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Lisa and I both did the Disney College Program in the 1990's but that was a while ago,  So for this Mouse Chat podcast we have a past Disney Cast member that recently did the Disney College Program a few times.  If you want to apply for the Disney College Program you need to listen to this full podcast for the insider track on the process, roles, and advice.  First we want to go over the interview process for the Disney College Program so you can get an understanding of the steps and also of what is required in each interview.

Interview steps for the Disney College Program:

1. First you apply online.  If you get accepted you go on to a web based interview.

2. Web based Disney interview (30-40 questions) - At this stage you take an online timed interview.

3. If you get to the next stage you will have a phone interview.  After the Disney phone interview you can get a call back in a few weeks.

College Program Interview TIP: to maybe get a quicker call back from Disney please listen to our interview tips on the podcast.

Can you get College Credit for the Disney College Program?

Yes, but this depends on your University.  There are lecture style classes as well as actual classes with tests and homework that you can take.

Where do you live when on the College Program?

There are four different housing complexes you can live at while on the College Program.

Dorms is a website that Disney created to help you pick the housing you want and number of roommates you want.  Some places can hold up to 8 cast members. You can also take Disney classes which again depend on your University for credit.  There are several Disney classes structured different ways that you can take.

Top College Program Apartment Complex: Patterson is our top pick for the apartment complex.  The layout and complex is the newest of the four Disney College Program dorms. Vista Way is the oldest complex and is located across I-4 from Disney Springs.

Do I get paid on the College Program?

Yes as a College Program (CP) cast member you get paid hourly.  But don't expect to save for a new house or for your 401k.  Most of your pay will go to your Disney World apartment rent.

Should I do the Disney College Program?

Having Disney on your resume never hurts and also the experience is amazing!  If you want to work at Disney after college this is also a great way to learn about Disney and the different areas.  It is still very difficult to get a full time job at Disney World and entry level jobs at Disney can make it hard to make a living off of, so use the College Program experience to research what you want to do as a full time career.

What are some of the College Program roles?

The most difficult CP role to get is probably front desk, and transportation (watercraft and monorails). The most common roles are attractions, merchandise, food and beverage, and custodial

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We spend four days at Universal Orlando Resort and stayed at several of the Universal Loews resorts and toured all of them.

Universal Cabana Bay is themed after the retro 1950's and 60's.  If you are use to staying at a Disney Value Resort when you come to Orlando, this resort at Universal Orlando is going to take your breath away.  For the same price, or just a little bit more than a Disney World Value Resort, Cabana Bay at Universal Orlando offers so much more.  The resort has two pools and a lazy river.  Also Cabana Bay Beach Resort has a massive fitness center.  This is not a hotel room without the bed and two treadmills.  This fitness center is massive and is not like any resort gym you have experienced.  These rooms have indoor access for most rooms, so pool side rooms have outside access.  The rooms even have VO5.  Oh and by the way there is also a waterslide.  Now with the Lazy River you can bring your own tubes and they will fill them up, or you can get a Cabana Bay logo tube and they make for great souvenirs.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort also has a lounge with a retro feel, a full bowling alley, a 1950's decor Starbucks, a very well appointed food court and very nice hotel rooms.  If you have not stayed at Cabana Bay Beach Resort and are looking for an entry level priced resort on Universal Studios property, this resort is amazing.  It's hard to beat the value of Cabana Bay, but we have several other Universal Orlando Resorts to cover.

The newest Universal Orlando Resort is stunning!  Sapphire Falls has a magnificent lobby and a grand staircase that is perfect for photos.  We all really love Sapphire Falls.  The decor, the colors, the tropical pool area all made us want to book our next Universal vacation here.  The Sapphire Falls bar, lobby, restaurants, are all very inviting.  The rooms also have a modern feel.  These rooms start at $179 per tax off season as of this podcast.  The water taxi also accesses this resort.  Just like all Universal on property resort their is a fitness center with the latest equipment.

For a little bit more than staying at Sapphire Falls you can stay at Loews Royal Pacific.  This hotel is our personal favorite.  Royal Pacific is Hawaii in Orlando and it's so tropical and relaxing.  Royal Pacific even has a Hawaiian Luau on the weekends.

Insider Tip: When you stay here you get the Unlimited Express Pass to the Universal Studios Parks.  This is a minimum of an $89 per person per day value.  If you stayed just one night at Royal Pacific you get two days of Unlimited Express Pass.

There is a tropical zero entry pool, volleyball court, cabana rentals, poolside bar and grill.  Emeralds has a restraunt here too.

We ate in Island's Dining room for the character breakfast.  The food was great and the characters were so much fun.  Gru and Kevin the minion stopped by our table and so did Homer and Bart Simpson.  You never saw so many adults get excited to see the characters.

If you want a hotel with action and non-stop activities you should look into Hard Rock.  This hotel sells out quickly so if you want to stay here you need to book it early.  The rooms are modern, you can check out a guitar from the front desk to practice jamming in your room.  Yes they come with headphones.  There are concerts in the lobby.  Velvet Sessions take place once a month in the lobby and have different groups that you can get tickets to.  Even the pool plays music under the water.  The Palm and the Kitchen are both wonderful places to dine and the resort is covered in rock memorabilia.  The Hard Rock Hotel comes with the Unlimited Express Pass for front of the line access to select rides at both Universal parks.  Also the water taxi stops right out front.  The Hard Rock Hotel is also the closest one to the Universal Parks and you can walk to Universal Studios Florida in about 5 minutes.

All Onsite Universal resorts offer early entry into the Universal Parks for resort guests.  The early entry changes day to day and usually is the Harry Pottery attraction.  This gets you into Harry Potter an hour before regular park guests and this is invaluable.

Portofino Bay is Uni...

Hurricane IAN Disney World Update

Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Water Parks

Walt Disney World will temporarily close our theme parks on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29:

Magic Kingdom Park

EPCOT

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park (Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park is currently closed for the season.)

Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf

Partially used multi-day theme park tickets with a usage window impacted by Hurricane Ian related park closure will automatically be extended to use the remaining entitlements through any date through September 30, 2023.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

For the safety of our Guests and Cast Members, Guests must check in to our resorts on Sept. 28, by 3 p.m. Please feel free to reschedule your trip or cancel your stay with us; any customary cancellation fees will be waived.

Guests that are checked in by 3 p.m. Wednesday will be asked to shelter in place at their resort for the duration of the storm, this includes any resort-to-resort transfers

Guests are strongly encouraged to enjoy food and beverage offerings at the parks and Disney Springs before returning to their Resort hotels.

Dining options for Guests staying in our Resort hotels will vary, and in some cases may be very limited. Where available, restaurants will accept walk-ups only; Guests will not need dining reservations.

Characters will not be available in character dining locations on Wednesday and Thursday

The Grand Floridian Spa will close at noon Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will temporarily close Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Friday, Sept. 30 due to the weather. We are contacting Guests with current and upcoming reservations.

Dining, Enchanting Extras, and Special Events

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom has been cancelled for Thursday, Sept. 29.

Effective immediately, Disney will not enforce cancellation policies until further notice for dining and other experiences like Savi’s Workshop, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and VIP Tours.

Performances of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue have been cancelled Sept. 28 through Sept. 30 in light of the temporary closure of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Guests with pre-paid reservations will be automatically cancelled and refunded.

Transportation

Walt Disney World Transportation will stop operating Tuesday night after Disney Springs and the Walt Disney World theme parks close.

Limited Minnie Van and Mears taxi service will be offered to Walt Disney World resort Guests with existing breakfast reservations.

Other Walt Disney World Experiences

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser voyages departing Tuesday, Sept. 27 and Thursday, Sept. 29 have been cancelled due to the potential impact on the Guest experience.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 28. We anticipate Disney Springs will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 29, and will provide updates as we continue to track the storm.

Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil & Disney will be cancelled on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday Sept 29.

Guests are strongly encouraged to enjoy food and beverage offerings at the parks and Disney Springs before returning to their Resort hotels.

Please note that all reopening timelines are tentative, and subject to safety conditions.