The Disney College Program is a U.S. national internship program operated by The Walt Disney Company, located at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort. The Disney College Program recruits students (18 years and older) and all majors for a semester-long paid internship program working at the Walt Disney World Resort.
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The first Disney College Program began in 1981. In the early days, the College Program consisted of just over 200 students from 20 schools working in only one theme park, the Magic Kingdom.[1] At that time it was known as The Magic Kingdom College Program. In 1983, program participants could work at Epcot as well as the Magic Kingdom and the program was known as The Walt Disney World College Program,[2] employing approximately 500 college students each 3-month spring, summer and fall session. From the beginning of the program until 1988, almost all program participants stayed in an off-property mobile home park called Snow White Village Campground (the remainder in Lake Vista Village apartments) in nearby Kissimmee, Florida. 1988 saw the opening of Vista Way apartments, which were much closer to the participants' employment.[3] Following the resort's massive growth in the 1990s and the widespread popularity of the internet, the College Program has grown substantially, seeing three new participant housing complexes built and many more colleges represented. As of 2005, 8,000 students have participated each year, representing at least 301 colleges and universities[1][4] with an average of 4,000 students at any given time.[5]
In the autumn of 2004, student opportunities at Disneyland were combined with the opportunities available at Walt Disney World. The program was renamed to the Disney Theme Parks and Resorts College Program. Currently, the program is being promoted as simply the Disney College Program.
There are specific requirements a student must meet before applying for the Disney College Program. All students must be of 18 years or older before the expected day of arrival. Students must be enrolled in one of the 301 accredited universities or colleges as both a full-time or part-time student, and actively taking classes. Students must complete at least one semester of university or college before entering the Disney College Program, but can apply during their first semester for their second semester. In the case of schools with additional requirement criteria, a student must meet all of those eligibilities before being considered by the program. [6]
Students who apply to the program are given the option of one of several program seasons throughout the year, each usually lasting between five and seven months, though the culinary session length is dependent upon the student's school schedule.
To be considered for the program, each student must attend an information session about the program or view the same session online. Afterwards, students participate in a web-based interview. Students who are selected to proceed beyond the interview can interview over the telephone. Here the students inform recruiters of the positions in which they would be interested in working while attending the program. Some of these positions (or roles) are food and beverage, attractions, custodial, hospitality, and character work. If a student chooses to do character work, he or she must attend one of several regional auditions. Beginning in 2005, Disney offered an online presentation to better accommodate students' schedules for the live information sessions.[7]
If the student has been accepted, they will receive an acceptance letter within three to four weeks of the interview, which must be replied to in order to secure a spot in the program.
At the beginning of the program in the early 1980s, three "experiences" were emphasized: "The Learning Experience", which involved participation in Disney's "Leisure Time Business Management Studies", "The Work Experience" which included work in 4 major areas of the resort, and "The Recreational Experience" which emphasized recreational activities and Disney-sponsored events.[2] Since that time, the experiences have changed slightly to "living", "learning" and "earning".[8]
The "Living" experience is similar to the program's original "Recreational" experience. Once the student has accepted their position with Disney, they can stay in one of four, company sponsored housing units near Walt Disney World Resort during the duration of the program: Vista Way, Chatham Square, Patterson Court, and The Commons (which houses mainly international Cast Members). At the Disneyland Resort, participants stay in the Center Street Promenade complex approximately two miles north of the Disneyland Resort. Each participant has the opportunity to choose to live in a one, two, three, or four bedroom apartment with two people sharing a bedroom. [9]
The cost of housing is deducted automatically from the student’s weekly salary. The cost of housing varies depending on the location of the student’s program. There are fees the student must pay upfront upon acceptance into the program based on housing, and these too vary between locations. In Florida there is a program assessment fee of 100 dollar as well as a housing and administration fee for 200 dollars. In California the program assessment fee is 100 dollars, and a security deposit of 200 dollars as well as 560 dollars in housing and assessment fees. [10]
Students are expected to follow certain guidelines in the housing complexes, and the Disney Company has set up certain policies. Roommates are assigned by gender and age. If a student is under the age of 21 they are placed in a “Wellness Apartment”, or one that is deemed dry. All of the apartments are non-smoking in all areas. For students located in Florida the Disney Company provides transportation to and from the Disney parks to the housing complexes. Transportation is not provided for students located in California. Those students are encouraged to bring their own cars, and are given free bus passes for the public transportation system.[11]
The "Learning" experience began in the early 80s as a group of 9 seminars on the "philosophies and operating practices" of the various sections of Walt Disney World's business.[2] It has grown to include 8 different courses, each focusing on a Disney topic, rather than a business area. Students are required to do textbook readings, write term papers and participate on projects. Students attend "Traditions" which is a 4 hour long session that analyzes students looks and makes sure they are in compliance with the "disney look" which includes no dye in hair color, no painted nails, and business casual for all sessions. The traditions demonstrates everything about Disney World Resort and the company.[12] The program also offers "job shadowing" for students on days they are not working. Students can follow and witness Disney employees whose careers are similar to the student's major.[13]Each course offers participants the possibility to earn college credit during their program. The decision to award credit is made by the participant's college or university.[14]
The "Earning" experience consists of students working within the Walt Disney World Resort.[15] At the program's inception, students were expected to work in one of 4 "major operating areas": Food, Merchandise, Attractions, and Custodial.[2] Currently, Disney College Program students work in more than 20 different roles.
Depending on the requirements of a student's school, internship credit may be earned.[16]
Critics argue that Disney is using the program as a source of cheap labor, as interns do the same work as veteran employees, but at a lower pay rate.[4] In late 2007, a permanent Cast Member ran for president of the local union in Orlando. Part of his platform intended to get rid of the Disney College program, claiming that the program "imports thousands of low-wage earners every year to work for Disney, depressing the local employment market and keeping wages down." Disney responded that the program is beneficial in the recruitment of cast members and that 8,000 workers out of 62,000 do not greatly impact operations.[5] As of January 2011, the starting pay rate for Full-Time Attractions positions at Walt Disney World is $7.70/hr, while College Program Attractions positions at Walt Disney World are paid at $7.25/hr (a difference of $18 per week in a 40-hour work week).[17]
In 2006, a female International Program participant was allegedly raped by four other students. The Orange County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation resulting in the termination and arrest of the four students, but no charges have been filed. Disney declined to comment.[18]