Explore the different International programs available below to determine your eligibility, or if you are ready, apply now.

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ABOUT ACADEMIC EXCHANGE PROGRAM ROLES

To participate in the Academic Exchange Program, your academic institution must have an exchange partnership with a participating U.S. college or university. As part of the program, you'll have the opportunity to take courses at the U.S. host college or university. At the same time, you'll gain training and experience as a cast member at Walt Disney World® Resort. It's a one-of-a-kind way to get involved in networking opportunities, expand your presentation skills, and learn about customer service from industry-leading experts.

To participate in the Academic Exchange Program, you must be:

• Able to speak fluent English
• At least 18 years of age at time of application submission
• Currently enrolled and in good academic standing at a participating international college or university
• Engaged in an appropriate course of study
• Able to exit the United States and return home upon completion of the program

Please contact your international academic institution to see if they have an exchange partnership with a participating U.S. college or university for this program.

• Attractions

  Working in one of the following areas while monitoring Guest flow and providing a safe Guest experience, retrieving and arranging strollers, and assisting with audience control, including during parades.

  Responsibilities may include:

  • •  Working at one or more of the "rides" or theater shows
  • •  Loading and unloading Guests from attractions
  • •  Operating sophisticated ride systems
  • •  Stocking and cleaning shelves and carts
  • •  Memorizing and delivering lengthy narrations to large groups
  • •  Monitoring Guest flow and providing a safe Guest experience
  • •  Retrieving and arranging strollers and assisting with audience control, including during parades
  • •  Assisting with emergency evacuations of attractions when necessary
  • •  Working with FASTPASS®, the ticketing system that distributes attraction ride times
  • •  Working at one or more of the following locations: parking, park greeter, ticket operations, and toll plaza areas Greeting all Guests who enter the park, and validating their tickets
  • •  Selling various ticket media at our water parks, Disney Springs or ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex Strong knowledge of Walt Disney World® Resort ticket media
  • •  Using computerized ticketing systems

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• Character Attendant

  As a Character Attendant, you'll accompany and assist our Character Performers and engage with guests throughout the parks. In this role, you'll play an important part in monitoring safety as well as facilitating magical moments, including introducing guests to their favorite character.

  
  

  Responsibilities may include:

  • •  Providing Guests with information about show schedules, Character locations, and visitation times
  • •  Providing audience control, including handling challenging Guest situations
  • •  Ensuring the safety of Character Performers and our Guests
  • •  Partnering with Photopass photographers
  • •  Maintaining show quality and Character integrity
  • •  Proactively interacting with our Guests by involving them in the Characters’ story
  • •  Setting up and removing stanchions, ropes and poles
  • •  Assisting Character Performers with putting on costumes
  • •  Retrieving and arranging strollers
  • •  Maintaining cleanliness and order in work location
  • •  Standing for extended periods, working outdoors

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• Character Performer

  As a Character Performer at Walt Disney World® Resort, you'll gain experience directly from Disney entertainment experts as you create magical moments for guests that'll last a lifetime. You'll learn how to portray one of our beloved characters and spark smiles, laughter, and unforgettable memories for families from around the world.

  
  

  Responsibilities may include:

  • •  Portraying specific costumed character roles
  • •  Working hot, confining, heavy costumes with limited range of vision
  • •  Communicating non-verbally to Guests
  • •  Signing autographs and posing for photographs
  • •  Interacting with Guests outside and in dining establishments
  • •  Must pass audition for this role

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• Costuming

  As part of our Costuming department, you'll help other cast members maintain our high level of presentation and quality. From issuing costumes to operating a computerized costume checkout system, you'll play an important role in ensuring cast members are always dressed to impress.

  Responsibilities may include:

  • •  Issuing costumes to fellow Cast Members throughout operations and entertainment locations
  • •  Operating computerized costume checkout system
  • •  Working around performers in various stages of dress
  • •  Operating basic laundry equipment
  • •  Repetitive overhead reaching, bending and heavy lifting
  • •  Moving heavy costumes from location to location
  • •  handling and laundering soild garments

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• Lifeguard

  As a Lifeguard at the Walt Disney World® Resort, you'll help our guests from all around the world enjoy our spectacular water features. Whether you're monitoring safety or providing park information, you'll be an important part of making sure we operate effectively and efficiently.

  Responsibilities may include:

  • •  Monitoring Guest's safety in water and on slide attractions
  • •  Physically challenging work and prolonged exposure to outside elements
  • •  Providing first aid and basic life support in the event of Guest injury or illness
  • •  Ability to detect and respond to noises and distress signals in an aquatic environment, including in the water and anywhere around the zone of responsibility
  • •  Must be able to observe all sections of an assigned zone or area of responsiblity
  • •  Strong swimming skills
  • •  During off-peak seasons, assisting other operating areas throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort, including performing roles other than lifeguarding

  Each individual must be evaluated and certified at the Walt Disney World® Resort. All lifeguards must pass a swim test and a vision screening with at least 20/25 corrected or uncorrected. In the event you do not pass the swim test described below, you may be placed in another role based on availability.

  Lifeguard Swim Test

  • •  Swim 200 yards (183 meters) freestyle or breaststroke
  • •  Retrieve a 10-lb (4.5 kg) brick from the deepest section of the pool (minimum 8 feet/2.4 meters)
  • •  Tread water with hands out of the water for two minutes

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• Merchandise

  In a Merchandise role, you'll help demonstrate and sell Disney products to guests from across the globe – all as you expand your skills with a major player in the consumer products industry. Whether you're providing information, or stocking and cleaning shelves, your guest interactions will become an important part of the Walt Disney World® Resort experience.

  Responsibilities may include:

  • •  Must be willing to work in all of the following areas but might only work in one: Front Desk, Luggage Services, Dispatch or Telephone Room
  • •  Demonstrating and selling merchandise (including alcohol and tobacco) in indoor and outdoor areas
  • •  Cash handling - manual and using computerized registers
  • •  Stocking and cleaning shelves and carts
  • •  Receiving/putting away stock and deliveries
  • •  Stroller/wheelchair rental – including repetitive lifting, stacking and pushing strollers and wheelchairs
  • •  Preparation of food/candy
  • •  Preparing packages for shipping/delivery

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• Quick Service Food & Beverage

  With a role at one of the Walt Disney World® Resort Quick Service Restaurants, you'll provide the kind of exceptional customer service that Disney is known for around the world. Whether you're selling beverages or operating kitchen equipment, you'll help take care of our guests during their visit.

  Responsibilities may include:

  • •  Selling food and beverages (including alcohol) at outdoor carts and/or indoor restaurants
  • •  Taking and filling orders, multi-tasking
  • •  Preparing food items in a kitchen area, including the use of a fryer, grill, broiler and other industrial cooking equipment
  • •  Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers
  • •  Bussing tables, cleaning kitchen equipment and emptying trash cans
  • •  Setting and stocking tables, outdoor cars and restaurants
  • •  Heavy lifting, pushing heavy carts
  • •  Working with cleaning chemicals

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• Full-Service Food & Beverage Seater

  In a Full-Service Food & Beverage Seater role, you'll create a one-of-a-kind dining experience while building your customer service skills. In this non-tipped position, greeting and seating guests is just one way you'll be part of the Disney experience for people from around the world.

  Responsibilities may include:

  • •  Greeting and seating Guests in restaurants
  • •  Managing a seating chart and resolving Guest situations
  • •  Utilizing a computerized reservation/seating system
  • •  Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers
  • •  Rolling silverware, folding napkins, and keeping area stocked
  • •  Light cleaning, multi-tasking

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