disney college program questions

[poohlover]

Just wondering if any one can answer a few qauetiosn about the disney college program. I've read a little about it befor here, so here goes...

Can you request a specific area to work in?? My college freshman is considering hotel management...before she changes majors to a very specific one I'd love for her to "try it out"...would she have a chance to work in one of the hotels at all??

How difficult is it to get into? Thinking of timing...we are encouraging her to stay in her college this whole year...she's not happy there at the moment but that's a whole other story...we are considering next fall?? Is this doable??

Any other info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SoonerKate]

After the presentation, each student who decides to apply and interview for the program is given a role checklist listing each possible role on the CP. If your daughter is only interested in hotel management, I would suggest that she only check the hospitality or resort hopper roles.

However, each role on the WDWCP has its merits, and almost all of them could be performed in a park or resort. Recreation CP's often work in resorts, as do Food and Beverage, Lifeguards, and almost every other role as well. It doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing at WDW -- you'll still be learning what sets Disney apart from its competitors, how the company works, and why it works the way it does.

If she's accepted, she'll have the opportunity for a mentor somewhere within the company; if she wants to go into hotel management, they'll match her up with someone who is doing that.

No matter where she is placed, she'll have the opportunity after a regular College Program to try for an Advanced or Management internship, which are much more specific and geared towards the student's major and career goals. If she's accepted into the CP, she'll be able to take anywhere from 2-4 classes , including hospitality management, human resources management, organizational leadership, communication, and others, all of which are valuable no matter what industry you're going in to, and which can enrich your WDWCP experience. What better way to learn something than in a classroom one day, and see it's real life application and effects the next?

The recruiting season is almost over for this semester, and any presentation she attends right now will be taking applications for the Spring (January-May/June) and Spring Advantage (January-July/August) programs. If your daughter is interested in going down during the fall, she'll need to attend a presentation during the Spring semester.

 

[poohlover]

thanks for all that info!! this is just what I need to give her.

Any other info or just comments on what you experienced would be be great input for her!

Come on...there has to be than just one of you out there!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Great insight, Kate.

poohlover, here is another current thread on WDWCP and some participants.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=673949

 

[chrissyk]

At the risk of getting flamed, I really want to ask something about this program. What is the benefit to the student? Is it a foot in the door with the opportunity for a career with Disney after college? From the outside, it looks like college students take a semester off from school to work at something that seems like a minimum-wage job.

Maybe I am missing something, but the CP seems like a FANTASTIC deal for Disney corporation. Disney gets college-aged kids who actually line up to apply to work in jobs that they might otherwise have to work hard at keeping filled. The kids are college-aged, so they are likely on their parents' benefits and therefore don't need $$ benefits from Disney that a regular employee would likely demand for working the same job. I'm sure that there is some long-term benefit to the CP for the students involved, but I'm not sure what it is. Thanks for any insight

 

[RadioNate]

I'll try to tackle this one.

I did the college program in 1995 so I'm a real old timer. I went back for an advanced internship in 1996 and an entertainment position in 1997. My DH did the CP in 1993 and an advanced internship in 1995.

The college program really changed my life and I can't really explain why or how.

First time college programmers (CPs) do take a semester off college to work at a minimum wage job. However the working part is really only a small part of the experience. I'm talking about your actual job functions. You are giving the oppertunity to shadow and have mentors who are higher up in the Disney organization. In many cases you will have to create these oppertunities yourself. You can really do anything you want to do in terms of networking and creating future oppertunities as you want, but it is up to the student. Disney doesn't set stuff up for you.


There is also the living and learning components. kate really covered the learning component well. So I'll only touch on it. You take seminars in a class room setting and then see those princples in action at work.

For me I got the most out of the living component. You are put with 5 (or so) strangers who may be very different from you. Managing your living situation can be VERY difficult. But when it works you create bonds that last a lifetime. It's easy to live at home or even with one roomate at college but 5 is altogether different. Each one with a different schedule, different background, different morals and values, like I said it's a challenge.

I learned more about MYSELF and who I was and who I wanted to be on the college program than I ever did before. I was coasting through college w/a 4.0 and little direction the CP set me on track to become who I needed to be.

My first time there I worked at the Electric Umbrella in Epcot. This is considered to be one of the worst jobs you can get. Sure I was working fast food but I learned more that fall about dealing with people than I ever did in my 20 years. That's a skill everyone need reguardless of what their career is.

My Spanish dramatically improved from trying to communicate with kitchen workers and tourists from Spanish speaking countries. I learned about behavors and body language that offended other cultures. I learned customer service skills. You can't believe what people do at WDW that they wouldn't do elsewhere, like returning 1/2 eaten fast food.

Kate mentioned management and advanced internships (AI). Most are only available to college program alumni. Think of the CP as more of a screening process for more advanced jobs. I did an operations management internship where I was a temporary supervisor at one of the parks main entrance. In my 3rd year I was offered a position working with the college program seminar group. I didn't take it because I took a once in a lifetime entertainment oppertunity which had nothing to do with my career.

Many of my roomates and friends have returned to WDW. One workes for casting, several are managers throughout the parts, a few work in the merchandising departments and some are right where I left them working minimum wage type jobs (by choice).

For Disney I went on to manage 2 different Disney Stores because my husband's career didn't take us anywhere near Orlando.

Before becoming a mother I was also an account exec at a successful boutique public relations agency.

As for my husband, he loved his disney time but didn't have any desire to return to Disney. His love is radio and he is extreamly well known and well respected throughout the industry. He still lists his Disney experience on his resume.