I’ve just returned from an amazing Disney College Program experience.  I was prepared to be homesick, work incredibly hard, and have lots of fun and still there were many unexpected twists and turns I never saw coming.  I’m ready to share everything I learned about the Disney College Program and today I’m going to start with the very first step in the process.

Joe’s Tips for Disney College Program Hopefuls – Application Process

– By Joseph Green

Before Applying

Research everything.  It’s easy to find great information online.  Find and read about other DCP participants’ experiences, watch their YouTube videos, check out first-hand descriptions of different roles, and review the different housing options.  Ask around among your friends and family to find out if they know a former participant you can talk to.  I found a co-worker who’d been in the program and her advice about what to expect during the phone interview was invaluable.

If you apply and don’t get accepted, try again for a different semester or right after you graduate.  The acceptance rate is low compared to the huge number of people who apply.  I think the older you are and the more work experience you have, the better.  If you’re a bit older, chances are you’ll answer the interview (both web-based and telephone) questions completely differently than you would have when you were 18 and/or had no experience working as part of a team or with the public.

When Applying

Don’t show interest in any job you think you’ll hate OR if, like me, it’s important to have this experience during a particular semester, be willing to feel good about any role you’re given.  Like that old Southern expression goes, “You can get glad in the same pants you got mad in” but it’s up to you.  No matter what role you get, it’s up to you to make the experience good.  Don’t get your heart set on a particular role.  If you put ANY interest in a role, it’s possible you’ll get it.

Disney fills roles based on need and those with the highest need are often the ones we can least imagine having.  Many applicants see themselves as character performers or character attendants or working in favorite attractions because those roles seem like they’d be the most fun.  It’s also pretty easy to imagine working in a store or behind the counter at a resort.  The truth is that if you’re applying to the program for the right reasons, any role will be rewarding.  Be prepared to end up in custodial, housekeeping or Quick Service Food & Beverage since those have the highest need.

Telephone Interview

Schedule this very important final step for a time when you’ll be alone and uninterrupted.  If you don’t have a vast knowledge of Disney parks, watch some ride and special event videos on YouTube.  You don’t have to have vacationed at Walt Disney World or Disneyland to be accepted into the program, but as with any potential employer, a company loves when you know a bit about them.  Think about how to convey your personality and best attributes with only your words.  I have a very deep voice that can sometimes sound monotone and unexpressive.  While I didn’t want to sound fake, I did try to put a bit more excitement into my answers so my enthusiasm would be evident.  I also sat in front of a mirror so I could see myself while I was talking to the interviewer – this ensured that I smiled, which, believe it or not, can be heard as well as seen.

I thought about and planned on doing the Disney College Program for years before finding the right time to apply.  I gathered all the information I could find and went in feeling confident about what to expect.  I heard about (and met some) people who applied on a whim, did no research, and were then hugely disappointed by what they thought would be nothing but an extended Disney World vacation.  Some were terminated for calling out sick and then going to play in the parks.  The Disney College Program is an internship that involves working hard as part of a team dedicated to providing an outstanding guest experience.  That must be a DCP member’s first priority in order to have a successful program.

If you have questions about any aspect of the Disney College Program, ask away and I’ll do my best to help.  Watch for my next post about my role as a DCP participant.  Thanks for reading…Joe.