If you follow me on Twitter, you might have seen that I got into the Disney College Program! I was offered a position at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida through the Disney College Program! Unfortunately, I won’t be able to take the internship as it creates more complications for me back at home, but I still want to help others score this opportunity of a lifetime!

Let me quickly explain the program for anybody who is unfamiliar.

“As a Disney College Program participant, you’ll become part of the magic that is known worldwide. Gain valuable, on-the-job experience working in our parks and resorts, participate in college coursework, and have the opportunity to meet and live with people from all over the country and potentially the world in company-sponsored housing. This truly unique five- to seven-month program allows participants to network with leaders, take part in personal and career development classes, and build transferable skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, guest service and effective communication.” – jobs.disneycareers.com

 

What was the application process like?

The process only took around a month. I submitted my online application August 31. It took about 20 minutes to fill out all the information necessary. I got an email a couple weeks later informing me that recruiters would be looking over my application to determine if I was qualified to complete the web-based interview.

That same day, I got an email telling me I could take the web-based interview within three days of receiving the email. Being the eager beaver I was, I immediately took the interview. This took roughly 30 minutes, but I was rushing. It asked a lot about my preferences and how strongly I agreed/disagreed with things. After completing the interview, I got another email saying that I could schedule my phone interview. Again, there was a time limit of three days to schedule my interview.

Within a week, I had completed my phone interview (I’ll go more into depth about the phone interview in a minute). It took around 25 minutes and let me just say- that man was a trooper for putting up with my stuttering nervousness.

Two weeks after my telephone interview, on September 24, I got an email saying I was accepted into the program as a PhotoPass Photographer! I was given seven days to accept my offer or they would cancel my offer and give it to someone else. When I got my email, I was sitting in class trying to focus on our review for an upcoming exam. I immediately ran out of the room crying happy tears to call my family and tell them. It added to the great day I was already having. Maybe even the best day of my life thus far.

 

So… that phone interview?

Ok. I did a lot of research before I went into my phone interview so if you’re here to get answers before your interview, trust me I’ll give you everything you need to know!

FAQs

How do I prepare for my interview?

I can’t tell you the best way to prepare, as I’m not too sure what that is. However, I did the following:

• Google questions the interview might ask.
• Write down how you wanted to answer certain questions.
• Hold mock interviews with friends.
• Watch interviews on Youtube.

What are some of the questions my interviewer might ask me?

I can only tell you questions I was asked, but there’s so many possibilities. The interview is semi-structured so they’ll ask you scripted questions and then base other questions off of your previous answers. The questions I remember being asked were:

• Why Disney? / Why this program?
• What made you interested in your top roles?
• Name a time where you have been treated poorly by a server and what you wish they would have done differently.
• What are you looking forward to most?
• What would you look for in a program applicant?
• How would you handle a coworker not doing their work?
• Are you willing to maintain the Disney Look?
• Are you willing to live with roommates? / Have you ever lived with roommates? / How do you resolve conflicts with roommates?
• How would you tell a visitor he or she is not tall enough to ride a particular ride?
• If a frequent visiting family stays in the same room every visit but the room is unavailable, how would you handle that situation?

How do I show the best version of myself when the interview is not in person?

SMILE! I know they can’t see you, but they can hear when you’re happy! I smiled throughout the entire interview regardless of how self conscious and nervous I was feeling inside. Adding a few cheery laughs here and there definitely didn’t hurt either!

Other Tips

• Don’t lie!
• Get lots of sleep the night before your interview so you’re energetic on the phone!
• Answer the phone professionally!
  • “Hello! This is ____!”
• Ask questions! Show interest!
  • Ask about their journey with Disney or what they look for in an applicant!
• Refer to your interviewer by name!
  • Write it down! They introduce themselves at the beginning of the interview!
• Don’t talk negatively about anything you or anyone else have done!

If you’re looking to apply for your chance to work at a Disney Resort, I wish you the best of luck! If you have any other questions, I’m willing to help out however I can!