I should make it clear I have never done the Disney college program, I have however worked at Disney for almost three years part time as a college student and worked with countless CPs so I feel I am allowed to answer LOL
1. It is true Disney is not a high paying employer. Depending on your spending habits you may need to bring some savings down with you. However,like other have said, you know how much you will be payed before starting a job.
2. Can't really say much about that, like I said never did the program.
3. That isn't just Disney it is the entire hospitality industry. If the parks are busy they will work your butt off, if it is slow they will give you lots of shorter shifts to make sure you get your guaranteed hours. Probably something Disney should make more clear during the hiring process (a lot of CPs I have worked with seemed very surprised by their 55 hour week) but not out of the ordinary.
4. It is a shuttle system. Every shuttle system on the planet has that same problem. Just plan accordingly, it is the price you pay for not having to drive, and Orlando traffic is awful.
5. Some managers at Disney are better than others. I have worked with great managers and ones that were downright awful. However that is every job and you just learn to deal. As far as time off. With enough notice you can normally get a day or two off but if they are really busy that you day you need to except you might need to work. Switching shifts is also usually an option.
6. Kind of true but really exaggerated. People have very high expectations when they come to Disney, and sometimes that expectation is that everyone will speak their native language. Sometimes they do become irritated but dealing with irritated guests is a part of the job. I will say if you cannot handle dealing with an upset guest your college program will be very difficult for you.
7. Never heard of this in my life, and I live down the road. Like others have said it is likely false.
8. Depending on your location you may work with a lot of people who dislike their jobs. That was a big issue at my last location and I will admit it makes things more difficult. There are however plenty of jobs in Orlando that do not require you working for Disney, just try not to let those people get to you. Some locations do not have this problem at all.
9. I am curious what location she worked in that required this. The biggest expenditures I have had to make were a pair of hiking boots (when I worked safari) and having to buy tons of knee-high from when I wore a skirt (QSR). But you are told from the get go that undergarments and shoes are not included. Once they tried to tell me I need to buy new eyeglasses because mine were not Disney look approved but I just told my managers there was not way I could afford that and they dropped it (my glasses were not that bad anyway).
10. I know my college internship credit is 1 credit hour and you pay for it, so that seems reasonable to me. I know there are classes you can take but from what I understand you are told upfront that those are not excepted by some universities.
I will say I have seen a lot of college program students come in with unrealistic expectations and I think that is the biggest problem. Some people seem to forget this is not a vacation to Disney, this is working there. For the most part the work you is not that easy, it can be physically and emotionally draining. It can also be fun though, and you defiantly learn a lot by working at Disney. If you have ever held any type of demanding job before I really would not worry at all, you can handle it.
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