The Application Process || Initial Application

It's a crazy and incredible feeling to apply to the Walt Disney Company. I have stared at that "Apply Now" button for years, and on February 6, 2014, I finally got to click it.

The Initial Application is always released the semester before your program would begin, typically around late January or early February (for the Fall programs) and late August or early September (for the Spring programs).

The job posting for the Disney College Program.

The Initial Application went live that Thursday, February 6th, at 12:22 PM to be exact. I had already told myself that I wasn't going to apply the second that they dropped, just to make sure there were no technical issues. I had class from 2:00 - 3:00 that afternoon, and it was the longest hour of lecture in my life! After class, I turned on my Disney playlist and headed to the study lounge in one of the communication buildings to fill out my application.

The Initial Application has pages of basic information to fill out, as well as your university information. The application also includes a section where you get to include all of your previous work, internship, and/or volunteer experience. It is not required to have any experience in order to be accepted, but it definitely helps!

The final portion of this application is where you get to indicate your interest in the different roles offered on the Disney College Program. The DCP roles available at WDW are Vacation Planner, Attractions, Quick Service Food and Beverage, Full Service Food and Beverage, Costuming, Merchandise, Character Performer, Character Attendant, Lifeguard, Transportation, Concierge, Recreation, Custodial, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirate's Leauge, Main Entrance Operations, Bell Services, Housekeeping, Photopass Photographer, Hospitality, and Hopper.

For each role, you are able to indicate your level of interest from high, moderate, low, and no interest. The important thing to remember is that you can be considered for any role in which you indicate some level of interest. The only way you are guaranteed to not get a certain role is by selecting no interest.  

The entire Initial Application took me a little over an hour to complete, between filling everything out and proofreading multiple times! After taking a deep breath, I submitted my Initial Application. From there, you wait to receive an invitation to take the Web-Based Interview.

The famous "thank you" email that I recieved after submitting my Initial Application!

To learn about my experience with the Web-Based Interview, click here.