In June 2021, Flamingo Crossings Village, a new and more modern apartment complex located in Winter Garden, about four miles from Disney's Animal Kingdom, became the new home of the Orlando Disney College Program participants. Participants in Orlando were provided the option to either live off-property or reside in one of the four complexes, until they were closed in March 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Three additional company-sponsored gated-community apartment complexes, The Commons, Chatham Square and Patterson Court, opened as the Disney College Program expanded to accommodate more participants, all adjacently-located in Little Lake Bryan, less than three miles away from Vista Way. By 1988, all participants were fully relocated out of Snow White Village Campground, which was later converted into a vacationing site. In 1987, a new company-sponsored gated-community apartment complex, Vista Way, was opened for college program participants nearby Lake Buena Vista, located much closer to the Disney property. Housing Entrance to Chatham Squareįrom the beginning of the program until 1988, college program participants resided in Snow White Village Campground, an off-property mobile home park and the remainder of Lake Vista Village apartments in Kissimmee. Once a student is approaching the end of their program, they may extend for an additional five months with the option to change to a different position or transfer from their current resort (Orlando or Anaheim) to the other. Programs last between five and seven months, though the culinary program's length depends on the student's school schedule. Students must complete at least one semester of university or college before entering the Disney College Program. Students actively enrolled in their final semester of an accredited semester-program university or college are also eligible to apply to be accepted for the following program season or apply within a year of graduation. The program's opportunities are available at all theme parks, resorts and shopping districts of the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort, officially changing its name to the Disney College Program, which is colloquially shortened and referred to as the DCP.Īpplication process Eligibility Įligible applicants are those who reside in the United States or their territories, who possess American citizenship, are students aged 18 and older prior to the expected arrival date and are actively enrolled in an accredited semester-program university or college as a full-time or part-time student. An average of 4,000 students participate each spring, summer and fall session, representing at least 301 colleges and universities In August 2006, the program expanded to the Disneyland Resort and was renamed the Disney Theme Parks and Resorts College Program. įollowing the massive growth of the Walt Disney World Resort in the 1990s and the widespread popularity of the internet, the program grew substantially, seeing three new participant housing complexes built and many more colleges represented.

From the beginning of the program until 1988, program participants resided in Snow White Village Campground, an off-property mobile home park and the remainder of Lake Vista Village apartments in Kissimmee. In October 1982, the program expanded offerings to Epcot, when the theme park opened, and its name changed to the Walt Disney World College Program (WDWCP), employing approximately 500 college students each spring, summer and fall session. The first Disney College Program began in 1981 as the Magic Kingdom College Program (MKCP) and initially consisted of just over 200 students from 20 schools working only at Magic Kingdom, in Bay Lake, ten years after the theme park opened. The program recruits college students (ages 18 and older) of all majors for a semester-long paid work experience program at either the Orlando or Anaheim resorts, with the option of extending to almost a full year. The Disney College Program ( DCP) is a United States national internship program operated by the Disney Programs division of The Walt Disney Company, located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando and the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.

Flamingo crossings village dcp