The Disney College Program isn’t easy.
I know that might sound like a joke because the Disney College Program is often treated like some easy experience where college students just get to move to Florida and play in the Disney Parks for a few months. I’m not saying this to say I had some tough experience. In fact, the Disney College Program was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. But I do think there are some people applying today who need a reality check before they apply.
Yes, the free park admission is an incredible benefit. But Disney isn’t free just because you don’t have to pay to get through the turnstiles. The wage you’re paid during the program is low, and I ate more ramen during those few months than I probably will cumulatively for the rest of my life.
The bigger issue is that the one major social activity you and your friends will want to do is go to Disney. And while admission is free, everything else isn’t. Food, drinks, souvenirs and, if you’re 21, alcohol can add up incredibly quickly. It’s easy to think you’re having a free day at Disney only to realize you’ve spent a significant portion of your paycheck by the time you leave.
Then there’s the schedule. People who have worked in the service industry for years are probably laughing at this, but for college students who may have only had one or two jobs, it can be a shock. You’re not getting holidays off. You might be working Christmas morning. Spending Halloween night with your friends is off the table. Your Thanksgiving meal could be whatever you eat in the break room with your fellow cast members.
And your birthday isn’t automatically special either. You can get sick days, and sometimes you can find someone to take your shift, but Disney World doesn’t stop operating because you have plans.
That’s the part of the program people sometimes forget. You’re going to be surrounded by people on vacation while you’re at work. You’ll see families heading into the parks while you’re heading into a shift. You’ll watch friends go enjoy the fireworks while you’re working. Eventually, you learn that working at Disney and vacationing at Disney are two completely different experiences.
I also think some applicants today see the DCP as a potential launchpad to becoming a Disney influencer. And sure, you might have more opportunities to make content while you’re there. But simply living at Disney and having free park admission doesn’t mean you’re going to build an audience. There are a lot of people doing the exact same thing.
None of this is meant to discourage anyone from doing the Disney College Program. Quite the opposite. I would still recommend it. My experience changed my life, gave me memories I’ll always have and taught me things that I couldn’t have learned anywhere else.
Just go into it understanding what you’re actually signing up for.
The Disney College Program isn’t a few months of getting paid to hang out at Disney World. It’s a real job, with real responsibilities, low pay and a schedule that doesn’t always care about your plans.
But if you understand that going in, you might appreciate the magic even more when you finally clock out, change out of your costume and walk into the park as a guest.
