How I Got In:
Applications for the program are accepted at two different times of the year; during the fall semester, where you apply for the next spring, and spring semester, where you apply for the next fall. Easy enough. I did quite a bit of research on the program so I would know exactly what I'd be getting into, and many people recommended waiting a few weeks after the application was out (the logic being that the recruiting office would be less swamped and you would be accepted quicker. Personally, I wouldn't recommend this. I applied the first day the applications dropped, and as soon as the first 'wave' of acceptances were out (two weeks after my phone interview), I received an email saying I'd got in! Obviously, I think the earlier you apply, the better chance you have of getting your dream role.
1.) What the heck is the difference between Disneyland and Disney World?
I've actually gotten this question quite a bit from friends, so I figured I may as well clarify. The Disney College Program (DCP) is offered at both Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida, with Disney World having a much older (and larger) program than Anaheim's (FL's was started in 1981, while CA's started in just 2004). Unlike California's two parks (California Adventure and, obviously, Disneyland) there are four parks that make up the Walt Disney World Resort. There's the Magic Kingdom (most similar to Disneyland):
Epcot (the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow):
Disney's Animal Kingdom:
and Disney's Hollywood Studios:
Disney World's program hires about 8,000 college students per year, while Disneyland hires about 700 (much smaller resort=more competition). Since I've been accepted to Disney World, that's the program I'll be talking about.
2.) So what do you do there?
The DCP is a paid internship that hires both part-time and full-time college students to come work in one of the four parks, two water parks, or many hotels Disney has to offer for a semester (or a semester + summer, if they wish). The jobs (called 'roles'; to Disney, every aspect of their resorts is part of one big show they put on for guests. For example, I'm not an employee, I'm a Cast Member. But I'll get to that later.) can range from working front desk at a hotel, working custodial in the parks, or even being a performer in a parade! I was hired to work Attractions, which refers to all the rides and shows within the parks. In my interview I mostly requested rides that require a spiel (such as the Jungle Cruise or Great Movie Ride) or ones where I could act a little bit (Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, etc.). Unfortunately, I won't know where exactly I'll be working until my check-in on August 8th!
If you wish, you can also take free classes offered by Disney to earn college credit, or simply use them as an opportunity to network with people within the company if you plan on working in Disney as your career. There's no specific Entertainment class that I know of, but hopefully I'll be able to find out about a possible future internship with Disney on Broadway once I'm there.
3.) You're moving all the way to Florida? Where are you going to live?? Disney provides housing for all CP participants (not free, unfortunately), and you can choose from three different apartment complexes. The weekly housing fee is taken from your paycheck. I wouldn't be living alone, of course; in fact, I could potentially have up to seven roommates! Usually people on Facebook set up a group for every program for the exact purpose of finding roommates before you go to Florida, and I've already talked to many awesome girls (so many that I may actually end up having seven roommates!). So luckily I won't be having to room with total strangers.
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Man, I definitely wasn't planning this to be such a long post. Oops. Well, I'm extremely excited to have this opportunity, and definitely blessed to be able to do it! I think it's going to be an awesome experience, and a little less than five months seems far too short for all the things I want to do. I imagine I'll be posting pretty sporadically until the last month before I go.....
Can it just be August already?
