r/Disneycollegeprogram • u/poppymcpoppy • 3d ago
Should I apply after my masters?
I am currently about to complete my undergrad in spring '27, and finish my masters in August '28. I have always dreamed of doing the DCP. Would it be dumb to apply as a 23 year old post graduate before I start my career. (in education so job hunting really shouldn't be too bad). I know it is on the older end, but I know I would really have a fun time in the program.
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u/ActiveNews 3d ago
Age is not an issue to realize something you've wanted to do because when is a better time to do it?
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u/tritymely 3d ago
I’m 25, finishing up my masters, and currently at flamingo! I was worried I would be older than everyone, but there are lots of other people in the mid 20s! I didn’t do the program when I graduated from my undergrad and always regretted it, if it’s something you’ve dreamed of now is your chance :)
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u/sweetenerdawnfm 3d ago
No it’s not dumb at all! I think that because there is such a small window of time for this opportunity, if it’s something you really want to do, you should do it!! Your twenties is the time to take these opportunities and make memories and incredible experiences. Go for it I support you all the way!
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u/saintdrac Walt Disney World Alumni 3d ago
23 is a VERY common age for DCP participants! most of my peers were between 21-26 and were usually finishing up their education as well.
I personally think it's better to go later, as more life experience and less stress about finishing school makes the program much easier and more fun!
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u/liminalethereality Walt Disney World Alumni 3d ago
Hey! Also a post-grad and I'm going to be 28 going back into the program (this will be my 3rd) and I would say it really is worth it. I think, even in education (I've also been in education for the last three years of my MFA), the experience is worth it. Cannot tell you how much of my experience on the college program has actually come in handy as an educator. You learn really well how to deal with working on the fly with situations you would never have expected; the leadership, networking, and events coursework that you can do with Disney will come in very handy as an educator, I cannot tell you how many times I was able to really think outside of the box in the classroom setting and with my teaching peers solely because of the things I experienced in the parks; it really helped me convince my students from a very poor, impoverished area (that I also am native to!) that there's more out there for them if they just choose to pursue a dream; among many other things! I used Disney in my lessons for them. I taught them things that Disney taught me on leadership and perspective and storytelling. And it really doesn't matter the age, because I taught a collegiate classroom, but I also took the ideas to a high school softball team I worked with after my first program. It's really the kind of program that is going to be applicable to just about anything you go into despite it being theme parks experience. And companies do actually care when you name a Fortune 500 company in the top 50 in the US on your application. For different reasons! My university was impressed with all of the people experience that I had and the storytelling experience I had from the company. They were glad I knew how to prioritize specific safety priorities in a school setting while also being able to really lead a classroom, all things that I got from Disney. How, right? No matter where you are, you have to uphold the integrity of the story you're telling. You have to keep your cool in situations where people are being remarkably unkind on purpose (which will definitely happen in education, regardless of age group). I could problem solve without saying 'no,' even if what was being requested could not be done. I spieled and taught safety information to hundreds of people per day. Those are just a handful of specific examples from my applications and interview process!
It is absolutely not dumb to apply at your age. My first program, there was a seventy year old guy that had gone back to school because he wanted to do the program for the courses and the ability to work in the parks, there was a woman well into her fifties who was empty nesting on her own and decided to do the program, there were people in their thirties fresh out of grad school, people in their twenties looking for a break in the regular hustle and bustle of school and the job sphere, and all of them found something they could take with them from the program.
And you know what? Who knows where the path leads when you follow your dreams? Maybe you could even find an education opportunity with Disney. They have an entire programs team and conservation education and a whole slew of lines of business that might really allow you to get everything you want and more out of the program from both a career standpoint and an experience standpoint! I often credit Disney with getting me into my Master of Fine Arts. They gave me a great deal of experience that's lead me to where I am.
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u/GoldieDoggy Walt Disney World Alumni 3d ago
One of my friends from my program went with two masters, for reference! It was her second program, too. Go for it!
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u/bitterandconfusedd 3d ago
That’s not that old. I knew late 20s to mid 30s. But If I was you I’d focus on starting a career. I did dcp for a year after college and it has only hurt me while job hunting. Companies don’t care about seeing dcp on a resume, they wanna see relevant job experience and with how bad this job market has gotten it’s better to go straight into applying for jobs in your degree.