- May 15, 2021
- 5 min read

Why The College Program Returning is Good News

This Spring, Disney announced that the Disney College Program is returning to Walt Disney World resort. This is great news, and we are excited to tell you why! But first...

What is the Disney College Program?

The Disney College Program is a "Live, Learn, Earn" experience for college students. Some college students can even earn credit from their college for certain programs. One must be an actively enrolled full time college student to apply. The application process is normally somewhat intense, with a written application, and an interview on your campus.

If accepted into the program, you will go to Walt Disney World for a semester where you will live and work on property. You'll be assigned a role and will work at least full time. While Disney calls this an internship, it is a paid internship (although it is typically minimum wage and the cost of lodging will come out of your paycheck).

In addition to working at Walt Disney World, you will attend an educational program. When the College Program first began, there was no choice in which educational program you attended and you were enrolled in a series of seminars held at your housing complex about business and customer service. Now, there is a TON of choice. Interns can learn anything from business and customer service to animation or even Disney history.

There are typically about 12,000 college students recruited annually, comprising 5% of Disney's total Cast Member workforce.

Why are we excited?

There are two big reasons we are excited. First, this is a GREAT opportunity for college students, if they love Disney. Disney's educational programs are excellent, and Disney knows where their strengths are. If you learn customer service from Disney, for example, you have learned from the experts. The same could be said for creative thinking, storytelling, or hospitality. Even if you aren't earning college credit, this gives college students a leg up when they are looking for a job in the field of study.

But education is only a small fraction of the experience. Of course, there is real work experience which can be valuable. Then there is the living experience, and there is something to be said for changing your scenery for a semester, living with people you didn't know before, and adapting. It's a challenge but it's the kind of challenge that I firmly believe makes a person stronger.

Add to all of that that Disney employment looks really good on a resume. So there is a lot of value for college students.

But there is also a lot of value for guests, and that's our second reason we are excited. 12,000 additional cast members means more experiences can re-open. We've been living in a world where not all the restaurants or shops are open at Walt Disney World since the reopening in July of 2020, and while part of that is because of social distancing, another part of that is because of a reduction in Cast Members. College Program interns (CP's for short) are literally the cheapest labor and yet they work hard. In other words, this is bang for Disney's buck. Bringing back the CP's is a smart move that will allow Disney to re-open more experiences and staff up.

What's the plan for the return?

Disney is approaching the return of the College Program in what we think is a really considerate way. Many CP's had their programs cut short in March of 2020 when they were sent home and the parks closed. Despite Disney re-opening, their term was over by July and they were not invited back. Now, that's changing. With the return of the College Program, Disney is focusing first on inviting back any CP's whose program was cut short... EVEN if they have since graduated college. AND Disney is offering extended work arrangements and a little more choice on where to work (where the norm is almost zero choice on where to work). But wait, there's more! Because Disney is also allowing these returning CP's to return at staggered dates throughout the year rather than having it all align with a semester when everyone moves in and out at once.

This all makes for a much more flexible program that can accommodate those CP's who want to return in whatever way that feels best. And although these former CP's do have to re-apply, the application process for returning CP's is greatly simplified.

But wait, there's (even) more!

Fondly looking back at my CP days too long ago to name, I think back on the paper thin walls of Vista Way. While I didn't hate my housing, it was already showing its age when I was there. Sure, it had 468 units, a clubhouse, a classroom, and two pool complexes, but CP's would constantly eye the newer housing units across the highway and claim those were better.

Well, last month, Vista Way was put up for sale. (For former CP's interested in the price, it is worth $63.1 million.)

This is because there is a newer housing complex that can house 3 times as many Cast Members that opened last December called Flamingo Crossings. This housing complex will house both regular Cast Members that wish to apply for a lease, and College Program students, and contains units with several different configurations and numbers of bedrooms. Fully vaccinated CP's can also opt to be housed with other fully vaccinated CP's.

Flamingo Crossings honestly looks amazing. There is a huge community building with space for fitness, recreation (with billiards, ping-pong, and more), and classrooms. There are of course pools, but also a lazy river that winds through the center of the property, as well as basketball and volleyball courts. This offers so much more community space than Vista Way, it's not even funny. At Vista Way, the only thing to do was to go down by the pool and see what was happening.

Plus, units will have hardwood style floors, stainless steel appliances, and a washer and dryer (gone are the days of doing your laundry in the muggy lower level shared laundry room!). And it's no more than 15 minutes from each theme park! Goodbye, 35 minute ride to Disney's Animal Kingdom and Hello, 11 minute ride!

Check out these photos from fcvapartments.com:

These pictures make me wish I could go back!

In summary, we are really excited about what the return of the Disney College Program means both for college students, and for Walt Disney World.

Want to learn more about the Disney College Program? Check out information here. Follow email updates to learn when applications are open for new particpants.

Are you a CP whose program was cut short in March 2020? Look for an email from Disney sent May 3rd with details about returning.

And, until next time...