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Disney College Program?

Walt Disney World: Anyone have any experience?

From Eddie N
Posted May 31, 2010 at 4:26 PM
I am going to be a college freshmen in the fall and I was wondering if anyone has had experience with the Disney College Program. If you have did you like it? Was it worth it? and any other relevent information you would like to share. thanks!


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Brandon Tessoff
Posted June 1, 2010 at 9:31 AM

From Dan Babbitt
Posted June 1, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Did it in the Fall of 2006. It was great made so many friends and got to go to the parks basically every day! And Im considering doing it again in the spring of 2011.

From B T
Posted June 1, 2010 at 9:31 AM
I did the Disney College Program in from January to July in 2002 and it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life. It gave me a chance to live on my own in my favorite place to be. I made a lot of great friends and still keep in touch with many of them. I worked in quick service food and found that to be one of the better areas to work in. The Magic Kingdom was a great place to work and there certainly weren't too many dull days.

From Hermione Potter
Posted June 1, 2010 at 9:52 AM
I have a friend who did it last year and loved it and another friend who just started a week ago and seems to be having a great time so far. I know some other people who did it and didn't like it, but they worked at parking and quickservice and both my friends with positive experiences work merchandise at Magic Kingdom. I think it depends on where you are.

From Corbin Barker
Posted June 1, 2010 at 11:21 AM
I am currently on my second one. I would absolutely, without a doubt recommend this to ANYBODY, no matter the major or career field you want to go in to. The friends you make, the customer service experience, and the unlimited access to the Disney parks is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I did my first one my freshman year and I'm glad I did, because I realized that I wasn't in the right major. So now I'm going in the right direction for the field I want thanks to the experience during my college program. Highly recommend it!

From Victoria Jurkowski
Posted June 2, 2010 at 12:22 PM
is this only about the florida program? because ive been looking into the disnyeland career start program as a gap year before college and have been wondering about things that arent on the website. like is there housing? and details like that

From TH Creative
Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:29 PM
I have many fond memories of my days in the MKCP ... Fall Semester 1982.

I kid you not.

Snow White Trailer Park (see my new profile pic.

From Anthony Murphy
Posted June 2, 2010 at 9:46 PM
While I have never done it (I wish) I have heard very mixed reviews. I am sure that I would have enjoyed it fully, but, to play a little devil's advicate here, they work you very hard for little money. I think it also depends on your outlook for the position you get.

Should you do it? YES! It is a very valuable life experience that I wish U of I would have let me do! From people I know personally who did the college program (I know two), they LOVED it.

Just make sure that your college is ok with you doing it or how they deal with it. University of Illinois was a bit apprehensive about letting people doing it and considered it "time off" when I went there. Thats too bad too since future Imagineers do come from my alma mater once in awhile due to its high standing in engineering!

From TH Creative
Posted June 3, 2010 at 8:18 AM
Following up on Anthony's comment, I believe Disney requires that (in order to participate) a student must be receiving college credit.

From Tim W
Posted June 3, 2010 at 7:11 PM
This has been a very informative thread! I too have been thinking about the Disney College Experience, your advice has been helpful to me as well.

From Anthony Murphy
Posted June 4, 2010 at 8:15 AM
I actually think TH that they have to be enrolled in a college to participate. Using my experience, Disney would, in theory, take me with no question. The issue is that the University of Illinois would NOT give me college credit for it. Instead, it would be considered time off from school (for personal issues, etc). Hopefully they have changed that!


It really was too bad because Disney has some very unique opportunities for everybody!

From Nick Markham
Posted June 4, 2010 at 9:29 AM
^That is strange, as I know many other universities count this as a college credit...

From Anthony Murphy
Posted June 4, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Right!

Once again, hopefully U of I has changed that

From Kate Lambert
Posted October 7, 2010 at 9:35 PM
Hi! I'm looking into possibly doing this but I just am curious about a couple of things. First off, I want to work for ESPN someday and am majoring in Sports Broadcasting so in doing this program is it possible to meet up with them? Second, I am engaged. Is there any way my fiance or family could visit?

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