Disney College Program restarts
Company: semester internship is a sign of return to normalcy
The Disney College Program is back next month, a hopeful sign of the theme parks slowly returning to normal after the pandemic swiftly shut down many of the operations, including the popular work program for students.
“As our industry and community continue to bounce back, we have welcomed back thousands of cast members to work and have also restarted our recruitment efforts amid a tight labor market at Walt Disney World. Both of these measures are important indicators toward fully reopening our businesses and getting more people back to work,” the company said on its website Monday, to announce the College Program’s return.
The Disney College Program is a semester-long paid internship offered at Disney World where students work part-time in theme parks and resorts, take classes and live in company-owned housing.
In March 2020, as the theme parks closed abruptly during the pandemic, Disney sent home the college students and then indefinitely suspended the program.
More than a year later, Disney World parks are open and more hotels and restaurants at Disney are starting to return as well which has led to Disney reinstating the program.
Last March Disney also suspended its programs for international workers. Disney’s website said Monday more updates will be coming later for the Disney International Programs and Disney Culinary Program.
The students who were forced home early last year or had their internships suspended can reapply, the announcement said, adding it’s also making application exceptions for students who graduated during the pandemic who missed out.
For the incoming college students moving to Orlando, the company website said it would require face coverings in
the apartment common areas and have a contactless, curbside move-in experience.
“Like many colleges and universities, we’re also modifying the occupancy of our units, giving fully
vaccinated participants the opportunity to live with other fully vaccinated participants,” the website
announcement says.