Has anyone had a child who had to apply to the collage program at Disneyland several times before they were accepted? My son has applied twice and they really led him to believe he would be accepted this time by telling him he was a strong canidate and sending a letter saying his acceptance was pending a final decision. But no, just another rejection letter. I am really disenchanted with the way they run the program. He could not find out the dates the program would be from, ex: Jan ? to ?? and if it would be full time. Could he be getting rejected due to the fact that he does not have any previous job experience? I thought the program was to help collage students out and give them job experience and tools to market themselves in the future. Does anyone know what is the most times someone has applied before being accepted at Disneyland? Should he not apply again? He has waited around for two rejections now, I don't know if he will have the chance again to put his life on hold to go to work at Disneyland. He needs advice and I don't know weather to encourage him trying again. HELP!
(Most of what I am saying is Disney World related, but it's pretty much the same for Disneyland, as far as I know.)
He can't find solid dates because the dates change depending on when you get accepted and when you go down (and the year). For instance, this Fall, we can go down anytime during August, and even the first day of September, but everyone goes home January 7th (with Fall Advantage going home January 3rd).
WDW is full time. It says on the WDW website that you are guaranteed 30 hours, and will get more during peak periods. That's full-time work, and I am 99.99% positive Disneyland is the same, if not the exact same hours. They wouldn't expect you to be able to live if you were doing 10 hours a week. Disneyland does make you take classes though.
ETA: Just checked the website. Disneyland says 28 hours is common during non-peak.
The program is to give Disney cheap labor, while helping out students' resumes at the same time (but the first priority is the main priority, because it still is a business).
Disneyland accepts far fewer applicants than Disney World - any chance he'd be willing to apply there? I only applied for Disney World, and it took me three times to get in.
I was rejected straight out once, realized how awful my interview was after reflecting on it, and tried again the next semester. This time, however, I applied two weeks before the deadline, so I got pended, but then did not get accepted, the same as your son, and finally, this time, with my better interview and early application, got in!
In the end, it's a job, like every other one. They don't have space for everyone who applies, and even though they will be invaluable to you later in life, you have to make yourself invaluable to them. Sit down with him and talk about his interview in a few weeks or months. See if you can figure out what he might have said that can be fixed, or shouldn't have brought up - I know my first interview I said how I had a complete lack of experience in this, so I'm sure they'd train me for this situation, but I would do _________.
Of course I have a complete lack of training, I've never worked for Disney before! So the next time, I just said what I'd do in that situation.
I hope it works out for your son, in Disneyland or in Disney World! Maybe he could get a summer job to help improve his prospects? I don't know if they look for that, but it couldn't hurt!
