Professional Internships without CP?

[tacoboy]

I am planning on getting down to Orlando after I graduate and since I have only one shot at it, I am wondering how possible it would be to get a Professional Internship without any previous CP experience. I have seven years of experience (including five years of management experience in retail and operations) at a large regional theme park in the Northeast but does that matter for anything? I figure Disney holds itself to much higher standards than my former park.

Alternatively, would this previous experience help me to obtain some kind of leadership role (coordinator, trainer, manager) if I just went to the casting center instead?

 

[aznshents]

I will say that while it is definitely possible to get a PI without doing the CP, people who have done the CP in the past really understand to a greater degree what it is like to work for the company than those who have not done it. I know some friends (I'm on a PI now) who have not done the PI but the MAJORITY have done the CP.

But it is definitely possible. Your experience is pretty deep, and the experience definitely does matter, but it is ultimately the impression you make on the people in your future department(s) that are interviewing you. And of course, a deep love of Disney as well as an understanding of how whatever department you are going into works helps.

 

[jmclaugh]

I think you definitely could get a PI without doing the CP, but I think it's a lot easier to get one after the CP.

You can always do the CP after graduation, and then apply for a PI while you're down there. That's what I'm doing. I applied for PIs for this fall, but didn't get them, so I'm doing fall 2012 cp and then applying for a bunch of PIs and hoping for the absolute best.. So if you think about it that way, you actually have 2 chances.

I'd definitely apply for as many PIs as you can. I don't think they always fill all the positions they put up (budgeting). Best of luck!!