“Everything you learn can be applicable to you in the future, regardless of where you want to end up,” Garmilla said.
While doing the DCP is by no means a requirement to later do a professional internship or secure a full-time job with Disney, it is a popular choice among those who want to want to head in that direction. Many who want to work for Disney view the DCP as the first step to do so. Garmilla also interned for Imagineering under project management after working as an attractions hostess for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in spring 2017. “Understanding more of the terms used in the industry is always a helpful thing to know and learn, whether it’s internal operations in the parks or behind the scenes on the design side.” “I learned a lot more about how theme parks truly run and operate from an internal level, which is something I didn’t fully know prior to my program,” said Ackley. One of them even came to visit me in Charleston this past weekend.”Īckley, who was hired by Walt Disney Imagineering as a graphic fabrication design intern the year after her program, was able to learn more about the technical language associated with attractions, and how those attractions worked, during her time working as an attractions cast member for Living with the Land and Circle of Life in Epcot in spring 2017. We take a big reunion trip every year and still try and see each other every chance we get. “It’s crazy to think six total strangers that were looking for roommates on a Facebook page would all get along so great and become best friends, but we did. “Both of my roommates and some of my coworkers are people that are still a part of my life today and will be for a very long time,” Garmilla said. The DCP is not only an opportunity to work for the Disney company, but also a chance to meet others who have similar interests and goals. production design 2019, both participated in the DCP and spoke on their time in the program for anyone considering interviewing for it when it returns. production design 2020, and Katelyn Ackley, B.F.A. SCAD graduates Montserrat Garmilla, B.F.A. This is good news for many students who may be struggling with the smaller pool of internships available, or those like me who have spent years planning on incorporating the program into their college experience. The cancellation of the Disney College Program is one of many disruptions that 2020 brought to the theme park industry, but with COVID-19 vaccines becoming more readily available to the public, the program might be coming back soon. Or at least, COVID-19’s hold on the United States began. Right as I made that decision, the world ended. I have been diligently preparing, hanging on every word of advice I could pick up, and I finally planned to interview for the Spring 2021 program. The program has been running since 1981 and a simple search on YouTube will bring up countless videos of graduates of the program spilling secrets about the interview process along with their most interesting guest stories. I have been watching videos about the Disney College Program (DCP) since my early middle school years. Written by Eve Katz, Graphic by Tyler Lowe