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WDW College Program
- Thread starter red345
- Start date
kal1484
Well-Known Member
dmmgp2000
Member
I did the WDWCP in the Spring of 2002. It was an amazing experience for me, but a lot of people I met hated it. It is what it is. You work a lot, the pay is low, but you gain some great experience and it looks good on a resume. Not only that, but the greatest reward is the friends you make while on the CP. I still talk to many of the people I worked/lived with and when they make it down to Orlando, I hang out with them.
Check out this web site for more info. www.wdwcollegeprogram.com
If you have any other questions feel free to IM me on AOL IM. My screen name on there is the same as it is on here.
Check out this web site for more info. www.wdwcollegeprogram.com
If you have any other questions feel free to IM me on AOL IM. My screen name on there is the same as it is on here.
Old school
I did as well back in the late 80's. The living conditions Disney provided weren't the greatest but I'm sure they have improved.
The biggest thing to do during your interview is stress what type of work you would like to do and where. I was lucky to ask to work a MK and I was assigned to the 20k attraction the entire time.
My strongest memory was standing on the 20k dock looking at the sky where the space shuttle challenger was supposed to take off. Plums of smoke filled the sky. I thought that it really didn't look right. During my break the entire Disney break room was filled to capacity watching the TV about the explosion. There were rumors that Disney management would close the parks the next day but I don't think they did.
Anyway, I had a great time and encourage anyone interested to go for it.
my 2 1/2cents.
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I did as well back in the late 80's. The living conditions Disney provided weren't the greatest but I'm sure they have improved.
The biggest thing to do during your interview is stress what type of work you would like to do and where. I was lucky to ask to work a MK and I was assigned to the 20k attraction the entire time.
My strongest memory was standing on the 20k dock looking at the sky where the space shuttle challenger was supposed to take off. Plums of smoke filled the sky. I thought that it really didn't look right. During my break the entire Disney break room was filled to capacity watching the TV about the explosion. There were rumors that Disney management would close the parks the next day but I don't think they did.
Anyway, I had a great time and encourage anyone interested to go for it.
my 2 1/2cents.
bt<o ="">
></o>>jacksnightmare
New Member
My girlfriend is the campus rep for her school in Chicago, she went a few years ago and loved it. I do know that a lot of people have come back and complained about it because you make very little money, your apartment is small, you actually have to work, but thats all. The positives out weigh the negatives big time. You get free admission into the parks, 20 percent discounts on everything, a few free park hoppers for friends or family to visit and you make some great contacts. I just had to people that she meet stay at my house for the weekend. One is from west virgina, and the other is from puetro rico. Now they are my friends too. The CP is what you make of it. If you want to let yourself grow it is a good idea, if you are going down to party it is going to be rough. There are also strict living rules and a lot of people get kicked out for minor offensives,(booze if you are underage, not having your ID when you go past the security,being to loud at night, or failing the room inspections). The only thing that she didnt like was that she was away from everyone. For the first 5 months she would always tell me that she was coming home and how much she missed everyone, then the last two months she didnt want to leave. I was very supportative of her CP experience, and I visitied her twice. Everyone else gave her support too and that is the one thing that I think a CM needs.
Hawk4255
Member
There are pros and cons about the College Program. Most of the bad things you are going to hear about the College Program are true, to a certain extent.
Yes, the pay is "bad."
Yes, you will work, a lot.
Yes, the hours aren't the best.
Yes, the housing people are kind of .
As deterring as these fact are (and they are subjective, which I will cover in a moment), you need to keep one thing in mind: You are in Walt Disney World. You will be working for the most visitied place in the world. You will be making magic for thousands upon thousands of guests daily. You will be a Cast Member!
The aformentioned drawbacks aren't nearly as bad as some will have you believe, really. The pay is certainly not a lot, but being paid to be in Walt Disney World sounds pretty good to me. I didn't mind the hours I workd (usually 30-35 a week), but they can get crazy (my brother was scheduled 60 this week at RnRC). And yes, the people who govern the housing complexes can be a bit (no open windows, for example), but honestly, when you consider that you are being provided housing at a fraction of what it costs in the real world, the deal is pretty sweet. Factor in that you are provided free transportation if you need it, and it is not bad at all.
The Disney name on your resume will do you wonders; employers know that Disney is tops. You can earn college credit and take classes from Disney on management, personal branding/marketing, etc. You recieve a 20% discount on all merchandise (and a higher discount during the holidays), not to mention discount all over Orlando (I can't tell you how many times asking stores if they offered a "Cast Member discount" saved me money.
Finally, what you must consider when making the decision to miss a semester of school to do this:
YOU GET INTO THE PARKS FOR FREE!!! I mean, you're on this website because you love Walt Disney World; this is your ticket in, literally! And trust me, you will know so many people and make such long lasting friends that you will probably never wait in line again ;-)
Yes, the pay is "bad."
Yes, you will work, a lot.
Yes, the hours aren't the best.
Yes, the housing people are kind of .
As deterring as these fact are (and they are subjective, which I will cover in a moment), you need to keep one thing in mind: You are in Walt Disney World. You will be working for the most visitied place in the world. You will be making magic for thousands upon thousands of guests daily. You will be a Cast Member!
The aformentioned drawbacks aren't nearly as bad as some will have you believe, really. The pay is certainly not a lot, but being paid to be in Walt Disney World sounds pretty good to me. I didn't mind the hours I workd (usually 30-35 a week), but they can get crazy (my brother was scheduled 60 this week at RnRC). And yes, the people who govern the housing complexes can be a bit (no open windows, for example), but honestly, when you consider that you are being provided housing at a fraction of what it costs in the real world, the deal is pretty sweet. Factor in that you are provided free transportation if you need it, and it is not bad at all.
The Disney name on your resume will do you wonders; employers know that Disney is tops. You can earn college credit and take classes from Disney on management, personal branding/marketing, etc. You recieve a 20% discount on all merchandise (and a higher discount during the holidays), not to mention discount all over Orlando (I can't tell you how many times asking stores if they offered a "Cast Member discount" saved me money.
Finally, what you must consider when making the decision to miss a semester of school to do this:
YOU GET INTO THE PARKS FOR FREE!!! I mean, you're on this website because you love Walt Disney World; this is your ticket in, literally! And trust me, you will know so many people and make such long lasting friends that you will probably never wait in line again ;-)
Captain Hank
Well-Known Member
Also, if you aren't too crazy about missing school for doing something completely unrelated to you major, consider looking into the Non-Alumni Advanced Internships. I'm planning on interning in The Land greenhouses in the next year or two, since I'm a biology major and am concentrating in plant sciences. Be sure to look at all of your options.
pluto77
Well-Known Member
It was the best experience of my life. And I want to go back again, I'm thinking about doing the summer alumni CP next summer. I agree with what everyone has said. I think all of the positives outweigh the negatives. You meet great people, you get to spend your life at disney world for those months, it looks great on a resume. I tend to think most people who hated it went in thinking that it was going to be a 5 or 8 month vacation. You will have to work long hours, but it slows down and speeds up depending on the time of year. If you have cool CPs working with you they always make the job fun. It is definitely worth taking a semester off of college if you don't mind being a semester behind.
LSUxStitch
Well-Known Member
I was a Role Hopper aka Rescue Ranger at Epcot for the Spring Advantage program in '03. I thouroughly enjoyed my experience, job, and roommates. I was one of the lucky people that got the 4 bedroom in Chatham and made friends/brothers with every one of my roommates. We talk on a weekly basis and we travel to visit each other almost every holiday. One of my roommates is still in Orlando and working in the Culinary program there, meaning I always have a free place to stay when I visit Orlando (which is about every 4 months or so). I do have to admit I have been brainwashed and am more of a Disney Freak than I was before I left for the program. My advice to you is this, DO IT! If you are the type of person that can make good of any situation than this is the job for you. Of course you will go through rough times and what not, but that is what life is all about. I have tons of stories/pictures if you are interested in the program at all. Email me at GeauxTooTie@gmail.com