This past month I have become a DCP alumni. I was accepted into the Disney Alumni Association after spending February through August 2015 working at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida as a DCP.
Photo by Disney Cast member
At Disney employees are referred to as cast members. If you are not a Disney cast member the three letters paired together DCP, may not sound like a real abbreviation. This particular abbreviation stands for Disney College Program. DCP is used as a way to talk about the college students or the Program itself in an easier more understandable lingo. For example in my quote below:
I truly miss the experiences I had as a DCP. My DCP was filled with friendship, love, hard work, learning how to overcome challenges, and most of all Magic. -Madison Cole
I hope that my feedback serves as an inspiration to others to apply to be a DCP. Being a DCP was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The Disney College Program is for Disney lovers to get a taste of the Disney life. This includes a unique learning, living, and working experience.
College students of all ages apply to work in the Disney parks and then wait a couple months to hear of their acceptance. This internship is usually that individual’s dream. Once accepted into the program the college student moves to Orlando, Florida to work at the Walt Disney World Resort, or Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
The one thing I truly love about working at Disney is the Magic. I know it sounds cliche but it’s true. Working for Disney allows us, the employees, to make a difference in our everyday lives – Machelle Tufte
Photo by Walt Disney World Photopass Photographer
The Disney College Program provides a firsthand park work atmosphere for the college students. Students come from all over the country and some all over the world to work at the parks. During my DCP I met people from nearly every state along with other countries. The local businesses in Orlando easily spotted a DCP, due to the many different accents and styles of dressing when hanging out with friends after hours or on days off.
The average DCP works 30-40 hours a week. These jobs include attractions, merchandise, photo-pass, food and beverage along with many more. The main job of every Disney cast member though, is to create happiness. Disney cast members enforce this value in everything they do.
Photo by Dawn Martin
When not working, students enjoy playing in the parks together due to their perk of free admission. These experiences lead DCPs to bond with each other in a very unique way. These relationships change your life and have an effect even after you are no longer working at Disney. I look back on the many friendships I made and have been changed by the amazing hardworking people that I met.
All the friends I made also worked for Disney, so we all spoke the same language, did the disney point, and had similar interests. We never ran out of things to talk about. -Aaron Adrian
Photo by Disney Photopass Photographer
Disney is an amazing company to work for and I am proud to have been a Disney cast member. I never failed to be impressed by the Walt Disney Company and everything that they were doing within the company. As a Disney cast member you have the exclusive advantage of learning all the inside secrets and plans for the future attractions or events at the Disney Parks. Epcot is building a Frozen Attraction, Hollywood Studios is building a Cars Land, and Animal Kingdom is creating a river light night show. The Walt Disney Company is constantly growing and wants the cast members to keep spreading the Disney legacy.
If after reading this blog, you are still questioning participation in the Disney College Program, then take Rachel’s word for it, in her blog, 10 Reasons to do the Disney College Program . She highlights her own experiences and what made Disney an eye opening time in life for her. Her blog includes information about, Disney cast member perks, life in Orlando, trips in Florida, College Program advantages, Networking opportunities, differences in coworkers, and educational fun.
Disney is more than just a place of magic for me. Disney became my home. I built many relationships and my fellow cast members became my family. The experiences I had will be held deep in my heart long after my program ended. I am an official Disney College Program alumni. I encourage you to apply and experience the Magic of Disney today!
Photo by Madison Cole
Motivation by Miss Maddie 