Welcome to Your Disney Program!
Each Disney Internship is different depending on the location and position. This is a general timeline of my experience checking in for both of my Disney College Programs.
3 Weeks Out- Sign up for housing preferences and roommate selection
10 Days Out- Receive Arrival Itinerary with Housing Selection, Work Location, and Schedule for First Week.
Day 1- Arrival Day- Check in with housing at your complex. You will also go to your
Onboarding Appointment to finalize your employment paperwork with your legal
documents. You will also take your housing and Disney ID photosthis day, so look good!
~ 4 days of roommate bonding- no free employee access to Disney Parks until you
complete Traditions~
Day 4 or 5- Traditions- Your Disney Orientation! You learn all about the Company and
the expectations for the rest of your internship! Every employee of the Walt Disney
Company goes through this famous training program! You will also get your employee
ID to access the parks!
Day 5 or 6- Welcome to Operations class. If you are in an entertainment role, it will
be Welcome to Entertainment.This class goes through the different aspects of working
in a Disney Park. It also teaches you about the Four Keys, which will become crucial over
the next few months. You may also do your welcome to your line of business training class
on this day. You may also get to pick up your first set of costumes!
After your first few classes, you are all set to begin your location based training! Enjoy every moment of your first week! Take the time to settle in, get to know your roommates, and make some memories! After the first week, it is very hard for everyone's schedules to line up, so it may be the last time you hang out as a group before your program ends!
If you are living in an area for six months, you need to experience the area! Here are my tips for the two areas of the Disney College Program!
Orlando Must Dos
1. Brunch- Orlando takes brunch to a new level. No one in Orlando has a normal schedule, and on their days off people prioritize sleeping. One of my favorite brunch places is Keke's Breakfast Cafe, but there's tons of amazing brunch places to try in the city.
2. Natural Springs- Florida is famous for their everglades and natural springs. There are several state parks in the area you can swim or float down a natural spring or river.
3. Local sports teams- Anaheim may have better teams, but there is still a lot of fun to have at Orlando Magic Games, or Orlando City Soccer Matches.
4. Beaches- Florida has tons of fun beaches within an hour drive! Cocoa Beach and Clearwater are both fun areas that take a short drive to a new area.
5. Kennedy Space Center- The Kennedy Space Center is a short hour drive from DCP Housing. There are monthly rocket launches to view, and a few exhibits!
Anaheim Must Dos
1. Knott's Berry Farm- A theme park of a different type. Knott's is owned by Cedar Fair, the same company that owns Cedar Point. Knott's's has big thrillers, and specialty season events!
2. Local sports teams- Anaheim is a short drive from really amazing sports teams. Check out the Dodgers, the Lakers, or Rams.
3. Beaches- Orange County has 42 miles of beaches to enjoy!
4. Hollywood-There's so much to do in Hollywood! From the Walk of Fame, to world class restaurants, there is so much to do in this area!
Adjusting to your Disney Program
Adjusting to a new city, new friends, a new job, and tackling schoolwork can be hard at first, but here are some top tips!
01/
FaceTime Friends and Family!
Keeping in touch with family and friends is so important during the program- but do not do it to the point where you are hindering your potential relationships with people on your program! Make some memories and some magic!
02/
Don't Let Family Stay Past Move In Day
Once you are all moved into your new apartment, say good bye. The next few days are full of empty down time that you get to spend with your new roommates! Go to a resort, go to Downtown Disney or Disney Springs! Go to Target! There is so much opportunity to bond with the people you will be spending four to seven months with!
03/
Schedule Your Time
If you are taking classes and doing a Program, life can get complicated. Make sure to schedule yourself time every week to get your homework done. If you need extra time, you can sign up for an independent study hall through the Disney Education Office to get more time scheduled off for your school workload (WDW only).
04/
Build a Relationship with Your Leaders
Whether you plan to stay with the Walt Disney Company following your Program or not, I highly suggest building a relationship with your leadership team. They are a fantastic support system, and can really help you when you need it!