How did the CP help you out later in life?

[mdoll4]

For those of you who already completed the CP: did it help you get your foot in the door for a job or internship later on in life, and if so, how? Did you network yourself while you were there? Meet anybody special? Or did you just go home with a fun semester under your belt that didn't really matter either way once you graduated and got into the real world?

Thanks so much for any advice you can give, I'd love to do the college program after I graduate in the Spring, but am wondering if it'll really give me a leg up, or if I should go ahead and go to grad school instead. I love Disney though, so I'm really hoping that some of you have some good stories!

-Mary

 

[KBaum]

The CP as helped me in SO many ways. I did the CP then a professional internship, and then came home to Maine. The second my company's owner found out I worked for Disney, he created a temporary position for me on the spot until there was a place for me to go full time. He has so much respect for Disney and how they train people. Also, on my last performance review, I had to grade myself and then compare it with the grade given by my supervisor - I answered mostly "meets" expectations, and she put two spots up - not even exceeds, but "way above and beyond." I ended up with a final grade of "distinguished" and an almost perfect score--- while I AM a good employee cool1, Disney trained me so so so well that I do what's expected of me as far as I can go...what I consider to be "no big deal and a part of the job," everyone else considers going way above and beyond. If you work at Disney - and work hard at Disney - the rest of your career will be easy, because there will be significantly less required of you! Trust me.

If you can make it at Disney, you can make it anywhere.

 

[countrypixie1989]

The CP as helped me in SO many ways. I did the CP then a professional internship, and then came home to Maine. The second my company's owner found out I worked for Disney, he created a temporary position for me on the spot until there was a place for me to go full time. He has so much respect for Disney and how they train people. Also, on my last performance review, I had to grade myself and then compare it with the grade given by my supervisor - I answered mostly "meets" expectations, and she put two spots up - not even exceeds, but "way above and beyond." I ended up with a final grade of "distinguished" and an almost perfect score--- while I AM a good employee cool1, Disney trained me so so so well that I do what's expected of me as far as I can go...what I consider to be "no big deal and a part of the job," everyone else considers going way above and beyond. If you work at Disney - and work hard at Disney - the rest of your career will be easy, because there will be significantly less required of you! Trust me.

If you can make it at Disney, you can make it anywhere.

Hi. I am from Maine too! And, I will be applying for Spring 2011!! I am also doing a report for my summer class about the CP and the benefits of doing the program. I was wondering if I could use part of your quote... "Disney trained me so so so well that I do what's expected of me as far as I can go...what I consider to be "no big deal and a part of the job," everyone else considers going way above and beyond. If you work at Disney - and work hard at Disney - the rest of your career will be easy, because there will be significantly less required of you!"... for my paper. It is exactly what I have been looking for to help promote the CP in my paper as to what it can do for you. I would really appreciate it and give you full credit for it! Thanks so much!

 

[KBaum]

Of course you can And if you have any questions about the program let me know... it was totally cool being down there, except that it was so strange during the wintertime.

Click on the link in my signature, too - it might have some more information for your project, too.

 

[Pure_Imagination]

So far it hasn't helped me at all that I know of. I tried talking to a hiring manager about Disney and all during my interview and he seemed completely uninterested. I was a little surprised, but then again it was a retail job that was only hiring for 4 hours a week!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

When I interviewed for my current job, my soon-to-be-boss asked me if I'd ever been to Disney World because they model their customer service after Disney's. I just grinned and said I'd worked there. She offered me the position a few minutes later I'm also hoping to eventually move back to Orlando and go back to working for Disney. Hopefully in two to three years.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I didn't know that they allowed you to participate in the CP if you have already graduated...usually you have to college credit for it. So, I would double check that before. I was supposed to graduate the semester I did the program, but took the hospitality internship instead and then came back and finished the few classes I had to afterwards. Having Disney on your resume always helps especially with a Ducktorate Degree . Everyone always asks questions, wants to know the scoop, etc. Right before I graduated, I had 21 offers and I honestly believe that Disney had a lot to do with that. I truly wanted to work for Disney after college but they didn't recruit for the professional programs at my University. So, they put me on the backburner until they finished working with those schools and I opted to go elsewhere since I really wanted to have a job when commencement came around.

In the hospitality program, you meet a lot of celebrities and I can honestly say that it was a fun experience although a bit long (6 months). I wasn't a Disney fan when I got there, but I was when I left!

 

[SportsChick]

You don't have to get college credit for it - I'm not and I'm still working on my degree (technically classed a senior, but I have 2 1/2 semesters after I get back from Disney). My school doesn't accept the Disney classes for credit.

 

[mdoll4]

I didn't know that they allowed you to participate in the CP if you have already graduated...usually you have to college credit for it. So, I would double check that before.

You only have to be enrolled in a university when you apply to the program, so therefore I could apply my last semester and then do the program the following Fall. And you can take classes without the credit going anywhere. I would just be doing it for the experience and possible networking anyway, so the credit isn't all that important to me anyway.

Thanks for the rest of the advice though! I'm glad to hear people have had some success having Disney on their resume. I can't wait for that to be me!

 

[doom_buggy_junkie]

honestly, being a CP hasn't helped me much in my endeavors...and I think that is mostly because of the current job climate. However, I have heard countless stories of those who it absolutely helped them land their dream job/career (after Disney, of course!! )...I think it all depends on who you're applying/interviewing with. My advice? You get out of it what you put into it. Take advantage of the networking you can do at WDW...take advantage of the resources that will be all around you, and run with that. I wish I would have done all of those things... Good luck!!!

 

[mdoll4]

Anyone else? Or know a friend's story?

 

[OilSlinger822]

It's definitely helped me. I'm interning at wet 'n wild (in NC) right now and as soon as they saw Disney on my resume, they were like done! haha...she was like sooooooo why are u wanting a job here and not still working at Disney? lol. But my CP roommate who doesn't have any experience with selling electronics got a job at Mac because Disney was on her resume. They knew she'd have great customer service

 

[Anna's_Order]

Question: Do you ever have to leave the Disney College Program?

I mean, can you just keep applying to do it again and again, or is there some sort of limit?

 

[SportsChick]

You can only be there for a year

 

[Anna's_Order]

You can only be there for a year

Can you leave after a year, go back to school, and ever come back? Or is it a two-time limit on doing the program?

 

[SportsChick]

You can do a fall, spring, summer and then go back to school for a semester and apply again. I've heard of people doing 6 CPs. You just can't be there for more than a year continuous.

 

[Anna's_Order]

You can only be there for a year

You can do a fall, spring, summer and then go back to school for a semester and apply again. I've heard of people doing 6 CPs. You just can't be there for more than a year continuous.

Right on. It would be cool if I could get a job there before my time runs out as a CP. Then I would'nt have to come back.

 

[kmg148]

I did my CP in Spring of 2009 and am on a PI in Guest Relations right now. You can definitely apply as a senior for the Fall session (I did!) I'm not sure what I'm going to do now...Guest Relations was such a far off dream and now that actually I'm living it, I have to figure out what to do next, besides appreciate it!

 

[mdoll4]

Anyone else? It's actually about 50/50 right now people who think it helped them, and people who can't really say.

I'd love to do the program, but I guess maybe I can fit it in at the end of grad school instead. :\

 

[JennyDrake]

I am going to respond as an employer. If someone has worked for Disney I KNOW they:
worked long hours
met a dress code and understood it doesn't matter what your personal expression rights are, if you look like a freak you won't be hired in many jobs
have extensive experience with the public
followed through with a commitment
can be polite even under very trying circumstances
understand while on the job, there is no such thing as "having a bad day"
know "it isn't all about ME"

I could go on and on....

If you get the chance DO IT.