Disney Internships/Disney College Program

xplpx16 · #1 09-20-2005, 01:29 AM

Has anyone done this or known anyone who has? If so, what did you go for? I'm thinking of going for Radio Communications. If anyone was in that program, how was it? Also... What was your cast position? Thanks!

Xylochick216 · #2 09-20-2005, 02:53 AM

A thread that already exists

I know it's extremely hard to get one of the advanced internships unless you've served your slave labor time.

RedRoseSAI · #3 09-20-2005, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Xylochick216
I know it's extremely hard to get one of the advanced internships unless you've served your slave labor time.

I did it. Not sure how I did it, but I did.

Dedicated2Delta · #4 09-20-2005, 09:10 AM

I'll be flying to Orlando this Thursday to visit two of our students who are in the Disney College Program. They both love working at Disney. In fact, I'll be spending most of my time convincing them to come back to Ohio. LOL

adpiucf · #5 09-20-2005, 09:48 AM

Facts about the Disney Program--

Most students end up dropping out of their college to attend community college, UCF, Rollins or Stetson Colleges in order to stay in Orlando. Or they drop out of school entirely. The place just sucks you in.

You're going to be doing a lot of menial labor and very little effective internship things. You have to put in your time.

The roach-infested love nest where you will be living, Vista Way, is affectionately nicknamed "Vista LAY" by the locals because of all the interns hooking up with each other.

There are pros and cons. It can be a life-changing experience. But from what I've seen and heard, Disney gets the better deal out of the program.

DisneyGirl87 · #6 01-31-2009, 11:03 PM

Hey, Do you know what goes on n the phone interview and what I should prepare myself for?

BaylorBean · #7 09-20-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by adpiucf
Facts about the Disney Program--

Most students end up dropping out of their college to attend community college, UCF, Rollins or Stetson Colleges in order to stay in Orlando. Or they drop out of school entirely. The place just sucks you in.

You're going to be doing a lot of menial labor and very little effective internship things. You have to put in your time.

The roach-infested love nest where you will be living, Vista Way, is affectionately nicknamed "Vista LAY" by the locals because of all the interns hooking up with each other.

There are pros and cons. It can be a life-changing experience. But from what I've seen and heard, Disney gets the better deal out of the program.

I had a pledge sister who went and did this program. She never came back and no one has heard from her since. (that was going on 6 years ago)

valkyrie · #8 09-20-2005, 01:18 PM

It sounds cult-like.

ZTAngel · #9 09-20-2005, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by valkyrie
It sounds cult-like.

From what I hear, it is very cult like. There's an article in a small publication, Radar Magazine, in the Summer 2005 issue that talks about work life at Disney. Very interesting.

Dedicated2Delta · #10 09-20-2005, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by adpiucf
Facts about the Disney Program--

Most students end up dropping out of their college to attend community college, UCF, Rollins or Stetson Colleges in order to stay in Orlando. Or they drop out of school entirely. The place just sucks you in.

You're going to be doing a lot of menial labor and very little effective internship things. You have to put in your time.

The roach-infested love nest where you will be living, Vista Way, is affectionately nicknamed "Vista LAY" by the locals because of all the interns hooking up with each other.

There are pros and cons. It can be a life-changing experience. But from what I've seen and heard, Disney gets the better deal out of the program.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Don't tell me that!

Now I'll have to make sure my girls come back!

adpiucf · #11 09-20-2005, 02:46 PM

It's a very strange place. The people are nice, don't get me wrong, but few of those who attended a Central Florida school finish that school if they get sucked into an hourly theme park job. The park people tend to become their best friends, they move to the other side of town and even though the parks brag about their tuition reimbursement program, those who do use it can take 8 years to get through a traditional 4-year program.

I got a marketing internship with one of the parks before I graduated and I ended up working there for 1.5 years. I saw plenty of students who came from either the Orlando colleges or came for the summer to intern or work at any of the parks... some went home, many stayed and transferred to an Orlando school... or they just "postponed" college and partied the days away, sleeping off their hangovers in time to make it to the park to peddle balloons or flip burgers.

Only the strong make it out!

Munchkin03 · #12 01-26-2012, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

It's a very strange place. The people are nice, don't get me wrong, but few of those who attended a Central Florida school finish that school if they get sucked into an hourly theme park job. The park people tend to become their best friends, they move to the other side of town and even though the parks brag about their tuition reimbursement program, those who do use it can take 8 years to get through a traditional 4-year program.

I know this is a super-old post, but this doesn't surprise me at all. I grew up on the Panhandle and the kids who went to UCF were typically those who wanted to do something in sports management or performing arts (but not music--music kids to to FSU), and they got stuck in the entertainment lifestyle and didn't finish.

ASTalumna06 · #13 01-27-2012, 12:07 AM

I have 2 friends who have participated in the program. One just finished a couple weeks ago, and he's had a good time, but he's ready to go back to school. He had a great experience, but he knew it wasn't going to last forever.. nor did he want it to.

On the other hand, my other friend entered the program, dropped out of college (she was going to school in NH), and now 5 years later, she's still there. I just saw her recently, and she's obsessed with all things Disney. I mean.. OBSESSED. All she does is talk about Mickey, and the ghost stories of each ride, and she wants every piece of Disney merchandise ever created. I think her maturity level has actually gone down over the years. It's unreal.

We had worked at an amusement park in NH during college summers, and it's like she never got away from it. I moved on.. I moved to a different state, I have a real job, grown up friends, a social life.. and she's still talking about covering lunch breaks on the roller coaster and complaining about teenagers being lazy, and her hourly pay isn't much more than we were making back then.

I like going to Disney World once in a blue moon, but I'm not insane about it. People take it waaay too seriously. I had to work in Orlando last year, and in that office, there was this one woman who had a cubicle filled with Disney stuff. When I started my training class, I went around the room and asked people their name, their job role, and something fun to do in the area. One girl said, ".. and of course there's Disney World, but who wants to go there?" .. she obviously didn't like it too much. Then crazy woman piped up and said, "How dare you talk about Disney like that!" and they legitimately almost got in a fight in the middle of class. The girl was like "Hey, I just don't like it, no big deal," and crazy woman was acting completely irrationally and flipping out about it. Like.. uh.. it's not that serious!

It's amazing what Disney can do to some people.

DGMarie · #14 09-20-2005, 03:20 PM

Vista Way cast members:

link

another person who worked there

RedRoseSAI · #15 09-20-2005, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by valkyrie
It sounds cult-like.

It is. From the HR issued "Look Book" (a manual detailing acceptable cast member appearance) to the "Traditions" class (or, Why Disney Is Great 101), it's all about conformity and loving the mouse. Sure, I had a great time while there - I actually enjoyed my job, liked most of my roommates, and got a killer tan - but I always saw Disney for what it is...a Fortune 100 company whose primary aim is not to make "dreams come true" or some bs like that, but rather, to make money. It's amazing how many people don't realize that and fall into the Disney trap hook, line, and sinker.