Hey guys! So I recently completed my application for the Disney College Program and I received A LOT of questions about it. So, to help you out I figured I would talk about my application process and a little bit about the research that I’ve done.

My Current Status: Currently, I have received news that I was not offered a role in the DCP, but this decision was most likely affected by the global pandemic as they had to lay off their current cast members. 

 

For those of you who don’t know, the Disney College Program, or DCP, is where any currently enrolled college student or graduate can work at Disney. You are assigned a role in any park doing guest service tasks that range in variability from custodial all the way to being a character performer. Some roles are harder to get than others, but all offer their own magical experience in the program. You also have the option to live in the apartment complexes on Disney property to have easier access to the parks. Overall, the DCP is a very prestigious program that is a wonderful opportunity to gain lots of experience in numerous different skill sets.

There is a very tough application process that you have to go through in order to be offered a role for the DCP. So, first, we are going to talk about the application for the DCP. The acceptance rate for this program is about 20%, but don’t let this scare you. I’m going to walk you through what it entails and give you some tips if you choose to apply along the way.

 

Application

1. Basic Application

The first step to applying to the DCP is to fill out an application online. This step gives them a basic understanding of who you are. Here are some things you will need to fill out:

• Current university, major, graduation year, etc.
• Work experiences
• Roles you want to apply for and how much you want that role (High, moderate, or low interest)
• Name
• Address
• All that basic stuff

After you submit this information, someone will review your application and see if you would be a good match for the program. I received an email the next day, so you could probably expect a pretty quick response if they like your application.

2. Web-based Personality Assessment (aka “Web-based Interview”)

The “Web-based Interview” is an online quiz so that the program can figure out your personality. It’s all multiple choice, and they ask you questions such as:

• What you would do in certain situations
• How comfortable you are doing certain tasks
• How your friends would describe you
• Morals & ethics
• Your personality
• Etc.

The assessment takes about 30-40 minutes and is very easy to complete. All you need is a quiet place to focus and a good internet connection. Oh, one more thing. The questions are timed, where they will move on if you take up too much time (about 10 to 20 seconds depending on the question) with no timer on the screen. Don’t let this freak you out! Just go with your gut instinct, and make sure to be honest!

After submitting the assessment, you will immediately see if you have been rated a strong candidate for the program. The next step is to then go back to your application and schedule a phone interview.

3. The Phone Interview

This is the final step of the application process and probably the most daunting. You have to talk to a real person whose job is to analyze if you are right for their prestigious program just by one conversation and the sound of your voice.

Let’s talk about some of the things they are looking for in the interview. They’re going to ask you lots of different questions, so as we go through my tips on this part of the application, you’ll see the kinds of things you’re expected to answer. Let’s start off with a foundational tip for any interview.

• Don’t panic. Easier said than done right? I know. You’ll be fine. At the end of the day, whether you did way better than you thought you would or completely bomb it, the day is still going to continue. The sun is still going to shine and you’re still going to go on with your life. And chances are, you’re probably not even going to be thinking about this interview years from now. So, when you feel yourself starting to freak out, just take a deep breath and zoom out.
• 
  Even though it’s an interview, you should still come prepared. For my interview, I wrote down a few questions I knew they were going to ask me and wrote down my ideal answers. I also wrote down a list of workplace, volunteer, and extracurricular activity stories that I thought exemplified different scenarios that I worked well in. For example,
  • A hectic day on the job
  • A time you kept everyone safe
  • Your favorite moment working
  • A time you dealt with a difficult employee or friend

I don’t want to give away all of the questions they might ask, but just remember to be prepared. Additionally, I wrote down some positive messages to myself and little things they were looking for. I wrote:

• • Stay focused!
  • Be positive!
  • 🙂
  • You got this!
  • Breathe
  • 

Please please please make sure you do your research on your Disney parks, too! Knowing different parks, rides, attractions, dining options, resorts, etc. can all build your profile and earn you bonus points. They’re looking to test that information during the interview, and this was something that I didn’t do so hot on since I hadn’t been to Disney since I was a kid.

Lastly, you want to come with a pencil and paper so you can write down important information you may need later.

• Answer the phone with “Good morning/afternoon, this is (insert name here).” I saw this tip online somewhere and figured I’d try it out. Rather than a “hello?” where you sound confused and unprepared, answer with a welcoming greeting that sets the tone for the interview. As well, this makes you stand out a little bit more and puts whoever is interviewing you into a positive place as well. They also can rest assured they dialed the right number when you say your name and that you are polite and respectful even on the phone.
• Write down your interviewer’s name! As soon as they begin talking, they’re going to say their name. Write it down so that you have it for the end. When you are wrapping up your interview and saying your goodbyes, you can say certain things like:
  • “Thank you so much for your time (name)!”
  • “I really enjoyed talking with you (name).”
  • “Thank you for the opportunity (name)!”
  • “Have a good day, (name)!”

Any one of these will do just fine, but make sure you repeat their name somewhere in the conversation to make sure you establish that unforgettable connection with them. Nothing feels better than knowing the person you’re talking to remembers your name. It shows retention, focus, and priority in your conversation.

• Most of the time you’re going to be talking about a time when you did something that shows how you are Disney ready. So, you always want to emphasize the positive qualities of the story. What I like to do in the progression of answering a question is begin with the setup of the story, complete the story, then at the end say how this event made you into a certain type of person (or something to that nature). If they’re asking for a weakness, elaborate on how you’re currently working on solving this problem with details.
• Stay positive! This is sort of an obvious tip but make sure that no matter what happens you keep going and don’t stop.
• If you need to answer a question you don’t know, well, I have a special formula for that. Let’s say they ask you for a time when you showed leadership, but nothing comes to mind (although if you came prepared and wrote down certain stories, this shouldn’t happen). You blank. You’re panicking. It’s a mess. Just simply gather yourself and remain confident. You want to say something about how you don’t have the answer to that question (without saying that specifically) and proceed to say how you are eager to learn about how to develop that quality/experience/knowledge, etc. So, for our leadership example, I might say something like:
  • “I don’t believe I’ve ever had a specific experience where I’ve demonstrated leadership qualities, but as an older sibling I was always mentoring my little sister, and I would be eager to learn more leadership skills while at the DCP.”

Let’s break this apart. You first start off by answering the question, which is only fair to say you don’t know, but in a professional way. Next, you find the next closest thing you can relate to that answers the question, but not in the way they were hoping. Lastly, you say that you are eager to learn it when hired. 

• Have questions to ask them at the end. After you finish all of the questions, they’re going to ask if you have any questions. This comes with being prepared, but have some questions ready to ask them just in case. You can even “ask to confirm” certain things you heard about the program like the pay, certain roles, or housing. This demonstrates that you did your research and are confident enough to make sure you have the right knowledge. Your last question should be something to make them remember you. This is going to be your last opportunity before you say goodbye to make a good impression. Here are some questions I recommend to ask that will really leave your mark:
  • “What is one thing that you hope I get out of the DCP?”
  • “What is something most students love most about the DCP?”
  • “How can I make the most out of my DCP?”
  • “If I get an offer and accept it, what will I have done in the program to make sure that you were confident in your decision in hiring me?”
    Personally, I asked the last one as my question, but you should do something that feels like you and that you are comfortable in asking. My interviewer said she had never had that question asked before, and thus helped her to gain an intelligent and positive association with my interview, which increases my chances of getting offered a role.
• Lastly, thank them for your time. Be polite, respectful and as positive as you can when hanging up the phone. Listen carefully and take notes as they explain the next steps. Confirm you understood and then thank them for the opportunity. Do whatever you need to do to make one last happy impact.

And that’s it! When you hang up the phone, you’re done! Now it’s time to wait and hope for the best.

 

Pros and Cons of the program…from what I’ve heard

I’ve read a lot of other blogs and watched YouTube videos about the program while doing my research, so I know I’m going to list a few aspects that are both positive and negative.

Pros

• You get to work at Disney! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
• You will meet so many new people from around the world. Not just in the parks, but in your apartment and coworkers too!
• You get paid! Always a plus.
• You will make a lot of fun memories. Disney is one of the best places to do that and there’s going to be so many fun opportunities that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
• They have special workshops to learn more about Disney, improve your career skills, and more.
• It looks really good on your resume.
• You get to wear a fun costume to work.
• You get to make magical memories for others.

 

Cons

• You are underpaid for how much you work.
• Florida heat is no fun, even in the colder months. Also lots and lots of rain. Florida is unpredictable, what can I tell you?
• You have to work long hours and holidays depending on the session you chose for the program.
• If you’re enrolled in school, you have to work it out with administration to take a semester off and may fall behind in your track for graduating on time.
• There is a fee for the program (a little under 400 I believe) and you have to pay rent for living on the property.
• Like all guest service jobs, you will have to deal with unhappy guests, but especially because they are at Disney with such high expectations.

 

So, that’s all the information I have. I hoped this helped you in your decision to apply, the application process, or simply reading for fun. I just want to say thank you for checking out my blog and feel free to contact me if you have any other questions!

-Hummingbird

 

Have any questions or comments about the DCP? Post in the comments below!