Rotten to the Core: The Disney Point System

This is the point system as of 2016, and since there is a lot of "my manager said but my manager said this" I will keep it all in one place. The things posted below are from the hub information, or your program guide which is the most accurate information for interns.

Point System for Attendance

3 points within a 30 day period

6 points within a 90 day period

9 points within a 180 day period

12 points within a 365 day period

Point System for Clocking

0 > 2 hours will be 1/2 point

2 < + hours will be 1 point

No Call No Show

1 point 

Termination 

Attendance & Clocking: termed when receive the 4th reprimand

Performance & Safety: termed when you receive the 3rd reprimand

Days allowed off from work

Interns are allowed 10 consecutive work days based on a 40 hour week with a 5 day schedule, or 14 consecutive total days based on a calendar week. 

Common Questions

• Do points carry over into the next program?
• No, they do not points are for the current term and will only follow you if you extend your internship. 
• Do points ever disappear from your record card?
• No, they do not points follow you throughout your Disney career however they no longer count against you after your program ends
• If I am sick what happens?
• WDW interns do not get sick or personal days; however if you are sick for than one consecutive day talk to your leaders. If you have a doctors note they will combine into one point, but I must stress they have to be consecutive! So if you have a regular day off, or approved day off they do not count towards that. 
• Are performance and attendance reprimands combined?
• No, they are not combined

For anyone wondering where my main source of information was check your programs guide where you will find the most up-to-date attendance policy for The Walt Disney Company for their college program, culinary, and international interns. 

Your managers are a great resource for information on the point system, but they are not always correct on current policies and procedures. Always refer to your program guide as that is going to be the most accurate as well as the hub. 

Very Good Advice: The Resume and ATS

Resumes are a major topic again this round, so I thought I would create a post specifically about it. To be clear the Disney College Program does not require a resume, and I honestly suggest do not use one if you are not strong at creating them. As for the Disney Professional and Management Internships -you guys know the drill they are 100% required. Alright now that is out of the way I want to go over some pretty basic things starting with ATS.

First off, I know I lost a lot of you with what is ATS and for those who do not know it is an applicant tracking system used by a lot of major corporations including Disney. Just to give you a rough estimate of about how many Fortune 500 companies are estimated to use it the percentage is around 90%, and about 75% of candidates are rejected according to Peptel (a resume service). Meaning qualified candidates may in find themselves rejected from a job they may actually be qualified for, so here are some tips on how to not get stuck in the ATS trap.

• Make sure you are using an ATS friendly resume format 
• Here is a link to some ATS templates you can download for free here
• Ensure your resume mirrors specific keywords and phrases used in the job description you are applying for
• I used the word mirror for a reason do not copy straight from the job description
• As a note for Professional Interns tailor your resume for each job you are applying for if you need to. 
• It sorts content into individual categories
• Education
• Contact Information
• Skills
• Work Experience
• Do not use headers or footers they can alter your score in a negative way by simply getting in the way
• Do use acronyms especially if it is industry lingo for the job you are applying for
• Why? You do not know which one the robots are scanning for so it is better to use industry lingo 
• Do not stuff words into your resume that do not belong
• Do repeat words that are relevant to the job you are applying for
• Do emphasize both soft and hard skills on your resume 
• Take advantage of services like TagCrowd 
• You copy and paste the job description into the box, and it pulls out important key words to use in your resume
• Use bullet points!
• It creates less room for error when the resume is scanning for keywords
• Include your address
• Some robots will lower your score simply for not having one especially if the job is looking for local candidates 
• Ditch the objective 
• If you really feel the need to keep the objective make it bullet points 
• Keep your font to the standards this is not the time to get creative 
• Sans-Serif fonts are the best (Verdana and Tahoma) 
• Some robots will reject applicants due to font 
• Use social media to your advantage
• Look up people who have the same role you want within the company, and see what key words they used (or skills they have) on their LinkedIn pages. 
• Disney prefers PDF format for resumes
• Keep your resume one to two pages 

*Keep in mind it takes all that information and matches it against the job description then comes out with a percentage based on the results. Then the candidate with the highest percentages along with the most years of relevant experience will be moved onto the next stage. 

Now I know this seems a bit unfair as a technique for searching for candidates, but keep in mind it is not just Disney who does this you are going to have this issue with almost every company you apply for. Lucky for most of you candidates though Disney does have recruiters who also scan the resumes as well, and I want to emphasize the word scan -as it is just a scan a quick glance 30 seconds or less. 

Also on the note of the resume scan I am sure many of you are aware (if not well you are going to be now) almost all companies now do a social media check. Yes they will check your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and etc. so be aware of what you have on there especially if your accounts are not private. So, while you may have a photo with 500 likes of you drinking tequila shots in Cancun your future employer may not want to see that. 

I also want to clarify Disney is not random about making decisions about who moves on, and who does not they go through too many candidates to be random. They use ATS to filter out candidates that simply do not fit the requirements, and then those who pass move on to have their resume scanned by someone in recruiting. My best advice for anyone out there is stay calm sometimes these ATS systems are in no one's favor. 

Best of luck and pixie dust on applications!

It is Time: The DCP Spring 2017 Application

The applications for the Spring Disney College Program 2017 applications have dropped, and here is just a friendly reminder of a few helpful hints when applying. As well as other links as posted prior you may find useful during your application process.

Dashboard Stages
Submission: Application has been completed and sent to Casting
In Progress: (Self explanatory)
NLIC: No Longer in Consideration and it means you did not get the role
Interview Stage: Sometimes changes to this when you are given an interview offer
Offer Stage: Means you were emailed an offer
Post-Offer Stage: Means you accepted the offer

Stages of the CP process
WBI
Phone Interview


Walt Disney World  Roles
Attractions
Bell Services
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo Boutique / Pirates League
Bus Greeter
Character Attendant
Character Performer *
Children’s Activities
Convention Guide
Costuming Operations
Custodial
Floral
Hopper
Housekeeping
Lifeguard
Merchandise
Monorail
PhotoPass Photographer
Quick-Service Food and Beverage 
Recreation attractions
Seater
Vacation Planner
Watercraft

Disneyland Roles
Attractions
Cast Costuming
Custodial
Custodial Busser
Disney Desk
Entertainment Costuming
Food Cart Cashier
Food & Beverage Quick Service Restaurant
Front Desk
Food Prep
Guest Services
Lifeguard
Park Greeter
Photopass Photographer
Quick-Service Food & Beverage Cashier
Retail Sales Clerk
Transportation and Parking
Vacation Planner

*These roles are all updated as of August 15,  2016 and are all on the Spring 2017 applications for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. 
**Roles that are italicized are considered high need roles 


Roles Advice

• Vacation Planner, Children's Activities, BBB/PL, Seater, and Convention Guide are very competitive roles as they take very few CPs. 
• Roles such as QSFB, Custodial, and Lifeguard, Housekeeping, and Attractions are going to be popular roles that take on a lot of CPs, so chances are if you choose one of those you will probably get it
• If you notice some of these roles are not offered at each park, so if you want to be a performer but want to do Disneyland that is not going to happen
• Concierge and Front Desk at WDW were pulled as of Fall 2016 it is unknown if they will return for Spring 2017
• Lifeguard, Attractions, Monorail, Transportation, Watercraft, Children's Activities, and Recreation are drug tested roles -anyone not in these roles is subject to random drug testing at check-in 

Tips & Tricks:

• When filling out the application make sure you are being detailed
• Especially during the previous role history section use quality over quantity
• If you lack previous job history experience use volunteer or internship experience as well
• Do not choose both WDW and DL if you only want to be considered for one over the other
• This is true especially if you want DL it is a smaller program, and you are more likely to be placed at WDW if you put both
• Do not choose both Advantage and regular if you only want to be considered for one over the other as again it won't hurt your chances
• Resumes are not needed for the Disney College Program application, so focus your time on the application itself
• Cover Letters are not needed for the Disney College Program application, and I suggest you do not write one
• Do practice some of the possible questions that will be on the phone screening as seen on this posting
• Use the STAR method as this is Disney (and most companies) preferred way of answering interview questions

• Keep in mind for Disneyland taking courses is required for the CP program while at Walt Disney World it is optional
• Keep in mind if you have applied before the Web Based Interview is valid for 6 months as a company policy, so if you failed within the last 6 months you will need to wait until it has expired
• Here is my blog posting about tips for the Web Based Interview
• A lot of candidates do not get chosen their first try, so if you get stuck in submission or are NLICed just try again.

Entertainment Auditions:

• Wear comfortable yet form fitting clothing
• Wear comfortable shoes (tennis shoes would be ideal)
• Do not Disney bound as the princess you want to be
• Keep in minds most princesses are friends with quite a few other characters including sometimes other princesses and fur
• Understand most candidates do not get it on the first, second, or even the third try -do not get discouraged sometimes its just Disney is only looking to fill certain roles
• Know going in majority of the roles are going to be for fur character meet and greets
• Very few will be chosen for face characters  meet and greets or parade performers
• Keep makeup to a minimal and as natural as possible if you choose to wear any
• Have your hair pulled back away from your face especially if you are aiming for face character as they are looking at your face shape
• Keep nails clean
• I would go with a neutral polish, or French tips (kept short)
• You do not need to know how to dance they will teach you a routine (it is very basic)
• Most of the CPs are chosen for fur over anything, so just be aware of that going in
• They are very strict about heights, and they will measure you before the audition
• The cattle call is the worst, and this is where about 80-90% off the candidates are cut out from the process.
• Keep in mind if you are chosen for fur entertainment does do specific auditions within their department for face typing.

Common Questions:

When will I get an email about the WBI?
Typically the first email is a thank you for applying, and that just means they received your application. The WBI invite will come later (if they send you one), and you will need to complete it within a certain time after receiving it.

What do they look for on the WBI?
Consistency! They will keep wording the same question in different ways trying to trick you into changing your answers, so always read the statement carefully before answering. As for strongly, agree/disagree, and neutral my method has always been (for the WBI at Disney and other employers)...

Strongly: occasionally
Agree/Disagree: often
Neutral: minimal

When do I find out if I passed the WBI?
Right after you take it you will read a statement that says basically you passed or you did not pass.

How long is the WBI good for?
6 months as a company policy is how long WBI stay in the system for

Does passing the WBI mean I will get a phone screen?
No, but it does mean you are more likely to be offered one

How long is the phone screen?
Expect it to be about 20-25 minutes

How long does the entire process take?
Depends on the specific candidate for some like myself the entire process took less than 72 hours from applying to getting an offer, while there are some who the process takes 3-4 months from applying to getting an offer.
Does applying at application drop mean I am more likely to be accepted?
Nope! Disney does not care when you applied they look for candidates who are a good fit for the company. So, if you don't apply at app drop it is fine you can still be accepted (I did not apply app drop).

Does when you apply determine the role you are given?
Nope applying in the beginning does not mean you are more likely to not be given QSFB for example, so apply whenever you feel like it.

How are roles determined?
Despite popular rumors of certain backgrounds are chosen for certain roles or locations it is really not the case Disney places people based on their needs as a business.

Can I change to something other than the role offered?
No, unless you have some dire medical need to change roles Disney will not adjust it -the offer is take it or leave it.

Can I change from Advantage to Non-Advantage?
No again the offer is take it or leave it there is no switching.

Is Disneyland different than WDW?
Yes, it is truly for starters location one is in California -which is much more expensive to live in than central Florida. I could do a very long list here, but one of the main difference is where CPs stand on the totem pole. If you notice Florida CPs are not apart of the unions, have no sick days, have no vacation days, and are interns in all sense of the word without seniority of any kind. In California however that is not the case CPs are considered casual regular and therefore receive sick days, and are able to build seniority as well however they also pay the union dues. Now I know you are all asking why the difference? California law ensures that CPs in Disneyland meet certain criteria, and Florida does not have such laws in place.


If you are interested in possible interview questions please check out this posting: Phone screening

Relax I know this process can be very long and drawn out, but Disney goes through this a lot -so calm down. Everyone in the end will find out their decision (unlike PIs -yup for another post though). For those who are accepted welcome to the Disney family, and for those who are not keep trying -Dreams come true remember? They just take time. Best of luck and pixie dust to everyone this application season.

As a note keep in mind if you are also applying for Professional Internships or Management Internships it is 100% fine. One process does not affect the other, and if by chance you receive a college program offer than a professional internship one later you are allowed to accept it without issue (it is considered a promotion).


*You will need to attend auditions in order to be considered for a character performer
**Concierge and Front Desk were pulled from the Fall 2016 rounds and Spring 2017, so accepted CPs were transferred to other roles.