PR-eparing for the Disney College Program

By: Katie Pavlick

This past semester, I lived in Florida and took part in the Disney College Program (DCP). The DCP is made for college students to live at Disney and work within the Disney Parks for 4 to 7 months. In addition to this, college students have various learning opportunities, such as collegiate courses. The following is a list of things that I did to make the most of my program as PR student.


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1. Classes: While I was there, I took 2 Disney courses and 1 online Kent course. While registering for classes, I ensured that Kent would give me credit for the course and that the course was beneficial to my major. I took Disney corporate communications and Disney organizational leadership. I learned a lot from both courses, especially corporate communications. This class talked a lot about public relations and even required us to write press releases.
2. Network with your teachers: The two teachers I had in my courses had worked for the Disney company for a very long time and had some great stories from guest interactions and how Disney handles certain situations. In addition to that, my teachers knew A LOT of people within the Disney company. Talk to your teachers, ask them for advice and see if they can help you meet the person who has your dream role.
3. Add your teachers on LinkedIn: I was surprised to find that Disney uses LinkedIn a decent amount when filling vacant roles. By adding your teachers on LinkedIn, it allows the hiring cast members to ask your teachers about you. This will give you advantage if you decide to apply for professional internships.
4. Seminars: If you are unable to take collegiate courses, I recommend registering for a couple of seminars. Disney offers a variety of seminars ranging from animal sciences to hospitality.
5. Go to CPASS events: This is by far the most important thing on this list. CPASS stands for College Program Alumni Speaker Series. Disney knows how important networking is, so they make is very easy for college participants to get in touch with professionals. At this event, Disney puts you in touch with people who did the program but now have a career within company. The first hour of the event is a panel discussion followed by a second hour for you to network with the professionals. Not many people go to these opportunities so it is super easy to connect with professionals and get their contact information. The professionals were once in your shoes so they're willing to be extremely helpful. I connected really well with a girl who works with Disney’s messaging department. We were able to meet one-on-one and we still email often to update each other on our lives.
6. Go to Career Development Workshops: Disney offers workshops once or twice a week on topics like networking, interviewing, and building your resume. Attending a couple of these workshops is crucial because you will find what exactly the employer is looking for. If you attend 5 sessions, you even get a certificate!
7. Work hard in your role: A huge part of the college program is working within the parks and resorts. Though the roles are not glamorous, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude and work hard. Disney strongly believes in recognition. If you get recognized, it will show up on your Disney profile. What better way to stand out than to show that you went above and beyond in a previous role?
8. Talk with your leaders: Whatever role you have, you will have cast members who lead your location and ensure that everything runs smoothly. Your leaders know a lot of people and want to help you succeed. Talking to them could lead to other networking opportunities.
9. Set up meet and greets: Meet and greets are essentially informational interviews and allow you to meet one-on-one with cast members to learn more about their role within the company and ask any questions. After you meet with one cast member, they might give you another cast member’s information. The more people you meet, the better. Eventually, you should be able to meet with someone who has your dream role.
10. Know what you signed up for: The Disney College Program is not for everyone. Though there are many learning opportunities, you are expected to work at least 30-40 hours a week. During peak times, like spring break, you many work over 40 hours. The shifts can be long and tiring. Being away from home and working in a kitchen all day can be very discouraging. But just know that you signed up for this and there are many opportunities beyond your current role.
11. Keep in touch with professionals: When your program is over, keep in touch with the cast members that you met with. It is nice to have someone to communicate with and ask questions about careers with the Disney company.

 
The Disney College Program is a great way to get your foot in the door with the Disney Company. I often tell people that my program was the best 4 months of my life. While I was in Florida, I wanted to ensure that I gained more than just memories and friendships. I wanted this experience to set me up for a potential career with the number one entertainment company. I took the time to attend networking events while my roommates were at the pool or in the park. It doesn’t take much and it will be worth it in the end. I don’t have any regrets from my time in the sunshine state and I’m happy that my time there has pushed me to follow my dreams.

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