a few recipes you love to eat, make a fuck ton, and store it in tupperware for the week. you can even bring your pre made food into the parks when you’re playing, saving you the temptation of all the junk disney sells, this will also save you a ton of money, because disney food is expeeeensive, even with cast member discounts.

2. find time to exercise.

this one may seem obvious, but you have no idea how hard it is to find time for a dedicated workout on the dcp. they have you working crazy hours, sometimes until 4 am or super long 14 hour shifts. on your off days, if you have the choice of working out or going to the park, the parks are obviously going to win out.

but making time for a dedicated workout will help you so much. all the housing complexes have a gym and a pool that are open most hours, so you can go get your sweat on at anytime. you can even do a workout video in your apartment! setting an hour aside before you go to a park or to work will help you maintain some kind of health.

3. get your steps in.

this is a fairly easy one, since disney world has four parks, two water parks, two mini golfs, 25 resorts and disney springs to explore! it’s pretty darn easy to get well over 10,000 steps on a park day.

on a work day, you have to be more mindful depending on your job. some roles, such as vacation planner, have you sitting all day and you get very few steps. others like lifeguarding, have you walking all day.

i recommend getting a fitbit if you are not able to have your phone on your body at work, so you’re able to track your activity and get a good idea about how active you’re really being.

4. sleeeeeeeeep.

between exploring the parks and work, it may feel like you constantly need to be doing something. but guess what? sleep is just as important in disney as it is in the real world. those 7-8 hours are so. SO. instrumental for your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. sometimes staying up until dawn laughing with your roomies is great, until you get a reprimand for being a walking zombie.

it is kind of a struggle getting quality sleep when your roomie is coming in at all hours of the night after work. invest in a good sleep mask. diffuse some lavender essential oil. even take some magnesium or melatonin if you’re really struggling to get those zzz’s.

5. please. PLEASE. take care of your mental health.

the disney college program is hard. you’re working rough jobs for minimum wage. you’re away from home, and it’s the first time living states away from your family for many people. guests can be mean. dating is hard. leaders can be strict. as wonderful and magical as the disney college program is, it’s still life, and life is hard sometimes.

your mental health has to take precedence over everything. it is more important than going to the parks. it is more important than partying. it is more important than working out. it’s more important than work. you are part of creating magic for guests, and you can’t create magic from an empty cup.

it’s okay to take the day off to have a mental health day.

it’s okay to say no to going to a park with friends.

it’s okay to say no to drinking.

it’s okay to self term to save your mental health.

although you may feel like you are living in a fantasy in the disney bubble, you still have the responsibilities of normal life, which include taking care of yourself the best you can.