<p>I posted on the College Life forum - same question to this one... anyone familiar with the Disney College Internship program? My daughter is a freshman and considering it for August through January. Thanks!</p>
<p>I am not familiar with it. I did meet some students in our Disney hotel who were involved in this. They went to classes/training, and then they were placed for a period of time in a position. I came across a decent number of them in our hotel who were seemed to be doing no more than making and serving cafeteria style meals. I don't know what other positions are available, but I would not want my kids particularly spending weeks/months making Mickey shaped waffles, and serving hash browns. There is nothing wrong with it, and in high school I had a similar job, but I did not see too much in the way of learning new skills (other than perhaps for the kid who needs to learn basic job skills-being on time, dressing in a clean neat uniform, working in a polite manner with peers and Disney guests, good work ethic, etc.).</p>
<p>A co-worker who majored in journalism at UMD did an internship at DisneyWorld. He worked in a snack bar twirling soft-serve ice cream cones for four months. Room and board were deducted from his paycheck, so he didn't have much left over. Not what he expected at all, as it wasn't exactly career-related, but he had fun.</p>
<p>S received their promotional video last year. It looked like students ended up working food service, maid service, etc. Nothing in terms of a real, profession-oriented internship. To me it looked like a ploy to get young, intelligent, cheap labor.</p>
<p>Here is a link to their video about the Disney College Program. </p>
<p>S1 did this in his senior year about 5 years ago. So they might have changed the program but this is his experince:
He really thought it would give him a leg up and get good experience. He spent all his time pointing out where things were and demonstrating games. He was lucky. A roommate was in cleanup, one was in a snack bar, one was a lifeguard. You have to have a skill or good negotiating skills to get anything decent. They have a few bogus classes but the real reason is to have cheap labor. They pay barely minimum (if that) and deduct rent, which is not cheap. The kids are 2 per bedroom in apartments, 6 in a 3 bedroom 2 bath unit. We had to send extra money to him since he could not live on what his net pay was. Oh and they have a ton of rules to follow.</p>
<p>If you go into for fun or just for a live away time Ok but now that it was not really anything but an extended summer job for him, and a low paying one at that. And when he interviewed for a full time job, it did not seem to count.</p>
<p>There may be pluses for students from overseas who want to work in the US for a while just for the experience. A lot of the cast members who work at EPCOT are from abroad- their nametags reflect that (actually everyone who works at Disney has their place of origin on their nametag).</p>
<p>There are some internships that might be plum in the Land and Seas pavilions at Epcot in agricultural/biological engineering. As well as internships in graphic arts and theater.</p>
<p>I knew a girl in high school who was Mickey. I also knew a guy who drove the monorail. I think the monorail would be a fun job!</p>
<p>Talked to S1 and he says says it actually was better if you do it early, like your daughter. But you need to take the classes related to your interest. Go back another year for the advanced class in your interest area then hiring chance is better if in one of their advanced areas like hospitality, animation, media. Otherwise it is just a low paying summer job. He did the leadership class and got a mouse diploma and some resume builder in leadership. But that was his initiative to keep that up and lead a group on a project. . It was also an eye opener in diversity for those from some Midwest areas :) In the end his job offer from them was an hourly position, though.</p>
<p>Cross posted - the advance internships seemed to go with the second time folks he said. Taking the advanced classes in their specialty areas. after they have figured out that you can tolerate the work environment and rules.</p>
<p>i know someone who is doing it who also is disappointed with the experience- she is selling disney merchandise, something she could be doing at the local mall</p>
<p>My sister-in-law did the program when she was in college, and worked in food service. She is now back at Disney five years later, but this time as a face character, so the internship certainly didn't dampen her enthusiasm for Disney! :)</p>
<p>
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...did an internship at DisneyWorld. He worked in a snack bar twirling soft-serve ice cream cones...
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Why would they call this an 'internship' unless making cones was the career aspiration? Sounds more like cheap labor. Lots of places have similar opportunites - they're typically called part-time minimum-wage jobs.</p>
<p>My co-worker's daughter is doing one now - she is a sophomore dance major at SUNY Brockport. She takes classes part of the time and plays different characters every week at the parks, she loves it! I wouldn't think it would be too valuable for food service though...</p>
<p>I had a number of acquaintances who did a "Disney semester." Two (twins) absolutely LOVED it, the rest were varying degrees of critical, mostly in line with what's already been shared here. None regarded it as a particularly great learning experience. I think that overall opinions had a lot to do with original hopes and expectations, plus the actual job that each wound up having. For this reason, if your daughter stays interested, she should really try to seek out a few veterans and talk to them about their impressions.</p>
<p>Great posts - very helpful. These are the very things my daughter expressed concern about. Offered just 3 positions 1) quick food service 2) ride "management" 3) merchandise sales in a shop. She talked about the extremely surprisingly low pay (6.25 - 8.35 per hour approx.) and how the pay is aprtment cost is deducted from it, etc. She had been interviewed quickly by phone after the meeting. I definitely see that her second thoughts are justified and will let her know. The first posters comment about what she would actually learn - to be on time, be neat, etc. sounds so true - she doesn't need to learn that, since she's had jobs already. I appreciate all your posts. THanks!</p>
<p>tia3, just one more thought for her. S1 did say that to the extent possible if there was a special talent or major the jobs were aligned with that. He was international politics, older and polished and had been working as a beta game tester. He was assigned to EPCOT in the Innoventions area interacting with guests. The job itself however was not that thrilling. Others who had special talents like the dancer mentioned above did get those. He was actually considered for the Beast since he is tall and could do ballroom dancing, but they did not find out in time to prep him for it before he left. </p>
<p>So, if there is something special she can relate to them that would align with a more interesting assignment she has a better shot of getting one. Otherwise, they do use this to staff the park during non-vacation times, offering the classes as the mitigating factor to make it internship, not just a job.</p>
<p>I brought this thread back up because last weekend H and I stayed over at a Disney resort. The young woman who checked us in was a college student from Scotland, on a six month internship. Her major was something related to tourism. She said she was doing this internship in conjunction with her university back home and a university in Michigan (can't remember- I THINK it was central Michigan?). Anyway, she said she takes classes there on Disney property through the Michigan university as well as working in hotel administration at one of Disney's deluxe resorts. She was very, very happy with the program. I didn't ask her the pay. The other young woman working there beside her was from England- same deal.</p>