Originally Posted By chrisgeraci I am giving a Power Point presentation for a technical writing class about the Disney College Intern Program. Most of my information has come from college counselors and Disney promotional materials. I'd like to hear from anyone who worked as an intern and how it changed your life, helped with college, or ended with employment in a Disney Park.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I worked on the College Program, though I wasn't an "intern" in the fullest sense. I enjoyed my time there very much and believe having Disney on my resume has contributed greatly to me getting a number of job interviews and even landing a couple of jobs. I could have sought full time work with Disney (my best friend has been there over 10 years now) but as much as I enjoyed working there for a while it was pretty clear I didn't want to stay. I'll go back when I retire.
Originally Posted By chrisgeraci So I am curious why you didn't want to stay. Many have the opposite experience, but I have ran into a few who didn't like it. Just curious. You don't have to reply if it is personal.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper It isn't personal at all. I love working at Disney and, as you might expect since I'm a regular poster...I still love Disney. But, there really wasn't a "career path" that interested me there. Let's say a job opens up. There are 65,000 employees in Florida alone. How many people do you think might be interested in that job? Hundreds, if not thousands. Even if I was an exceptional cast member the odds were long on advancement. Looking at the past 10 years I think I made the right decision. I'm in a great career. My friend, who stayed, was offered a management training program to work in Textile Services. He is a manager at the laundry facility. He has had a stable career but I don't think he loves his job and I know he has sought out opportunities to transfer and it hasn't worked out for one reason or another. It was an awesome experience but, for me, I could do better elsewhere. But, if asked 100 times if it was worth my time to do the WDW College Program I would answer 100 times, yes...without hesitation.
Originally Posted By chrisgeraci cool. Thanks. It is something I wish I could do but as an adult student with a teenager, I have to be satisfied with just visiting the parks!
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Yeah...I almost didn't do it. The visited my campus my sophomore year and I went to the presentation but time went on and I didn't apply. As a 2nd term Junior I decided to go ahead and apply and then had to convince my parents it was worth taking time off to do it. It's like McDonald's. Everyone should have to work there once.
Originally Posted By Chelledun My husband did the college program twice and he loved it. He did one of his semesters working at Epcot at Wonders of Life and the doing the Tapestry of Nations Parade and the other working at some type of a computer position at the headquarters. He met a lot of people and it has been great to have on his resume. If you have specific questions let me know and I can ask him tonight.
Originally Posted By chrisgeraci I am curious how future employees react to seeing the Disney exp. on a resume. Why does that seem to make a difference.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper A lot of people just like to hear what it was like to work for Disney. If you had 30 applications in front of you and had to only select a few to be interviewed, the Disney experience might be fun to hear about. Thus, you get a foot in the door. Also, Disney is still highly regarded in the area of Customer Service. What business doesn't need good customer service? If I see Disney on a resume I'm sure to interview that person because I understand the type of work environment they had.
Originally Posted By alisserae I did my college program with Disney in Fall 2003. I was one of the lucky few to work in Special Events (a rare thing for CPs) . I went back to school, graduated, and came back to work for Disney, this time as an Events Planner. The skills I have developed and the cotnacts i have met, have already paved the road for the next 5 years of my career developement. On my way out the door right now, or I'd write more. But suffice it to say, atleast in my opinion, the CP is what you make it. I choose to make it the launching pad for my career.
Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire My boss' daughter never went to the college program, yet she is a college intern at a resort. I thought that was pretty cool, and you dont necessarily have to do the college program to become an intern.
Originally Posted By CMDad As wahooskipper pointed out, the Walt Disney World College Program (WDWCP) is not an internship. Both of my children participated. My son worked in the Haunted Mansion in 1999/2000 (and came back the next December for Winter Break) and my daughter first worked in Conservation Station and then extended for another semester (she had already graduated) and was assigned to the Front Desk at CBR. Her plan was to stay at the end of the program, and now, 5 and a half years later, she is still working at CBR. My son continued to be a WDWCP campus rep for his next 2.5 years in college, and is now a HS science teacher.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <My son worked in the Haunted Mansion> I envy your son...my theme park fantasy has always been to be a delightfully creepy butler at the Haunted Mansion...*sigh*...
Originally Posted By CMDad <I envy your son...my theme park fantasy has always been to be a delightfully creepy butler at the Haunted Mansion...*sigh*...> Yeah - he had my favorite attraction ... see this clip - <a href="http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?userid=26461&cdate=20020505&ctime=160934" target="_blank">http://www.dropshots.com/day.p hp?userid=26461&cdate=20020505&ctime=160934</a>
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy So was that Bobby in the first part, helpin' load up the Doom Buggies? Oh man CMDad, thanks for that clip...I had this big ol' goofy grin on my face, and my eyes nearly got a little misty. The Haunted Mansion has always been my most favorite attraction, and I haven't been in the WDW one since 1999 (my last time in any Mansion was 2004 at the Big LP Meet, my first time to CA and DL). Thanks for that "insider" peek...I loved getting to relive it a bit.
Originally Posted By -em I did the WDWCP in Jan 01 and then extended so I was there all of 01 (Jan-Jan 02) I first worked R n R Coaster then transfered to Monorails I came back home to get educated and after I graduate next month (!) I'll head back down to WDW to complete a Professional Internship/Management Training Program for Retail. I plan to stay on after and work hopefully in a mgmt role there. I know my first CP was very instramental in my next job (skipped 2 interviews cause of it) just as that job (Sales Associate at Walmart- Specialty of Toys) helped getting my PI. -em
Originally Posted By CMDad <So was that Bobby in the first part, helpin' load up the Doom Buggies?> Yep The HM has been my favorite ever since I visited the DL mansion shortly after it opened in 1969.
Originally Posted By CMDad More on my kids' WDWCP experiences <a href="http://www.geocities.com/headtrippe/wdwcp.htm" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/headt rippe/wdwcp.htm</a> <a href="http://home.si.rr.com/fendrick/iris.htm" target="_blank">http://home.si.rr.com/fendrick /iris.htm</a>
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Cool, CMDad...looks like Bobby was holdin' down the haunted fort purty well. You got to go the original HM after it opened? Wow...that's awesome. Bein' in Kentucky I don't get to go to a Disney park hardly ever, so the few times I have been have been cherished times for me.
