Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management MAJORS?

[idkjade]

Even if you aren't majoring in that, you can probably still help me out!

So, if you've been following my endless rants goodvibes) you'll know that I REALLY wanna do a CP and eventually work for WDW someday. But I'm guessing none of you follow my life (LOL), so, there you go....that's my dilemma, haha.

I'm an English Major currently and my plan was to do a CP before I graduate and then to do another one AFTER I graduate (like the fall semester after). After that I'd move to FL and live down there and work for WDW while looking for a job at a book publishing company (I want to be a book editor). Buuuttt I've still had my doubts about this plan....because I REALLY want to work in Disney...period. I LOVE English and LOVE that I'm majoring in it...but I really don't see it fitting into my goals and dreams of working in WDW.

So I was looking at PSU's list of majors and I came across Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management. There are three different options you can go under...and I like this one the best....

COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY RECREATION MANAGEMENT OPTION: This option focuses on management in the private/commercial, non-profit, and public sectors of recreation/leisure services. The private/commercial focus will be of interest to students seeking careers in a variety of commercial settings such as resorts; theme parks, convention centers; sports and fitness facilities, including arenas and stadiums; tourism promotion/planning agencies; and employee recreation departments within corporations. This focus will also appeal to students wishing to become entrepreneurs. For those interested in the community, public, or non-profit sectors, this option prepares students for positions within municipal, state, and federal government agencies; recreation divisions of the armed services; YMCA agencies; United Way agencies; scouting organizations; university-affiliated units such as student unions, intramural and alumni services; and other non-profit organizations.

So I read that and thought, "Wow! This could really help me with Disney!"

So my questions for you, forum, for today are thus....

1) Are YOU in this major or something similar?

2) What jobs can I get in WDW with this major?

3) Do you think this major would help me at ALL with my plans of working in WDW?

THANK YOU ALL!!!

Have a magical day! ​

 

[Berlioz70]

1) No. My undergrad was a double in Electronic Media and Public Relations, my masters is in Education. Specific majors do not typically matter, especially at Disney as the majority of jobs (including entry level management) only require a high school diploma. Unless you're going into something specific (like welding) a degree is a degree and the majors stop mattering.

2) The same thing as anyone else with a degree. I've never seen a Disney Job posting requesting that major. They are more likely to request Business, or some specialized degree for a very unique role (ex: culinary).

3) Sure. What's more important is the out of classroom experience. Are you going to be getting real world application you can talk about in an interview? Are you required to have internships? Are you going to create projects that will help you build a portfolio?

I was an academic adviser for a year, here's my standard advice... Students in college care more about majors than the working world. If you want to major in something broad, Communications and Business are two of the best as they can be applied to nearly every job out there. The college experience is so much more than what you get in the classroom, so think about clubs/organizations related to different majors and ask yourself which ones you want to join. Good chance the clubs you participate in are going to give you more interview topics than your classes, not to mention that if you like those clubs, you'll like the major associated to it! If you like the major, you'll do better in class!

 

[Timmy Boy]

Hey, I don't know if this would interest you, but this was my plan as well. I just graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Hospitality Management. It has several different "emphasis" tracks, such as Lodging, Restaurant, Events, and Theme Parks. I just got mine in General Hospitality because I knew it would broaden the choices, but all my elective classes were theme park classes.

I took classes titled: Guest Experience in Theme Parks, Employee Experience in Theme Parks, Guest Service Management, Amusement Technology, and Theme Park Product Development. It really is a good school, and Internships there are required in order to graduate.

The hospitality classes can be taken on Main Campus, which is East Orlando, about 45 minutes from WDW. However, the Hospitality College is located on Universal Blvd., about 10 minutes away from every major park in Central Florida, called the Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Almost all of the classes are held there.

Here is a very brief PDF of the classes offered:
http://www.hospitality.ucf.edu/pdf/Hospitality_Management_BS.pdf

EDIT: I'm sorry, I didn't read your post all the way. I see that you already have your degree, which is great! I want to do the same thing. I love theme parks, and I loved the time I spent with them. However, I got let go from Universal 2 years ago, and Disney isn't hiring for what I love (Attractions) and Seaworld said no to my application, even with a degree. I'm unemployed right now. WDW College Program will definitely get you into working at Disney, as a good margin of the entire WDW Cast is CP.

 

[Traveliz]

Hey, I don't know if this would interest you, but this was my plan as well. I just graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Hospitality Management. It has several different "emphasis" tracks, such as Lodging, Restaurant, Events, and Theme Parks. I just got mine in General Hospitality because I knew it would broaden the choices, but all my elective classes were theme park classes.

I took classes titled: Guest Experience in Theme Parks, Employee Experience in Theme Parks, Guest Service Management, Amusement Technology, and Theme Park Product Development. It really is a good school, and Internships there are required in order to graduate.

The hospitality classes can be taken on Main Campus, which is East Orlando, about 45 minutes from WDW. However, the Hospitality College is located on Universal Blvd., about 10 minutes away from every major park in Central Florida, called the Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Almost all of the classes are held there.

Here is a very brief PDF of the classes offered:
http://www.hospitality.ucf.edu/pdf/Hospitality_Management_BS.pdf

EDIT: I'm sorry, I didn't read your post all the way. I see that you already have your degree, which is great! I want to do the same thing. I love theme parks, and I loved the time I spent with them. However, I got let go from Universal 2 years ago, and Disney isn't hiring for what I love (Attractions) and Seaworld said no to my application, even with a degree. I'm unemployed right now. WDW College Program will definitely get you into working at Disney, as a good margin of the entire WDW Cast is CP.

Did you just graduate from there in December? My daughter also did. Good luck on you job hunt.

Liz