I have done the F.A.Q. section for the pre-offer stage, but I feel like I should do one for the post-offer, internship stage, and post-internship. Here are some common questions I have been seeing over the past few rounds, and I will state right now some of these will not make sense if you have not a previous intern / current intern. So, without further ado here is the cheat sheet part II.
When will I get my location, since it was not in my offer?
For those of you like GR and MIs for example who do not have your exact location in the offer it will come. Generally the location is in a separate email along with Casting/Check-In time, and usually comes a few weeks after your offer. As for you DCP interns you will not find out your work location until you arrive at Vista Way/Carnegie Plaza on your check-in day.
Do I get to choose my check-in time?
For you PIs no you do not your check-in time is given to you, but for you DCP’s yes you can choose. However, you have to choose dates that are available for your role which you will see after you turn in your offer.
What if I am going to be late to check-in?
For you DCP’s this is generally not a huge issue, but just let someone know in advance so your Casting schedule is not all mixed up. For you PIs also not a huge issue, but keep in mind some internships have things to do on the first day –especially you Animal Program Interns.
What is the first day like?
Without getting into too much detail about what to expect here is the breakdown: arrive at check-in location (FL PI & DCP: Vista Way or CA DCP: Carnegie Plaza/ CA PI: Casting), fill out a bunch of paperwork, for you DCP get your work locations, get drug tested if needed, head off to Casting get fill out more paperwork, get fingerprinted at Casting, and then move-in to your apartment. This is a very general overview for those wanting more detail you can find it in my post about the check-in day.
How long is Traditions?
For you PIs it is fairly short usually about 1-2 hours (leaning towards the 1 hour), and as for you DCP you are not so lucky. Some of you DCP’s will have short days like the PIs, but others will have other training they need to do on the first day as well so it can be 2-4 hours.
When does the first paycheck drop?
When you sign-up (unless you live outside of housing) you have to pay a fee for the first few weeks of rent, and generally around week 2-3 your paycheck drops. So, keep that in mind when you arrive do not come without any money expecting to get paid right away.
Can I change my work location?
Nope, if you do not like your trainer/cord/manager sorry that is whom you are working with for the remainder of your internship. It is possible to change due to medical reasons, but they better be a good one. Yes, that includes you food and beverage having an allergy to nuts won’t guarantee you moving. They will actually just keep you on popcorn stands or something along those lines away from your allergy.
I heard if you need ‘light duty’ as an intern you will get termed, is it true?
Okay there is no blanket statement, but for the most part I will say no it is not. If it only stops you from certain aspects of your job they will keep you at your work location, and have you avoid doing those things. If you need to leave due to the nature of your job if they can find a light duty position for you until you are able to return to your own work location –they will. However, if there is nothing available and you cannot preform your jobs function sometimes you are just out of luck since at that point it is possible to be sent home (aka termed)
Is it easy to get termed?
Yes and no really depends for you PIs it is a little more difficult to get termed especially if you live outside of housing, but for you DCP again your kind of out of luck. I will say from my personal experience most of the people I know who got termed were termed due to housing reasons not work related reasons. It is possible to be termed for liquor in an under 21 apartment (aka wellness), underage drinking on housing (that includes you 21+ if you bought the liquor), sneaking people into the complex, having banned items (in the housing book you will get when you check-in), or breaking any other housing rules. At work it pretty much comes down to points and reprimands on how to get termed, and for your safety critical roles you can get reprimands for safety violations as well (lifeguard watch out for those audits and VATS). I will say though another easy way to get termed is to call out of work, and go to the theme parks –this is a 100% no. To give an example in case I lost some of you with that answer say you work at Target, and you call in from work you would not then go shopping at that Target would you? Most of you said no –smart answer. The same thing with Disney you do not call into work then go to work without actually working, and I will say it is all of Disney property not just where you work. So, do not call out from work at MK and go to DAK, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, Grand Floridian, or etc. stay 100% off of Disney property.
Does lifeguarding really get audited a lot?
Yes and no again depends on what exactly you are talking about here. Yes, the role does get audited a lot for safety reasons obviously, but not all the audits are Ellis audits. Some of the audits are from outside Ellis there are basically three levels of audits (I won't get to much into this as you will find out when you get there), but Ellis is only one type. As for when to expect the Ellis audit generally happens twice. Now as for the no part sometimes it is just getting a VAT out of the water in time nothing complex.
What is the rule on Disney look nail polish, lipstick, and etc.?
I will start off by saying you F&B cannot wear any nail polish at all not even clear, and no you cannot wear acrylic or gel nails either. As for everyone else neutral and natural is key, but I will also post a few links to help you out.
http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/about-disney-college-program/disney-look/ http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/onboarding/fl/working-here/disney-look/female-cast-members/non-costumed-guidelines/ https://disneyprogramsblog.com/the-disney-look-professional-attire/ https://disneyprogramsblog.com/disney-look-hair-color/ http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20131021/14775/cast-members-take-disney-look I will say if you happen to be in a creative department like Yellow Shoes they are a little more relaxed on the Disney look. In Florida the Disney Look is pretty much followed everywhere, but in California you have departments that are a little more relaxed about this.
What if I need a day off? Does this include holidays?
For you DCP you are going too have to put the request through on The Hub, and kind of just hope you get it off. For you PIs in theme park roles you are going too to do the same thing to get time off, but for the rest of you (you will know if this is you) all you have to do is talk to your department leaders majority of the time they are more then willing to give you the time off. As for holidays you DCP applicants, PI theme park roles, and MIs you are pretty much SOL, since this is hospitality where if you didn’t know is a 24 hour/365 days a year kind of thing. Which if you did not know when you agreed to do so means working holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Thanksgiving, Birthday’s, and every other holiday in-between. So, no asking for Christmas off I will tell you right now you have a 0.1% chance of getting it off. For an example I had a manager who had been there for 10+ years, and for the first time he was getting Christmas off –yeah take that in for a moment. However, if you happen to be supper lucky aka the 0.1% you might be scheduled with it off, but if you are it is pretty likely you are going to get a call to come in (which you do not have too). As for you PIs who work at corporate here is the good news as long as Team Disney or Casting is not open then you do not have to be there.
Do we get a discount?
Yes, as a Disney CM you get a discount as well as theme park admission. I will only say the discount changes from the holiday to non-holiday season.
What happens if I term myself? Can I come back?
Well this really depends on why in general if you term yourself you are put on a 6 month no rehire status (this can be longer depending on the circumstance), and will be unable to apply again until the time is up. If you term and forget to turn in a costume you will be kept on the no rehire list until the fees have been paid for it just as an FYI. Also it should be noted if you left for a reason such as a family member dying then there is no punishment for leaving if you explain it to the Disney Service Center. I will also note in California if you term yourself you still owe rent for the rest of the lease you signed on Carnegie Plaza. Now, if you want to return to the company if you waited the 6 months, and maintained a job since leaving you should not have a problem. If you happen to be one of those interns who is on a longer no rehire list you will have to petition the no rehire status, which fair warning could take up to a 1-2 months. If for some reason you lose the petition there is not really much you can do from that point. Best advice for this situation is do not term yourself especially if you want to come back to the company, since you just made that process a whole lot more difficult.
Can I move out of housing during my internship?
The general answer is going to be no, but I will say it is possible to do so if you are- over 21, have a car, and already have a lease ready (does not have to be signed yet). This does not include summer interns for the DCP, but for everyone else those are the qualifications, and as for the lease part they need to know that if they release you from housing that apartment is 100% yours. I typically do not suggest doing this as the process can be quite a pain sometimes, but it is not impossible.
Can I change housing situations if I don’t like my roommates?
I will say the general answer is again no these apartments fill up fast, and moving you is going to be quite a pain. If the problem is your roommates they will have you do basically roommate counseling to work out your issues. In general whatever your issues are work them out, since you will all be living together for length of your internship. This is why I always suggest choosing your roommates, and doing so very carefully.
If I turn 21 during my program can I change into a non-wellness apartment?
This is a common question DCP applicants have during their program I will say first off best advice is find roommates who are already all 21+, and are willing to live with you until you turn 21. Since it is a lot easier for housing to change the status of your apartment then it is for them to move you out of yours. Now if you live in wellness and turn 21 during your program if housing is available you can request to move, but keep in mind if nothing is available you are stuck in wellness.
Will I get hired for a full-time role in my PI department?
Now I want to be clear Disney does not give out statistics on number of interns they retain after the internship. I want to be clear though from my personal knowledge and experience very few interns were kept on as full-time or even part-time for that matter after their program was completed. Most of those who were able to stay on had roles within the theme parks such as guest relations. So, for you post-grads I would not bank on having a career with Disney after your program. MBA applicants though you happen to be in luck most of the MBA applicants I know were offered positions somewhere within the company as well as JD interns.
Are there networking opportunities?
There are, but for each coast it is going to be slightly different for you DCP’s. As for you PIs there are networking opportunities built into your schedule during work hours, and events hosted during the program for your specific PI/MI.
DCP in California: You will have opportunities much like the PIs to meet with managers, executives, and certain departments during your program.
DCP in Florida: You will not however have any opportunity like California or PIs. Instead you will have location meet and greets with some managers, some seminars of executives you can attend, but that is pretty much it for meet and greets. So, you are going to kind of have to do this on your own. Best advice is first and foremost take advantage of the meet and greets they do give you. Also if you are going to attempt to use Rostr aim low don’t email Robert Iger, the President of Walt Disney World, or head of entertainment operations for the theme park and resorts expecting a reply –I’ll save you the time you will not get one. You can also set up meet and greets while you’re there, but most importantly do not forget network with the actual interns around you.
What is my work schedule going to be like?
For you DCP, some theme park PIs, and MIs as I stated earlier you will be working holidays, weekends, nights, and pretty much whenever they want you to. However, for most of you the schedule is going to be full-time work hours so around 40 hours per week. There are also no guarantees of having weekends off most of you will have odd days like Sunday and Monday, or Monday and Tuesday as an example. For those who know what ‘bidding’ is no interns do not get to bid for days off they pretty much get the leftover days. Now good news you can switch for the time off instead of requesting it to keep your hours, and generally pretty easy to do. For you corporate PIs you work full-time hours as well, but generally no weekends –so enjoy.
Can I get extra hours?
Yes there are a few ways to get extra hours (you PIs/MIs it is a bit harder) for everyone there are the extra hours hotline that drop at some ungodly hour at night, and are for things like Fantasmic!, strollers, and etc. (basically anything that does not require training). However, fair warning they go quickly so if you are not one of the first there chances are you are not getting any. For you DCP you can also ask to extend most of the time someone is going to call out, and they are going to need someone to stay so just offer to work.
Can I be cross-trained?
You can be in the DCP, but it is up to your management to decide. So, for some of you this can be pretty easy, but for others you are out of luck. For you MIs it is possible as well, but unlikely to actually happen unless you extend. For you PIs no not really since you took that specific role that is the one you will be doing, but you can extend into another internship if you would like.
What happens if I lose my Blue ID? Or keep it after my program?
Ah’ the blue ID if you lose it you will have to go to the lovely office in Celebration to get a new one, and there will be a fee for losing it. If you keep it after your program the only thing you will need to do is surrender it once you return to the company.
I have a costumed role, are the rumors true about Disney sizing?
All I can say is Disney sizing is about the weirdest thing I have ever encountered, and not quite sure how two shirts both size small are not the same size. I will say for anyone that needs a costume for their role please give yourself time to actually spend time at costuming to find the right size. Even though you wear a size 4 jean in ‘regular’ clothing does not mean you will be anywhere near a size 4 in Disney costuming. I also suggest if you do find one that actually fits you well hold onto to it you will probably not find it again, so just wash it to save yourself the hassle.
What is Cast Connections and Company D?
These two are cast member only stores on property where you will need a blue ID to get into. Cast Connections is a store with merchandise from the parks that has been marked down due to due damages, out of date, or simply overstock. There is also Property Control attached to Cast Connections that sometimes has furniture from the resorts, electronics, and sometimes other odd resort things (I once found an old statue from Art of Animation). As for Company D it is going to be a exclusive cast member only merchandise (you will be able to tell since most says cast exclusive) they generally have shirts, pens, office things, picture frames, pins, and most importantly theme park/water park tickets.
If I work at Disneyland can I go to Disney World (or vice versa)?
Yes, and vice versa you can indeed go into the other theme park for free.
Can I audition for shows on ABC?
No, you cannot audition for shows that are on ABC so in 2013 that meant no American Idol Auditions. You can however audition for shows on other networks, or ones that are not filmed by Disney or ABC.
Can I extend my program?
Yes, you can extend your programs as long as you do not exceed one consecutive year as an intern at The Walt Disney Company. For you interns you can apply for another role other then the one you currently in, but doing so does not guarantee you will get an offer. Some extensions especially in the DCP are sometimes denied, so do not bank on an extension every time.
When can I apply for full-time/part-time/seasonal?
The general rule is 6 weeks prior to the end of your program, and this is 100% true for you DCP applicants no exceptions. For you MI and PI applicants there are exceptions, which is you can apply for positions as long as your management approves you doing so. Otherwise you will also have to wait until 6 weeks prior to the end of your program to apply.
Am I going to get a job offer once my internship is over?
You will have to apply to be considered for any offer with Disney. I will say though most of the applicants I knew did not receive a job offer from their department, and the few who did were MBA applicants. MI applicants you are more likely to receive a job offer if there is space available, but no guarantee with that either. Now for you DCP it is much easier for you to get a job post-DCP as you will most likely just transfer into an hourly role similar to the one (or the same one) you did during the internship.
Can I complete another internship program? Even as a graduate student?
If you have already done a program with Disney before you can do another one as long as it will not lead you to being an intern for more then one consecutive year. So, if you do one in 2013 then decide to come back in 2015 you are more then welcome to do so. I will also say while undergraduates typically complete the DCP and PI/MIs graduate students are able to apply to all of them as well –yes including the DCP. There are also exclusive grad student applications as well just in case anyone was wondering.
Can I apply for the Alumni only Summer DCP program?
The alumni-only summer program does not happen every year, but in the year it does come technically yes. I say technically since you still have to meet the same requirements as the DCP applicants, but on top of that be former alumni as well. I will say this program is quite small, and in the past it fills up quickly especially since apps are only open for 24 hours.
What is the Disney Alumni Association? Where do I sign-up?
The Disney Alumni Association is basically a group for former DCP alumni to network, and in order to join you have had to successfully complete a Disney internship. Below I will leave the links to the Alumni Association you might find helpful.
(Sign-up page)
https://www.pages04.net/imt-disneyparksrecruiting/dcpalumni2/AA_Optin https://www.facebook.com/groups/disneyalumniassociation/ https://www.linkedin.com/groups/125758/profile https://www.linkedin.com/grps/Disney-Alumni-Association-44119/about?
Also joining the DCP alumni association is how you get an email about when the summer alumni DCP app drops. Along with information about homecoming, and you also get some free things like a t-shirt with the alumni association logo.