Shannon Yawman became a part of the Disney College Program, or DCP as the insiders call it, at the beginning of the Spring 2016 after a long application process. If you are familiar with the angst-filled article I wrote in December, you will remember her as one of the roommates that abandoned me. Let’s see how she’s enjoying Orlando slash not New York. Where I am.
Interviewer, aka Me: Hey Shan.
Shannon Yawman: Hey.
Interviewer: So, how did you find out about the Disney College Program?
SY: I had heard about it since I was little and wanted to do it but had given up when I thought my school didn’t allow it. I have been passionate about all things Disney since my first trip to the park in 2003, so knowing that there was something tailored to college students made working at Disney accessible and fulfilling.
Interviewer: Nice. What is your position in the program?
SY: I was placed at Attractions in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, also known as DAK. I usher at the 4D Bug’s Life Theater in the Tree of Life.
Interviewer: Disney College Programers live within the outskirts of the Disney World or Disneyland parks on Disney property. How are you finding your living accommodations?
SY: There are exceptionally nice, if not a little pricey. Compared to housing at school, they are much more spacious and equipped. I get my own kitchen! It came with dishes and a fridge and a dishwasher, which I was very pleased about. I even heard that one of the buildings even has washing machines in the rooms.
Interviewer: How did you find the interview process?
SY: Let me preface this by saying that I was concussed at the time of my preliminary interview so I may not have the sharpest recollection. I’m generally unintimidated by interviews so this was not really different. There are two online portions and one phone interview. At any level, you can be cut which was pretty nerve-wracking. For anyone that is interested in applying, a little tip. The phone interview is the only time when you can request a job position. The people that run the program want to put you where you are best suited so letting them know where you would succeed can only be helpful.
Interviewer: Can you give me a description of how your time has been spent so far? How much free time have you gotten in comparison to how many hours you’ve had to work?
SY: Depending on your which park you are stationed in, you can work anywhere between 35 to 50 hours a week. My park and position requires around 35-40 hours a week, which is the general average for a CP (college programer). I find that I have a lot of free time because it’s the first time in my working memory that when I am done with my responsibility, I am actually done. I have no homework, no readings, no club meetings, etcetera. When I’m done with work, I am free to roam the parks with my friends all I want. It’s a pretty sweet gig.
Interviewer: As my final question, has the program lived up to what you expected it would be?
SY: It is still very early in my employment, but I have already done everything I would normally have to wait years to do; twice. Like, being from upstate New York, it’s not easy (or inexpensive) to go down to Florida for vacation any time I want. Being in this program means I not only work, but live, in Disney World. When I first got my Bug’s Life placement, I’ll admit I wasn’t thrilled. There are so many places in the parks that I had pictured myself working at before I arrived. This was not one of them. As an American History major, I wanted to be in Liberty Square, an area of Magic Kingdom that throws you back to the colonial era. But, the further I get into my training, the more I realize that working here at all has more magic than I could ever find anywhere else. So, thought it’s tough to the a bug, moments like telling Princess Erica (a guest at the park) that she had won a royal Fast Pass and watching her skip tot he front of the line, are the meaningful ones. That good?
Interviewer: Yeah, that’s pretty good. Thanks again, Shan.
SY: Anytime, Annie Annie Shelto.
There you go. A little piece of Disney magic, explained. For more information on the Disney College Program, check out their website!
