After students finish the course at Florida State University, students will begin a 6-month internship at the Walt Disney World Resort.  During this time, students will live in the apartments for Disney cast members and work either in the parks or resorts of Walt Disney World.  In addition, students will need to complete several requirements, including a monthly class, in order to receive the 6 hours of Florida State University credit for the internship. 

Orientation

FSU International Center staff will accompany students to Orlando to provide assistance with the transition should any problems arise. The Disney International College Program will provide an orientation session spanning several days in order to help students adjust to living in the provided apartments and working at the Walt Disney World Resort.   The FSU International Center staff will hold a meeting after the first day of orientation to ensure students understand the rules and that the rules must be followed.  Typically, students find out where they will be working on the second day of orientation.  All cast members will attend a class called Traditions where they will learn about the heritage of Walt Disney World and the Disney Look.  Students will need to have business attire for this class.  When students pass the Traditions class, they may then be trained by their work location for their role.  The length of the training process depends upon both the student’s role and work location, and can take from two days to three weeks.

Housing & Transportation

Students live in one of the three apartment complexes owned by the Walt Disney World Resort and managed by Price Management.  The three apartment complexes are Vista Way, Chatham Square and Patterson Court.  These complexes provide a number of amenities, such as a pool, fitness center, computer lab, and basketball court.  The apartment size ranges from two to four bedrooms and one to two bathrooms.  The apartments are fully furnished, and the kitchen comes stocked with dishes and cookware.  Each person is also given a locker where they can store their valuables to ensure safe-keeping, although a lock must be purchased for the locker.  Apartment complexes are gated and have security guards on hand.  The security guards check the IDs on every person entering the apartment complex whether they are on foot or in a car.  Each person must have the appropriate housing ID in order to gain access to the property; this is to ensure the safety of all cast members.

Transportation is provided to cast members in the apartment complexes.  The Walt Disney World Resort has its own bus system for cast members that goes to all the apartment complexes as well as the parks and resorts so everyone can get to work.  In addition, the buses go to local grocery stores and malls so the cast members can purchase necessary items without needing a car or using the public bus system.  The Disney buses are the safest way to travel as the bus stops are inside the secure apartment complexes.  Beyond the everyday bus routes, transportation is provided for some special trips organized by Disney, such a trip to the beach.  The Vista Way apartment complex is also conveniently located with a pharmacy and a few restaurants within walking distance.

Roles & Workplace

Students should think carefully about the positives and negatives of each role.  There is a comprehensive list of the duties that fall under each role in the information provided by the Walt Disney World Resort.  FSU encourages each student to visualize performing each and every task under a role before selecting it.  The most common roles are quick service food and beverage, full service food and beverage, merchandise, attractions, and operations.  Students offered these roles can expect to change roles after three months, and by so doing, experiencing two different work environments and learning a new set of skills. Students who are offered a role in hospitality, concierge, bell services (dispatch), or character and character attendant will have the opportunity to learn about their role over the full six-month internship.   The role a student is given will be decided by the Walt Disney World Resort, not FSU.  Students will find out which role they have been chosen for in their offer letter from Walt Disney World Resort.  The student can then accept or deny the offer.  There is also a small chance that students may change their role after working for at least three weeks, but this is not guaranteed or recommended.

               

Students may be placed in a variety of locations, including any of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks or resorts.  Each location will vary slightly, but all should have a coordinator and manager.  The coordinator and manager can help students with work related issues, such as scheduling or upset guests.  In addition to these cast members, each work location will have some full-time workers as well as other college program members (CPs) and international college program members (ICPs).  Each location provides a multicultural work environment where there is much that can be learned.