Guest Relations Numbers

One of the most popular Alumni Only Professional Internships is the Guest Relations Internship. For Alumni Only you have to have done a CP or PI to be eligible to apply (or currently doing one). Guest relations cast members are very highly regarded in the parks and is perhaps the most coveted front line position. Since this is an internship with such high interest and acceptance should be rolling out in a matter of weeks/days, I decided to look up how many current Guest Relations PIs there are. Note that this is one of those internships that is very likely to vary the numbers by semester. For example, I have heard that while My Disney Experience with the new FP+ system  and magic bands rolled out a lot more interns were accepted than normal to help with what was anticipated to be an extra crazy time in the parks. 

Right now there are currently a total of 32 Guest Relations Professional Interns and here is how they break down by park:
15 Magic Kingdom
7 EPCOT
2 Animal Kingdom
4 Hollywood Studios
4 Disney Springs

It seems to change each semester when Guest Relations PIs find out which park they are in. I remember a semester when the recruiter used to tell you when they were giving the offer. There have also been semesters where your future leaders will reach out a few weeks after your acceptance (similar to how MIs find their placement). I think there have been a few different scenarios as well so who knows how this semester/future semesters will play out. I guess we will all just have to wait a little longer to see! Good luck to all who have applied!

Here is a link if you want to see a similar post about MIs: Management Internship Numbers

Reminiscing about the DAK Wilderness

I've been missing my park home lately, so I visited DAK not once, but twice last weekend to see my old home. I love my new job, but since Animal Kingdom is where I began my Disney journey I will always have a BIG soft spot towards it. I hadn't been the Animal Kingdom in a while and hadn't visited any of my old locations since the Spring. So I decided to use the afternoon on Saturday to earn a few badges before meeting an old presenter friend in the evening. Despite being at the park for a few hours on Saturday and a little on Sunday, I actually didn't do many of the parks attractions. That's because I always run into people I knew working there or get into good conversations with new cast. I loved being able to spend time watching the animals, meeting a few trails CPs, catching up with a DVC friend, and talking with the current Conservation Education Presenter Group. It made me miss my time there some and I wish I was able to pick up a shift once in a while to relive my days as a Wilderness Explorer Troop Leader.

I remember when I was first learning about the Presenter internship I came across this video and I came across it again last week so in the spirit of reminiscing, I figured I would share it with you. With the start of the Wilderness Explorer program, the costume and role for the Presenters has changed, but overall responsibilities she talks about have remained the same. Enjoy!

Disney Professional Internship Presenter Video

Twitter Recruiter Q&A Fall 2014

I have done a series of posts about the Twitter Q&As that the Dinsey Profesional Intern Recruiters have put on the last few semesters. Here are the questions that I have found that the recruiters answered during the Fall 2014 season. These are the questions the recruiters answered during the session, which is not all that were asked. I will do a separate post answering the questions that went unanswered. 

Main Questions Answered During Q&A Session
Note: The further back I go in twitter, the harder it has been to find all the questions and answers that were apart of the session. The numbering is what was included in the Questions and Answers on twitter unless otherwise noted.
Q1: Some engineering PIs are listed "Internship/Co-op" Is it possible to apply specifically for a rotating co-op?

A1. You are eligible to participate on Disney internships more than one semester – you would need to apply each time

Q2: Is there any flexibility with the GPA requirements for the internships? Will a university's academic rigor be taken into account?

A2. The GPA requirement, like all eligibility requirements, is a strict requirement and must be met as is.

Question Not Listed (probably: how many internships is suggested that we should we apply for? or I heard we should only apply for 3, is this the max?)

A3. There is not a suggested maximum, but we ask that you show focus by applying to internships within your field of study

Question Not Listed (probably: Do I have to have done a CP to do a PI?)

A4. Many internships do not require that you have worked for the Company before, so highlight your relevant experience on your resume

Question Not Listed (probably: I graduated in ___, can I do an internship?)

A5. We ask that you are currently enrolled in a college/university, or graduated within 6 months of the start date of this internship

Question Not Listed (probably: I'm from ___, can I do an internship?)

A6. Applicants must possess work authorization to work in the US

Question Not Listed (probably: How do I apply to Alumni Only roles. I can't find their applications?)

A7. You can apply to the Alumni Only Roles with one application, then choose specific roles on the role checklist

Question Not Listed (probably: Is it required to have previous Disney experience?)

A8.While it's preferred to have Disney experience, it's only a requirement for some positions and will state so on the job description

Q9: Can you please tell me the timing of your selection process?

A9. Timeline will vary role to role, stay tuned to your dashboard for updates

Q10: What does “In Progress” mean?

A10. Your application is currently under review by the recruitment team, and you are in consideration for the role

Other Questions Answered

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

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

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 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

Does having previous experience as a @DisneyCPInterns help when trying to apply for a @DisneyInterns?

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

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

Top 3 tips for a phone screen?

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

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

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

No Question Listed (Probably what is the average number of interviews?)

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

Unanswered Questions from the Spring 2015 Twitter Q&A

Unanswered Questions

The following are questions that were asked, but not answered by the recruiters, during the Spring 2015 Twitter Q&A session. I took a go at answering them so people could get their answers. :) I broke them up into categories of similar questions to make it a little easier to look at. 

Eligibility

Are there any available for UK residents?

If i'm not from the USA could I apply for your intern program?

PI's generally require you to be eligible to work in the US and have unrestricted work access. I don't think that Disney really sponsors people to get work access so if you don't already have a visa I think it would be hard to get a PI. There are cultural representative programs open to international students and you could always email the recruiting team to double check and see if you could do a PI.

Is there a certain age group Disney tries to keep to when choosing an intern?

Definitely not! It is actually illegal to make hiring decisions based on age and I've seen interns be a WIDE variety of ages. As long as you have the experience and the qualities that recruiters/hiring managers are looking for you'll be considered!

I graduated last May. Is it possible to apply for an internship still?

Do you accept applicants who have graduated more than 6 months ago if they graduated from an accelerated degree program?

PIs either require you to have graduated within 6 months of applying or 6 months of starting the position depending on the PI. They are pretty strict on the requirements of the PI, so make sure you are eligible before applying. If you have graduated more than 6 months ago you can apply for full or part time positions. If you have the right experience you might just get the position!

Are recent graduates eligible? Is it a paid internship? Do science majors apply?

This question pretty much needs to be answered in three parts:

-Recent grads are eligible and either require you to have graduated within 6 months of applying or 6 months of starting the position depending on the PI, so look at the requirements of the positions you are looking at. 

-All PIs are paid, but the pay does WIDELY vary based on position. 

-There a variety of internships for science majors, everything from chemistry to biotechnology to science education to engineering, etc. It's one of the awesome parts of Disney, they have just about any job you can think of!

Applications

If I already had a phone interview, can I still send in apps for other PIs?

Yes! I did this during my second cycle applying. Not all PIs are posted at the same time, so if you see one you are interested in and qualified for, I say apply! Just realize they will likely use the same phone screen you already did to determine which internships you will be further considered for. Occasionally they will call to ask follow up questions if need be.

Are applications reviewed on a rolling basis or not until the deadline for application passes?

They are viewed on a rolling basis. My first internship I applied on the last day and got the position! For positions that go through recruiting, the recruiter will usually wait to pass on resumes until after the posting has ended. They will likely start doing phone screenings before the posting closes since there are so many applications. For PIs that don't do phone screenings like animal programs they sometimes start interviewing before applications close but are good at pacing out interviews and acceptances based on the number of positions they have.

What are you looking for in a resume? How can I make my resume stand out?

Resumes pass through an electronic scanner to weed out applicants that are not qualified so make sure you use key words from the job postings. Make sure you proof read it and highlight the required and preferred qualifications that you have in your experiences.

What's the number one thing that recruiters are looking for?

Since I'm not a recruiter I don't know for sure, but I would say they want to make sure that applicants fit well with the Disney Values.

Timeline

How long after an application is "In Progress" does it normally take to hear back about progress?

Depends by position. Different departments go at different paces. For many positions, recruiters have to pass along a narrowed list of candidates after a phone screen which can take a while. Then it is up to the department to find the time in their work schedule to interview the candidates and chose who they want which can take a while. Then their picks will get passed along to recruiting to notify the applicants, which can take a while. This is the most general case scenario, but as you can see it can take a while :)

Is there a timeline as to when we will be notified of consideration for a position, or does it vary?

Varies heavily based on position. Just keep an eye on your email and dashboard and try to be patient. In the PI world there is a saying that has been going around for years: No news is good news. Basically saying if you haven't heard you aren't being considered you are still being considered.

Will there be a timeline after the application date is closed for us to know an update?

Generally for Fall internships they try to let everyone know by Thanksgiving (but some usually go past then) and in the Spring they try to let everyone know by the end of April.

How long will it take to get a response?

Varies. It is generally a LONG process. You sometimes can get a phone screening within a couple of days or weeks. Sometimes you won't get a phone screening. Sometimes you might not hear anything until you find out at the end that you are no longer being considered. It really depends on the internship, but as long as you aren't NLIC (no longer in consideration) just try and be patient because they are still considering you. 

For an internship how/when will we be notified if we are still being considered after we've sent in our materials?

You will usually find out within a day if you don't pass the initial resume scanner by getting an email saying that you are no longer in consideration, but beyond that it is a long process that varies heavily based on position.

Experience

How important is previous experience?

Very important! I think experience related to the position is what gets you to the interview with the hiring manager and your personality gets you the rest of the way there. So get related experience and it won't only help for Disney PIs but any other position you ever apply for, Disney related or not.

What is the possibility to get a data analyst intern if I have the skills but no work experience?

Depends on the specific internship. Some don't always require a lot of experience if you have the appropriate skills. However, the rule of thumb is you should meet all of the required qualifications and most of the preferred ones. If you don't meet the qualifications for any internship you want (including data analyst but really any field) then I would recommend trying to figure how to get those experiences that would allow you to meet those qualifications and try again another semester.

Other Questions

Are you allowed to do summer PI and CP in the fall if accepted to both?

Yes! You are allowed to be an intern for up to one continuous year with Disney. This can be any combination of CP, PI, or MI. If you want to do another internship you have to wait 6 months and still be eligible school wise. Most people do the CP than a PI, do a second PI after a PI, or extend their PI, but you are definitely allowed to do any combination you want.

Do Summer internships tend to be more competitive than fall or spring?

I'm not a recruiter so I don't know hard numbers. However, there are far less positions offered only for the summer. Now these are in very specific areas such as engineering, so I'm not sure if the number of applicants is actually any higher per internship since they are generally require very specific background. All PIs are pretty competitive.

What is the most effective way to find summer housing?

The easiest for just a summer term would to do Disney Housing since it would be hard to get a place for only a few months. However, there is a Cast Member Roommate Facebook Finder page you c

Is it possible to wait and see the results of our other PI applications before accepting our first offer received?

Depends. Most of the time I have heard the recruiter asking if they want to continue being considered for their other applications. So basically you accept the offer you were given and wait to see if you have others. I have also heard of times when the recruiter knows you're getting considered for more than one they will wait to hear from both departments and let you chose between them. However, this semester I have heard animal programs is saying that if you accept your position you will no longer be considered for any others, so this could start being seen more in other areas as well.

Is it possible for an applicant to get accepted into the DCP and for a PI? If so, how is it decided where they go?

Yes! This is not uncommon so the recruiters are really good at helping you through this. You will most likely hear back from the DCP first, so you will accept that. You will still be considered for the PIs and if you get one any fees you paid for the CP will be transferred to the PI if you are going to living in Disney PI housing or will be refunded 3 weeks after the start of your PI if you chose to find your own housing. 

Will interns be considered for full time employment once their internship ends?

If I get a job as a PI, will I have the option to transfer to a full-time position with the company once I complete my internship?

Ahhhh, this question again. As I have posted before, this is not really a short answer and definitely deserves its own post. I promise I will eventually get around to making that post.

Disney Ambassadors

The Disney Ambassador program is something that I learned about earlier this year during my time with the Walt Disney Company. It is a wonderful program where 1-2 cast members are chose to represent each of the different resorts around the world. These are truly some of the best of the best of the Disney company and they have the honor of representing the Company and their Resort with different public engagements and cast recognition events for a year term.

The Ambassador program started in Disneyland for their 10th anniversary in 1964 with the first Ambassador Julie Reihm. Walt Disney couldn't make it to every requested appearance during the busyness of the 10th anniversary, the success of the movies, and ProjectX (future Walt Disney World) so he chose Julie, who was a tour guide, to represent him when he wasn't available. Talk about a lot of responsibility to be Walt when he couldn't be there!

While the number of ambassadors for Walt Disney World during a given year has fluctuated from 1-3 individuals since the resort first opened, the current ambassador team represents the nearly 75,000 cast members at Walt Disney World resort. They also represent the cast at Hilton Head, Vero Beach, and the Disney Cruise Line. This is a very big responsibility and those chosen are truly representative of the legacy and ideals that the Walt and the Company hold dear.

The Disney Ambassador symbol.
You can identify a current ambassador if you see them wearing silver pin
with this symbol above their cast member name tag.
image source: http://publicaffairs.disneyland.com/community/ambassador-program/

I am currently taking a series of classes at Disney University and had the lucky opportunity to be in a class with one of the current Ambassadors, Nathaniel Palma. This was my first time meeting an ambassador, and in some ways I was almost a little awestruck. Here was someone that is literally a representative of the entire company, and I was sitting in class with him! I always enjoy reading the articles the ambassadors write during their cast shadows (they get to follow a role around for the day, learn about it, and write an article for the Hub. They even did a shadow of the Wilderness Explorers recently- my old team!) I was able to work with him on a few group projects in the class and ate lunch with him. It was so cool to hear about his adventures thus far in his role and all the cool work he does. He is probably one of the most positive people I have ever met and was truly genuine in thanking everyone for all the hard work they do. It was an honor to met him and I would love to cross paths with him again someday!

If you are a current cast member I encourage you to look up the Disney Ambassador module on the Hub. There are biographies on each of the past Disney Ambassadors and a lot of cool information including the stories that they post about their shadows!

For those who aren't current cast, or even those who are, the Disney Parks Blog has done a lot of cool articles about the Disney Ambassadors over the years. If you want to learn more about this cool position or these awesome people just search for "Disney Ambassador" in the search area. I've also included a few of my favorite articles down below. Enjoy!


Note: Reading these articles I just realized that Steven Miller was a Disney Ambassador in the "where are the ambassadors are now" type articles! You might recognize Steven Miller from the merchandise articles he writes for the Disney Parks Blog! I worked a little with him during my second PI as a Merchandise Planning intern. I literally walked by his office everyday and talked to him a handful of times during my work there about future items for articles and to help answer guest questions that were being asked on the blog. I can't believe that I never realized that he had been an ambassador! That is so cool. I could totally see him as an ambassador. He even had an important job as his ambassadorship was extended after the events of September 2001. It truly is amazing that at such a large company you have these connections!

Here is a cool interview the Disney Parks Blog had with the first ambassador, Julie. First Disneyland Resort Ambassador Comes ‘Home’ for 50th Anniversary of Disney Ambassador Program

Here is the article from when the current group of ambassadors were named last year (including Nathaniel!) First Disney Ambassador Julie Reihm Casaletto Welcomes New Ambassadors

Twitter Recruiter Q&A Spring 2015

I previously wrote a pair of articles about the Fall 2015 Twitter Recruiter Q&A and the answered a few unanswered fall 2015 twitter questions myself. I looked back a little further and found more questions from a Q&A done in the Spring 2015. Below are the recruiter answered questions and I answered the ones that were not answered by the recruiters in another post.


Recruiter Answered Questions

Main Questions Answered During Q&A Session
Q1: How can I apply if I'm a current Disney Store cast member? My Disney Careers portal just redirects me to the original posting.
A1: If you're an active cast member, you can apply for Internships through My Disney Careers. Otherwise, use http://DisneyCareers.com 

Q2: Does the process normally take a bit longer for Internships that require a portfolio? Like the Yellow Shoes Internships?
A2: The process shouldn’t take much longer, you simply need to upload your portfolio and your resume if requested in the posting.

Q3: Do you cater Professional Internships towards foreign students or recent grads?

A3: Read individual postings. Many postings allow for recent grads. All positions require that a candidate has US Work Authorization.

Q4: How can I make my application stand out?

A4: It’s all about your resume! Make sure it is easy to read and highlights your accomplishments that relate to the desired job.

Q5: How soon after submitting an application do you decide whether to give an interview? And how does that process work?
A5: Every area has a slightly different timeline, I recommend checking your dashboard for updates to your individual process.

Q6: I will be graduating in August. Is there any flexibility on start dates for Fall?A6: We do offer Fall only internships beginning in August/September, so be sure to check the job description for the position’s dates

Q7: How important are cover letters when applying to PIs

A7: Cover letters are a great way to showcase who you are and share your story and interest around a certain role

Q8: For accepted applicants for PIs without provided housing, how should they go about finding somewhere to live? 
A8: As this can vary depending on location, please speak with your recruiter about any housing questions at the time of offer

Q9: If you apply to more than one Internship (in a related field), should your cover letter be different for each Internship?
A9: If you are applying for similar types of roles, one cover letter for all of them is fine as it incorporates your overall purpose

Q10: How should I prepare for a phone screen interview?
A10: Read through the job description and be prepared to showcase your skills in relating to the position for the interview

Other Questions Answered by the Recruiters

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

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

What are your chances of getting a PI without having the CP experience?

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

Can I apply to both the Professional Internship Program and the Disney College program at the same time?

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

No Question Listed (Probably sometime like: Is there a limit of positions that you can apply for?)There is not a limit, apply for roles you’re interested in and qualified for, just stay focused in your job search

No Question Listed (Probably sometime like: Is there a list of all the internships offered? or Is such and such internship going to be offered next cycle?)

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

Meeting Disney Characters

One of the great things about getting an internship at Disney is the unlimited park access. This allows tons of time to experience the magic, including meeting Disney characters. There are a LOT of characters guests can meet at Disney from the Fab 5 to the Princesses to other common characters to meet like Pooh to characters you can only meet at parties to seasonal characters to rare characters that you come across just by chance. I don't know an official number or anything but the number exceeds 200. Now if you decide to meet characters you may want to commemorate your experience. Here are some ideas to help you do that.

Pictures The photopass team will take your pictures with the Disney camera, but the photographer or the character attendant is more than happy to take pictures with your personal camera.

Disney Autograph Books Many guests also get autograph books. A cheap way to get these is if you go to the damages shop now called Mickey's Treasures at Cast Connection. When merchandise is damaged it goes to this store where cast members can buy it for 75% off, including all types of autograph books. I got one of the Princess autograph books with pages to put pictures and a bunch of blank pages of all of the non-princesses to sign. The the only thing wrong with the book was the plastic covering was a little torn! This is what I began my character journey with. 

Homemade Autograph Books When I worked in the park I saw a lot of guests make their own autograph books. This is a cool way to go if you want to get creative. These are nice because you can make them as big as you want because if you are at Disney for 6+ months you might run out of space in one you buy through Disney. Just search Disney Autograph books on Pinterest and you will get a ton of cool ideas to inspire you!

Picture Frame Mats A current trend I have seen in the parks is to bring a plain picture frame mat for the characters to sign. Then you can put your favorite character picture in a frame to display your autographs for all to see!

Blank Canvas I really liked the picture frames the guests were bringing but I don't really use frames much and thought the space taken up by a picture could be put to another use. Therefore, I modified the picture frame mat concept and bought the flat canvases at Michaels, painted a design on them and brought them to the parks for the characters to sign. I made a few smaller ones for gifts for my picture and started a larger one for me. I still haven't given those ones to my sister yet and mine still has a little work to go, so I'll maybe post them at a later date. 

Disney Character Encyclopedia I think this is my new favorite idea. I have seen a handful of guests bring a book with all of the characters in it and have them sign on their page. I googled it and I think it is an inexpensive way that allows you to be prepared for just about any character you might encounter at the parks! Each character has their own page and there is even trivia and whatnot. Unfortunately not EVERY character is in the book, but it definitely covers a majority of the ones you'll encounter. Here is a link to it on Amazon: Disney Character Encyclopedia 

Other items I've seen guests bring everything from pillow cases to  t-shirts to canvas bags for characters to sign, so the possibilities are endless!

Now go see how many characters you can meet!