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Disney Theme Parks and Resorts College Program

For more information about the Bryan School Disney Theme Parks and Resorts College Program contact:

Bud Miles
363 Bryan Building
PO Box 26165
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
Phone: 336.334.4527
Fax: 336.334.4141
Email: disney@uncg.edu

UNCG Home > Bryan School > Disney Theme Parks and Resorts College Program

Welcome to
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
(UNCG)
And
The Walt Disney World College Program
(WDWCP)

Each of the Disney Collegiate Courses is focused around an area of Walt Disney World® expertise and contains levels of academic rigor not uncommon to the classes you take at your own college or university. Participants will have required textbooks to read, papers to write and special projects to complete. The difference is that you will be able to apply this knowledge immediately at your work location.

Advanced Studies in Hospitality
The objective of this advanced-level course is to prepare students to become entry-level managers in the Hospitality industry by exposing them to contemporary and complex operational issues and situations and equipping them with the ability to analyze problems and develop, propose and implement strategic solutions. Topics covered include leadership, strategic planning, international tourism, organizational behavior, communication, ethics, etiquette, human resource management, hospitality security and guest service, among others. Previous working knowledge of the hospitality industry gained through academic studies and practical experience is helpful. However, a list of independent reading material will be provided at the beginning of the term to help those students without this knowledge.

Corporate Communications
This course is designed to introduce the students to the purpose and significance of communication within an organization at many levels. Students will learn both the why and how of communicative technique as organizations interface with customers, employees, and the public. As a result, students should have greater understanding of and appreciation for the corporate communicative process.

Creativity & Innovation: Gaining the Edge
This course introduces students to the main theories of Creativity and Innovation. Students will learn various tools to promote creativity within themselves and others, processes to increase innovation, how to contribute to a creative team, how to manage creativity and how to establish a culture of creativity within an organization. As a result, students should have greater understanding of and appreciation for the creative/innovative process and be better able to harness and direct those forces for themselves and others.

Experiential Learning
The Disney Experiential Learning Course combines academic classroom education with on-site learning opportunities across the Walt Disney World® Resort property. Participants study theories of adult education, experiential learning, and the role of learning a corporation environment. Directed activities include diversity, self-directed learning, career exploration, community volunteer activities, and the exploration of education in entertainment.

Human Resource Management
This course provides an overview of fundamental human resource management in a corporate setting. The focus is on the fundamentals of Human Resource Management including: Equal Employment Opportunity, employee rights and labor relations, recruiting and the foundations of selection, employee development, performance evaluation, rewards, benefits, safety and health programs.

Marketing You
Through participation in this course students learn how to market their skills of communication, customer service, problem solving, conflict resolution, decision-making, self-management, and creative thinking. Key elements include the development of a career focus and a personal marketing plan that encompasses the creation of a cover letter, resume, and networking strategy. The students will also learn interviewing and negotiation techniques.

Organizational Leadership
This course analyzes the universal principles of leadership theory and its application within a personal and corporate environment. Instruction is designed to build repeatable and transferable leadership knowledge and skills.

College Program Practicum
This course is designed to explore knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to achieve corporate goals that make organizations successful. Students will learn the importance of corporate culture and how it creates a competitive advantage and apply the theories of vision and mission to personal decision-making.

Requirements: Part 2 BUS 110

You must complete 8 activities. You DO NOT have to write reports on Traditions, training or any official Disney University learning activity. The only reports you should write should be your two final topics or the Give Kids the World activity.

• First (1) activity will be Disney Traditions. This will be recorded on your Disney record, no report needed.
• Second (2) and third (3) learning activities will be your training classes. These will be recorded on your Disney record, no report needed.
• Examples of training classes are:
• Property Orientation
• Lifeguard training
• Line of Business Core Training
• Basic Food Safety
• Bloodborne Pathegens
• Disability Awareness
• Fourth through sixth (4-6) learning activities can be any of the learning opportunities through Disney University. These will be recorded on your Disney record, no report needed. Below are example activity categories.
• Career Insight
• Conversation With
• Spotlight On

If you choose to volunteer at Give Kids the World, it will NOT be recorded on your Disney record; you will need to write a journal on your experience.

• Give Kids the World – A program designed for volunteer work with children.

• Seventh (7)and eighth (8) activities will be on the following topics:
• Topic: Cultural Experience
  Consider what it has been like to live and work with people from cultures other than your own. What have been the challenges and benefits? Please give specific examples of your experiences to illustrateeach particular challenge or benefit.

• Topic: Disney Experience
  How would you evaluate your housing experience?What grade would you assign? Whatwere the positives and negatives about your housing experience? Please give both positive and negative examples. What would you like to see changed?
  How would you evaluate your learning experience? What grade would you assign? Whatwere the positives and negatives about your learning experience? Please give both positive and negative examples. What would you like to see changed?
• How would you evaluate your working experience?What grade would you assign? Were you treated with respect by your managers and coworkers? Please give both positive and negative examples. What would you like to see changed?

BUS 110 Activities Option

You may choose to attend and successfully complete either a Professional Development Studies or an Exploration Series. These courses are not graded but you will receive either a ‘Pass’ or ‘Not Passed’ based on attendance and participation.

One of these courses would count for 3 of your BUS 110 assignments (assignments 4-6).

Professional Development Studies

The following courses are major-specific. Enrollment is limited to students who have declared majors in the following fields of study (unless otherwise noted). This program consists of eight sessions lasting two to three hours in length.

Engineering
The Engineering Professional Development Study offers Engineering students the unique opportunity to explore technical careers at Walt Disney World®. Disney Engineering professionals share real-world experiences in areas such as Transportation Maintenance, Energy Services, Ride and Show Engineering, and Central Shops.

Entertainment
The Entertainment Professional Development Study offers students majoring in performing arts, theater or show production an opportunity to explore how Walt Disney World develops, implements, and maintains their productions. Specific topics include Business Planning & Creative Investigation, Concept Development, Show Development, Production & Opening, and Operations.

Finance
The Finance Professional Development Study offers Business & Accounting students an opportunity to explore how specific organizational units are managed. Specific topics include Forecasting & Trend Analysis, Operating Labor Management, Operating & Capital Planning, and Pro Forma Development.

Security
The Security Professional Development Study is designed to engage students in the field of Security and how it is applied at the Walt Disney World Resort. Applicable majors for this program would include Criminal Justice, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Psychology, Sociology, and Political Science. Samplings of the topics included in this program are Fraud & Loss Prevention, Emergency Management, Incident Command, and Sports Event Security.

Exploration Series

These series are open to all majors.

Exploring Marketing at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Gain a deeper understanding of how we maintain customer loyalty by both staying true to our brand and marketing our new Guest experiences.

Exploring Communication Processes at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Examine how we incorporate our Quality Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency in providing a vast communication network that can respond rapidly to anything, from weather emergencies to disgruntled Guests.

Exploring People Management at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Human Resources plays a huge role in developing the over 50,000 employees and Cast Members of the Walt Disney World Resort. Examine how to differentiate the ways we create a fun and supportive environment for our Cast and understand the concept of productivity as it relates to Guest, Cast and business.

Exploring Guest Service at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Hospitality is the hallmark of the Walt Disney World Resort. Investigate our multi-faceted approach to providing world class hospitality. Discuss how we anticipate and respond to the changing tastes of our Guests.

Exploring Leadership at the Walt Disney World Resort:
Discover how our leaders balance the needs of Cast, Guest and business to create the most magical place on earth and recognize the leadership skills you already possess.

Last Sunday, I went to volunteer again at Give Kids the World Village. I chose to come on a Sunday because I had already gone on a Wednesday and I wanted to see what Sunday night was like. We were shuttled into the village and brought into a conference room and shown the video about the organization. We were told what we would be doing that night; organizing a candy themed party for the children. I was really excited because I had wanted to get to work and play with the children the last time I had volunteered. The organizers went over the rules, which were the same as the last time I volunteered, and then we went to set up the party.

We had oversized plastic candies and huge lollipops that we placed all around the stage and the open area that we were playing on. To make the giant Candy Land board, we used foam pieces that lock together to make a colorful trail to follow. Then we used the same foam pieces up on the stage to color it and make it really pretty and fun. After we were done setting up, we got to eat dinner at the Gingerbread house.

After dinner we had a little time to walk around the village. During this time we were supposed to tell every family we saw about the party going on at 7:30. This is the only promotion they have for the party, word of mouth, because they do not put up flyers or anything else. At 7:30 we met on the avenue where we had set up the game board and stage. All the volunteers put on rainbow aprons with big pockets in the front. The pockets held big laminated cards that had colors on them that matched the colors of the squares we had laid down. Some of the cards had double colors, which meant you skipped that color the first time you landed on it, and went on to the next one. We all went to the start of the game board, and paired up with a child. My first child was Nikeria. She was eight years old and had two brothers and a sister there with her. We made our way through the board, and at the finish line, I left her to get her prize, a sucker, and went back to the beginning to match up with another child. It was a lot of fun to play with the children and they seemed to be having a great time too. One little boy, Jack, looked up at me when I said “we’re winning!” and said “It’s not all about winning, it’s about having fun!” And he reminded me to keep things in perspective and make sure everyone had fun.

After fifteen minutes of Candy Land, we went on the next game, Peppermint Twist. The kids split into four teams and each team picked a member to wrap up like a candy cane in red and white tissue paper. The kids were laughing and running around and having a lot of fun with this game. After the peppermint twist, they played limbo for a couple minutes and then went on to build gingerbread houses. This was fun because the kids were more interested in sticking their entire hands into the cans of marshmallow fluff and licking them clean.

After all the games we had about twenty minutes to just dance to music up on the stage. At first I was a little embarrassed to be dancing to the songs in front of everyone, but as soon as I looked and saw how much fun the kids were having and how hard they were laughing, I was able to loosen up and have fun myself. First they played the Peanut Butter Jelly song, then the Cha Cha Slide, and finally the Cotton Eyed Joe. It was fun to dance with the kids who did not know the actual dance moves because they seemed to be having the most fun. They were just moving and clapping to the music and did not seem to have a care in the world.

After the dancing, the party was over and it was time for the volunteers to leave. I had such a good time meeting the kids and learning about where they were from, their favorite colors, and just having conversations with them. I am really glad I got to experience this because I know that it is a truly unique thing to get to do. Who else gets to play life sized Candy Land with a bunch of amazingly strong children? I hope to get to go back on another Sunday night before I leave the college program because it was so fun.

Requirements: Part 2 BUS 230

You must write 8 journal assignments from the list of topics below. Summarize your findings in a 2 page, 12 pt font, double-spaced report. Provide stories as examples whenever possible.

Understanding Your Workplace

• What is the corporate culture of your workplace? Describe the environment of the company as a whole. Who are its customers? What is its purpose? How is day-to-day business conducted?
• What are some of the policies of your employer? Are there dress codes? Housing rules? Scheduled hours of working? Include other topics, too.
• How do the policies relate to the corporate culture of your workplace?

Understanding Your Role

• What is your job description? In addition to the job title, describe your responsibilities and the department/division where you are employed.
• What are other jobs within your company like? Describe two to three other positions; i.e., your supervisor, or someone with whom you work whose job differs from yours.
• How do all jobs relate to the common goal or mission of the company?

Working With Others

• In working with customers or co-workers, what cultural differences have you experienced?
• Have cultural differences resulted in communication problems? Describe the kinds of problems and why you think they occurred.
• What kind of training does your company provide for assisting employees with multi-cultural understanding?

Handling Conflict/Solving Problems

• What are some problems that you have experienced in working with customers? Co-workers? Your supervisor?
• Why do you feel these problems have occurred?
• How did you handle the situation(s)?

Building Networks

• Are there opportunities for advancement within your company? Describe a career path for someone with your background.
• Who are the key people in making advancement decisions?
• If you were seeking advancement within this company, how would you begin the process? Map out a job search/career path for your "ideal" job. This may take more than one step.

Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

• What have you discovered are your strengths and weaknesses by participating in this internship?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of your sponsoring company/organization?
• Based on this knowledge, would you consider pursuing a career with this company? Why or why not?

Dealing With Ethical Situations

• Have you experienced a situation at work which affected your personal or professional values?
• How does the corporation deal with people (employees or customers) who conflict with the values of the organization?
• Is there a way to compromise or professionally handle ethical conflicts without sacrificing your personal values?

Integrating Classroom Knowledge

• Based on your prior business coursework, have you seen evidence of what you learned in the classroom applied in your work situation? Give examples.
• How are the basic principles of economics evident at your corporation?
• What types of technology are you exposed to at work? How does this relate to the knowledge you obtained in your computer technology classes?

Going the "Extra Mile"

• Does your organization reward/recognize employees who perform beyond their job description? What does it take to earn this recognition?
• What personal characteristics are required to be a top performer at your organization/company?

Implementing Creativity in the Workplace

• How can you put your own personal touch to your job? Give examples.
• Are there ways to show your individuality and express your ideas to the decision-makers?
• Have you been able to have an idea implemented?

Developing Self-Confidence

• Have you been able to gain a better self-understanding and to learn self-reliance? Describe how.
• Has your internship provided opportunities for you to gain self-confidence? Give examples.

Motivating Yourself and Others

• Every internship has peaks and valleys. Describe these stages of your internship and what steps you took to motivate yourself to move through them.
• Often in a workplace there are people who are negative about their jobs. If applicable, how have you handled this outside negativity? Describe how you motivated yourself to remain upbeat/positive. If no negativity exists, what are the positive forces that prevent negativity?
• Are you in a position to motivate others at work? Explain how.

Impacting the Environment

• What kinds of activities have you observed your company doing to conserve/protect the environment?
• Are there state or federal environmental regulations which the company must follow in its business practices? Describe.
• As an intern, do you play a part in the conservation efforts of the company? Explain how.

Using New Technologies

• ·Have you been exposed to new technologies (computer or other) at your workplace? Describe.
• What kinds of technological advancements does your organization/company see in its future? How will these advancements impact productivity, labor, new product development, etc.?
• Is there adequate training provided by your company on using the new technologies? If not, where do employees obtain the needed training?

Choosing Your Own Topic

• Select a topic that is unique to your internship experience. Develop two to three questions pertaining to your topic. Then look for answers and insights from yourself, your roommates, your co-workers, managers, etc.

I think Disney is one of very few companies that really doesn’t even need to tell their cast members to go the extra mile because they already do it. It is this way because it has been built into the culture of the company and its teachings. Starting with Traditions and the Disney Service Basics, we are taught to go above and beyond because that is what people expect from Disney. However, on that note, Disney does take time to reward special individuals who do go the extra mile. For instance, one thing that instantly comes to mind are the “great guest fanatic” cards. These simple cards are given out by anyone (regardless of your role with the company) to anyone who performed excellent guest service. The card is then placed onto your record card and your name is entered into a draw for a prize. The only downfall to this card is that it can take an extremely long time for the card to show on your record card and it will not state what you were recognized for. In addition, there have been times when cards get lost and never appear on your record card.

Another recognition system is the Partners in Excellence, which is a special award given to cast members who show true dedication to their role and constantly go above and beyond. Cast members who are honored are allowed to wear a special pin on their nametag that shows people achievement. However, the only downfall for this recognition program is that a lot of people, like college program cast members, are not eligible due to status and length of service with the company.

However, for the most part Disney cast members do not get rewarded for going the extra mile because it’s seldom seen by managers who are busy and guests of course do not always tell Disney what magical moments they encountered on their vacations. However, that is ok, because I personally feel that if I make a difference and make a guests dream come true, that the positive energy is thanks enough. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go the extra mile. I was in Frontierland attending with Brer Bear and Fox and was talking with some guests when I noticed a little boy looking at my pin lanyard. I bent down to his level and asked if he wanted to trade but he said he couldn’t because he didn’t have any pins and just wanted to look. Well I reached into my attendant bag and pulled out a special package of two Disney pins (one to keep and one to share). I explained that it was the “Year of A Million Dreams” and the idea was that he got to keep one pin and then create a magical moment for another guest with the other pin. He was so happy that he reached over and gave me a big hug and said “Thanks Nicholas”. Everyone in line thought it was cutest moment and it made a normal day for me into a magical one and once again reminded me why I work for Disney.

In order to be a top performer for Disney you need to have several different characteristics that mostly revolve around having a strong work ethic, being an individual and caring for the success of Disney and its guests. A lot of cast members here at Disney, including the president of the resort, all started in lower positions and due to a strong work ethic and for caring about Disney they were able to move up and become top performers. I also mentioned that being an individual was also important because you need to be able to stand out and make choices on your own. Also you need to make sure that people see you as a leader and capable of making tough decisions on your own (the right ones of course). Some of these characteristics will help you become a great performer at Disney; however these are just a few examples as many of our great cast members demonstrate a lot of different qualities.

Course Assignment Due Dates

You MUST take TWO Disney courses; one course in Term 1 and one course in Term 2.

Disney Class Term 1
Disney Class Term 2

OPTIONAL Course, to count for 3 BUS 110 Assignments:

Professional Development Studies or Exploration Series class

If more than 2 consecutive assignments for either BUS 110, BUS 230 or both are missed, without explanation, it may be necessary for us to contact Disney and your home institution to let them know you are not making satisfactory progress.

**You may always turn in assignments early!**

You must also complete a course evaluation. These will be made available in the Disney Education Office, Vista Way, Suite 703.

• They will be available. The evaluation must be filled out during this time period.

Page updated: 14-Feb-2008

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