Please Do's and Seriously Dont's - Disney Classes Edition

There comes a time where all DCPer's have to start thinking about the option to take a Disney class. This was something that I was personally really interested in because I felt like it would be a great extra experience to add to my disney experience and personal knowledge. But before you get really committed (like past the drop out period) I have a few tips for you.

 Here are some things that I think would be wise of you to consider if you have ever though about taking a Disney Course.




PLEASE DO...

1) Read all the courses syllabuses and choose a class you could really enjoy.
Should I take a collegiate course or a seminar?

I decided to take a seminar (Exploring Marketing). It was a good choice for me. Seminars are 2 hours long classes once a week for 8 weeks. They are a creative look at how Disney operates. Teachers use real examples from events that happened at Disney to teach the course. Its essentially another behind the scenes tour you can get. They are very interactive and fun. I have not heard anything but great comments about these courses.

If you take a collegiate course you have the potential of getting credit for the class towards your major when you go back to college. These courses are typically more major specific and much more like a college class. The classes are 3-4 hours long and they give out a good amount of homework. You can expect to write a few papers and do some group projects as well. Teachers also use disney as a basis for their examples and these classes are interactive as well.

2) Your research!
If I want to take a collegiate course, will my college accept the credit for it?

This is part of what you should be doing in your spare time while preparing for the program. You need to take some time and talk to your college counselors. Make sure that you know for sure before you start your program, that the classes you are signed up for, you will actually receive credit for. That is the worst feeling ever.

3) Realize that when they say class is x long, that it mostly will be that long.
How long is this class?

All classes are once a week. The Collegiate classes are probably equal to a night class at your college. If you know that you have a hard time sitting in a class for that long of a period, these are not the classes for you! Take a seminar.

PLEASE DO NOT...        

1)Underestimate your hearts deepest desires.
How much of my free time am I willing to give up?

Sitting in a classroom takes away hours of your day as well as doing homework. Count the cost. Homework/learning, sleep, or park play time? You simply can't have them all, so choose...

2) Over commit yourself!
One class or two classes?

I originally signed up for two classes then dropped to one class. It got to be too much and my planning of it did not work out as wonderfully as i though. I picked bad times for my classes and it just made my days rough. I'll elaborate more on that in part 2.

3) Show up late to class

Trust me, it's super awkward! And you might miss the sign in sheet meaning you won't get credit for showing up to that class. Let me tell you, Disney teachers are guarantee more on point about timeliness then any of your school teachers. That sign in sheet is gone in a flash. Don't be Late!

In part two I'll talk about considering the location of your class, the time, the day of the week and how this can really affect your off days and picking up extra shifts.