Disney College Program

Eligible applicants are those who reside in the United States or their territories, who possess American citizenship and are students ages 18 and older prior to the expected arrival date. Students must be enrolled in an accredited university or college as a full-time or part-time student, and actively taking classes. Students may also participate in the semester immediately following graduation or up to a year post-grad. Students must complete at least one semester of university or college before entering the Disney College Program, but can apply during their first semester to be able to participate in the program during their second semester. In the case of schools with additional requirement criteria, the student must meet all of their school's eligibility before being considered for the program.[6]

Students who apply to the program are given the option to choose one of several program lengths throughout the year, each usually lasting between five and seven months, though the culinary session length depends on the student's school schedule. Once a student is approaching the end of their program, they may extend for an additional five months with the option to change to a different position.

After the initial application is filed, students may be selected to participate in a web-based interview, either immediately or months later. Students who are selected to proceed beyond the web-based interview will proceed to set up a phone interview with a Disney recruiter for the third and final stage of the application process. Phone interviews with recruiters have a length of approximately twenty minutes in which students will express their interests in the roles they selected in their initial application, how they relate to prior experience to their qualifications and relay how they'd react in certain situations. Some of the roles that participants may be selected for include food service, attractions, entertainment, activities, merchandise, etc. For entertainment roles, students must attend one of several regional auditions.[7]

Final notification of the applicant's status is usually sent out about three weeks after the phone interview, but it can take up to several months.

The living experience is similar to the original program's recreational experience. Once the student has accepted their Disney offer, they have the option of either living in their own apartment accommodations or choose to live in company-sponsored housing.[9]

The cost of housing is deducted from the student's weekly salary and varies depending on the selected housing. There are fees student's must pay upfront upon acceptance into the program based on housing, and these too vary between locations. In Florida, a non-refundable program assessment fee is charged for administration support, scheduled housing events and activities throughout the program, and an additional housing and administration fee, which covers the first week of rent. In California, the program assessment fee also applies, along with a refundable security deposit as well as the housing and assessment fees which covers four weeks of rent.[10]

Students are expected to follow certain guidelines in the company-sponsored housing complexes. Roommates are assigned by gender, except in the case of a married heterosexual couple, which both have to be accepted into the Disney College Program in order to live in a one-bedroom apartment accommodation. Prior to 2019, students were required to live in "wellness" or "non-wellness" apartments based on age. If a student is under the age of 21, they would automatically be placed in a wellness apartment, or one that is deemed alcohol-free. Even if students were over the age of 21, they would be prohibited from consuming alcohol in their own apartment if they chose to live in a wellness apartment but allowed to consume in any non-wellness apartment; this rule was discontinued after fall 2019. Students also go through previously-notified apartment inspections at least twice throughout their program, though the complex reserves the right to inspect more than twice. Apartments must be deemed clean to the inspector in order to pass, this includes minimal dishes in the sink, vacuumed floors, clean counter tops, clean bathrooms and organized bedrooms.[11]

The learning experience began in the early 1980s as a group of nine seminars on the "philosophies and operating practices" of the various sections of their resort's business.[2] It has grown to include eight different courses, each focusing on a Disney topic, rather than a business area. Most of the courses are approved by the American Council on Education and offer participants the possibility to earn college credit during their program, subject to a decision by the participant's college or university.[12] Classes meet once a week, for most of the program and are four hours long, with breaks during peak seasons. The students are required to utilize textbook readings, write term papers and participate on projects. Additionally, the Disney Exploration Series offers courses focused on business areas as they relate to Disney. Participants, like every Cast Member, attend Traditions at Disney University, a 4-to-5-hour-long welcome orientation focused on the introduction of the resort, from employment to the company's values.

Participants are expected to uphold "The Disney Look" required for attendance at Traditions. The Disney Look is a policy that follows strict guidelines of Cast Members' appearances. Guidelines include natural hair color, neutral nail polish color, certain nail length, limited jewelry, facial hair restrictions, etc, varying per gender. Failure to follow these guidelines may result disciplinary action.[13]

The program also offers job shadowing for participants on days they are not working, where the participant can follow Disney Cast Members whose careers are in fields similar to the student's major.[14]

The earning experience consists of students working within their role at the resort.[15] At the program's inception, students are expected to work in one of four major operating areas: food service, merchandising, attractions and custodial.[2] A fifth area, costuming, offers opportunities to work backstage with performers or in costuming operations. Currently, the Disney College Program offers opportunities for students to work in more than 20 different roles.[7]

For students in company-sponsored housing in Florida, The Walt Disney Company provides sponsored transportation to and from all housing complexes and all work locations, as well as stops at grocery stores, the post office and a leisure stop at The Florida Mall. Transportation is not provided for students located in California but they are encouraged to bring their own vehicles. They are also given free bus passes for the Orange County Transportation Authority public transportation system, and earn $1 each day the pass is used.