Top 9 Best Tips: Disney College Program
1. Make a bucket list.
I didn't do this the first time because I thought I had a good idea of what I wanted to do, and then was smacking myself in the face on the flight home because of all the things I forgot to do.
2. Take classes.
If you can get into a Disney class, I 1000% recommend taking one! My first program, I was waitlisted for a class and then closed out. But on my second program, I got into the second session of the Environmentality and Sustainability class and I loved it! Some of our classes were in a classroom, but others were in the parks! We even got to go on the Behind the Seeds backstage tour of Living with the Land (that's an add-on you usually have to pay for). We also had speakers come in from all lines of business including animal programs, resort management, and the company conservation department to talk to us and we always got to go and network with them at the end of class, so if you're looking for a way to network, this is a great one.
3. Budget your money.
Budgeting is imperative. I know it's incredibly tempting to buy every piece of merchandise or every snack you see when you're playing in a park, but your wallet with thank you if you refrain. A good way to do this is to make a list of all the merchandise you really know that you want and gradually buy it throughout your program so you're not blowing all your paychecks at once, and over time you'll realize which items you really want and which was just a cute thing you saw once in the Emporium but don't have to have. Plus a lot of good stuff ends up at cast member exclusive stores like Cast Connections where you can find items for up to 75% off! Don't leave yourself with no money for groceries or laundry!
4. Take pictures and videos of everything.
I don't think it's necessary for me to tell someone in this day and age to take videos and photos of things, we record pretty much everything we see. But I do suggest you back up your photos on an external hard drive or flash drive to leave space on your phone and make sure that you don't lose them if anything goes wrong.
5. Network.
The facilitator for my class at Disney was a seasoned Disney veteran. She told us that in the short time we have, we should try to do "meet and greets" with leaders in the field we were interested in at least once every other week. If you're in a class that relates to your major, speak to the facilitator or the guest speakers after class! Ask your managers at your work location to get in contact with someone about meeting with you. If you want to come back and work for the company, it's not who you know, but who knows you.
6. Do other stuff.
Absolutely get out and see Florida. I'm from the south shore of Long Island, so I love a good beach! Whether you like to shop, get outdoors in the natural environment, visit other theme parks (Universal Studios is not a dirty word, I promise), there's something for you! Plus Disney Programs organizes trips to see Broadway performances, basketball and baseball games, and volunteer events which you'll be emailed about regularly.
7. Go to work!
I know going to work sounds like the obvious thing to do when you're a cast member, but it happens that many people see this program as an opportunity to fool around and get free admission to Walt Disney World parks. Because of this, CPs are only allowed to trade shifts if they need a certain day off, but they cannot give the shift away. Look at it this way: you're there for opportunities, for experiences, and you accepted this position that could have gone to another applicant. If you want to go to Disney all the time, buy an annual pass!
8.
Make an effort to weed out the outfits you know you're not going to wear. It's nice to have options, but you end up wearing the same four things all the time anyway. Besides, you're probably going to buy some sort of Disney apparel, and 3 out of 4 of the complexes are next to a huge outlet mall you'll probably visit at least once (they have great stuff).
9.
My first program was my first time living away from home, which is the case for a lot of people. I had to be responsible for myself, my wellbeing, my time management, and my overall experience. I learned how to be assertive when something was wrong, and how to walk up to strangers and ask them to be my friends. You get what you put into this program and although you can have some brutal days at work or times where you just want to be home with your dog, there will also be days where you don't know how you could ever leave.
I met some of my best friends on this program, and I learned so much about this company and even about myself! Whenever people ask if I liked it or recommend it, I say the same exact thing every time: it's the best decision I've ever made.
Hope these were helpful and interesting!
✨Have a magical day!✨
-Jessie
2. Take classes.
If you can get into a Disney class, I 1000% recommend taking one! My first program, I was waitlisted for a class and then closed out. But on my second program, I got into the second session of the Environmentality and Sustainability class and I loved it! Some of our classes were in a classroom, but others were in the parks! We even got to go on the Behind the Seeds backstage tour of Living with the Land (that's an add-on you usually have to pay for). We also had speakers come in from all lines of business including animal programs, resort management, and the company conservation department to talk to us and we always got to go and network with them at the end of class, so if you're looking for a way to network, this is a great one.
3. Budget your money.
Budgeting is imperative. I know it's incredibly tempting to buy every piece of merchandise or every snack you see when you're playing in a park, but your wallet with thank you if you refrain. A good way to do this is to make a list of all the merchandise you really know that you want and gradually buy it throughout your program so you're not blowing all your paychecks at once, and over time you'll realize which items you really want and which was just a cute thing you saw once in the Emporium but don't have to have. Plus a lot of good stuff ends up at cast member exclusive stores like Cast Connections where you can find items for up to 75% off! Don't leave yourself with no money for groceries or laundry!
4. Take pictures and videos of everything.
I don't think it's necessary for me to tell someone in this day and age to take videos and photos of things, we record pretty much everything we see. But I do suggest you back up your photos on an external hard drive or flash drive to leave space on your phone and make sure that you don't lose them if anything goes wrong.
5. Network.
The facilitator for my class at Disney was a seasoned Disney veteran. She told us that in the short time we have, we should try to do "meet and greets" with leaders in the field we were interested in at least once every other week. If you're in a class that relates to your major, speak to the facilitator or the guest speakers after class! Ask your managers at your work location to get in contact with someone about meeting with you. If you want to come back and work for the company, it's not who you know, but who knows you.
6. Do other stuff.
Absolutely get out and see Florida. I'm from the south shore of Long Island, so I love a good beach! Whether you like to shop, get outdoors in the natural environment, visit other theme parks (Universal Studios is not a dirty word, I promise), there's something for you! Plus Disney Programs organizes trips to see Broadway performances, basketball and baseball games, and volunteer events which you'll be emailed about regularly.
7. Go to work!
I know going to work sounds like the obvious thing to do when you're a cast member, but it happens that many people see this program as an opportunity to fool around and get free admission to Walt Disney World parks. Because of this, CPs are only allowed to trade shifts if they need a certain day off, but they cannot give the shift away. Look at it this way: you're there for opportunities, for experiences, and you accepted this position that could have gone to another applicant. If you want to go to Disney all the time, buy an annual pass!
8.
Make an effort to weed out the outfits you know you're not going to wear. It's nice to have options, but you end up wearing the same four things all the time anyway. Besides, you're probably going to buy some sort of Disney apparel, and 3 out of 4 of the complexes are next to a huge outlet mall you'll probably visit at least once (they have great stuff).
9.
My first program was my first time living away from home, which is the case for a lot of people. I had to be responsible for myself, my wellbeing, my time management, and my overall experience. I learned how to be assertive when something was wrong, and how to walk up to strangers and ask them to be my friends. You get what you put into this program and although you can have some brutal days at work or times where you just want to be home with your dog, there will also be days where you don't know how you could ever leave.
I met some of my best friends on this program, and I learned so much about this company and even about myself! Whenever people ask if I liked it or recommend it, I say the same exact thing every time: it's the best decision I've ever made.
Hope these were helpful and interesting!
✨Have a magical day!✨
-Jessie
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