A team of Disney World recruiters spent two days at BYU-Hawaii earlier this week looking for a few good hosts and hostesses to serve internships in Orlando, Florida, pitching them that the experience could work magic on their résumés. "Internships are the number-one place employers find new hires. That's what we're here to offer," said Donna Rowe, the college recruiter who explained BYU-Hawaii is one of only 12 spots in the U.S. where the Disney team looks for entertainment division interns. Rowe said the Disney World internship includes a modest wage, spectacular living accommodations, and "transferable skills. No matter where you go in life, you're going to need to know hospitality...and how to communicate." She also pointed out the program offers seven college-level classes, including communications, human resources, organizational behavior, and hospitality management.
"You're not required to take them, but about 60% of the interns do." "The bottom line? It's up to you to make the most of your experience there," she continued, stressing the experience increases the intern's future marketability.
Kelly Kinnaman, an entertainment recruiter, explained the programs requires interns to have a certain "look, that was originally set by Walt Disney himself. Everyone has a very clean cut image." She added that's one of the reason BYU-Hawaii students make good candidates.
Linda Adams, a BYU-Hawaii senior in hospitality and tourism management and organizational behavior who now promotes the program on campus and coordinates with the Career Services office, agreed. "Last semester we offered 17 positions," she said. "Disney pulls from our campus because we already have integrity and the Disney look."
Adams added she interned as a Magic Kingom Main Street operations hostess. "I was also in charge of the front entrance, worked parade audience control, and was the steam train station greeter." "I loved the guest interaction," she continued. "It was one of the best experiences of my life."
Three other BYU-Hawaii students who have already been through the program also agreed: Nui Tovey, a junior international business management student from Laie, served her internship four years ago in the Animal Kingdom.
"It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I learned so much," she said, adding that "once you're an alumna, you can go back and work seasonally."
Senior TESOL major Livia Orikasa, who is from Brazil and also did her internship four years ago, said her experience "truly changed my life. I cannot put it into words": While working in Orlando, Orikasa met other Latter-day Saint interns, who have their own small branch in the area, and soon joined the Church. She later returned to Florida to serve her mission.
"That's one of the best branches I've ever been in," said Josh Emms, a senior history major from New Mexico. He also said his custodial host internship at Animal Kingdom in 2001 was an "excellent job." "You can apply the things that you learn at Disney to other areas of your life," Orikasa added. "If you're selected, you're in for a treat like you cannot imagine."