Disney's College Program - Internships

[brandonmread]

Hey all, so after a 6 year hiatus I am going back to college. I was self-employed in the construction world for that time, and Im sure I dont need to explain why Im going back now... I'm strongly considering enrolling in the Disney College Program at DLR next spring. I'm wondering if any of the fellow VN members have participated in the Disney College Program? How was the experience? Did you feel like it opened doors for you? How did employers respond to having a Disney internship of the resume? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!

[onedcgd]

i did it and loved it....but, you will need to be able to $$ support yourself while in the program...when i did it, i made $5.25 an hour i believe. it was a great foot in the door at disney itself and since then, i've only had 1 job, so i can't say how employers react to it.

[brandonmread]

Yeah, that's the part I'm most concerned about. Looks like they pay something like $9+ an hour now, but that's obviously not enough to house a family of 5.

Where did you work?

[onedcgd]

i worked at cinderellas royal table as a host, then worked my way up to lead assigner....impressed the managers enough that when my c.p. was over i was able to get a server job there.

oh and if you don't live in orlando, the housing is 6 people in a 3 bedroom apt....good times

to be honest, it would be a good thing for a 18-20 year old person to do before getting out in the real world...it was more like a work/college party type thing more that a internship experience looking back on it. most all the jobs are just basic jobs (ice cream cart person, lifeguard, street sweeper)...the c.p. didn't do specialty jobs when i was in it...basically the jobs that if you go to casting, most anyone can get and c.p. doesn't pay minimum wage (well, it didn't then)

[brandonmread]

to be honest, it would be a good thing for a 18-20 year old person to do before getting out in the real world...it was more like a work/college party type thing more that a internship experience looking back on it.

So in other words, maybe not a great idea for a 27 year old with a wife and 3 kids...

I would prefer to just do a professional internship, but I heard its easier to get good ones if you do the college program first. ??

[onedcgd]

If you want more of a professional internship.... Go to http://corporate.disney.go.com/careers/index.html and then Openings on the left and search jobs that way. I see internships on there all the time and those are the professional kind, not resume'/have fun kind

[brandonmread]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it!

[CompleetlyRandom]

This is good information. I was kind of looking into doing this as well. However, doing this would probably require me to leave my job. While I have a backup support system for $$, I just want it to be worth it. I'm really interested in working in concierge or at one of the resorts. Are those positions extremely hard to get? I think this is a great opportunity for me but just don't know if I could leave my job AND extend my time at college for custodial work. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. If anyone would feel more comfortable PMing me, that is fine too. Thanks!

[SirScott99]

I did the Cp in orlando 3 years ago at sunset attractions. I had HORRIBLE managers. the area manager picked apart everything i did and hated me so by that aspect it wasn't a very good experience. you basically get walked all over by "guests" (who are just rude stupid annoying tourists) because you have to be nice and treat them like they are the kings and queens of the world even if they are screaming at you for something thats completely out of your control. i was nasty to a few just to dish it back to them. it was a great experience though working in the parks though and getting to see backstage and eveyrthing, even if it was gross and terrible to look at. but i agree with an earlier post in that it is great for someone 18-20 but not really much older, 22/23 is pushing it but i think thats the peak only because of all the things that people like to do at that age which is bars/clubs and the like

[CompleetlyRandom]

Yeah... I'm boy a bars/club type of person at all. I would be doing this internship to get experience, not to get away and party.

[Demeter]

I did the College Program several years ago. I was 20 going in and celebrated my 21st birthday while in Florida. I was a merchandise hostess at the All Star Resort. I thought the experience was amazing. I made some good friends and had a good time overall. You just have to go into not expecting to make money, because you won't bring home much after the internship is over.

Yes, I encounted the horrible guests that yelled at me. But really, what job aren't you going to have to deal with rude people.

I don't know if the interview process has changed, but I was asked what position I would like work in. I specifically told them no food and my interviewer wrote that down. So you do have some choice on where you would like to be.

[XSno_GalX]

My friend doing an intern ship in disneys head office! Im soooo jealous!! That would be a dream! :-D

[eckobowler808]

Im doing the College program right now at WDW and Im loving it!! I pretty much try to go to the parks whenever i have free time haha

[jstras22]

Im doing the College program right now at WDW and Im loving it!! I pretty much try to go to the parks whenever i have free time haha

that's so awesome! i always wanted to do that when i was in college! i would be at the parks constantly if i was able! what's your job assignment?

[notpennysboat]

I did the DCP last year as merchandise at DTD Westside (yes, this included D-Street hehe). I liked it a lot that I decided to do seasonal with it.

[ZiPaD3doDAH]

I'm planning on doing it this fall ! I hope I get it, been looking foward to doing it for soooo long.

[mmagic1]

I did it and loved it. It got my into my current job. Two of my friends on the program have since done professional internships. One in WDW one at DL. Both of them have had difficulties turning the internship into a full time position though, because of the current economy. I would say at 27 though aim for the professional. The regular as people have said is more of a party.

[imitaliandealwithit]

i did in spring of 2004, loved it and i would do it again in a heart beat.

---------- Post added at 10:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 AM ----------

I did the College Program several years ago. I was 20 going in and celebrated my 21st birthday while in Florida. I was a merchandise hostess at the All Star Resort. I thought the experience was amazing. I made some good friends and had a good time overall. You just have to go into not expecting to make money, because you won't bring home much after the internship is over.

Yes, I encounted the horrible guests that yelled at me. But really, what job aren't you going to have to deal with rude people.

I don't know if the interview process has changed, but I was asked what position I would like work in. I specifically told them no food and my interviewer wrote that down. So you do have some choice on where you would like to be.

hahah yes i remember how the guest were down there, but because of them i always had a story to tell when i came home. i miss it so much, and im stil in contact with all my roomies still.

[mickeymax]

Love to do that someday. Can you do this in the summer in-between years of college or is this like college I'm sorta confused. PM me please.

[Demeter]

Love to do that someday. Can you do this in the summer in-between years of college or is this like college I'm sorta confused. PM me please.

From what I remember, it is a Fall semester or Spring semester. So you would take off a semester of college to do the internship. So for example, I completed the fall semester of my junior year and then took the spring semester off (started end of January) to do the college program. I took one Disney class while I was down there that ended up counting as an elective credit at my school. When my program was over in May I moved back home, took a class in summer school, and returned to my college in the fall to finish out my senior year. I had already completed enough credit hours before I took the semester off that I only needed to complete one class in summer school and still be able to graduate on time.

Hope that wasn't too confusing.

[westcoastcorry]

You really should do it! I have tons of friends who did it and loved it! Do it around the holidays and you will get the 50% discount!!