On Wednesday, Feb 7, SVSU’s Career Services Office conducted an informational session about the Disney College Program, an immersive, 4 – 6 month paid internship program for students of any major hosted by Walt Disney World.
There are opportunities for students to work several jobs at the parks.
Possible jobs include working in merchandise, food and beverage, custodial, sky-liner operations, attractions, children’s activities, recreation, lifeguard, house person, and character performer.
Lizzi Hubble-Radosa, SVSU’s Associate Director of Career Services spoke about the opportunities in the program.
“All majors are welcome to apply for the Disney College Program. Disney does also have Professional Internships which are major based, but the DCP is open for all students or any major,” she said. “All majors can benefit from this experience, building valuable soft skills that employers are seeking such as communication, leadership, and teamwork”.
Two Disney College and SVSU alumnae, Crystal Yang and Madison Bourgeois, presented at the informational session.
Yang attended SVSU as an Elementary Education major from 2016 to 2020 and graduated from Liberty University in December 2023 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
“I decided to do the Disney College Program because both of my sisters did the internship when they attended Delta Community College and SVSU,” she said. “I had my first opportunity to do the Spring Advantage Program in 2020 … My next opportunity was the Fall Advantage Program in 2021 with an extension into the Spring Program.”
During both experiences, Yang worked as a Merchandise Sales Hostess in Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs.
“Being able to say that I participated in the Disney College Program has given me a whole new outlook,” she said. “You are the first hand of customer service, thinking on the spot and living in the moment. I made so many professional and personal connections with my leaders, coordinators, and co-workers”.
Bourgeois is a third-year marketing major at SVSU
“I had a great experience. I worked in merchandise as a hostess and trainer and learned so much,” she said. “I learned a lot about how a business is run and gained great insight by working for one of the largest and most successful companies in the world. I know having Disney on my resume will be a great addition.”
“It really changed my life. I became more independent and learned how to live on my own,” Bourgeois said. “I made so many great friends and built connections that will last a lifetime.”
There are three SVSU students currently attending in Florida this semester, and around 30 have completed the program since 2019.
“Disney is such a well-known brand and company, and employers know the hard work that is put into working there even for a short amount of time. So, while the DCP is a great resume builder, it’s so much more than that,” Hubble said. “Students who have completed the program gain life-long friends and experiences that they aren’t able to get with any other employers.”
Applications for Disney College are open now on their website. Students can make an appointment with Career Services at any time to chat about the application process and how the college works with SVSU’s majors.
