So be forewarned, this is going to be a LOT of information. I am going to do my best to answer questions I have received from others who are interested in it. This is my personal attempt to help others and I will put links to the actual site where I see fit.
Q: What is the Disney College Program?
A: A unique internship opportunity provided by the Walt Disney Company. This opportunity has three major components: Living, Earning, and Learning. These components will be discussed at length in other answers but are essentially the housing element, the job itself, and the courses offered or seen as the credit you can receive at your institution.
Q: Were you a Princess?
A: No. There is only one Belle, one Mickey, one Pluto, one Cinderella, one Evil Queen, one Daisy, one Donald, etc. There are SO MANY ROLES out there, open your imagination. "If you can dream it, you can do it" in the Walt Disney company.
Q: What do you mean roles?
A: Roles are what your job is. We, as employees, are not seen as employees but as Cast Members. We are entertainers no matter our position. We are who capture the magic and have the ability to sprinkle pixie dust and create memories for the guests.
Q: What was your role?
A: At both Disneyland and Disney World I specifically worked in Quick Service Food & Beverage but I was a self-titled magic maker. I have been a cashier, a hostess, prepared food, and completed other tasks that are required to keep a restaurant going. The job is really what you make it out to be. You are a performer no matter what role you take, so take it with pride.
Q: Is it paid?
A: Yes! It is a paid internship. It depends on what role you have and what park you work in, but you will receive your wage upon receiving your offer of employment.
Q: Do you make enough to live on?
A: This is a tricky question. My best answer is it depends on how well at budgeting you are. I for one found it to be hard but the upside is that your paycheck is deposited into your account and your rent is immediately deducted from your account so you never have to worry about paying that bill. It made me feel better because the money I saw in my account was the money that I actually had.
Q: Do I have to take classes?
A: It will depends on what program you are doing but most likely, yes. It is nothing like a traditional class though and attendance is mandatory. If you skip class (or are sick) twice you will be removed from that class and potentially termed (kicked out of the program entirely).
Q: Do I have to get school credit for it?
A: Not from Disney's end, but you don't want to but check with your school first! You may need a certain amount of hours in a desired field that this can fulfill. Personally I needed it, I changed my major to Hospitality Business Management after my first College Program and then needed 1000 hours in the industry.
Q: Where did you live?
A: During my College Program in Anaheim, CA when I worked at the Disneyland Resort we lived in the apartments at Carnegie Plaza which was just a few miles away from Disneyland itself. In Orlando, FL when I was completing my second program at Disney World I lived at one of the four apartment complexes available to participants.
Q: Did you live alone?
A: No. Part of the living experience is that you live with roommates. This is a deal breaker for some but turned out to be one of the best choices I've ever made. During my DLR (Disneyland Resort) program I lived in a 2BR apartment with 4 other girls. How? There was one bunk bed and one twin bed in one bedroom while the other had two twin beds. Each bedroom had a bathroom but we shared a living room, a TV, a kitchen, etc. Everyone's shifts were so different though we hardly had conflicts such as "I need to shower first" or that sort of thing. During my WDW (Walt Disney World) program I lived in a 2BR with 3 other girls. Same kind of thing, we just didn't have a bunk bed. This can become challenging but teaches you a lot about yourself, or at least it did me.
Q: Did you have a washer and dryer in your apartment?
A: DLR - Yes. / WDW - No. There are laundromats onsite that you have to pay to use.
Q: How did you get to work?
A: DLR - I took my car and was able to park in a cast member parking lot where we then got shuttled to the park. If I did not drive I would have had to walk to the City Bus stop and ride into work via the bus. There are incentive programs at DLR to either carpool, bike, walk, or take the bus. / WDW - I took the DCP (Disney College Program) buses that pick up at some of the apartments. I lived in Chatham where there was a pick up spot just in front of the complex. There are many buses and they will take you to the resorts, parks, Walmart, the Mall, etc. They are used for both work and leisure transportation.
Q: Did you have to pay for parking?
A: No. The parking at the apartments is free as well as the cast parking lots.
Q: Well i'm over 21, can I drink or is it like "anti-Disney"?
A: Cast Members are normal people outside of work. They tend to point funny and offer to take strangers pictures for them, but otherwise they're pretty normal. Meaning? Yes. Yes, if you are of the legal drinking age you may drink. HOWEVER, to do it in your apartment you must live in a non-wellness apartment.
Q: Whats a non-wellness apartment?
A: Wellness means under 21 and Non-wellness is over
21. Non-wellness participants can consume or keep alcohol inside the
apartment.
Q: Well how would they even know?
A: Ah, inspections. Yes. You will have inspections. There are inspections done every couple of weeks and though it's a bit fuzzy to me it's essentially clean your apartment. Pick up, clean dishes, take out trash, wipe down counters, sweep, mop, vacuum, etc. (Why? What happens if you dont?) You can only have so many strikes against you before they term you. If you aren't respectful of the property or those in charge on the property, suspect you will be termed.
Q: Well say I'm 21 and my cousin applies who is 19 and we want to try to live together? Can we do that?
A:
Potentially. First of all, you would both have to be accepted, be the
same gender, and share the same arrival date. This can be requested on
the Disney housing site DORMS. You will get mor information on this
if/when you are accepted. Non-wellness
are allowed to room with Wellness participants, but a
Non-wellness participant must sign additional papers stating they will
not bring alcohol to the apartment and follow the rules like any other
Wellness participant.
ALL of the Non-wellness room mates must
sign the paper work though. You must consider this when choosing room
mates. This is the biggest decision is for a Non-wellness participants
who want to room in a Wellness apartment.This means someone over 21
cannot even bring home purchased alcohol or shot glasses in the
apartment whether they are intended to be used there or sent home as
gifts. If someone turns their back and snitches too, everyone in the
apartment can get termed.
Q: So say I've gotten into the WDW program, how do I know what complex I want to live in?
A:
Well do your research ahead of time because it partially depends on
what you want to pay for rent. There are a few options but remember,
each room has AT LEAST double occupancy. As of 4/5/15 rent is posted as
:
(1) Chatham Square ($87-$114) options: 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, 4BR
(2) The Commons ($91-$114) options: 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, 4BR
(3) Patterson Court ($89 - $114) options: 1BR, 2BR, 3BR
(4) Vista Way ($98-$107) options: 2BR, 3BR
Q: Can I have tattoos and/or piercings?
A: Yes, but that
could
potentially limit you. Shaving part of your hair or any drastic
modifications that alter your appearance are taken into consideration
when hiring decisions need to be made. Do some research on the 'Disney
Look' to find out more information regarding these modifications.
Q: When Can I apply?
A:
The application deadlines and program dates are all accessible on the Disney Programs Blog page where you can find much more information on the program and connect with other DCP hopefuls! https://disneyprogramsblog.com/what-are-the-application-deadlines-and-program-start-dates-for-the-disney-college-program/
Q: How do I apply?
A: Go to Disneycollegeprogram.com
to find the application link. Once you have applied you can check the status of your application on what is referred to as your 'Dashboard.' This will have any pending notifications or notify you if action is required.
Q: How long does it take to find out?
A: The dreaded waiting process. There are a few steps in this process...
(1) Apply
(2) If you are invited, you will complete the Web Based Interview
(3) If you pass the WBI, you are invited to schedule a Phone Interview
(4) Once you complete your Phone Interview, you wait.....
(5)....you wait....
(6).... you wait some more.....
(7) ...you might even wait some more.....
The process from start to end can take as little as 2/3 weeks or take as long as 3/4 months. No matter the case, "No news is good news" when it's coming from Disney. Here's (my) example timeline:
-I applied
Feb. 9th within minutes of the application going live
-Received a Thank You for applying e-mail (this is not a denial letter or acceptance letter) same day
-Heard nothing until
Mar. 20th when I was invited to do a WBI
-I completed it immediately after receiving the e-mail
-After completing the WBI, I was informed I would get an invite to schedule a phone interview
-The soonest I could schedule my phone interview was
Mar. 26th
-We were told hiring decisions would be made by
Mar. 30th but they weren't.
-I was accepted on
Apr. 3rd
-My arrival date is
May 26th
Q: How much does it cost?
A: To do the WDW program is costs about $250 which must be paid within 7 days of receiving your offer, the DLR program however costs over $800 and also must be paid within the 7 days after receiving your offer. This covers deposit, program fees, and covers part of the rent because you are not working the first 3 or more days you are there. You must move in, fill out new hire paperwork, attend traditions, be fingerprinted, etc.
Q: Why did you want to do it?
A: I was in my second year of community college and had taken a liking to journalism which I decided was my 'Major.' I had completed a newspaper course or two, was on the newspaper, and was working as an intern at a local news station. I thought that was my destiny, until I passed this Disney College Program poster on my way to class one day. I had heard of it when I was younger (because I am a DisNerd if you've ever met one) and it just hit me. That is something I needed to do. When I first applied I went in knowing the Walt Disney Company was the parent company to ABC and ESPN so I figured I could network like crazy and hopefully get another internship in that realm. I had no idea that was going to change. The application process was long, but once I was in, I was in. I had gotten into Disneyland (which accepts only a fraction of what Disney World accepts and I had no idea how to appreciate that at the time but that's besides the point) and landed a role in QSF&B. It was all fine and dandy until one day I had a guest who changed my life. It was evening of the first ever 24-hour event, February 29th, 2012 (it was leap year) and the crowds were unlike anything you've ever seen at Disney. Everyone was packed like sardines and there was practically no movement in the park. Every wait-time exceeded 4 hours and it had to be miserable for anyone who was there as a guest. I had initially only been scheduled a 4 or 6 hour shift I think but that quickly turned into a 8 or 12 hour shift. This day was just crazy and I had one woman who came through my line that day... She brought her daughter, who was in a wheelchair due to her just having had surgery on her ankle/leg, to celebrate her birthday. She was livid and took it out on me, the young girl selling her a slice of pizza, but instead of brushing her off and getting through the line I took the time to listen to her vent. I just looked at her and listened to her while she got everything she needed to off her chest. I responded accordingly, and apologized for the chaos because it was the first time an event like this was being held and there was no way to anticipate the turnout. She nodded and understood though her frustration still was able to be heard in her tone. I asked her as she started to walk away if her daughter was able to get a birthday button yet due to the crowds. She said no in a pretty negative tone and so I asked her what her daughters name was, pulled out a birthday button, wrote it on the button, and handed it to her. The woman smiled for the first time since our encounter started. She politely said thank you and walked away. About an hour later, she came over with one of my managers and thanked me again. She hung around in the crowds to be able to talk to my manager and tell him how sweet I was and that she was sorry for how she treated me but was impressed with how I reacted. She told him I was who turned their day around and proceeded to then hug me! It was that moment that I realized what I did and said really did have an impact on someones vacation, celebration, or just their day. I realized that no matter what job I took I could do that, but that I wanted to be able to do it for the Walt Disney Company and after coming home I even changed my major. That is just a tiny glimpse and what the program did for me, but all in all, it taught me a lot about myself, others, other cultures, and the company that I don't think I could have learned anywhere else.
