Why Should I Worry: The Phone Screen

Okay, so no have a phone screen now you are probably wondering what are they going to ask me! Well calm down here is a list complied of former DCP and PI responses for the initial phone screen only. The DCP and PI are similar, but they are going to vary so I will list to separate commonly asked question for both. They are list complied from my own personal experience, other PI/DCP blogs, and of course the official Facebook groups.

These are common questions asked during the DCP phone screen, and I know the list seems long generally though only about 5-7 of these questions are going to be asked. Then of course there are more technical role questions for your top three choices that are going to be more specific to that role. The phone screen for the DCP generally last about 15-30 minutes some will be longer, and some shorter really depends. I know mine generally ran about 17-19 minutes when I applied.

General Questions

• What does Disney mean to you?
• What do you think the worst aspect of DCP housing would be and why?
• What are you most looking forward to?
• What makes you a good candidate for the DCP?
• What are three positive qualities about yourself?
• What are you looking forward to the most?
• What can you offer the company?
• How does this internship help you in the future?
• Describe a situation where I've had to work with a difficult person, boss or professor.
• Three words you/your manager/your coworkers would use to describe you?
• What Disney character is most like you?
• What's a magical moment you've had in the Disney parks?
• If you were doing a task that was repetitive, how would you keep yourself interested in it?
• What are three negative qualities about yourself?
• Why do you want to do the College Program?
• Do you mind working and living a 1000 miles away from home?
• Why do you want to work with Disney?
• Why do you want to participate in the program?
• What does it mean to you to be a Disney Cast Member?
• What makes you a good candidate for DCP?
• What can you offer the Company?
• Have you been to Disney World? What did you like about it? What’s your favorite memory there and why? Describe a magic moment you’ve had in the Disney parks.
• Are you familiar with the Disney parks and other parks in the area?
• What does being in Florida mean to you?
• Do you think it would be a big adjustment to move this far from home?
• Share an experience you’ve had with excellent guest service.
• What do you want to get out of this internship?
• Why did you choose to apply to this internship at this moment in your college career?
• How do you think the program will help you professionally?
• Rank your top three-five roles. Why?
• Would you rather work along or in a group setting?
• Would you be open to working _____ role?
• At which park or resort would you prefer to work? (Tip: take a look at the location’s hours, attractions, restaurants, shops, etc. before you make your selection.)
• What would you do if you were working an attraction and a guest was too short to ride?
• What would you do if you were working merchandise and the store didn’t have the specific Elsa shirt a girl was looking for?
• What would you do if your apartment roommates weren’t cleaning up after themselves?
• How do you feel about living with 1-7 roommates?
• What part of the housing situation are you most looking forward to?
• What do you think would be the worst part about the Disney-provided housing and why?
• How would you make a guests day?
• What would you do if a roommate wouldn’t cooperate with your sleep schedule?
• Previous work experience?
• If you’ve had a job before, what did you like and dislike about it?
• Talk about an experience you’ve had with good customer service.
• Have you ever had to give a presentation for a lot of people, especially with the use of a microphone? How did you feel doing so?
• Let’s say you were selling pretzels that cost $1.50 each. A guest wants to buy three and gives you a $10 bill. How much change do you give them?
• (BBB) What would you do if you were working at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and had a timid princess who wasn’t very receptive to getting her hair and makeup done?
• If you were working merchandise or QSFB and you had a guest in front of you while the phone is ringing, what would you do?
• In what ways would you provide excellent guest service?
• Name 3 positive qualities about yourself.
• What are some words your employer, coworker, or professor would use to describe you?
• Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult person. (Boss, coworker, professor, customer, etc.)
• How would you handle an emergency at the parks?
• What are you most looking forward to in the program?
• Have you ever handled money?
• How would you greet guests?
• Would you rather work in a slow or fast-paced environment?
• How would you manage getting tasks completed while being interrupted by guests?
• How would you feel about working outdoors?
• Do you prefer to work as a team or individually?
• At what pace do you prefer to work?
• How would you handle a guest who needs help but doesn't speak your language?
• Describe a time at your previous job in which you made someone happy.
• Are you willing to work Custodial or QSFB?
• Can you comply with Disney look?
• Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
• Do you mind working mornings, evenings, late nights, weekends, or holidays?
• Do you mind working outside in the Florida heat/California heat?

Role Related Question: 

Attractions

• Have you ever had to memorize a presentation and then deliver it in front of a group of people?
• What experience have you had speaking in front of crowds? Are you comfortable doing so?
• What would you do if you messed up your spiel?
• What would you do if a child wanted to ride (insert attraction) but they were too short?
• How would you keep yourself interested in doing a repetitive task?
• What would you do if you messed up a spiel?
• How would you explain the attraction is closed due to weather? or technical failure? 

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique / Pirates League

• Do you have salon experience?
• Do you have experience with children? If so in what setting?
• How would you reacted to a child being hesitant about getting dressed up, or having their hair and makeup done?
• How would you handle a parent or child that did not want makeup or a certain hairstyle?

Character Attendant

• What if a guest is being violent with a character?
• What does character integrity mean to you?
• Why does this character look different from the last experience when they met them?
• What would you do if a child was afraid of your character?
• What would you tell guests if you had to turn them away because a line was closed for the day?
• How do you feel speaking in front of large groups?
• What if someone asked why fur characters don’t talk?
• How would you say (insert character) has to leave?
• How is _ in two parks at once?
• Why a character attendant?
• What is the best experience you had meeting a character?
• How would you maintain the show if someone has ruined the magic?
• How come this character does not look as they appear in the film? (this example I use Beast)
• How do you explain a character cannot sign? 

Character Performer

• How would you act as a character performer?
• What would you do if a child was afraid of you?
• What is character integrity mean to you?

Concierge

• What do you think the duties of a concierge are?
• How are you experienced for this role?
• How would you make each guest feel special?
• Do you have any cash handling experience?
• How do you feel working with a computerized reservation system?

Hospitality

• What would you do if you were working the front desk and a guest wanted a specific type of room but none were available?
• How comfortable would you be being trained on and working with a computer reservation system?
• How would you make a guest feel special as they are just starting their Disney vacation?
• What do you think the duties of a concierge are?
• How are you experienced for this role?

PhotoPass

• What experience do you have working with cameras?

Main Gate/Transportation

• How would you maintain the magic in main gate operations?
• Why do you think transportation is so important at Disney?

Questions to Ask

• Tell me about your Disney Career?
• Do you have any magical moments or experience?
• Can you explain Disney Look?
• Ask any Disney Look related questions you have (good time to ask about tattoos)
• What are the next steps of the process? 
• When will I hear back about a decision?
• What kind of qualities to you look for in a college program candidate?
• Have you done the Disney College Program before? If so what was your experience? (ask a lot of PIs go into recruiting and it is an alumni only role)
• Is there opportunity for growth within the company?
• Will there be networking opportunities?
• How many CPs stay on with the company? (they will not give an exact answer but it shows you want to know if you can make a career out of this)
• Is it possible to move into a professional internship?

Here are commonly asked questions during the PI of course I will tell you right now that MIs are going to have more focus on leadership questions then general ones, and you animal program candidates you go straight into the technical second interview unless you applying for non-animal program internships as well. The PI interview unlike the DCP does not get into role specific questions (excluding the alumni application those are more like the DCP interview), and are going to last around 10-25 minutes. Yes, does that seem odd that the PIs are shorter then the DCP it is pretty common, since most PIs and all MIs require other interviews with department managers. Fair warning this is by no means the complete list of questions.

General Questions Professional Internships

• Tell me about a time you have had a salaried position rather than an hourly position?
• What type of leadership roles did you have?
• Tell me about the positions you have held and how have they prepared you for this role?
• Tell me about a time that you held a leadership position?
• Tell me about a time where you were running low on time and did not think you were going to finish the task How did you handle it?
• Tell me about a team project you have worked on and how you accomplished your goals.
• Tell me about a time where you were facilitating a program and something didn’t go right, how did you react?
• How do you define leadership and what qualities are needed in a leader?
• Tell me about a project you were a leader in and how you handled it?
• Why are you interested in a Professional Internship with Disney?
• Tell me what you know about ______ professional internship?
• What do you hope to get form doing a PI?
• Have you worked full time before?
• Tell about a time when you had too much to do and not enough time to do it all. How did you handle it?
• Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with a co-worker, manager, or guest.
• How would you handle a disruptive guest?
• Why are you more suited for the job than other applicants?
• What would you like to get out of your professional internship?
• (Alumni and certain departments) rank your top three roles

Questions to Ask

• What are the next steps in the process?
• When is (insert department) looking to make their decisions by?
• What is the ideal candidate for this position? 
• Is there an opportunity to stay on with the company after the internship?
• Where do you think the company is headed (in this segment)? 
• What do you like about working for The Walt Disney Company?
• Do you have any hesitations regarding my qualifications? (Ask it! It gives you an opportunity to address them)

Yes I know seems off less questions for the PI then the DCP, and while both are very selective programs the interview has a different purpose. At this point in the PI they know you meet the basic qualifications of the application, but they do not know you as a person before moving you onto the hiring managers. While the DCP has basic information, and needs to make a decision based only off of this. Okay I know it is coming, so why is alumni different? Honestly no real explanation my only guess is they have already completed an internship before with Disney. Wait! I have as well and yes I get that; however when you are applying for I don’t know accounting they need to know a little more then you already worked for them such as do you have a basic understanding of what a cash flow statement is. Now this is not to say that some recruiters do not ask more specific questions (none are technical) for certain areas, but this is going to be short and general.