The Disney College Program - Pros and Cons

I did mine last year at Cosmic Ray's. It had it's moments, but I don't regret it one bit. The worst thing for me was dealing with my roomates...two I hardly ever saw and the one I shared a room with was not very nice. I spent a lot of time by myself, but that didnt bother me a bit.

My school doesn't offer credit for the program but they advertise it. I just took the semester off when I was there. I am culinary arts major but worked in QSFB. I checked off almost every role on the application to get a better chance of getting in.

I came home with NO money. I was careful about my spending and only had a debit card with me. My roomate on the other hand charged everything in sight and couldn't pay for it when the bills came. I worked, on average, 30-40 hours a week and was never hurting for cash when I was there, but came home broke. Extra hours were available all the time, but more often than not were for roles I was not qualified for.

I had my car when I was there, and I'm VERY VERY VERY glad I brought it with me. I filled up about once a week and drove to every place I went. The buses take you to the parks and WalMart, and that's about it. They go to the Florida Mall one day a week in the afternoon. (not very convenient) I never took the bus to work and budgeted gas money. I can imagine I would have had a very difficult time down there if I didn't have my car.

The CP was my very first time living away from home. I adjusted wonderfully. The first few days were a little weird and I had one major homesick meltdown on the way home from work one night but that was it.

As far as it helping me out in the real world, I haven't noticed anything yet. I still have people ask me fairly frequently about it at school and work. I haven't had to switch jobs yet so I haven't discussed it in an interview situation yet.

I was ready to go home when it was over, but leaving was bittersweet. I cried when i was leaving thr tunnel in the MK on my last day and spent my last night in the MK. I thought for sure I was ready to be home, but when I got back all I could think about was being in Disney. Not a day goes by that I don't think of being back down there.
 
....my DS will be doing his 'basic' English, math, science courses at our local community college and then he wants to continue on to Johnson & Wales [culinary] with the intention of doing an internship at WDW, so I'm kind of curious as to who did that, as opposed to 'Marketing' or 'Hotel Management'....sorry if there were replies to this; I didn't read all the posts here...

I actually participated in the WDWCP while in my 2nd Semester at Community College (Cape Cod Community College) , my concentration at 4C's was Culinary hence why I was assigned a Quick Service Food and Beverage Host position at All Star Sports Resort. The hours were hard and the job was demanding, prior to the College Program all of my cooking knowledge came from 1 Semester of introductory Culinary classes. The first day I got thrown on the grill with no help, I didn't even know what a Reuben was exactly never mind how to make one haha My first night of work was actually Super Bowl Sunday and it was so busy that I didn't even notice the giant TV showing the game not 50 yards away from me until I was cleaning at the end of the night. This is where I discovered my work ethic, customer (guest) service skills and interpersonal communication, however this is also where I realized that I did not have a passion for cooking or for Culinary Arts, but rather a passion for Business, People and Disney.

Upon my return from the WDWCP I had intended on transferring to Johnson & Whales because I had earned a scholarship that I had applied for but after some self reflection and soul searching on the new found passions gained from my experience during the Disney College Program I changed gears and transferred to Bridgewater State College instead to pursue a degree in Cultural Anthropology and Business Management. I feel as though it turned out to be a great decision because I ended up with an amazing job right out of College which has enabled me to visit Disney at least once every year for the past 10 years.

The Disney College Program ended up meaning more to me than an internship it ended up changing my life. It took an 18 year old unmotivated, lazy, unlearned, immature boy and turned him into a driven, goal oriented, motivated and mature young adult. This is where my love for Disney is rooted, this is why when people ask me why I always spend my vacation time, energy and dollars on Disney every year, I explain to them how going to Disney is more than a vacation for me it's like visiting a great mentor in life who keeps you motivated, humble and on track.
 
No Disney does not charge for the classes. Have to buy the book if there is one. NOW if you use that class for credit at your college your college may charge...however in my daughter's instance they did not! This varies by college and each college can make their own decision on how they want to handle it.

Liz

...that's pretty awesome!
 
I actually participated in the WDWCP while in my 2nd Semester at Community College (Cape Cod Community College) , my concentration at 4C's was Culinary hence why I was assigned a Quick Service Food and Beverage Host position at All Star Sports Resort. The hours were hard and the job was demanding, prior to the College Program all of my cooking knowledge came from 1 Semester of introductory Culinary classes. The first day I got thrown on the grill with no help, I didn't even know what a Reuben was exactly never mind how to make one haha My first night of work was actually Super Bowl Sunday and it was so busy that I didn't even notice the giant TV showing the game not 50 yards away from me until I was cleaning at the end of the night. This is where I discovered my work ethic, customer (guest) service skills and interpersonal communication, however this is also where I realized that I did not have a passion for cooking or for Culinary Arts, but rather a passion for Business, People and Disney.

Upon my return from the WDWCP I had intended on transferring to Johnson & Whales because I had earned a scholarship that I had applied for but after some self reflection and soul searching on the new found passions gained from my experience during the Disney College Program I changed gears and transferred to Bridgewater State College instead to pursue a degree in Cultural Anthropology and Business Management. I feel as though it turned out to be a great decision because I ended up with an amazing job right out of College which has enabled me to visit Disney at least once every year for the past 10 years.

The Disney College Program ended up meaning more to me than an internship it ended up changing my life. It took an 18 year old unmotivated, lazy, unlearned, immature boy and turned him into a driven, goal oriented, motivated and mature young adult. This is where my love for Disney is rooted, this is why when people ask me why I always spend my vacation time, energy and dollars on Disney every year, I explain to them how going to Disney is more than a vacation for me it's like visiting a great mentor in life who keeps you motivated, humble and on track.

...wow, what a great, inspiring story...you actually made my eyes well up...:sad1:
 
My school doesn't offer credit for the program but they advertise it...

...that's weird - how come? :confused3
Elmo9607 said:
...I just took the semester off when I was there. I am culinary arts major but worked in QSFB. I checked off almost every role on the application to get a better chance of getting in...

...great suggestion!
 
The Disney College Program ended up meaning more to me than an internship it ended up changing my life. It took an 18 year old unmotivated, lazy, unlearned, immature boy and turned him into a driven, goal oriented, motivated and mature young adult. This is where my love for Disney is rooted, this is why when people ask me why I always spend my vacation time, energy and dollars on Disney every year, I explain to them how going to Disney is more than a vacation for me it's like visiting a great mentor in life who keeps you motivated, humble and on track.

Congratulations to you! What a story!!
 
I just want to thank everyone for sharing their stories (and the OP for posting the question). I've truly enjoyed reading all of the stories and hearing the pros and cons. I'm not sure if my DD will have any interest in the program or if it will be a good fit for her based on her goals, but I will definitely point her to this thread and discuss the options with her.
 
I was very much the same way, participating in the WDWCP helped me break out of my anti-social shell. I'm not sure if it's still the case but back when I participated they had dry apartments at Vista Way (forget the term Disney used). Which meant that it would be less likely that there would be parties going on in ones own apartment.

I'm not stating that your DD is anti-social or needs to break out of any shell, I was strictly speaking from a personal perspective I was an introvert prior to participating and came out of it far more sociable than I had been going in. :thumbsup2

...can you elaborate a little more on the 'living conditions'? Do the participants of the CP live in dorms? Also, would they need transportation to get back and forth to work?
 
I just want to thank everyone for sharing their stories (and the OP for posting the question). I've truly enjoyed reading all of the stories and hearing the pros and cons. I'm not sure if my DD will have any interest in the program or if it will be a good fit for her based on her goals, but I will definitely point her to this thread and discuss the options with her.

OP, here.

Yes, I'd like to thank everyone for their contribution to this thread. I will tell you that my daughter has been reading this thread and is even more convinced this is the right path for her. Thank you to all for clearing up questions and giving all of us that have never experienced this, the inside scoop to the program.
 
...can you elaborate a little more on the 'living conditions'? Do the participants of the CP live in dorms? Also, would they need transportation to get back and forth to work?

My info will probably be a tad bit outdated since I participated in Spring 1999....But I don't think Vista Way or the other apartment areas have changed much as far as setup goes over the past 13 years. The ones in Vista Way are basic apartments, with a central living room type area with a kitchen attached, with bed rooms branching off from that central area. I was in a 4 person Apartment so mine only had 2 Bedrooms with a dedicated Bathroom for each Bedroom. I was in a "Dry Apartment", but I had a roommate that was over 21 who often times drank in his room or came home drunk. Back in 1999 there were parties everywhere and almost every night and the security seemed to be laid back, however I have a feeling that times have changed in that regard. Having said that I knew a handful of people who were Terminated on the spot for underage drinking. I did go to my fair share of parties while living at Vista Way but thankfully I was smart about it and didn't take any chances. Back in '99 there were also 2 pool areas, beach volleyball area, basketball courts and a computer lab for CPs to use at Vista Way, again not sure if this is still the case.

There is a bus/shuttle system provided to CPs that run quite regularly to take participants to anywhere on site as well as for grocery shopping, however I rarely used it because I decided to drive my car down which worked out well for me.

Again I apologize that I could not be of more assistance with specifics, a lot can change in over a decade. I'm sure more recent participants in the WDWCP can provide better information than I am able to.
 
...well, I sure appreciate the info - thanks!:thumbsup2

[...I'm trying to picture where these apartments would be, though]
 
...well, I sure appreciate the info - thanks!:thumbsup2

[...I'm trying to picture where these apartments would be, though]

You know where the Sheraton Vistana Resort is on 535? Vista Way is right before that off of 535.

If you leave the DTD area using Hotel Plaza Blvd and take a right onto 535 then following it under the Route 4 overpass, you will come to a set of lights with a gas station and a Walgreens take the right there and you've arrived.

You can actually see Vista Way from Route 4 :)

True story, someone I was speaking to on yahoo chat about the Disney College Program after I had gotten accepted (late 1998) pulled an amazing prank on me and convinced me that the apartments were underneath the Magic Kingdom, so I arrived in Orlando after driving 26 hours straight from Massachusetts and proceeded directly to MK, I get to the kiosks and tell the Cast Member that I didn't need to buy a parking pass because I was trying to get to the Disney College Program Apartments under the Magic Kingdom, the Cast Member started laughing hysterically and gave me directions to Vista Way :blush:
 
Vista Way is off of 535 and can be easily seen from I-4.

Chatam and Patterson are close to the Outlets on Vineland. You turn at Little Lake Bryan near the Catholic Church and they are down that road.

The set up is more apartment like than dorm like but they do two to a room rather than one.

All those American Coach buses you see on property or driving through resort areas are likely buses carrying the CPs to work.


And to the poster who thought it was odd that the college advertised it yet didn't give credit - its more like the College Program students that are Campus Reps got approval to advertise and present the program sort of as an extra type activity students can participate in.

Liz
 
You know where the Sheraton Vistana Resort is on 535? Vista Way is right before that off of 535.

If you leave the DTD area using Hotel Plaza Blvd and take a right onto 535 then following it under the Route 4 overpass, you will come to a set of lights with a gas station and a Walgreens take the right there and you've arrived.

You can actually see Vista Way from Route 4 :)

Vista Way is off of 535 and can be easily seen from I-4.

Chatam and Patterson are close to the Outlets on Vineland. You turn at Little Lake Bryan near the Catholic Church and they are down that road.

The set up is more apartment like than dorm like but they do two to a room rather than one.

All those American Coach buses you see on property or driving through resort areas are likely buses carrying the CPs to work.

....a-HA....gotcha! :thumbsup2
 
I'm not sure why my school doesn't offer credit, other than maybe since it's a community college, they don't? Not sure.

Anyway, I stayed in Patterson Court and the apartments were very nice. It's a lot smaller than Vista Way and a lot nicer. I always joked that Patterson seemed like a retirement home compared to Vista, which was fine with me! I don't do parties.

It was almost always very quiet at night and even though I was on the ground floor (which was a godsend) I didn't hear the people above me. I stayed in apartment 8104 and had a nice little view off the back porch. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of my apartment or I'd post them.

The pool was great and was open late, until 1 am if I recall.

Security is really strict concerning who is coming into the complexes. They check EVERYONE and visitors have to be signed in with an ID.
 
All those American Coach buses you see on property or driving through resort areas are likely buses carrying the CPs to work....

....hmmm, I never noticed them before....:confused3


Traveliz said:
...And to the poster who thought it was odd that the college advertised it yet didn't give credit - its more like the College Program students that are Campus Reps got approval to advertise and present the program sort of as an extra type activity students can participate in....

....personally, I'd stick with flag football or a rec swimming team....:rolleyes2
 
Hi!!
I am currently in the DCP and have been in it since January. I work in merchandise and I leave August 3rd.
If there are any questions, let me know!
 
I am not doubting your daughter but it is pretty rare to jump from CP to coordinator without the student pursuing those avenues on their own. I know each area is different and the managers at Sunset might be different but the area that my daughter worked during her CPs highly pushed the students to finish college. To jump from CP to Status Coordinator would require going to full time immediately and I am pretty sure you have to work in your position full time 6 months before even applying for a coordinator position. At any rate although that can happen I guess I don't think its the norm. I do think the norm might be more the allure of the Central FL lifestyle the kids get into and once they go from CP (with crazy hours) to part time or even full time with regular days off and time for a real life it can be pretty appealing to stay.

Liz


My roommate is a CP and is also a coordinator.
 
Hi!!
I am currently in the DCP and have been in it since January. I work in merchandise and I leave August 3rd.
If there are any questions, let me know!

...at which apartments are you currently living?
 












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