Disney Goes Intern-Shopping
The bubbly, blue-eyed college freshman wasn't sure how a Disneyland internship would fit in with her primary field of study, psychology. But then, the Cinderella wannabe attending a recent Cal State Fullerton job fair didn't much care.
"It's been a lifelong dream to work at Disneyland," said Chelsea Rook, 18, who was seeking a seasonal service post at the park. "Any way I could get in the door would work. If the internship turned into a full-time job, even better."
Faced with the perennial challenge of filling about 4,000 jobs for its busiest season, the Anaheim theme park has turned to a staple of white-collar industry -- the summer internship -- to lure young people such as Rook amid stiff competition from other low-paying service jobs.
In the 1960s and '70s, Disneyland didn't advertise summer jobs. An oversupply of teens and college students lined up for a shot at operating a ride or selling cotton candy.
But as the resort added California Adventure, three hotels and Downtown Disney in recent years, its staff has quadrupled to about 20,000. Meanwhile, the pool of summer job candidates has shrunk because of low unemployment rates.
Disneyland has been forced to recruit more creatively and aggressively. This year, for the first time, the resort is offering internships that allow students to earn college credit for working, and taking courses, at the park, according to guidelines by an accrediting organization.
Interns can earn up to six credits for seven months of work and up to three credits by attending eight-week marketing and leadership classes taught by Disney.
In coming weeks, Disney recruiters will visit about 50 colleges and universities in Southern California. About 200 students will be accepted into the first intern class, which runs from May to December. About three dozen have been chosen already.
Patterned after a successful program at Florida's Walt Disney World, Disneyland's internship is unique among Southern California's biggest theme parks, all of which struggle to fill summer openings.
When Disneyland recruiters sell their new program to candidates, they point to several Disney World interns who turned summer jobs into careers in Disney management. Gary Maggetti, Disneyland's food and beverage manager, began as a Jungle Cruise skipper during his sophomore year as a Northern Arizona University student.
