Initially, I applied for both the Disney College Program (DCP) and Disney Professional Internships (DPI). All my friends were really excited for me but most of them didn't know the difference.
I have found it to be hard to explain the difference between the DCP and a DPI. That's because essentially, they are both called internships and they both mean that you work for Disney. However, there is a difference. For all the confused friends, parents and excited future participants, this one is for you.
The DCP is a paid internship opportunity for college students or recent college graduates (which is how I am able to do it). It is a semester long program where you are placed in the heart of Disney Parks and Resorts to work and create magic for all the guests of the company.
The positions available in this internship are ones where you either work in the parks/downtown Disney or you are in one of the Disney affiliated hotels. Here you semi get a say in where you are placed. You get to put your top 3 choices in when you apply. Here's the thing, if you pick 3 roles that everybody wants or they only have a few positions open (hopper, vacation planning, front desk) there is a chance that you might not get those positions you want. The great thing is that no matter what position you get, you can still put that you worked for the Walt Disney Company on your resume! Mad cool points for that.
Housing is provided and you get to choose which complex you live in (as long as there is space) and who your roommates are. There is transportation provided for you to work, downtown Disney, grocery stores and even the mall for those who do not bring their own cars. There are special events exclusive to college program participants where you can network,take class, meet rare Disney characters, eat and dance with your friends.
The positions available in this internship are ones where you either work in the parks/downtown Disney or you are in one of the Disney affiliated hotels. Here you semi get a say in where you are placed. You get to put your top 3 choices in when you apply. Here's the thing, if you pick 3 roles that everybody wants or they only have a few positions open (hopper, vacation planning, front desk) there is a chance that you might not get those positions you want. The great thing is that no matter what position you get, you can still put that you worked for the Walt Disney Company on your resume! Mad cool points for that.
Housing is provided and you get to choose which complex you live in (as long as there is space) and who your roommates are. There is transportation provided for you to work, downtown Disney, grocery stores and even the mall for those who do not bring their own cars. There are special events exclusive to college program participants where you can network,take class, meet rare Disney characters, eat and dance with your friends.
These internships are significantly different than the DCP. Think of professional internships and the suit and tie job rather than the i'm given a specific outfit to wear everyday job. Professional internships are paid, 6 month opportunities for students and recent grads to work specifically in the field the might want to have as a career. They are highly competitive (more so than the DCP) but they can also be more beneficial in the long run.
Here,you choose what you apply for. So if you get the position, it will be the one that you wanted guarantee. Students get hands on experience as well as tons of networking opportunities through the Disney company. They literally have internships in almost any area of the Disney company you can think of from engineering, to TV show production, to graphic design, to hotel management, to marketing and even product development. Most people say that it is much easier to get a DPI if you have previously done the college program so I would keep that in mind. Its also helpful if you have some experience in the field you are applying for. But for people who don't find any relevance in the college program to their specific degree, this might be the way to go for you.
These internships require that you provide your own housing and transportation and are located in more than just FL and CA so keep that in mind when applying.
No matter which route you choose to take, working for Disney is an experience of a life time and totally worth the work and sometimes the wait to find out if you got accepted. You get to meet so many people and create lifelong friendships with people and Disney itself.
Applications typically come out around these times
Spring DCP application - out typically the end of August
Fall DCP Application - out typically in February
DPI - check through the year but they come out near the times for the DCP ones.
There are also accommodations for those at schools that go by quarter or trimester. You can click on the name of the program title above and it will take you to their website to find out more information.
No comments:
Post a Comment