Program to offer students Disney opportunity internships

For most students, the summer is a good time to make some extra cash and have some fun away from campus. The Disney College Program, which is holding presentations Thursday and Friday on campus, offers students the opportunity to work and play in the iconic Disney theme parks.

Representatives from the Disney College Opportunity program will speak to students Thursday and Friday about paid summer internships with Disneyworld in Florida and Disneyland in California. If selected, students can live and work at the parks throughout the summer.

The presentations will be held at 5 p.m. today in the Memorial Union Heritage Room, and again at noon, Friday in the same location. Smaller, in-class presentations will be held throughout the day, as various instructors have invited the Disney College Program representative to come speak to their classes.

Students will hear details about the program, see videos about the opportunity, and meet with a representative of the Disney college program to discuss internships. After the presentation, which includes a video and testimonials from former interns, students can pose questions to a representative of the program.

“They are hoping to spark some interest,” said Karla Olson of Career Services. “There are a lot of different opportunities, and they need students to work...to fill those positions.”

Olson also students of many backgrounds have found work relevant to their program of study.

“We had a biology major at one time working with them,” Olson said. “She was in the Animal Kingdom, and she actually got to work with reptiles and things like that.”

According to the Disney College Program's Web site, the program offers roles and tasks specific to many majors and even has jobs set aside for undecided students. The positions range from park maintenance and visitor assistance to professional internships, such as human resources, marketing and communications. Students may even be able to earn credit hours through a Disney internship.

Students working in the program are allowed admission to the parks throughout their internship, and may bring up to three family members or friends with them to the park up to six times throughout the internship.

Amy Phifer, senior English major, is a former Disney summer intern.

“I learned a lot of management skills and networking skills,” Phifer said. “Before, I was really quiet, now I talk to just about anyone. I really opened up.”

Phifer also said the program provided her with important cultural perspective. “Kansas just isn’t that diversified. There, you get to meet people from all over the world. You definitely get a different view of a lot of nationalities…I think every student should do something like that at least once. I wish I could go back,” Phifer said.

Students interested in learning more about the Disney College Program may visit the program's Web site, www.disneycollegeprogram.com. Students may also submit applications on the site, but any student interested in the program must attend one of the on-campus programs to be eligible.