Photo major looking into the College Program needs help!

[BattyMcDoon]

This may very well end up being moved into an existing thread but I have some questions for people who currently are in or have been in the Disney College Program, mainly Photographers. I'm currently majoring in Photography, and I also really enjoy working with computers. I'm a huge Disney fan and have on and off looked into the Program. Earlier today while looking at the Role Checklist I noticed there is nothing mentioned in the Photography field at all. The only thing I saw was that Character Attendants sometimes work with Photopass Photographers...but what about them? Are there any opportunities within the College Program for Photographers in the Parks? And to all the others in the program...Do you like it? Is it really hard for those of you away from home? Are there any ART related jobs offered to College Program participants? Is there anything at all you would change if you could? Any tips for someone looking into it? Thanks guys.

 

[csaribay]

This may very well end up being moved into an existing thread but I have some questions for people who currently are in or have been in the Disney College Program, mainly Photographers. I'm currently majoring in Photography, and I also really enjoy working with computers. I'm a huge Disney fan and have on and off looked into the Program. Earlier today while looking at the Role Checklist I noticed there is nothing mentioned in the Photography field at all. The only thing I saw was that Character Attendants sometimes work with Photopass Photographers...but what about them? Are there any opportunities within the College Program for Photographers in the Parks? And to all the others in the program...Do you like it? Is it really hard for those of you away from home? Are there any ART related jobs offered to College Program participants? Is there anything at all you would change if you could? Any tips for someone looking into it? Thanks guys.

Well, this is one of those cases where it may pay to take a look at Disneyland's College Program, info at dlrcollegeprogram.com. At the Disneyland Resort, one of their current CP role offerings is for Photopass Photographers. They have started offering housing as of the Fall 08 season - so it is definitely something to consider.

As far as the program goes on both coasts, they are primarily focused on entry level, front-line positions. There are no CP roles that I know of, set aside from Photopass at the Disneyland Resort, that directly have an arts/creative content element to them. You may want to look into Disney Professional Internships for major-specific roles that involve creative content. Keep in mind that these internships are highly competitive, and many times prefer previous participants of the College Program.

 

[BattyMcDoon]

Well, this is one of those cases where it may pay to take a look at Disneyland's College Program, info at dlrcollegeprogram.com. At the Disneyland Resort, one of their current CP role offerings is for Photopass Photographers. They have started offering housing as of the Fall 08 season - so it is definitely something to consider.

As far as the program goes on both coasts, they are primarily focused on entry level, front-line positions. There are no CP roles that I know of, set aside from Photopass at the Disneyland Resort, that directly have an arts/creative content element to them. You may want to look into Disney Professional Internships for major-specific roles that involve creative content. Keep in mind that these internships are highly competitive, and many times prefer previous participants of the College Program.

Thanks so much for the info. I'm wondering why they would offer the Photopass at DLR but not WDW. I sent in an email asking if they offer that at WDW so I guess I will see.

 

[Nikki Mouse]

I'm a photography major doing Photopass at DLR as part of the College Program right now, and it's great! Other than the heat, that is. We're sort of guinea pigs with the housing and bus system right now, but since you can't do a regular program at WDW in Photopass, I'd highly recommend coming to California! The CM's here are really nice and I'm having a blast!

 

[csaribay]

I'm a photography major doing Photopass at DLR as part of the College Program right now, and it's great! Other than the heat, that is. We're sort of guinea pigs with the housing and bus system right now, but since you can't do a regular program at WDW in Photopass, I'd highly recommend coming to California! The CM's here are really nice and I'm having a blast!

Are they operating a transportation system out there? Last time I heard, they were providing complimentary OCTA bus passes for work purposes (and the schedule on Google Transport looked pretty good most of the day, too).

Let me know, I'd be interested to hear!

 

[chared at disney]

Hi there,
I'm chad from cincinnati, ohio studying photography at University of Cincinnati mainly Fine Art photography (3rd year). I have had experience working in a camera store for about 2 years but other than that it's either been school or helped out with friends and such. Anyways I'm going to be starting a professional internship at WDW on June 20th (which is coming up here in about a week or so) and I'm going to be an Entry Technical Photographer Intern. I don't know if you have looked into the Professional Internship option down in WDW but when I saw what I was going to be doing I was thrilled!!!!! I'm so excited it has something to do with my major and I'm going to be working for my dream company. The internship lasts 6 months so it gives me plenty of practice! I looked into doing the Photo Pass Photographer thing down in WDW but it didn't catch my fancy so I was searching on the web for photography internships (this happened around august 2007 when i started my research) and I found out that disney was looking for an entry technical photographer intern! I took the chance and they accepted me for the June-January term! Anyways I have to get going if you have any questions let me know.

 

[TTAunload]

Are they operating a transportation system out there? Last time I heard, they were providing complimentary OCTA bus passes for work purposes (and the schedule on Google Transport looked pretty good most of the day, too).

Let me know, I'd be interested to hear!

It is the complimentary bus pass.

 

[BattyMcDoon]

Sadly I live in New York and Cali. is much to far for me to go. Also I got an email back this morning and they do not offer the Photopass as a part of the College Program at WDW at all [which really doesn't make any sense to me] so.... At least I tried I suppose. I'll have to look into something else. Thanks anyways guys.

 

[Nikki Mouse]

Are they operating a transportation system out there? Last time I heard, they were providing complimentary OCTA bus passes for work purposes (and the schedule on Google Transport looked pretty good most of the day, too).

Let me know, I'd be interested to hear!

Not only is it free, but you get a dollar back every time you ride it to and from work! It's only two blocks from the housing and takes you directly to Disneyland.

 

[glendalais]

The main reason that the DLR is able to offer PhotoPass as a CP Role is that it's classified as an Hourly Operations Role here (i.e. you apply for it through Casting like you would Attractions, Foods or Stores).

At WDW, it's classified as an Hourly Office & Technical Role (you apply for it through disneycareers.com).

As for our CP Bus System, our CP Housing is located right up Harbor Boulevard from the Resort. CPs can take OCTA Route 43 which runs 24 hours a day and takes only 10 minutes. Since it drops off right next to Harbor Pointe (our equivlent of MK's Westclock or Epcot's Cast Services Building), it's even faster than driving.

Combined with the new Bus Rapid Transit system that will begin running along Harbor Boulevard this winter, cutting transit times even further, there's no need for Disney to run a Bus system.

 

[csaribay]

Yeah, I checked it out on Google Transport some time ago, and it looked extremely convenient (save the wee hours of the morning, as to be expected). I don't have a ton of expertise with the DLR program, so good to know!

 

[theemily]

I was wondering the exact same thing...

I was planning on doing the CP the "semester" after I graduate (applying next Spring semester for that fall), but if there's no Photopass, I might just go for the professional internships. Hmm...