DCP Application Tips Part 1: Online Application

 

During high school,  it always took me a lot longer to finish my homework than it should have. That’s because I would constantly go down rabbit holes of the internet, Googling any random question that popped into my mind or reading Wikipedia article after Wikipedia article. Often, I would research Disney history. I became fascinated by old Disneyland. I would spend hours on my bedroom floor, listening to Pandora and reading trivia listicles. One day, a link about the Disney College Program popped up during one of my searches. Down the rabbit hole I went. 

I kept the DCP in the back of my mind throughout high school. I figured I would do the program my junior or senior year of college, when most students do an abroad program or internship. Miraculously, I ended up getting accepted on my first try as a freshman.

So if you clicked on this article, you’re probably in the same position I was a few years back - researching everything you can to ensure your chances of acceptance for the DCP.  The Disney College Program is one of the best experiences of my life.  I’m hoping I can offer up my advice so others can go on the same wondrous journey I did. 

Who can apply? 

The Disney College Program is open to any currently enrolled college students who are at least 18 years old. However, it is said that the DCP values seniority. It is rumored that someone in their last year of college will have better chances at being accepted than a freshman. I applied my second semester during my freshman year of college. However, since I took so many dual-enrollment and AP classes during high school, my college considered me a first-semester sophomore!So, I put on my application that I was a sophomore, not a freshman. I do believe that this might have helped my chances. A few of my fellow DCP’s had applied a few times and did not get accepted until their junior year of college without changing much on their application. I believe in these instances, it might have just been Disney favoring seniority. 

That being said, you only have so many chances to apply as most college careers only last 4 years. If you want to apply as a freshman, go for it! Just know that if you do not get accepted, it might just be because you are a freshman. 

Where is the program?

The Disney College Program is offered both at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. At the time of applying, I would have rather have gone to Disneyland. However, Walt Disney World has a lot more roles available and accepts more people into their program. I decided to apply to Walt Disney World to ensure better chances of acceptance. 

When is the program?

Before applying, you have to. decide which semester you want to do the program for. You can do the program for either the spring semester or the fall semester. Moving from a place with snow to Orlando during the winter is a nice transition and allows you time to get acclimated to the Florida weather. Plus, the spring has the Flower and Garden festival. The fall semester has Halloween and Christmas celebrations. Some people may not want to spend the holidays away from home, but Cast Members do get discounted  tickets for the Not So Scary Halloween Party and Very Merry Christmas Party.

I originally wanted to do a spring program. Like I said, it’s really difficult to get into the DCP. I decided to do a “test run” and apply for the upcoming fall semester with the assumption that I would not be accepted my first try. I ended up getting accepted for that fall and took the opportunity anyways. 

Then there’s “advantage”. For example, you can do a fall semester program or you can do a fall advantage program. The “advantage” basically tacks on the summer months to your program. 

Spring: January-May

Spring Advantage: January-August

Fall Advantage: June-December

Fall: September-December

I didn’t think twice about doing an advantage program. I wanted as much time as I could get. As I was Fall Advantage, I got the privilege of working with the spring advantage-ers who were pros by the time I came in, and they helped me out. Then, when the regular Fall program people started coming in September, I got to help train them because I had already been there for 3 months. 

Resume

The first part of the application is essentially submitting a resume.  Before filing out the application, take some time to put together a resume. Most colleges have a career or writing center where you can have someone else help edit your resume. I had to do a resume as a class assignment my first semester and my professor had a lot of great tips. I did not submit a file copy of my resume on the application. Rather, I had to type everything out in the template Disney provided. I kept a copy of my resume nearby when filling it out online. 

As a college student, you may not have much work experience. However, you don’t have to have worked at a job for 10 years to have work experience. My advice is to put down EVERYTHING you can. Volunteered at a food bank stuffing cans into cardboard boxes? That’s organization skills. Write it down in your resume. Captain of a high school sport team? That’s leadership. Write it down. Worked at a job where you answered phone calls all day long? That’s communication skills. Did makeup for the winter musical? Tutored classmates? Sold clothes on Poshmark or Depop? Babysat? Write is down! Any little experience you’ve had, you can find a way to tie it into a Disney quality. For example, I did color guard in high school. My school hosted a major drumline and winter guard competition every year. Everyone on the team had a job to do during the competition to help out. My job was to lead teams to the warm-up stations. I was able to tie this into how Cast Members direct large groups throughout the parks. One time I was leading a team to warm-up and a girl injured herself and needed a band-aid. I was able to quickly find one from my own team’s supplies and give it to the girl before she had to compete. I used this as an example of quick problem-solving.  

Choosing Roles

As exciting as getting accepted is, it can be frustrating if you get accepted but for a role you do not want. You do get some say in which roles you would like to have during the online application. There is sort of a ranking system. There’s conflicting advice on this ranking system. Some say not to select only or two roles as that narrows your chances of being accepted. Some advise not to say you have interest in every single role as that is not honest. 

At the time of my application, there was a rumor going around that custodian roles were the most offered. I HATE cleaning and did not want a custodian role, so I ranked it very low. Any role that you mark that you have interest is in something that might be brought back up again in your phone interview. I marked that I was interested in a life guard role. I don’t life guard. I have no experience being a life guard. I’m a fair swimmer at best. I put down that I had interest in being a life guard because I heard they get paid the most. I was asked about life guarding during my phone interview.

My advice is to research the different types of roles prior to applying. Think about the ones you want the most and see how your prior work experience can transfer over to your desired role.

Below is an example of what I submitted for my application. I have edited out some specifics to keep a little anonymity.  The role I wanted the most was at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, so I frequently mentioned my experience with hair and makeup, and working with children. 

Disney College Program Application

Seasonal at Farm Park

• 6 years Day Camp Counselor experience (teaching, supervising and organizing activities for kids ages 4-12)
• Cash Register (pumpkin patch, ticket booth and retail shop)
• Retail Shop (operating cash register, answering phone calls and addressing customer questions and Concerns, using advanced computer system, booking reservations)
• Ticket taking (interacting with kids on bouncy house and slide and other attractions)
• Organize visit from 1,000 Japanese students each year
• Artist (painting decorations for holiday festivals held at park)
• Advertising (creating displays and brochures advertising attractions)
• Cleaning
• Gardening

Color Guard Member

• 5 years of teamwork experience
• One year of team leader experience
• 5 years of styling others’ hair and makeup
• Organizing costumes/uniforms, checking out costumes/uniforms
• Organizing equipment
• performing various characters in a variety of different shows

Dance

• 5 years of styling children’s hair and makeup for performance
• performing as a character in productions

Theater

• 10 years of play/acting experience
• hair and makeup styling for younger kids

Volunteer Writing Tutor

• interacted with other high school students

Volunteer Team Escort at Competition

• interacting with teenagers and adult instructors
• giving directions/escorting teams to destination
• answering questions and addressing concerns
• sticking to a very strict schedule
• organizing teams and equipment

Volunteer Judge Runner at Competition

• Retrieving necessary materials (score sheets, recorders)
• Addressing concerns of judges and scorekeepers
• sticking to a very strict schedule

Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House

• 2 years experience
• preparing and cooking food
• setting tables
• interacting with residents

Hobbies

• volunteering
• writing
• dancing

Education

• Graduated high school 2014 in top 15% of class of over 400 students
• Honors College Program at MSU
• Majoring in Psychology and English with an emphasis on Creative Writing
• Aspire to become a child psychologist and fiction author

Skills

• Communicate with all ages (young kids, older kids, teenagers, and adults)
• Hair and makeup styling
• Performing a variety of different characters or moods
• Comfortable in front of large crowds