The Disney Look
To work at Walt Disney World or Disneyland resorts, participants must adhere to appearance standards or what they call "the Disney Look." The look veers from "'cutting edge' or extreme styles." The requirements include, but are not limited to:
- No visible tattoos or body piercings other than traditional ear piercings for women.
For men
- No shaved eyebrows.
- "Hair must be neatly cut on the back and sides, forming a smooth, symmetrical appearance so that it does not extend beyond or cover any part of the ears or the shirt collar. The overall style must be neat, natural and balanced proportionally."
- Hair coloring must be natural and well-maintained.
- Facial hair must be no longer than a quarter of an inch in length.
- Fingernails must not extend beyond the tip of the finger.
For women
- Any portion of the head and eyebrows must not be shaved.
- Makeup must be in appropriate or neutral colors.
- Nail polishes in black, gold, silver, multicolored and neon are not allowed.
- Fingernails must not extend one-fourth of an inch past the fingertip.
Being the youngest child in her family meant freshman public relations major Riley Breen didn't get to share many memories with her two, significantly older siblings.
A trip to Disney World every other year was one of the only things Breen's family could do together. So when Breen found out about the Disney College Program, she knew she wanted to get involved.
The Disney College Program is a paid internship at Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort for a semester or a trimester. Students like Breen preparing to work in the summer are currently applying and receiving their answers.
During the program students work at the parks and can attend some classes. Ball State does not offer credit to students participating in the program.
To be accepted to the Disney Program, students must go through a rigorous application process including online and phone interviewers, where interviewers assess their abilities and talents.
Breen passed the online portion of the interview and participated in a phone interview the month after she applied. The interview took about 35 minutes and Breen was asked about her past work experience, the roles she was interested in and how she would handle those roles.
Her interviewer posed hypothetical scenarios about emergencies and handling timid guests.
“I was intimidated by the thought of the interview at first, but it was a very relaxed interview and she [the interviewer] was friendly, which made me feel comfortable,” she said.
Breen won’t find out if she made it until April. When she does, she’ll know what job she’s been assigned to.
“I love Disney and I know this opportunity is unlike any other. This program can teach me independence and responsibility, all while working for a company that had such an influence on my childhood,” she said.
Toccoa Kinsey, a freshman English education major, has already been accepted to the program.
She’ll leave for Disney World in April and stay until the week before fall semester, working in Quick-Service Food & Beverage.
Ryan Reese, a junior hospitality and food management major, knows what it’s like to anticipate the beginning of the program. He participated himself from January to August 2014.
He worked at the Art of Animation Resort front desk and shared an apartment at Apartment Complex Vista Way.
“[I was] very excited when I got in; it is my dream job and it reassured me that the dream can become a reality,” he said.
Reese worked a lot of closing shifts. He remembers one instance around midnight when a family came into the hotel.
They were celebrating their first visit, a wedding and a kid’s birthday.
“That was true dedication love for Disney,” Reese said. "The only problem was that their reservation was not in the system.”
Reese talked to his manager and he was able to get the family into a suite filled with stuffed animals.
That experience defined the Disney Program for Reese. He often had to be quick on his feet, turning negative situations into positive ones so the guests could feel the magic again.
“Be yourself throughout the whole process because that is who they are looking for: hardworking, dedicated people who love Disney and that are out there to help people,” he said.
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