Getting an internship program with few qualifications is very difficult. In fact, it’s like looking for a pin in a haystack. Popular American Company Disney has found this very unfit for young American students.
Hence, they have introduced the Disney College Program for students.
According to CNBC, 75% of employers have made at least one change to their internship program,” says Koc. “About 40% of them are introducing a virtual internship, another 40% are shortening the internship by delaying the start date of the internship and about 20% are reducing the number of interns they’re going to bring on board in the summer.”
This information introduces a difficulty that has gradually increased with the coronavirus pandemic. Indeed, you would have to be ready to make the necessary adjustments and seek out opportunities such as the Disney College Program.
The table of content below clearly outlines all you need to know about the Disney College Program. To be precise, we will address the eligibility and application processes.
Table of contents
How do you apply to Disney college program?
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria in order to submit an application for the Disney College Program: Students must be actively enrolled and taking classes in an approved program or institution and have completed at least one semester OR have graduated within the last 12 months.
Participants are not expected to take the Disney College Program at the Walt Disney World Resort.
What do you do at the Disney College Program?
The Disney College Program includes a blend of on-the-job experience, college coursework, and immersion for students. In most cases, at Disney theme parks and resorts, you will have the ability to connect with individuals from around the world, live in company-sponsored accommodation, and partake in paid internships.
Is the Disney College Program hard to get into?
The DCP itself receives loads of applications and only approves about less than 20 %, though Disney is one of the largest employers out there. Getting into the program is not easy, but if you work hard and try your best, no matter what your reply from The Mouse is, you should feel proud.
Do you take classes during the Disney College Program?
Participants are not allowed to take the Disney College Program Education Courses at the Walt Disney World Resort while on the program. The school of a participant may require them to take a course, which is why consulting with your academic advisor first is important for you.
How expensive is the Disney College Program?
There are a variety of fees to be charged when accepting an offer to complete the curriculum, ranging from about $350 for the Walt Disney World program and $900 for the Disneyland program.
What is Disney College Program?
The Disney College Program is a national internship program for college U.S citizens. The Disney Internships & Programs – a subsidiary of Walt Disney Company – are the administrators of this internship program.
Started in 1981, this program started with only 200 students from 20 different schools. As they grew, they continued to expand and grow and increase their employment base. It increased to 500 students each spring, summer and fall session.
Usually, all students of the internship program got to stay at an off-property location and some Lake Vista Village apartments. Some years later, they evacuated all their students from their Vista Way apartments.
Currently, there are over four housing properties where interns can reside. Additionally, they can choose to stay outside the housing facilities.
Today, the program’s opportunities are available at all theme parks, resorts and shopping districts of the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland, changing its name to the Disney College Program.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for the Disney College Program?
As much as the Disney College Program wants to increase its interns, it can’t pick up every day. The program specifically targets young college students in universities and colleges.
The following requirements are the general requirements you need to fulfil in order to be part of the internship program. Hence, these requirements include;
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be currently enrolled in a College or University.
- Complete at least one semester of college
- Be a fresh graduate of nothing more than a year
- Meet their own school’s additional requirements
Once you’re able to meet these qualifications, you can get a shot at this internship program. However, you’ll be battling for places among over 50,000 people and you need to show why you should be a preferred choice.
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What are the Things I Need to Know About the Disney College Program?
The Disney College Program offers you a wealth of experience as a student. These experiences are the learning experience, the work experience and the recreational experience.
In a nutshell, the learning experience dealing with your participation in their Leisure Time Management Studies. The work experiences deal with the major areas of work while the recreational experience deals with recreational activities.
Today, these experiences have been transformed into living, learning and earning.
Living
The life experience is similar to the recreational experience of the original program. Once the student accepts their Disney offer, they can stay in any of the four company-sponsored accommodations near the Walt Disney World Resort throughout the program duration.
At the Disneyland Resort, participants meet in the Carnegie Plaza building about three kilometres north of the complex. Each participant can choose to live in apartments of up to four rooms which can accommodate up to three roommates. Additionally, Disneyland Housing offers a limited number of studios.
The cost of accommodation is deducted from the student’s salary and varies depending on the accommodation selected. Moreso, students must certain fees payable in advance when they enter the home program, and these also vary from place to place.
In Florida, there is a non-refundable program evaluation fee for administrative support, housing events and activities planned throughout the program, and additional accommodation and administration fees, which cover the first week of rent.
In California, the program appraisal rate, along with a refundable security deposit, also applies as well as the accommodation and appraisal rates, which cover four weeks’ rent.
Hence, students will see the guidelines in the housing complexes. The roommates are classified by sex and age, except in the case of a married couple.
Before 2019, students had to live in “well-being” or “non-well-being” apartments according to age. If a student is under 21, they will automatically place you in the wellness department, or one that is considered alcohol-free.
To pass the inspection, the department must be considered clean for the inspector, which includes that there is a minimum of dishes in the sink, vacuumed floors, clean worktops, clean bathrooms and organized rooms. Participants are informed of inspections in each complex and surprise inspections are occasionally carried out.
Learning
The learning experience started in the early 1980s as a group of nine seminars on the “operating philosophies and practices” of the different sections of your resort business. It has grown to include eight different courses, each focusing on a Disney theme, rather than one area of activity.
Most courses are approved by the American Board of Education and offer participants the opportunity to earn college credits during their program, subject to a decision by the participant’s college or university.
Classes meet once a week for most of the program and last four hours, with breaks during peak seasons. Students must use textbook readings, write term articles and participate in projects.
In addition, the Disney Exploration series offers courses focused on Disney related business areas. Participants, like all members of the cast, attend Traditions at Disney University, a 4-5 hour welcome orientation focused on the presentation of the complex, from employment to corporate values.
Participants are expected to keep “The Disney Look” required to attend the Traditions. Disney Look is a policy that follows strict guidelines for actor appearances.
The guidelines include natural hair colour, neutral colour of nail polish, certain nail length, limited jewellery, restrictions on facial hair, etc., which vary by gender. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disciplinary action.
The program also offers job monitoring for participants on non-working days, where the participant can follow Disney actors whose careers are in areas similar to the student’s speciality.
Experience
The winning experience consists of students working in their role at the complex. At the start of the program, students should work in one of four main operational areas: food service, merchandising, attractions and child care.
A fifth space, the changing rooms, offers the possibility of working behind the scenes with artists or in the changing room operations. Currently, the Disney College program offers students the opportunity to work in more than 20 different roles.
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How can I apply for the Disney College Program?
The application process for the Disney College Program takes up to four steps from start to finish. Well, these steps are easy and are very easy to understand. These steps include;
Step 1: Submit Your Application
You can’t actually gain an internship place when you don’t apply for a position. Hence, you have to make and submit your application for a place.
Applications are submitted online at the webpage of the Disney Internships & Programs Division.
Step 2: Attend Web-Based Interview
As soon as you get pass this application stage. You will attend a web-based interview with the organizing body.
During this interview, you need to express confidence and competency. Additionally, you must ensure you speak in your area of interest as an authority.
Step 3: Attend Phone Interviews
After you have scaled through the web-based interview, you will then have a phone-based interview.
Your phone interview will be with the C.E.O of an organization wherein you can do your internship. You must be meticulous with your answers while showing a desire to work.
Step 4: Final Notifications
After your phone interview, you’ll wait for a minimum period of three weeks. After this period, you’ll get notified of your application status and your place of internship.
FAQs
Under the Disney College Program, a participant can earn as much as $10.00 – $12.31 per hour, based upon the role that he/she is selected to play.
The Disney College program is very competitive as over 52,000 students apply for only 12,000 spots.
You can get into the Disney College Program when you fulfil the eligibility requirements which include; being enrolled in a university, being above 18 etc.
Disney’s college program is an internship program for college students or fresh graduates.
Conclusion
Disney College Program has helped a lot of American students gain internship opportunities. These opportunities have given them the experience they need to do better in other job places.
Disney College Program has helped a lot of American students gain internship opportunities. These opportunities have given them the experience they need to do better in other job places.
