The Disney College Program or DCP is one of the most unique internship programs in the world. Students are immersed in all things Disney while living, learning, and working at the most magical place on earth. One of the biggest perks is Disney college program housing, and we’ve got some tips to help you out.

My daughter completed the college program, a professional internship, and then went on to work on the conservation team at Animal Kingdom. You can read all about her experiences over at her blog Britty Loves Disney. Needless to say, she learned a thing or two about living in Disney housing, so let’s dive right in!

Where is the Disney College Program housing?

There are four complexes, all located near Little Lake Bryan in Lake Buena Vista. Depending on traffic, it took my daughter 15 – 25 minutes to get to work. She had her own car. There are also buses that can take you to and from work.

What are the names of the complexes?

Currently, the five complexes are Vista Way, The Commons, Chatham Square, Patterson Court, and Flamingo Crossings, which is expected to open in summer 2020. My daughter lived at Chatham Square!

Do you get to choose the complex you want?

You are encouraged to submit a housing preference through the Disney Dorms system, as well as the number of roommates and bedrooms you prefer. To request a roommate, both or all must have the same registration period and departure date. Requests are not guaranteed. You’ll be notified of the complex you’ve been assigned to and how to check-in before you arrive. I highly recommend completing the pre-registration process to speed up registration on the day of your arrival.

What to expect when applying for the Disney College program!

Chatham Square

Will I know who I am living with beforehand?

It’s possible. You can find Facebook groups for each arrival date, and there is tons of helpful information there. You can also virtually meet your roommates in these groups. In fact, my daughter had already formed relationships with most of her roommates before she arrived!

How much does Disney Disney College Program housing cost?

As of March 2020, prices range from $115 to $205 per week, which includes utilities such as electric, water, cable, and garbage pickup, and local phone service. Your rent comes directly out of your paycheck. A non-refundable housing fee of $150 (as of March 2020) in paid advance. If you choose to live off-property, you do not have to pay this fee.

How to save on housing?

Room with up to eight people and split the rent, request the cheapest complex (Vista Way), and pick up extra shifts to offset your rent.

Do you have to live in housing?

No. You can opt-out and find your own housing, but I wouldn’t advise that. Living with fellow interns is a once in a lifetime experience. My daughter had some of the best times and made friends for life. They become your support, your family, and your lifeline. ** International interns must live in Disney housing.

Can married couples live in housing?

Yes, as long as both people are participating in a Disney internship or program and can show proof of marriage. You can make the request to live together through the Disney Dorms system before your arrival.

What are the perks of living in Disney College Program housing?

Free bus service allows you to get to most places you need without the worry or parking fees. Living in DCP housing also allows you the option of bringing your own car!

Free events like dance parties, movie nights, pool parties, day getaways, and classes are offered at each complex and are a great way to make friends and network – and get free food!

Friends. Disney friends are the BEST! Living in housing, going to events, having roommates – these are all part of the experience. You will meet people from all over the world and make lifelong friendships.

Can you drink alcohol?

Students 21 and over are assigned to Non-Wellness apartments, where alcohol is permitted. Students under 21 live in Wellness apartments, where alcohol is NOT prohibited. If you’re over 21 and want a Wellness apartment, you can request that before arriving.

Do I need to bring furniture?

All apartments have basic furnishings: beds, living furniture, dining furniture, basic kitchen equipment, and housewares. You will need to provide your own bedding, extra linens, TV, groceries, and any specific kitchen equipment you want. Most units do not have a laundry room, but there is a laundry facility at each complex. There is wifi in the common areas like the pool, clubhouses, and lounges. All the complexes have a fitness center, pools, and a computer lab.

How big are the apartments?

Apartments range from 1 bedroom, which 2 people can share, or 2-4 bedrooms, which 4-8 people can share.

Ten need-to-know Disney College Program application tips!

What are the pros and cons of having more roommates?

The pros are lower rent, instant friends, always having someone to do something with, moral support, and sharing necessities. The cons can be that personalities clash, not everyone may have the same cleaning standards, and more roommates means more noise. I’m an introvert and need peace and quiet, but my daughter LOVED having a big ‘ole houseful of girls! They called themselves “The Great Eight” LOL!

Can I change apartments?

Yes – with a fee. Each complex has a service center that is there to help. If you’d like to change apartments, that’s where you’ll start.

What are the Disney College Program Housing rules?

There are a lot! From “can I nail things into my wall” to “can someone spend the night”, most answers can be found in your DCP guide. When in doubt, call the service center or ask a fellow cast member. The rules are strict and heavily enforced. If you break them, you risk immediate termination.

Lastly, to help with homesickness and loneliness, you must put yourself out there. Unless you’re sitting alone in your room every day, it’s virtually impossible to not meet people on the Disney College Program. Spend time with your roommates, go to events, and try to get to know fellow cast members. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so live it up!

Have you completed a Disney internship? If so, please share your tips and experiences below!

More Disney posts you may enjoy:

• Romance at Disney World
• Our Favorite Lunches 
• Working at Disney World
• How to Have a Custom Cake Made at Disney

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As a brand new Disney Cast member and Disney addict, I naively thought I could answer most any question I was asked. One day during training, a manager asked me how I felt about my question and answer abilities, and I told him I felt pretty confident. Having been to the Animal Kingdom many times, I thought was pretty knowledgeable about the park.

I was wrong.

He proceeded to drill me with questions like: “Which is the better show to see: Finding Nemo or Festival of the Lion King?” I didn’t know; I hadn’t seen either. Shameful, I know!; “Where can I find the princesses?” I didn’t think there were any princesses. Wrong. Pocahontas, duh!; “Where was the old Festival of the Lion King location?” Really, come on?! So, after fumbling through his questions, I realized that all my vacations to WDW really didn’t prepare me as well as I had thought.

As a Disney Cast member, you’ll be hundreds of questions a day!

What helped me the most were two things: 1 Ask your fellow cast members. Most likely, they have probably worked there much longer than you have, therefore are pretty knowledgeable people. In my experience, a cast member is more than happy to help a newbie and teach them everything they know. 2 Study your park map and know it like the back of your hand. Guests are going to expect you to know everything about the park you work at, even if you never leave your attraction area like I did. Typically question topics include how to get to point A to point B the quickest, what attractions are better suited for the younger kiddos, the locations for beer and ice cream, etc, etc.

As I said earlier, I got some pretty interesting/hilarious questions while working at the trains. Sometimes it was hard not to laugh or be like, “Really?” You just have to remind yourself that: (a) they may have never been to WDW before and are truly unaware of seemingly obvious things or (b) are in what we call “vacation fog”, where all common sense goes out the window. No matter how trivial, obvious, or laughable the question was, I also did my best to answer it correctly and with a smile.


Here are some of my favorite questions, along with their answers. And by the way, some are a tad bit more snarky compared to how I would have normally answered them to the guests, ha!:

“Does this train take you to Epcot?”

Answer: Nope, the train brings you to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, which is – and always will be – located in Animal Kingdom.

“Can I bring my drink/food with me?”

Answer: Yes you may! PS: I always loved answering this one, because guests would get so excited, like you told them they just won a $100, haha!

“Can I leave my child with you?”

Answer: As much as I love kids, your children must accompany you.

“What tree/bird/flower is this?”

Answer: I have no idea. I am not a botanist, ha!

“Where is the monorail?”

Answer: I’m sorry, but Animal Kingdom does not have a monorail.

“Wasn’t there a boat ride here?”

Answer: Unfortunately, not anymore. But there is a water ride located in Asia called Kali River Rapids. PS: Brownie points goes to the guests that ask this question, because YES there actually was a boat ride in Animal Kingdom years ago, which is something I did not know until I worked there.

“Who is Rafiki?”

Answer: He is the monkey from the Lion King. If that answer didn’t suffice, I would then do the raising-Simba-to-the-heavens move and that usually did the trick, ahaha!

“WHERE AM I?!!! HOW DO I GET BACK TO THE PARK? WHY DO I HAVE TO TAKE A TRAIN?!”

Answer: You are at Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the only way to and from this location is via the train, which arrives every 5-7 minutes. Don’t worry, you won’t be stranded here. =D

“What time is the 3:30 parade?”

Answer: The parade starts at 3:30, beginning and ending at Pizza Safari.

More Disney posts you may enjoy:

• Romance at Disney World
• Our Favorite Lunches 
• Working at Disney World
• How to Have a Custom Cake Made at Disney

Did you find this post helpful?

• Leave us a comment or rating below!
• Tag and hashtag us on Instagram @nashvillemade #nashvillemadeatdisney
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• Join our Facebook Group where you can connect with other Disney addicts, ask questions, share photos, and get help planning trip!

Written by my daughter, Brittany. She completed several Disney internships and eventually accepted a full-time position on the conservation team at Animal Kingdom. Read all about her time there over at her blog Britty Loves Disney.

I had no idea that working at Disney would also include having to know literally hundreds of Disney acronyms. It’s like a whole different secret language that cast members use, but so do many guests. In fact, I already knew many of them from browsing my favorite online Disney sites and forums.

Literally, everything I was taught throughout my training and work experience was shortened into some sort of abbreviation. Magic Kingdom is often referred to simply as “MK.” A GAC (pronounced gah-ch) is a guest assistance card. At my job, WLE and RPW were used to signify which station you were working at.

My favorite acronym was the one for Animal Kingdom. Anyone that has worked for the Walt Disney Company hardly ever calls Animal Kingdom by its name. Instead, everyone says “DAK” (dah-kuh). I still call Animal Kingdom DAK, which is funny when I am talking to non-Disney employees and I realize they have no idea what I am talking about.

Here are the most commonly used Disney acronyms:

• ADR – Advance Dining Reservation
• AK – Disney’s Animal Kingdom (or DAK)
• AP – Annual Pass
• BOG – Be Our Guest Restaurant (Magic Kingdom)
• CB – Character Breakfast
• CM – Disney Cast Member
• CP – Candlelight Processional
• DCL – Disney Cruise Line
• DD – Downtown Disney
• DDP – Disney Dining Plan
• DME – Disney Magical Express
• DRC – Disney Reservations Center
• DVC – Disney Vacation Club
• EMH – Extra Magic Hours
• EEMH – Extra Extra Magic Hour
• FP – Fast Pass
• FP+ – Fast Pass PlusGS – Guest Services
• HM – Hidden Mickey
• HS – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• MDE – My Disney Experience
• MK – Magic Kingdom
• MM – Memory Maker
• MNSSHP – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
• MVMCP – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
• QS – Quick Service (Disney Dining Plan)
• TDS – The Disney Store
• TS – Table Service (Disney Dining Plan)
• WDTC – Walt Disney Travel Company
• WDW – Walt Disney World Resort

There’s a LOT more than this, but these are the ones you’ll likely see and hear the most, especially online.

Disney is also a big fan of codes; codes that only their employees would know. The reason behind this is really quite genius. Cast members employ talking in code so that they can discuss things that are not quite appropriate for guests to hear. For instance, there was an issue with a ride that required it to stop momentarily. Instead of saying this verbatim, the cast members would use the code that represented the issue. At my work location, when the train had to close, we said it was “101.” When it was back up and running, the train was then “102.” These are common codes used throughout the Walt Disney World attractions. Another common code is a “103”, which is a bathroom break.

So next time you are vacationing at WDW, listen out for those codes and abbreviations! Maybe you can even impress a cast member by asking if the ride is “101”…or freak him/her out by giving them a wink and declaring them a “105”, ahahaha! =P

More Disney posts you may enjoy:

• Romance at Disney World
• Our Favorite Lunches 
• Working at Disney World
• How to Have a Custom Cake Made at Disney

Did you find this post helpful?

• Leave us a comment or rating below!
• Tag and hashtag us on Instagram @nashvillemade #nashvillemadeatdisney
• Follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook
• Sign up here to receive our weekly roundup in your inbox.
• Join our Facebook Group where you can connect with other Disney addicts, ask questions, share photos, and get help planning trip!

Written by my daughter, Brittany. She completed several Disney internships and eventually accepted a full-time position on the conservation team at Animal Kingdom. Read all about her time there over at her blog Britty Loves Disney.