All students need to meet with Associate Director Kelsey Thompson prior to submitting an application to the Disney College Program.
The Disney College Program is BACK!
According to DCP representatives, they "are ready to welcome back students and are excited to announce the relaunch of the Disney College Program. We are inviting participants whose program ended early or was suspended to reapply and join us."
The safety of cast members and visitors is the number one priority at DisneyWorld. "We want you to know that we're relaunching the program in a thoughtful and responsible way, with the safety of our participants and our working cast always at the forefront of our planning, particularly as we consider a new approach to housing at the new, state-of-the-art Flamingo Crossings Village complex. Those who return to a program will be the first participants to call this beautiful new community home."
The Disney College Program offers a one-of-a-kind, Disney-designed experience that provides you with the tools, education, and opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. Please visit the Disney College Program website for additional information on this magical opportunity. (Please note for most IUP students, participating in the Disney College Program is not considered an internship.*)
How to apply
- Visit Disney College Program to learn more about this unique program
Please Note: If you are accepted into the Disney College Program, you must schedule a meeting with the Career and Professional Development Center. Please email career-development@iup.edu or call 724-357-2235.
Additional Details
Spring semester applications are generally accepted in September of the previous year, and fall semester applications are accepted in March. The Disney College Program website will indicate when the application period is open.
Students, after acceptance, may embark on a semester-long experience in which they will be employed in an entry-level position at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, or the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
*Please Note: For the majority of IUP students participating in the DCP, their time at Disney is not considered an internship. IUP student participants can take distance education courses through IUP while at Disney. Please keep in mind, though, that participating in the DCP usually involves 40+ work hours each week.
"Participating in the Disney College Program was an absolutely amazing experience! Arriving in Florida, knowing no one except some family in the area, moving in with complete strangers, developing a professional connection, going through the Disney Training Program, and beginning to work for a huge company was a life-changing experience. I gained communication skills, personal interaction skills, professional networking skills, and was forced to become much more independent simply by participating in the Disney College Program.
"I worked at the All Star Resort in the gift shops there. The All Star Resort has three check-in locations—Music, Movies, and Sports, each with a gift shop. It is a very large property with a huge amount of guest traffic. I learned how to give outstanding service as quickly as possible without guests feeling as though I was rushing them, which is part of what makes Disney so successful."
Ben Cavallaro, IUP alumnus and DCP participant