Chinese castmembers

[yenlee]

During my recent visit to WDW (Dec 3-6), I noticed that there were a lot of castmembers from China. After asking around a bit, I gathered that most of them were here for the College Program. Since I've never noticed this before, I'm wondering if anyone knows whether there really has been an increase in participation in the College Program by Chinese students, and if so, if there is any known reason for this.

 

[Loves Disney]

The ICP is just as huge as the CP. There are A LOT of international students, not just students from China. It could be just that you're noticing more CMs from China than the other countries and it's just coincidence -- but I doubt there is any particular reason why you're seeing more of them than any other ICP. If you really pay attention, I'm sure you will find that the majority of CMs aren't from China.

 

[graygables]

Shanghai Disney. That is just my opinion, of course, but what better way to prepare future Cast Members in the organizational culture, but to bring them here first as ICPs? Even if the ICPs don't rejoin the Company in Shanghai, they will have carried their experience back with them and word will spread to a certain extent. I think (IMO), it's a very shrewd move in international management.

 

[goosedwn]

Totally agree with it is being Shanghai Disney. I remember back when Disney Hongkong was about to open, there was a spike of people from Hongkong as well.

Shanghai Disney. That is just my opinion, of course, but what better way to prepare future Cast Members in the organizational culture, but to bring them here first as ICPs? Even if the ICPs don't rejoin the Company in Shanghai, they will have carried their experience back with them and word will spread to a certain extent. I think (IMO), it's a very shrewd move in international management.

 

[glendalais]

Shanghai Disney. That is just my opinion, of course, but what better way to prepare future Cast Members in the organizational culture, but to bring them here first as ICPs? Even if the ICPs don't rejoin the Company in Shanghai, they will have carried their experience back with them and word will spread to a certain extent. I think (IMO), it's a very shrewd move in international management.

Totally agree with it is being Shanghai Disney. I remember back when Disney Hongkong was about to open, there was a spike of people from Hongkong as well.

I wouldn't be so sure of that.

When Hong Kong Disneyland Resort opened, there was a fairly big scandal in the Hong Kong Press that consisted of a bunch of the Chinese Cast Members who had been brought to WDW to train/promote the new resort making very public allegations against the company about poor working conditions at HKDL.

They pointed out that conditions at WDW were much better, and inferred that Disney was being racist by assuming they would automatically accept inferior conditions at HKDL because it was mainly staffed by Chinese Nationals.

It eventually blew over, but was a big egg in the face of the company at a time when the opening of the new Resort already wasn't going very well. It could be argued that it partially contributed to the reluctance of the Hong Kong SAR Government to permit expansion at the Resort, which was only approved recently after quite a bit of arguing.

Given that, not so sure the company is willing to try it again.

Most of Disney International College Program Participants are on J-1 Visas, they're undertaking studies at American Universities before or after their programmes. Given how popular studying in the US among young Chinese right now, it seems to me a much logical reason for the number of Chinese ICPs.