Update to Intern Park Passes

One of the greatest perks of being an intern with Disney is the free park admission. Can you imagine being able to enjoy the magic whenever you want!?!?! Even after two years with the Company I have to say it doesn't get old. While, I might not go quite as often as I did during my first internship because I wanted to make the most of my unknown amount of time here, I still go quite often. I love being able to just go for a few hours in the evening after the sun goes down in the summer, grab a bit to eat during Food and Wine at EPCOT, enjoy all of the holiday festivities, and more whenever I want. 

As a cast member, you even get to bring guests in to enjoy with you! While I am very fortunate to be statused in a full time position now so my guest passes work differently, interns (College or Professional ones) still get the same unlimited self admission and get some guest passes as well. I made a post last year about the old way that intern guest passes used to work (Old Intern Park Pass Post) but at the beginning of this calendar year Disney shook up the way intern passes work so I figured it was worth doing an update for those who might be itching to know what to expect.

The self admission main entrance pass still works the same, but instead of getting 3x 6 use passes at the beginning of your internship, interns and seasonal cast members now accrue their guest passes based on hours worked.

Need to actually type how the new passes work. I believe that once you have worked 150 hours you will receive three 1 person park hopper tickets. These could all be used on the same day or different days, it's up to you! Then after you work another 150 hours you get three more 1 person park hoppers. Finally you will recieve 3 more after the 450th hour worked. I believe at that point you will stop accruing so during your internship you will likely get nine 1 person park hoppers. 

If you were to let in the max of 3 people each time you used the old version then technically you got more under the old way (max 18 across 6 days) and could do so from the day you got your main enterence pass was nice. However, the felxibility of when you can use the new passes is nice too! Why did this change happen? Perhaps Disney was trying to avoid people starting a CP/PI using the perks and then quitting and/or trading away shifts as a CP but maintaining their own entrance to the parks. Who knows the exact reason this changed but I haven't heard many complaints about the new system besides when it was first announced, so I assume it has been going well. But let's be honest: who can complain about getting in free to Disney and having the opportunity to intern at such a great company!!!!

2015 Twitter Q&A: Additional Questions and their Answers

So I previously included a link to a Professional Question and Answer session recruiters held on Twitter. (see post here: Disney Professional Interns Twitter Q&A) While looking around twitter I noticed that not all the twitter answers were included in the link that Disney provided from their Twitter Q&A session. 

It looks like there were additional questions asked and answered so I figured I would compile the other questions answered by Disney Recruiters here. I have grouped them into related questions. In addition, a couple of the answers from the Disney recruiters (@WayneH1991 and @JulianaDisneyPI) didn't have corresponding questions, so I've included their answers, but the question is missing so in some cases I've made an educated guess at what the question might have been. Enjoy!

Applying for internships (eg when to apply)

Q: When will summer opportunities be available to view & apply for?

A: Posting timelines will vary so we recommend checking the website regularly for summer opportunities.

How many internships can we apply to?

There is not a limit, apply for roles you’re interested in and qualified for, just stay focused in your job search

Do you happen to know if there will be any ESPN/ABC News internships for rising college seniors for summer?

We anticipate internships in both those areas next summer, and will post them on our website later this Fall

Most of your summer production internships are for undergrads. Will there be great opportunities for grads next year?

Every summer, we offer exciting internship opportunities. Please visit http://www.disneyinterns.com  this Spring to learn more

I'm in my senior year graduating with degree in computer animation. When can I apply?

Students typically apply one semester prior to participation. Eligibility includes students and recent grads.

Can you apply for a PI your sophomore year in college, or should you wait until closer to senior year?

Be sure to review the qualifications in the posting. Some require specific academic levels, but not all do.

If I attend a school that is on the quarter system, can the internship schedule be different than what is on the job description?

Our internships are compatible with academic calendars for quarter schools. Specific dates are given at offer.

When are the ESPN internship opportunities for Spring or Summer 2015 in Bristol, Connecticut posted?

Spring Positions will be posted this weekend, and Summer positions will be posted just after the new year

Do you have the same PI job positions for both the spring and fall?

Internship opportunities may vary each season, so please visit http://www.disneyinterns.com  for all current openings

Is applying for a professional internship a better idea at the beginning or nearing the end of a persons college education

Most PI's are looking for a minimum of Junior level status, so see the job descriptions for more details

How can I still apply for an opportunity with Disney if I've passed the graduation max requirement?

hose who graduated over 6 months ago are not eligible for internships so check out http://DisneyCareers.com  for jobs

College Program

Can you apply for a CP and a PI at the same time? If you get accepted to both can you do the PI instead?

Of course! If you receive multiple offers we will work with you to determine the best role for you.

Is it possible to get a PI without first having completed DCP? Or do they have first priority?

While there are some Parks roles that do require the CP, there are also many that do not across the Company

Does having previous experience as a College Program Intern help when trying to apply for a Disney Professional Internship?

CP experience is a great way to learn our Culture, network with leaders, and prepare for the next step in your Career

No Question (probably something like, can you apply for both a CP and PI)

You can apply for both the CP and PI, and if offered both would make your selection at the time of offer

I'm graduating this semester, hopefully doing the college program in the spring, can I apply after that internship?

You are able to complete two internships back to back if selected

Cover Letters/Resumes

Q: Is it better to write a general cover letter if you plan to apply to multiple positions or write specific letters for each?

A: Be sure the position requires a cover letter. If so and the positions are very similar, one cover letter is fine.

What is your FAVORITE thing to see in a cover letter?

Be sure that a cover letter is required. If so, highlight your passion for Disney and your qualifications.

If you have different resumes on your profile, can you choose which one is attached to each application?

Yes, you can customize each resume for each application, or use one resume for all applications

Interviews

Q: If we apply for both Alumni Only & Alumni Only Events positions, do we still get one screening for all positions?

A: Only one phone screen is needed. Some positions may then require additional steps such as another interview.

Top 3 tips for a phone screen?

Have confidence, share relevant experience to the role, and be professional throughout the interview

Do interviewers work around your schedule for phone interviews?

If selected for an interview, you and your interviewer will work together to select the best time for both parties

No Question Listed (Probably something like: what are the number of interview for each position?)

The number of interviews will depend on the role, anywhere from 1 - 3 interviews on average per position.

Time Frame/Dashboard

Q: I applied for a position after interviewing for another. The status bar moved to "In Progress". Am I being considered?

A: In progress shows that your application is under review by the recruitment team, and you are in consideration

After submitting the application, what's the usual time frame to hear back for a further step with the application?

Typically, our Spring decisions will be made by late November/early December

Under my application status I see an eight step procress chart. As an applicant, what are those steps?

imelines can vary depending on the position, and range from application submission through final selection

How long are the Internships, in the Spring? Is it based on Semester or quarter system? Thanks :)

Internship lengths can vary between 4 and 7 months on average

I applied thru the Disney Hub , but I left recently , will I be able to still check the status of the app

You should still be able to view your dashboard by signing in through the external site, http://DisneyInterns.com   

Other Questions

What is the number one thing an applicant can do to stand out?

Be sure to review the qualifications for the internships for which you have applied and know why you meet them. 

Besides experience in their field, what are some things students gain from an internship at Disney

Learning from industry experts and networking with leaders from across the Company are two unique components

What are some of the classes given during the program ?

Classes are not offered as part of Disney Professional Internships.

Is is appropriate to add recruiters on LinkedIn?

Not all Recruiters will accept all Linked In requests but be sure to include an intro when requesting.

Who do I contact about an internship in Archives and corporate record keeping!

For questions about any of our internships, you can contact wdpr.professional.interns@disney.com

Generally how any applicants are there per program

We do not have a specific number, and welcome as many qualified applicants that choose to apply

Can experience hurt you? For example, work in theme parks for an extended period of time

Previous experience is a great way to showcase your knowledge of the field by telling us your story

Hello, My Name is Sandy and I am from Vernon, CT

First off, I promise I will go and post about the last week and a half, but I figured I would at least try to post consistently now to not get tooooo far behind. So I'll start off from yesterday (the day off that I pretty much did nothing but watch Ghostbusters 1 and 2 on TV, uploaded photos to my laptop/Facebook, and didn't get out of my PJs until around 6pm).

Sunday Night (HS)

Last night we went to Hollywood Studios, but not as many people showed up as we wanted, but a good group of people came, including some of the Seas interns, which was fun since we don't get to see them that often anymore. Some of us went on a quick ride of Tower of Terror as we waited for Allie to show up and the wait was really short. We were going to head over to do single rider Rockin' RollerCoaster, but Allie said she was entering the park so we went to wait for her and a group of the Seas interns that said they only wanted to ride Tower once so had skipped the first time. This allowed us some time to shop around the store. Amber went and got the picture from the day before (Saturday) when a bunch of us had been on the ride and I got 2 ToT pressed quarters! When everyone met up we went on ToT and we were on a car with a bunch of first timers and there was so much screaming on that ride. Then we went and rode Rockin' and pretty much walked on in the regular standby line so we all got to ride together. A bunch of people left at this point, but Amber wanted to ride Star Tours to see how it was with a different scenario and Allie had never been on it (we barely made it on the last ride of the night. this was my 3rd time riding and it was a bit of a mix of the other 2 times I went on it). Then we headed home to get a good nights sleep (but apparently Allie got in an accident on her way home. eek!)

Monday

So today on the way to work I realized I forgot my name tag. Therefore, I got one of the extra presenter ones. One of my leaders, Josh, asked if I wanted to be from California or Connecticut and I didn't have too much of a preference, so he handed me Sandy from Vernon, CT. So all day we were joking around about me being Sandy. I confused Matt (the current Core Team intern) and Critter decided he was going to call me Sandy for the next 6 months. 

We started off with some info on the animal positions that we staff and then we headed out for a scavenger hunt to familiarize ourselves with the park (eg. nearest bathroom, smoking locations, break rooms, badge locations, animals, etc.). My group was one of the only ones to get done, pretty much since Tara had worked custodial at DAK before on a CP so she knew her way around. Afterward, we met at our trailer and split into our 3 tour groups again to tour our animal locations. We lost our leader Bethany today to another group, but got Matt. It was nice to get a different person's point of view and he even did a couple sample presentations. We got super sweaty and then broke for lunch.

After lunch we went back to the classroom and went over different emergency situations, met with a primate keeper (who was awesome!), did some practice conversations, and played a jeopardy review game for our assessment. Talking with the Primate Keeper made me think of how cool it would be to work with the SSP (Species Survival Plan) and make breeding recommendations based on a data and whatnot!

After work Allie, Amber, and I headed home. We chilled most of the night. Lexi, Dana and I watched some TV together and I made reservations for my family to visit next month (which ended up being a big mess). Tomorrow we have our assessment in the morning and were told to dress in "guest clothes" to go and do some stuff out in the park. Some of us have been guessing what we are doing (riding rides, earning non-Troop Leader badges, etc), but I am excited for tomorrow!

Arrived!

So today has been super stressful. It was all good until we got around Disney. We ended up deciding to drive by the apartments the PIs live in. They are super nice, but we decided to get an idea how far they are from Animal Kingdom, and while we took a wrong turn or two, it seemed to take FOREVER! I am really wishing that the non-Disney housing I tried to line up had worked out. We did check to a CP at the gates to Animal Kingdom parking and she was super nice and helped us get re-directed and asked if I was starting a CP, too. Then we checked into my hotel. It is really nice and I am glad I stayed here over the Holiday Inn that a lot of people recommended since I saved $20. After checking out my room, we decided to find where I needed to go tomorrow, so it won't be as stressful. I luckily am pretty close to Vista (housing check-in) and Casting. Afterwards, we drove around property a bit more before heading toward Kissimmee. 

Tigger at breakfast at the Days Inn hotel (he is confused since it says that the Tiggers at Kansas City was postponed, when the Tiggers actually played the White Sox....)

I plan on it!

Since we had time before my dad had to go to the airport, we stopped to get my oil changed since I was due for it. It was looking good, until we got on the toll road and the check engine light came on. My dad got out and looked at the oil and it looked good. We were going to try and head back to where I got my oil changed, but didn't have time. So I dropped my dad off at the airport and headed back. Unfortunately, a big monsoon hit and I could barely see in front of me. Then my brakes started acting funny. I luckily somehow made it back to the oil change place right before they closed. They ran a diagnostic on it and said it should be safe to drive but I will need to get it checked out. After more stressful, rain filled driving, I finally made it back to the hotel and just didn't want to deal with the rain and decided to just make dinner out of the food in my car (potato chips, cookies, and muffins, ftw!). 

We made it to Flordia!

I spent a chunk of the night super stressed trying to find a car place and all the Chevy dealerships are further away than I would like. My mom found a mechanic closer to my apartment that has good reviews so I might try to call there or the Chevy dealerships tomorrow to figure out where I will take my car. Hopefully they can figure out what is wrong on my two days off before training on Saturday! After a shower and listening to music I am much calmer, but still a little anxious with having to deal with so much in a new state when I already have everything else (casting, moving in, grocery shopping, etc) going on. Despite today, I am super excited for tomorrow!

The hotel pool

Some birds by the oil change place

Made it to Disney!!!

Our hotel for the night. Tigger gets one bed and I get the other

My future workplace!!!

My apartment complex 

Screening Interview

One thing that is pretty common across Professional Internships is a screening interview. However, since I only applied to Science Positions (Animals, Science and Environment and EPCOT Agricultural Science) I did not have to undergo a screening interview. As far as I know, pretty much everyone besides people only applying to Animal Programs or Agriculture internships undergo the screening interview. I think that pretty much everyone that isn't automatically NLIC gets a screening interview.

From my understanding it is a lot like the College Program Interviews. They ask things like why are you applying to do a Professional Internship, make sure you are eligible, which are your top choices, your experience, and various other situational and position specific questions. If you are applying to Management Internships they will ask you leadership type questions, as well. Like I said, since I didn't do one of these interviews, I am not the direct source of this information, but this is what I have come across on other blogs and Facebook. I might apply for some other non-Animal Programs internships for next spring and if I do I will have to have a screening interview for that.