Great Information about the WDWIP

The Walt Disney World International Program is an international internship program sponsored and operated by The Walt Disney Company at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Walt Disney World International Program recruits participants (18 years and older) from outside of the United States for year-long cultural exchanges with paid-positions and summer-long paid internships working at the Walt Disney World Resort.

This program, which is designed to attract international students and workers, shares many similarities with the US based Walt Disney World College Program and its philosophy of Living, Learning and Earning.

For more detailed information about this wonderful program, I suggest you read the WDWIP page on Wikipedia, located here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Di...tional_Program

I just put a post on the College Program Roll Call thread ( I wish I had seen this thread first.)
Anyway anyone interested is welcome to PM me. It has been a few years (15) but I still remember how much fun I had and the doors it opened up for me afterwards.
Donna

Thanks for the link Lou!

Are there any members on this site who have done the WDWIP? I'm from the UK and will be applying next year, I'd love to talk to anyone about their experiences on this programme.

I am a WDWIP Alumni. It has been 15 years but I still remember what a great experience it was. Feel free to ask me anything.

Thanks for your offer Donna. I've thought of a few questions for you:

1. What exactly does Alumni mean?
2. Also I'm really interested in working at WDW permanently if I enjoy the WDWIP. Do you know if it's possible for an 'international' to do that? I guess I'd have to apply for a permanent resident visa of some kind.
3. What kind of things did you do during your programme? Did you work in F+B, merchandise or an attraction?

I think that's all for now!

Ooooh, I've just thought of another question! I was just wondering what kind of doors the WDWIP opened up for you? Is it something that future employers would find interesting? Thanks!

1. Alumni just means that you are a graduate of a program, whether it is from a school or in this case the IP.

2. For us to work permanently in the United States we need a to apply for a Green Card. I am not sure what the process is now. You would probably have to go the American Embassy where you live and find out.

3. I worked in F&B. Le Cellier was a counter service restaurant back then. We also worked the 'fruit and soda cart' out on the promenade and also the 'port' which is a little building that served soda, cookies, frozen yogurt, and cinnamon buns.

4. At the time I returned from Florida the Disney Stores were just opening in Canada and Disney came to me and offered me a job at the store. (which I took) It also made interviews a lot easier for mebecause when employers saw WDW on my resume they would ask me about that instead. I get very nervous when I am in an interview and talking about WDW made me relax.

Hope this helps.:D

I'm from Saskatoon and interested in working at Disney World, is the WDWIP something that would be good to start out with and how well would I fit in, since I have a background in Customer Service?

That would be a great place to start since it is so hard for Canadian's to work across the border. You have to be between the ages of 18 and 25. I am not sure if you have to be currently enrolled in a Canadian college or university. Here is the link to the WDWIP website ; http://wdwip.thefairground.com/apply.htm
Hope that worked.
PM me if you have any more questions.

Does anyone know if WDW employs cast members from overseas who are older than 25yrs?

Another great way to get involved in the disney experience is cast-a-way.com

For those in canada, your contact is Eric at the montreal office (his contact info is on the site)

Another Disney alumni here! I am from Mexico and worked in Epcot a loooong time ago... but it was the best time of my life!

I now live in the UK with my (also Disney alumni) husband and would love to go back there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by castmember

Another Disney alumni here! I am from Mexico and worked in Epcot a loooong time ago... but it was the best time of my life!

I now live in the UK with my (also Disney alumni) husband and would love to go back there.

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How long ago? I worked in Canada F&B from June 91-Jan 92

Wow - not quite that long ago for me: I was there from May 95 to July 96.

Are you calling me old?!