Classes at DCP

[Holly_Golightly]

I'm all set to apply for DCP Fall Advantage 2010, and had three questions about classes . . .

1) Do the classes cost anything to take? (any program fees, etc)

2) Are you allowed to take more than one class?

3) Leading from #2, what's the class schedule as far as summer v. Fall? Are there classes during both summer and fall, or are classes only offered during the Fall months?

Thanks!

 

[Joanna71985]

I'm all set to apply for DCP Fall Advantage 2010, and had three questions about classes . . .

1) Do the classes cost anything to take? (any program fees, etc)

2) Are you allowed to take more than one class?

3) Leading from #2, what's the class schedule as far as summer v. Fall? Are there classes during both summer and fall, or are classes only offered during the Fall months?

Thanks!

1. The classes do not cost anything. But if they require any books, you will have to pay for those.

2. Yes. You can take up to 4 over Spring/Fall Advantage, and up to 2 for Spring/Fall.

3. The majority of classes are not offered during the summer (I know the Disney Exploration Series and Professional Development Series classes are not held during the summer. The other classes may, but not sure). They usually are held during the Spring/Fall.

 

[magickqueen]

Do some of the classes have homework?

 

[disneychickforever]

Do some of the classes have homework?

I know the collegiate classes do, but not sure of the other ones because the whole syllabus isn't offered on the website.

You can find the syllabus for all the collegiate classes here: http://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com/sap/its/mimes/zh_wdwcp/students/education/edu_collegiate.html

 

[Berlioz70]

I had homework for the collegiate course but not for my professional development one.

 

[christiemarsh88]

I can't get credit for any of the classes, but I'm still considering taking one. Do you guys think it's worth it? I don't want to get too busy down there, but I also think the classes would be a neat experience!

If I started the class and got overwhelmed and dropped it, that wouldn't show up on my transcript or anything, right? Since I'm not taking the classes for credit?

 

[Holly_Golightly]

Regarding HW: The Disney Exploration series don't have HW, tests, etc either.

 

[christiemarsh88]

In addition to my earlier question (see #6):

I know that you can get credit for the Collegiate courses--can you get credit for the Exploration and Professional classes? Also, when do you sign up for classes?

 

[Holly_Golightly]

I can't get credit for any of the classes, but I'm still considering taking one. Do you guys think it's worth it? I don't want to get too busy down there, but I also think the classes would be a neat experience!

Although I have not participated in the program yet, I would have to say that it's worth it. Even if you don't get credit for them, I think they are an amazing opportunity to learn about the Disney company behind the scenes, and to learn about whatever subject you're taking from the perspective of Disney. Not only that, but even if you don't get them on your transcript you can still put them on a resume if they relate to the job you're applying for.

In my process of deciding whether or not to do this program I did a lot of reading on message boards and blogs, and viewed a lot of vlogs about the program, and *so* many people made the comment that if they could go back and do the program again they would take classes the second time around because they're such a great learning opportunity and don't really take that much extra effort considering the rewards you reap from them.

 

[Toffy]

I'm currently only in community college and will be looking to eventually transfer to get a BA in technical theater, but I don't know if that counts as "declaring my major" in order to be in the Entertainment Show Production class as listed on the DCP website... can anyone shed any light on this??? If that doesn't count as declaring my major, could I bring my resume and see if they'll make an exception???

 

[Joanna71985]

I'm currently only in community college and will be looking to eventually transfer to get a BA in technical theater, but I don't know if that counts as "declaring my major" in order to be in the Entertainment Show Production class as listed on the DCP website... can anyone shed any light on this??? If that doesn't count as declaring my major, could I bring my resume and see if they'll make an exception???

I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure you have to be in the major to take those classes.

 

[Holly_Golightly]

Has anyone participated in the exploration series? I am really interested in doing either the guest relations or the marketing one and was curious as to if anyone else had done either of those (or any other exploration series) and what they were like.

 

[CptJackSparrowsGirl]

Does anyone know if Creativity & Innovation has homework? I'm thinking of taking that if I get chosen for Spring or Fall 2010.

 

[bopnopper9]

Does taking classes affect how many hours you get as a CP?

I'm planning on just taking a Exploration Series class, but I'm hoping to also average out at around 40 to 45 hours/week while I'm there. Is this totally unrealistic? I'm doing Merch and am planning on picking up shifts.

 

[christiemarsh88]

This sounds like exactly my situation--Merch, considering an Exploration Class, but not wanting to limit my hours. In the acceptance folder, it said something about only being scheduled to work 30-45 hours during class sessions, or up to 50 if you're not taking classes. Not a ton of difference, but I need all the hours I can get.

 

[glendalais]

This sounds like exactly my situation--Merch, considering an Exploration Class, but not wanting to limit my hours. In the acceptance folder, it said something about only being scheduled to work 30-45 hours during class sessions, or up to 50 if you're not taking classes. Not a ton of difference, but I need all the hours I can get.

Honestly, there aren't enough hours at the moment to schedule anyone 50 hours/week, let alone CPs.

On top of that, it is the policy of the Walt Disney World Company that Disney College Program Participants at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida may not involuntarily be scheduled more than 45 hours per week during most of the year.

Walt Disney World Resort Disney College Program Cast Members may sign up for Additional Hours on a voluntary basis using the process approved by Labor Operations, or pick up additional shifts through Extra Hours Hotline, but they must otherwise only be scheduled a maximum of 45 hours/week.

I say take the class. It probably won't affect the total number of hours you're scheduled per week in any significant way, and you can pick up extra shifts when you're available.

 

[grownoats]

anyone know how to get mousters or ductorate?

 

[bopnopper9]

A mousters is for taking any of the Exploration series classes and the Ducktorate is for the collegiate approved classes as I understand it. If you take one of each you can earn both by the end of the program.

I'm thinking I will take the Exploration class and see how it goes. Worst comes to worst I can drop out (before the approved time, I know). I understand I probably won't get 45 hours a week without picking up extra shifts and even then I'm nervous about it but... I'll just cross that bridge when I come to it I guess.

 

[Scully12]

Here is my experience with classes. I originally signed up for two classes. I signed up for Experiential Learning and Exploring Marketing at the Walt Disney World Resort from the Exploration series. I quickly dropped the first class after learning I wouldn't be getting credit for it but since marketing was what I wanted to go into I decided to keep the other.

The class was scheduled on one of my days off, which I absolutely hated. It was like not having a day off at all. The classes consisted of sitting in a classroom for a couple hours a week and after three weeks of it I didn't learn anything new. Sooo I decided to drop that one as well. I was much happier not having class. I was working as much as 70 hours a week so having one day to myself was worth a lot more than taking a class.

The first class I was going to take was scheduled on Monday mornings and I was scheduled for Monday evening shifts. The other class was scheduled on Tuesdays and I usually didn't work at all that day. (My regular days off every week were Tuesdays and Wednesdays unless I requested specific days off).

 

[Pure_Imagination]

^ yeah, you never know how it's going to turn out. If I get accepted into the Spring '10 CP I'm going to at least try out the classes, and then you can always drop them. It's worth a shot, though. The classes seem interesting enough so I would try them out, see if I like them, see if I like how my schedule would be, and decide.

Plus don't classes only last a certain amount of time throughout your CP?