Disney College Program offering USU students paid internship
Representatives from the Disney College Program will be on campus Wednesday to present internship opportunities to students interested in participating in a paid internship at Walt Disney World.
USU students who are interested in participating in an internship in Florida can attend a presentation March 5 at 4 p.m. in Room 202 of the Agricultural Science building, where Disney recruiter Katie Mock will discuss the program.
Cody Woodbrey, student and director of the USU Disney College Program Alumni Association, said internship opportunities through Disney are a good way to begin networking, build resumes and earn valuable skills for future careers while still in college.
“It is an opportunity of a lifetime and a great opportunity to see how a Fortune 500 company works,” Woodbrey said.
While working through Disney leadership, Woodbrey said participants will be able to be involved in job shadowing opportunities, on-the-job training and working directly with guests. Participants will also have opportunities to take courses and earn college credit as they enjoy their time meeting new people through unique experiences.
Students interested in earning college credit are able to take courses through the College of Disney or online through USU, Woodbrey said. However, there are some participants who choose not to take classes during the internship, he said, which still provides a great learning opportunity for them.
Woodbrey said, beyond typical park operational jobs, students can be characters and parade performers. Woodbrey, who was a character performer at Walt Disney World, said he was “the human inside the bear” as a costumed performer.
“I put my education back a year, but it was worth the experience,” Woodbrey said. “I consider it a paid vacation.”
Disney offers opportunities for students majoring in all fields, with different job openings unique to accommodate each major, Woodbrey said. The program is open to students at all college levels and majors, including those who have yet to declare a major, he said.
Devin Hirshi, senior majoring in human resources, spent a semester at Walt Disney World as part of the program and said it was an excellent way to help him choose a major and start his future career path.
“The Disney internship is a good way to figure out what you want to do,” Hirshi said. “It opens up doors.”
Hirshi said he was selected to work in Downtown Disney at a restaurant as a host and at a nightclub checking IDs at the door.
The opportunities for growth and learning extend beyond the semester in Florida, Hirshi said. The people to network with and opportunities with Disney continue past graduation, he said.
“The best thing about it is you get to know people from all across the country,” Hirshi said.
Disney provides housing complexes, which allow students to live with people from different parts of the country and meet people from around the world, Hirshi said.
“The program is what you make of it,” Woodbrey said, “and you’re not going to be bored.”
Students interested in an internship with Disney are able to prepare and learn more by visiting the programs’ Web site at www.disneycollegeprogram.com, Woodbrey said. Before interviews and advancement in the internship selection process, students must attend the presentation on campus or view it online, he said.
-d.bullock@aggiemail.usu.edu