DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM - THE BASICS

Many college students dream of getting an internship at a reputable, well known company.

When college graduates go through the hiring process after graduation, a lot of companies are not only looking for a college diploma, but experience along with that.

The issue with that is, depending on the industry, many internships require students to move locations or be already local because the company doesn't provide housing in any sort of way, making it unaffordable for many college students.

Similar situations happen for individuals who look into studying abroad. Once again, it is very expensive for many people.

One program in particular that has grown in popularity is the Disney College Program for 3 reasons:

1) it allows students to work as an intern for a fortune 100 company

2) it provides housing (not free housing, but a safe, secured community to aid the housing hunting process)

3) it is paid

And here is a little bit about it and why it is an attractive program to be apart of.

WHAT IS IT?

The Disney College Program (DCP) is a paid 5-12 month internship for college students within either Disneyland or Disney World that allows them to gain experience working in different parts of the Disney company, specifically within the parks.

It not only expands your resume, but it can also connect you with industry professionals.

During this program, students work a minimum of 30 hours within the parks in a variety of different roles, live in Disney-sponsored housing, and have the ability to take courses and seminars related to the Disney company and education.

WHEN IS IT?

The DCP has four programs: fall, fall advantage, spring, and spring advantage.

Individuals within the fall advantage program are able to arrive at their DCP as early as May and can leave as late as January, while individuals doing the fall program arrive in August and leave at the same time as fall advantage.

People accepted into the spring advantage program can arrive as early as January and depart as late as August, while people just doing the spring program also arrive in January, but leave in May.

Is that too confusing?

I’ll make it easier.

Fall Advantage: May-Jan.

Fall: Aug.-Jan.

Spring Advantage: Jan.-Aug.

Spring: Jan.-May

The program has a variety of different arrival dates with the ability to change them based on date availability.

WHAT ROLES ARE AVAILABLE?

Disneyland and Disney World provide you with many roles to apply for.

However, since both parks are very different, the roles that are available vary.

The hourly wage that you make depends on the role that you get and the experience that you have within that role.

As of 2020, minimum wage in the DCP is $12/hr, but certain roles can get paid up to $15/hr.

Here is a complete list of the roles that are available for each park in the program.

Disney World:

-Attractions

-Convention Guide

-Custodial

-Monorail

-Photopass Photographer

-Skyliner Gondola

-Watercraft

-Character Attendant

-Character Performer

-Costuming Operations

-Bell Services Dispatch/Greeter

-Front Desk

-Houseperson

-Seater

-Quick Service Food & Beverage

-Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirate League

-Merchandise

-Vacation Planner

-Children's Activities

-Lifeguard

-Recreation Attractions

Disneyland:

-Attractions

-Custodial

-Resort Transportation & Parking

-Park Greeter

-Cast Costuming

-Entertainment Costuming

-Disney Desk

-Guest Services Assistant

-Custodial Busser

-Food Cart Cashier

-Food Prep

-Quick Service Food & Beverage Cashier

-Food & Beverage Quick Service Restaurants

-Retail Sales Clerk

-Vacation Planner

-Lifeguard

DOES DISNEY PROVIDE YOU HOUSING?

Yes! Disney does provide you housing if you do not have a place to stay in that area already.

However, their housing is not free.

Disney gives you the ability to live in sponsored apartments that are close to the parks, come with amenities, and provide transportation for a weekly price that is automatically taken out of your paycheck each week.

Are these weekly rent prices cheap and affordable?

Cheap… maybe.

Affordable… it depends.

It really depends on your situation and what you consider cheap and affordable.

Coming from Oregon, the DCP housing prices are significantly cheaper than what I would pay for if I was renting an apartment where I live.

However, if you currently live in a state or city where housing prices are much cheaper than Oregon’s (under $1200 per person for a shared apartment), their prices might seem expensive.

No matter what, the college program is required to give you the amount of hours it takes for you to pay for housing, however depending on the room or apartment you get, the bills you have, and the amount of hours you are given, you could either be scraping by or living well.

At Disney World, Disney sponsored housing varies from a minimum of $114/week to $205/week.

Obviously, if you decide to live in the most expensive apartment then you will have less spending money in the end.

And if you have bills to pay, such as car payments, phone bills, or student loans, you will have even less money to spend.

However, there are more affordable housing options to choose from and if you budget wisely, you will be okay.

As far as Disneyland, their housing prices are a bit more expensive because of the obvious: location.

You are living in southern California which has some of the highest housing rates in the US.

Disneyland’s housing rates range from $165/week to $205/week, which is much more affordable than renting an apartment in the area that is not Disney sponsored.

Overall, you can choose to opt out of Disney sponsored housing, but depending on your situation and preferences you have the option of living in a gated and secure community that is close to the parks and provides you with the essentials and amenities that you would regularly need or want.

DCP COURSES AND SEMINARS

During the college program, participants have the ability to take courses and attend seminars that are related to Disney, finances, and business.

While these courses and seminars are optional, they are highly encouraged and very beneficial.

It gives you the opportunity to learn about the business side of Disney, different roles within the parks, the history of Disney, and anything to do with finances and budgeting, because, of course, for this program you are living away from home and Disney wants to give you the resources you need to survive on your own financially.

The seminars that they have often bring industry professionals into the classroom to have conversations about the company, the industry they are in, and how they got there.

These seminars are a great way to meet industry professionals that may or may not be related to your major.

Not only do they give you the opportunity to sit in and listen to these seminars, but, they also provide major-specific networking events, that are only available to individuals in specific majors/programs.

By attending these, you have the opportunity to network with people within your specific industry in the Disney company that could possibly further your career within Disney later on.

This part of the program is such a great educational and networking experience and is recommended by recruiters and DCP alumni.

SO… YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT DOING IT. SHOULD YOU?

YES!

There are many advantages to doing the DCP, whether it is related to your major or not.

While doing the DCP, you learn so much whether that be life skills or how to interact with different types of people.

If guarantee you, when you apply for a job after the DCP, the hiring team will be more interested in your experience working at Disney, a Fortune 100 company, than any of your other work experiences you have.

In fact, many alumni say that the DCP was what made them stand out in the hiring process and were later told by the hiring team that their experience working in the DCP was what got them hired.

If your still skeptical, that is perfectly fine and normal.

But before you make any decisions about the DCP, ask individuals who have done it rather than taking advice from someone who has no experience with it.

That’s the only way you’ll know.