Hi Amanda, I love your blog! I realize it's going to be different for everyone, but based on your experience do you think the program is still worth doing after graduating college? I've always been interested in the Disneyland CP but didn't want to take time off from school to do it.
Hey, thanks! It definitely varies from person to person, but I personally think the program would be worth doing after college. I think it might actually be better because you won’t have to worry about classes and homework, etc…you just have to worry about working at Disney and taking classes there! Plus you can job hunt and stuff with your extra time :) Good luck!
Oh yes oh yes! This weekend I got signed off as a Monsters trainer. I got to do two very different sets of training, but both very good learning experiences for me. I got to learn a lot about my training/communication style and my patience (which, surprisingly, is very high!) I was told by my shadower (the one looking over me to make sure I trained properly and ultimately signed me off as a trainer) that I have a very calming and easygoing training style that matches my personality. So yay :)
Training over the last three weekends was so much fun. I love being able to pass along knowledge and watch people learn and grow…sounds super corny, but it’s true. My leads and managers have been saying great things about me (which I appreciate so much), and they see a lot of leadership potential in me. I also have an interview for the opening team of Cars Land this Friday…eek!
All of these great opportunities are coming up for me at Disney, and I just want to be able to take advantage of them all! But with my second job at a PR agency, it makes it a bit difficult to do so. Balancing two jobs plus a social life is a tough task, but I’ve been sacrificing sleep to do so…we’ll see how this all pans out.
Come visit me in Monstropolis, and maybe even Radiator Springs :)
when you switched over frm the cp to pt did you keep your 3 yr seniority or did it go back to 0 like it would if you were to switch your role?
It went back down to zero :( So even though I had put in the six months of work from January to August, those six months don’t count toward my seniority. Kind of a bummer, but getting three years seniority right off the bat is a nice thing, so to Disney, it’s only fair to start back at zero once the College Program is over!
Looks like I’ve been here for a year! (Taken with instagram)
I haven’t updated here in a while, have I? A lot has happened since my last post.
- I am a trainer at Monsters Inc
- I went to my first Disney holiday party at Disneyland—exclusive to Cast Members and their family/friends, woo!
- I got my year pin for working at the resort for a year
- I didn’t get the Disney professional internship I applied for
- I graduated from college and got a full-time position at a PR agency
Things have been pretty crazy on my side! While I don’t get to work at the park nearly as much as I used to (only weekends now), I honestly enjoy every moment of it, and I hope I can stay here for as long as I can before I’m forced to quit due to my schedule.
On a happier note, there have been a LOT of new hires lately—hopefully this means I can start training soon! Even though I was chosen as a trainer back in November, I haven’t done anything for training other than one class: “Sharing the Legacy,” where I basically got to learn how to effectively train. There are still two more classes I need to go to AND a “train the trainers” session, so we’ll see when those happen..!
I also got to play in the park with my cousins from Seattle recently. It was so nice to be able to go to work without having to work! I forgot how much of a different experience playing in the park is for kids: attention to detail and shows aren’t what they want, they just want to go on every ride and get Disney swag :) I hope I can play in the park again real soon.
Anyway, that’s pretty much all that’s been going on for me. Hope everyone is having a nice Tuesday! Fun fact: Tomorrow (February 8) is the 11th anniversary of Disney California Adventure. Yay!
Did you get credit for school? I go to Chapman as well and I'm waiting to hear back from the DCP.
Yep, I got internship credit. I don’t know if you’ve done an internship for credit before, but you basically just need to fulfill a certain number of hours to get a certain number of credits. I believe it’s 40 hours in a semester for one credit, so three credits is 120 hours of work. Luckily, my timesheet said I worked somewhere around 450 hours in a semester, so I was well over the requirement!
And you go to Chapman?! Don’t be a stranger, say hi to me if you see me around campus :) Good luck; let me know how it goes!
What would a disney intern do? What major in college would be useful to advance at disney?
There are many different kinds of Disney Professional Internships, ranging from culinary to technical engineering to software development to PR/marketing. I specifically interviewed for a position with Youth Sales, which is more geared toward the marketing aspect.
Really, almost any major in college is applicable to at least some position at Disney. Thankfully, because Disney is such a huge conglomerate, I’m sure you’ll be able to find something suitable to your desired profession!
Hello, Amanda! I'd like to know if they give you a place to stay as a worker even when you're not envolved in the High School program. Also, do they have tests like regular school? What are these like? xx
Disney will not provide housing for you unless you are a current participant of the Disney College Program. In regards to tests, I think there was only one in Corporate Analysis, and it was multiple choice. Paul (the instructor) really prepares you for it, so it’s nothing to worry about!
Just had my interview for a Disney Professional Internship! Eep!
So I applied to be a trainer at Monsters and Animation. I’m excited! I’ve heard good things from my leads and managers about my potential, so we’ll see…interviews are probably going to happen within the next month or so, so I’m crossing my fingers!
Speaking of interviews, I actually have one for a Disney professional internship! Getting this internship would be a great way for me to keep moving up within the company, because I would be working in the offices and actually help with decision-making…but that would mean I would have to leave my position in Attractions :( Bittersweet! But honestly, whatever happens, I think I’ll be okay :)
