The Disney College Program - Pros and Cons

[mickeysgal]

DD is considering the Disney College Program. She is a Advertising/Marketing and Photography double major at college with Spanish as a minor. I'm firmly on the fence about the whole idea as I don't know enough about it. What I need to hear are the pro's and con's. Did your child love it or hate it? Did it help their college resume in the end? Did anyone's child stay on after college and secure a job with Disney or did they dump the rest of college to stay with Disney?

One of DD's friends did the program...was a character...and just landed a job with Disney Cruise Line...on the Dream...in a pretty decent job assignment. Great way to work yourself up through the ranks, I guess, in a company that is here to stay. With this economy so difficult for college grads to find jobs, we're trying to persue any avenue to enhance the resume and get a foot in the door.

So, is it a waste of time or is there some overall value to it?

 

[Traveliz]

It's sort of a mixed bag of what the student makes of it.

My daughter did it and had intended to do it for one semester and then continue on with her life.

Early on she decided to extend her program and transfer to UCF changing her major to Hospitality Management. She did complete college while working at Disney part time after her CP. I will say though that as a Hospitality Management student at UCF she was required to work in the Hospitality industry for a class so it worked out perfect.

After she graduated she put in for full time and is working full time at Disney. She is interested on certain mgmt type positions and is working in that direction.

There are a lot of networking opportunities available during the program and many special classes/events the students can participate in that can help them..that is all optional though.

She has some friends who have done the CP and stayed on although I believe most have continued to with their degree. Many come and do the CP as a time to play sort of semester (although I hear having it on the resume is at least a good conversation starter) and others come, play and are quickly terminated.

Pay at Disney is overall not a great deal but the benefits are very good. Looking around locally she is working and in her field and able to pay her bills along with having a full set of benefits so I am good with how this turned out. I see many of her classmates with degrees working at the local pub because they can't get a job in their field and the tips are what keep them there, some with no jobs at all and of course some with great jobs with better pay and benefits.

You can PM me if you have any other questions.

Liz

 

[disney junky]

DD did the program in 2006. Stayed 9 months and worked at Tower of Terror. She enjoyed the program. We made her commit to returning to college here in the NE which she did, for one semester. Then she transferred to UCF with the intent of never moving back to PA. There is a subtle pressure to do that. While a student at UCF, she did a professional internship at DVC, continued there part time until she was nearing the completion of her degree. After awhile, the allure faded, and she realized that WDW is like other employers; you have be willing to do anything to advance, and who you know may be more important than your degree. She moved home and graduated from UCF (hospitality) by completing her couple courses on line (we flew down for the graduation), and is now married and living here in central PA working for Amercian Cancer Society.

The program was what it says it is. She made the money she was told she'd make. I felt she was safe. The housing was nice. She had decent roommates. Was is perfect? No.

I think she was lucky to get the assignment she did. There are 5600 kids who go through the program yearly (that's what I was told by one of the directors), and it's not as hard to get selected as they seem to present it to be.

It's good to be skeptical. If you have any specific questions, PM me.

 

[wdwfam]

DD did the CP a few years ago. She came back and finished college - applied and got a Professional Internship in her field. She ended up with a permanent position (she's an Imagineer). She absolutely loves her job - and the pay is pretty good too!

 

[metalis4ever]

I participated in the WDWCP Spring 1999 and I can honestly say I would not be as successful as I am today had I not participated. The experience was life changing.

Having said that as others have stated it is what you make it. I know people who hated their assignments, became homesick and/or couldn't handle the demanding work schedule.

I was a QSFB Host at All Star Sports Resort and worked 4PM - Midnight or 1AM. Although it was demanding I enjoyed it and I especially enjoyed the people I worked with.

The joke that used to go around in my day was that WDWCP stood for WDW Closing Person

Beyond the working and learning aspects of participating in the WDWCP, the social and cultural shock was most beneficial for me. I was able to learn and grow personally through meeting people from all over the World.


The Disney College Program has definitely been a resume enhancer, I was offered the Job I have now out of College based heavily on having it on my resume.

I enjoyed my experience and came away with skills and a new found work ethic and motivation which carried me though College and into a successful career as an adult.

The only Con if you can call it that was my obsession with everything Disney as a result of participating

Vista Way 4 Life!!!!!!

 

[LisaR]

A couple of you mention finishing college AFTER the program. Is the college program full time making it too difficult to take classes? Are they willing to work around your college schedule each semester? I swear DD knows a girl that is doing the program while attending UCF. Maybe I misunderstood and the girl did the CP and is now at UCF and just a regular employee at Disney.

 

[disney junky]

A couple of you mention finishing college AFTER the program. Is the college program full time making it too difficult to take classes? Are they willing to work around your college schedule each semester? I swear DD knows a girl that is doing the program while attending UCF. Maybe I misunderstood and the girl did the CP and is now at UCF and just a regular employee at Disney.

I know UCF and Valencia CC have adopted many on-line classes so perhaps that's how she manages. The CP requires/guarantees 35 hours per week. At least, they did. Perhaps things have changed. I wanted my DD to try to get at least 12 hours to continue her health care but that was impossible during her CP.

 

[Traveliz]

A couple of you mention finishing college AFTER the program. Is the college program full time making it too difficult to take classes? Are they willing to work around your college schedule each semester? I swear DD knows a girl that is doing the program while attending UCF. Maybe I misunderstood and the girl did the CP and is now at UCF and just a regular employee at Disney.

It is virtually impossible to do the CP and College (full time) for a semester...well I suppose it can be done but not easily. You have to give full time availability and that means 24/7. There were many weeks my daughter had 50 plus work hours. They will not work around any other committments. While my daughter was at UCF she knew many people that worked at Disney but none that did the CP while they were at UFC.

A couple of online classes might be doable but still the CP is pretty demanding (some areas more than others) time wise. I do know some schools (very few) will give full credit for the CP but I do not believe UCF does.



Liz

 

[wdwfam]

I agree, with 50+ hours some weeks, it's hard to attend college classes; although DD did a couple of online classes. The long hours were difficult, but she loved every minute of the CP.

 

[disney junky]

It is virtually impossible to do the CP and College (full time) for a semester...well I suppose it can be done but not easily. You have to give full time availability and that means 24/7. There were many weeks my daughter had 50 plus work hours. They will not work around any other committments. While my daughter was at UCF she knew many people that worked at Disney but none that did the CP while they were at UFC.

A couple of online classes might be doable but still the CP is pretty demanding (some areas more than others) time wise. I do know some schools (very few) will give full credit for the CP but I do not believe UCF does.



Liz

That was my understanding too.

 

[LisaR]

I know UCF and Valencia CC have adopted many on-line classes so perhaps that's how she manages. The CP requires/guarantees 35 hours per week. At least, they did. Perhaps things have changed. I wanted my DD to try to get at least 12 hours to continue her health care but that was impossible during her CP.

So did Disney provide benefits? Once your DD was done and returned to college, were you able to add her back on to your insurance?

It is virtually impossible to do the CP and College (full time) for a semester...well I suppose it can be done but not easily. You have to give full time availability and that means 24/7. There were many weeks my daughter had 50 plus work hours. They will not work around any other committments. While my daughter was at UCF she knew many people that worked at Disney but none that did the CP while they were at UFC.

A couple of online classes might be doable but still the CP is pretty demanding (some areas more than others) time wise. I do know some schools (very few) will give full credit for the CP but I do not believe UCF does.



Liz

Thanks! I probably misunderstood. I know for a fact that the girl currently works at Disney and attends UCF. She must have done the CP program in the past and is now just a part time Disney employee while she finishes up at school.

 

[Traveliz]

So did Disney provide benefits? Once your DD was done and returned to college, were you able to add her back on to your insurance?



Thanks! I probably misunderstood. I know for a fact that the girl currently works at Disney and attends UCF. She must have done the CP program in the past and is now just a part time Disney employee while she finishes up at school.

We were able to add my daughter back on my husband's health benefits after the CP while she was still in college. We got her a temporary plan for the CP.

There are a lot of kids that work at Disney while at UCF and if she is in the Hospitality College they have to work so many hours a week (it's escaping me now) for three semesters in some type of hospitality postion so many who do the CP stay on part time and use that for their class requirement.

Liz

 

[disney junky]

So did Disney provide benefits? Once your DD was done and returned to college, were you able to add her back on to your insurance?

Disney did not provide benefits. We purchased a major medical plan (for a major emergency with a high deductable) for a little under $100 a month just in case. Once she was back as a full time student, she was back on the plan.

 

[mickeysgal]

I. I wanted my DD to try to get at least 12 hours to continue her health care but that was impossible during her CP.

Very good point about the health insurance. We'll have to keep that in mind.

From what I understand Disney offers some classes as well? Are kids in the CP required to take these classes or are they optional? Do they enhance the experience and/or do they increase the chances that you secure a permanent job with Disney after completing the CP?

From what I understand, Disney has select housing for the CP students, right? Of course, at a cost. Do they try to match up requests to be with other applicants or is it totally random? Are they a lot of kids per apartment?

 

[LisaR]

We were able to add my daughter back on my husband's health benefits after the CP while she was still in college. We got her a temporary plan for the CP.

There are a lot of kids that work at Disney while at UCF and if she is in the Hospitality College they have to work so many hours a week (it's escaping me now) for three semesters in some type of hospitality postion so many who do the CP stay on part time and use that for their class requirement.

Liz

Thanks! I am just starting to peruse the website and will have my DD look it over and see if she is interested.

I saw this under the "role description:"

During the application process, applicants have the opportunity to express interest in the specific roles for which they would like to be considered.

Since it says, "express interest," I assume there aren't any guarantees. Can you turn it down without any repercussions if the offer isn't anywhere close to your field of interest? It seems like a good program from the little I have read but I am not sure how a custodian position will help DD further her education or improve her chances in her field. I'm not sure the advantages to skipping a semester or two of college for a job that isn't related to her field would outweigh a regular part time job where she could continue her education. Or am I looking at it in the wrong light?

 

[mickeysgal]

DD did the program in 2006. Stayed 9 months and worked at Tower of Terror. She enjoyed the program. We made her commit to returning to college here in the NE which she did, for one semester. Then she transferred to UCF with the intent of never moving back to PA. There is a subtle pressure to do that. While a student at UCF, she did a professional internship at DVC, continued there part time until she was nearing the completion of her degree. After awhile, the allure faded, and she realized that WDW is like other employers; you have be willing to do anything to advance, and who you know may be more important than your degree. She moved home and graduated from UCF (hospitality) by completing her couple courses on line (we flew down for the graduation), and is now married and living here in central PA working for Amercian Cancer Society.

The program was what it says it is. She made the money she was told she'd make. I felt she was safe. The housing was nice. She had decent roommates. Was is perfect? No.

I think she was lucky to get the assignment she did. There are 5600 kids who go through the program yearly (that's what I was told by one of the directors), and it's not as hard to get selected as they seem to present it to be.

It's good to be skeptical. If you have any specific questions, PM me.

UCF - University of Central Florida

Trying to understand what you mean by the subtle pressure? Does Disney prefers that you stay down there to complete your degree so that you can stay on with them? Do they hint that that gives you more of an "in" with them in regards to landing a permanent position?

 

[SassyTink213]

My brother did the CP as a Lifeguard at the Poly and Grand last spring in 2011. Lifeguards are one of the highest paid of the CP ($14-15/hour I think it was) participants because of certification, but he worked a lot of hours and all of them in the sun around the pools. He came back looking so darkly tan that he looked like he was adopted standing next to me lol. It counted toward his internship credits and he took courses at Disney University and one of his computer courses online through his college too (Misericordia University). It was kind of similar to studying abroad in college in a study abroad program except that his abroad was in WDW.I think he came back with 15 credits from disney and 3 from his online computer course. He took just about every class disney offered him. He was always busy between classes and work, but he really liked it.

He had 5 roommates in his apartment, but not all of them lasted very long. At one point, it was only him and one other in his apartment for about a month and a half. Then other CP moved in with him from other partial apartments. He made some good friends down there.

DB's in IT/computer networking. He stayed the summer and worked seasonally as a lifeguard and then came back for the fall semester. Then, he went back down their after his finals in Dec. and stayed down and worked until classes started back up in the spring. He stayed with friends down there every time he went down. He did this to keep his seasonal status. He came back to finish school in January to finish his final semester and applied to the Disney Internship Program that started in June.He graduated in 4 years on time this May. He did the CP and stayed seasonal in order to up his chances of getting into the Disney Internship Program. This June, he got a computer networking internship with Disney Internship Program. He LOVES it! The pay isn't great now ($13 an hour, no medical but he can stay on w/my parents for another year bc he "lives" here in PA with them), but most of the people he works with came through theinternship program and were kept on and now have great pay and benefits. They've told him that they keep about 75% of the interns after the internship program and hire them on full time (at least in his department). So we'll see how it goes. Hopefully he'll get hired on when it finishes in January

It's really helped him to learn how to live responsibly and budget his money. He's learned how to live on his own. He loved the CP and came back with lots of life and job experience. He also got to enjoy the benefits of WDW-discounts. We got lots of disney gifts for Christmas and birthdays lol. We also got to visit- a great excuse to see WDW and got a great deal on a cruise on the Wonder.

All in all, I think he'd definitely do it again- even if it doesn't end up with a job in IT there. He thinks it's worth it for just the experience and the resume points. The CP definitely helped him get into the Disney Professional Internship Program. We're hoping it helps him land a job too (fingers crossed). He loves working for Disney and loves living in FL. DB hates snowy PA lol.

I agree that it's all in what you make it. Hope this helps! Please feel free to PM me any questions

 

[Traveliz]

Very good point about the health insurance. We'll have to keep that in mind.

From what I understand Disney offers some classes as well? Are kids in the CP required to take these classes or are they optional? Do they enhance the experience and/or do they increase the chances that you secure a permanent job with Disney after completing the CP?

From what I understand, Disney has select housing for the CP students, right? Of course, at a cost. Do they try to match up requests to be with other applicants or is it totally random? Are they a lot of kids per apartment?

That classes are totally optional and your child's school may or may not accept them for credit. My daughter was actually able to get 6 hours credit by taking one of the courses and doing an independent study (journal type thing) during her CP.

The kids can choose one roommate and the apartment sizes vary from 2-8 people. The more people in the apartment the less the rent.

Thanks! I am just starting to peruse the website and will have my DD look it over and see if she is interested.

I saw this under the "role description:"

During the application process, applicants have the opportunity to express interest in the specific roles for which they would like to be considered.

Since it says, "express interest," I assume there aren't any guarantees. Can you turn it down without any repercussions if the offer isn't anywhere close to your field of interest? It seems like a good program from the little I have read but I am not sure how a custodian position will help DD further her education or improve her chances in her field. I'm not sure the advantages to skipping a semester or two of college for a job that isn't related to her field would outweigh a regular part time job where she could continue her education. Or am I looking at it in the wrong light?

There are no guarantees on what role you will be offered but you give them your top choices. My daughter did not express any interest in roles that she could do at home (custodian, food service) and got her first choice of attractions. Even if you don't do a role in your exact field there is the advantage of the CP (considered an internship) on your resume. It does provide a great jumping point off of a resume and I know it has opened some doors that way. Some parents/students are super set on graduating college in four years (and some scholarships can be affected or student loans) and missing a semester or two really bothers the parents/students. I went to college myself and it took four and a half years due to problems getting classes so I wasn't so set on the four and out and didn't mind that my daughter was doing this for a semester. When it turned into two semesters, a new major (that was really a far better fit for her) and a new college (that was really a better fit as well ) it was really a win-win.

Liz

 

[mickeysgal]

Thanks! I am just starting to peruse the website and will have my DD look it over and see if she is interested.

I saw this under the "role description:"

During the application process, applicants have the opportunity to express interest in the specific roles for which they would like to be considered.

Since it says, "express interest," I assume there aren't any guarantees. Can you turn it down without any repercussions if the offer isn't anywhere close to your field of interest? It seems like a good program from the little I have read but I am not sure how a custodian position will help DD further her education or improve her chances in her field. I'm not sure the advantages to skipping a semester or two of college for a job that isn't related to her field would outweigh a regular part time job where she could continue her education. Or am I looking at it in the wrong light?

I believe, and I may be wrong, that you have to specifically rank the roles in regards to preferences. However, there are no guarantees.

Do they take their current college classes/major into consideration when placing students in the program? In other words, do they try to match up your college major with a job in the CP program (if at all possible)?

I'm with you...even if you rank custodian at the bottom of your list, you still may end up with it, and I just can't see how this is going to improve a resume. Unless of course it's just the sheer name of Disney - being trained in Disney's world wide known customer service - that enhances the resume regardless of position worked.

 

[disney junky]

Very good point about the health insurance. We'll have to keep that in mind.

From what I understand Disney offers some classes as well? Are kids in the CP required to take these classes or are they optional? Do they enhance the experience and/or do they increase the chances that you secure a permanent job with Disney after completing the CP?

From what I understand, Disney has select housing for the CP students, right? Of course, at a cost. Do they try to match up requests to be with other applicants or is it totally random? Are they a lot of kids per apartment?

The housing was very nice. She had 5 roommates and I think they deducted $87.50 per week out of her paycheck. Everything is included in that, all utilities, etc. DD took 2, 4 hour classes which were hospitality type classes. They are certified through a few different colleges. Her credit came through some a college like UNC Greensboro or something like that. I don't remember. And I'm pretty sure they were pass/fail. She had class two mornings a week and the CP worked around those. We paid tuition to that college for the credit.

There is one danger no one has mentioned and it comes with the program.
A friend of hers was offered a job as an area coordinator as a result of the CP in the Sunset Blvd area. Next thing that happens is he is working full time, trying to work his schooling around his job. I had spoken to another parent who had this happen with her DD as well. It's part of the temptation. The professional internship my DD did at DVC was great, but it also set her graduation from college back a year, so between the CP and the Professional Internship, she lost a year. The Professional Internship also provided housing, she worked 40 hours a week at $10/hr, but still had no benefits, the housing was nicer but more expensive, but the situation was awesome, working in the DVC preview area, working directly with guests and the guides and ASA's.