Mickey looks for students to work at his World
With jobs that range from pouring sodas to driving monorails, 3,200 students are participating in Disney’s College Program

Story by Jessica Cervantez

After college, there aren’t many opportunities to party with Mickey, dance with Donald or just act Goofy — and actually get paid for it.

The Walt Disney World College Program attracts many college students who want to have both internships and fun. Students can be interviewed after they attend the College Program presentation at 6 p.m. today in the Student Center, rooms 205-206.

Walt Disney World Recruiter Jennifer Dougherty said this will be the third semester Disney has recruited at TCU.

Special to the Skiff Michael Watkins, a junior finance and e-business major, and Devon Glick, a junior business major, dance at the College Program summer 2000 formal.

“This opportunity opens up doors for students and builds your resume,” Dougherty said. “No other company can offer (more than) 3,000 different types of jobs.”

Disney Campus Representative Ben Rebstock, a senior radio-TV-film major, said Disney recruits from more than 250 colleges across the country.

“It’s an honor and privilege to have Disney come to TCU because we’ve built such a strong base,” Rebstock said.

As a campus representative, Rebstock markets the College Program on campus by hanging posters and encouraging students to consider working at Disney World. He said more students are participating in the College Program each year. The program started in 1982 with about 200 students. Today, about 3,200 students are participating in the program.

Rebstock said that during their internship, students’ positions range from marketing jobs to pouring sodas. He said most students start at the bottom and work their way up to better positions.

Devon Glick, a junior business major, joined the program in summer 2000 as an attractions hostess at Innoventions in Epcot. She said the Motorola-sponsored venue showcased technology of the future.

Glick said there were perks in participating in the College Program, such as free admission to the four parks: the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Employees — called Cast Members in “Disney-ese” — also get a 20 percent discount on merchandise and up to 50 percent off on Disney resorts.

There are often College Program field trips to nearby attractions like Cocoa Beach and the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. At the end of each spring, summer and fall semester, Disney also puts on a formal dance for all the College Program students.

Special to the Skiff Some students who participate in the Walt Disney World College Program live in the Vista Way apartment complex, which is about 10 minutes from the Disney theme parks.

Students are housed in one of three Disney-owned apartment complexes that feature one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Rent costs about $70 a week, and it is taken out of the students’ weekly paychecks. Roommates are randomly assigned based on the student’s check-in dates and at what time when he or she arrives.

Rebstock said that during his first summer in the program, he was an attractions host at Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D in the Disney-MGM Studios. He said his job was to handle all the operations of the movie each day.

He said he had his “dream” job as the Skipper on the Jungle Cruise in the Magic Kingdom last summer. As the Skipper, he told jokes and puns about all the mechanical animals the guests passed while on the boat ride.

“This is where Steve Martin and Wesley Snipes first started, and I’ve always wanted to work here,” he said.

Rebstock said that one day when Sigourney Weaver was on board, she was pointing at one of the animals, and her sunglasses fell in the water. He said Weaver demanded they get her sunglasses out.

“The water is so nasty that if you step in it, you literally have to get a tetanus shot,” Rebstock said. “She wasn’t very happy when we told her we couldn’t get them, but she got a free pair.”

While Rebstock had the luxury of working where he wanted, others didn’t.

Nathan Tyler, a senior finance major, said he was a custodial host at the Magic Kingdom.

“I cleaned a lot of toilets, and it wasn’t fun,” Tyler said.

Tyler said that during his interview he was asked if he would still be willing to work for Disney if he had to do custodial work.
“I told them, ‘Yeah, I guess, I would do it,’” he said. “I didn’t think I had a choice.”

Working at Disney World gives opportunities for stories to tell about the people encountered by Cast Members. Glick said she’ll never forget the day she had to report a bomb threat from an English child who was playing a joke.

She said that at her job, there are two-way radios, similar to walkie talkies, and a 10-year-old boy had been playing with the walkie talkies all day long. Glick said she wondered exactly what he was telling everyone.

Much to her surprise, the child was telling everyone they were going to die, and a bomb would be going off in five minutes.

“(These) days you just never know, and you have to take these things seriously,” Glick said.

Glick said the child didn’t get in much trouble, but he was supervised by security all day.

Michael Watkins, a junior finance and e-business major, also participated in the program in summer 2000 with a little persuasion from Glick, his girlfriend. Watkins, who worked as a food and beverage host in the Magic Kingdom, said he liked living with other college students.

He said he learned how to deal with stress and increased his people skills during the internship. Watkins said he saw Enrique Iglesias, Tom Hanks and Michael Jackson, but he said rules prohibit Cast Members from asking for autographs.

“If we asked for autographs, we get fired instantly,” Watkins said. “We have to treat every guest equally.”

Watkins said the College Program has benefits for students looking for post-graduation plans.

“It gives you the opportunity to network with Disney for a future job,” he said.

Elizabeth Weiss, a junior fashion merchandising major, said she worked at the gift and photo shop at the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith in the Disney-MGM Studios. She said she had the opportunity to meet a variety of people.

“It was incredible, and I had the time of my life,” Weiss said.

Weiss said the some advice she would give to students who are interested in the College Program is to go with an open mind and meet as many people as possible. She said it’s important to take every opportunity.

“It’s a fabulous learning experience, and I truly grew as a person,” Weiss said. “You get to see how people are different, and you’re able to get out of the TCU bubble.”

Dougherty said students should come prepared to talk about experiences they have had with guest service, and she said she hopes to see lot of Frogs at the meeting.

“We’re looking for those who are passionate, energetic and friendly.”

And maybe a bit Goofy, too.

Jessica Cervantez
j.s.cervantez@student.tcu.edu