Introduction to the Program

Overview: 

The Disney College Program is a program located at Disney in Florida. You will work in one of the Disney locations in a position that is relevant to your major. For example, I am working sales (retail) at a resort. My major is Business Administration, so this will look good on my resume if I decide to go into sales or finance. Each week at the program I will be working between 35-50 hours a week. There are also different seminars that help with networking and understanding different business components. This program counts as 6 credits towards your degree program at SUNY ADK. I will update this with more information as I am in the program. 

Application Process: 

When you apply to the program, there will be a questionnaire you fill out and a phone call (this is your interview). If you are accepted into the program you will receive an email. The email has 3 steps: submitting program fees, and completing some forms. Important to note, when you receive the email you will have up to 7 days after that to submit the program fees. Another thing to mention, I applied in the middle/end of November for the semester in January. I definitely recommend applying earlier than 2 months prior to leaving. If you want to do it for the spring semester, I would start applying in October. If you want to do it in the fall, you have to apply between January and March.

Costs Prior to Leaving: 

Programs fees were $431. I am driving down so a parking permit was $180. 

Then of course the cost of getting to Florida. I am taking 5 days to drive down, stopping in Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The expense of the Airbnb's in total was $450 and gas is estimated to be $200 in my civic. (Plane tickets are a lot cheaper 10/10 recommend flying, but I financed my car and want to put my monthly payment to use). 

Costs while in Florida: 

Important to note that housing and food is not included. However, the wonderful thing is that you're getting paid while working. Right now the pay rate is $14 an hour, not bad. The housing is also taken directly from your paycheck. The housing is $191 a week. That leaves around $275 a week for food, gas, souvenirs, and bills if you work 40 hours. 

Another thing to note, I am staying from the the last week of January to the second week of June (longer than the normal semester), my total came to $3,800 to cover the housing. Dorms normally cost $4,300 just for middle of January to middle of May. You can save $500 and get an apartment with a full kitchen, in the warm state of Florida. 

Also financial aid and student loans cannot be used for the program to cover expenses. 

How does it work? 

You will still have to be a full time student at SUNY ADK. That means that there is a minimum of 2 other classes you will have to take online through SUNY ADK. You will live at apartments that are associated with the program. You will have one roommate and share the apartment with 2 other people. It is very similar to the dorms at SUNY ADK, except you get a full kitchen (fridge, dishwasher, oven, stove) and a living space furnished with a television.