Whether you're thinking about applying, or about to embark upon your College Program, here's some (hopefully) helpful information that I've gleaned from my Program, as well as from other sites, and Disney recruiting...
* Note : Since it has been a while since my Program, some of the information here may be out-of-date. I have tried to research the current Program guidelines, etc. as much as possible. However, if anyone encounters incorrect info, please e-mail me and let me know what the current situation is so this page may be kept up-to-date. Thanks!!
Other than the time of your life??? :) The Walt Disney World College Program is an internship opportunity for college undergraduates in good standing to work in WDW parks and resorts in Orlando, FL for a semester. At any given time, there are approximately 2,000 college students participating in the College (from colleges around the US) and International (for students from other countries) Programs at WDW.
The structure of the Program can be divided into the following areas...
1) Living
During your time on the Program, you will be housed on Disney-owned apartment property. The main property most CP-ers will probably be placed is Vista Way. It is approximately a 10 minute drive from any of the parks, and shuttles are provided.
You will have to go pot-luck for roommmates but will get to choose whether you would prefer a 4-person/2 bedroom-2 bath units OR 6-person/3 bedroom-2 bath. Non-smoking and 'Wellness' (no smoking, no alcohol) apartment choices will also be provided. The apartments are fully furnished, and rent (all bills and utilities are included) will be deducted from your paycheck depending on the type of unit you choose.
Ex-CP'er Tiffany Towery has put together an excellent page on Vista and it's amenities. Go to her 'Living' page to find out more...
2) Learning
Soon after arriving, you will be required to attend Traditions classes for 2 days at Disney University. These are a blast!!! You will be given an overview of Disney culture and history, and will learn through lecture, games and fun all sorts of facts and trivia that'll be invaluable to you as both a cast member and a Disney nut! On the second day, we even got to go on a little scavenger hunt around the parks and resorts.
If you're an Epcot cast member as I was, you may also get to participate in Epcot's Discovery Day program where you'll be taught all about Epcot, and given the opportunity to explore and learn where everything is in the park via tours and an awesome scavenger hunt, using clues we'd learned in our lectures.
Finally, you will be required to attend weekly seminars for the duration of your time there. These are held at Vista Way itself, and scheduled on your regular days off. Depending on the number of classes you attend, you may be awarded your Ducktorate or Mouseters degrees! I am rather out of touch with the learning structure now since it has been totally re-vamped since my time there. Again, I shall have to refer you to Tiffany's 'Learning' page for more current info...
Regardless, all classes and seminars require business/business casual attire - so bring some nice clothes to wear (this'll be described in detail in your Cast Member Handbook).
3) Earning
You could be placed in either one of the 4 parks, the waterparks, the resorts, or in Downtown Disney. Positions available to apply for include that of...
You will specify the top 3 positions you'd be interested in at your interview and will be notified of your placement upon acceptance (more on this below...). After completing Traditions though, you will be told exactly where you will be working, and when your first day will be. Some parks like Epcot (Discovery Day as explained above) will have their own orientation; some will not. Either way, you will usually be give a few days to train with a mentor. After that, you may take off your 'Earning My Ears' ribbon (given at Traditions), and you're a full fledged cast member!!!
You will get scheduled for your promised number of hours (usually approximately 40 hours as specified in your acceptance letter). The current wage is $5.60/hr. Overtime is paid at time and a half and applied to all hours worked after...
The amount of overtime you will have will depend on your area, as well as on the time of the year. There is also an overtime hotline you can call if you desire more hours.
There will be opportunities as well, to cross-train in different positions during your Program. For e.g. I worked in Attractions but had the opportunity to cross-train in both Merchandising and Quick Service Foods. You may also shadow your managers - Epcot's Wonders of Life Pavillion where I worked had each CP-er be a manager for a day. And you can make arrangements to shadow in other areas that interest you - I got to do a Guest Relations stint as well. This is normally set up through your managers.
Volunteering
A special opportunity that not many people tend to talk about is the chance each CP-er gets to volunteer while on the Program. I strongly encourage you to do so because it is one of the most rewarding things you could ever do! Get involved and become a Disney VoluntEar by giving your time in all sorts of community activities. Specifically, many CP-ers become involved with the Give Kids the World (GKTW) Foundation (which is a wish granting organization that works with other organizations like the Make A Wish Foundation, to help make terminally ill children's Disney wishes come true!). We go down to the Kid's Village in Kissimmee to babysit the children during Parents' Night Out once a week, to offer the parents an opportunity to take some time out for themselves. To learn more about this great organization and to sneak a peek at the Kid's Village and the amazing things that you can be a part of, click on the GKTW official site.
Finally, should you decide that you want to stay on longer, or return... You will have the opportunity to file for an extension in your current area, or a completely new one for another semester. Or just re-apply and return on another CP any subsequent semester. You will also qualify to apply for Advanced Internships.
So... 'ya interested??? Well, here's how you go about getting into the Program...
The Info Session
The first step is to find out when Disney is coming to your school. (You sign up for interviews at the Info Sess and may be interviewed after the Info Sess, so attendance is mandatory!)
If Disney does not recruit at your school worry not! You are always welcome to go to another school's information session.
At the Info Session, you will be briefed on every aspect of the CP. You'll be given the run-down on where you'll be living, what you could be doing at WDW, pay, seminars, etc. You'll also be shown videos of property, jobs and the parks. There's usually tons of time for Q&A. And alumni such as myself usually come out in droves to get our Disney fix for the semester :), and to just talk about how amazing the Program is. So, you'll have plenty of opportunities to chat with people who've actually lived the experience!
The Interview(s)
When you interview will depend on several things...
Regardless... dress for the interview is business/business casual. Bring along a resume and transcripts in case. Also, you will be asked to fill out an application form - do so honestly! Your info (esp. GPA) will be verified! You will also be asked to name the top 3 positions you would be willing to accept and what semester you will be applying for.
The interview is not a difficult one. It's very conversational and so be ready to chat! Often times, the interviews are conducted in group format. Please do NOT be passive!! Remember, the interviewers will be looking for individuals who are outgoing and amiable... After all, the most major part of your job will be interacting with the guests and your fellow cast members. People skills are invaluable!
* Note: When I did the Program, we had to go through a second phone interview. I have heard that this may, or may not still occur. Perhaps, it is dependant on your school...? You should be able to find out from your Disney recruiters... Anyways, if you do have a phone interview - you will be given a date and time slot during which to call. If you cannot get through, do not panic! I could not get through until the next day and it was ok... You will basically be asked a set number of questions (about a dozen) and that's about it!
You should hear back in a couple of weeks via snail mail, whether or not you've been accepted.
Aaah... Then comes the day when you go to your mailbox and find that package in the mail with the College Program return address on it! The sheer fear and anticipation you feel as you rip it open and find...... Pure joy - as you spy your acceptance letter, and more literature than you can shake several large sticks at! Mickey wants me... He really wants me!!!!!
Your letter will tell you your pay rate, minimum number of work hours, and Program dates. It'll also tell you the area in which you will be working (i.e. Attractions, Food & Beverage, etc.). However, you won't know which attraction, restaurant, park, etc you will be placed in until you get down there...
Preparations
What to do now? Well first, you will have to respond as to whether or not you will be accepting the job offer. Here, you'll have to make a few decisions... Note that you may not necessarily get your first choices...
* Note : If you are an international student, you must take care of all authorization and visa issues by yourself prior to leaving for the Program.
Then, sift through all the literature enclosed. Trust me - it's a ton, but most useful!! For an easy-to-read version of the Cast Member Handbook with everything you could ever want to know about joining the Program... please visit Tiffany Towery's WDWCP Info site...
Packing - What the heck to bring???
Here's a non-comprehensive list of stuff to bring... Hope it helps!
These are provided but you may want to bring your own to use instead, or to supplement what they provide...
Do you need a car? It's definately convenient, but not a must. Shuttles are available to take you to and from work, and you'll find tons of friends with cars soon enough. But if anything, bringing your car will serve to make you very popular very quickly! :)
Don't get too overzealous in packing tho'... Remember - you'll be rooming with others and space will be at a premium!
Now you've made it to WDW! I only have one thing to say - this experience won't come around too often for most of us (except the lucky few who actually end up full time cast members). Enjoy every minute of it! Play in the parks... See Florida... Take full advantage of your cast member discount and SHOP...! And most importantly - preserve the memories as best you can! Take tons of pictures, videotape, keep a journal... You'll find that the memories are probably what you will cherish most of your time on the Program.
I personally rate leaving the Program as one of the most traumatic experiences of my life! The time seemed to have just flown by, and all of a sudden, it was time to leave the place I had come to know as home. And time to leave the people who had become family to me. I remember waking up the morning I was supposed to leave, with the most intense feeling of sadness I had ever felt. And I recall praying as the plane took off that the upcoming days would be as filled with happiness and joy as my 4 months on the Program were...
Most of us come home and immediately go into complete and utter Disney withdrawal! You can't stop pointing with 2 fingers! You'll find yourself at the Disney site, watching the live cam shots of your park! Your phone bill will soar through the roof as you'll be calling all your CP friends! Yes, it gets better... Life, without Mickey in it everyday, does go on... But you will never forget, and will seek out ways to keep the CP in your life - whether it be by attending recruiting Info Sessions, scheduling reunions, or setting up sites like this one!
What no one can take away from you though is that you will always be a part of this amazingly priviledge group of people we call CP alumni!
