Complaint Review: The Disney College Program

 Shawnaguank I don't know what your problem is or why you are such a hater but Jack has a legitimate reason to write this report. He also has a legitimate reason for saying the Disney College Program is a ripoff because it is. I know from experience. They did discriminate and treat him unfairly in many ways: 1. They deceived him into thinking that he would be accommodated for his disability. They then pulled the rug out from underneath him and fired him. Also, they knowingly disregarded his safety by not allowing him to get medical attention when he needed it. 2. The accommodations that he requested were very reasonable. A stool that he would have provided himself to do his job 50% of the time and a couple of days off is not unreasonable to ask. 3. Disney does not pay the college interns very much to begin with. On top of that they garnish their wages not only for taxes but also for their rent. Rent is lower than the average cost but it not cheap when you look at it. Plus it's not every month it's every week. Therefore, students usually do not have a lot of money remaining. It is therefore very hard to save money for emergencies. Even with a credit card that is not an endless supply of money. That is just a temporary loan for the time being. Eventually you have to pay it back. 4. You don't know how good his budgeting skills are. Also, you should not reprimand and lecture people about their work ethic. I think his work ethic is just fine. 5. He had ABSOLUTELY no attitude that Disney owed him. He just wanted a fair chance. That is not unreasonable at all. 6. May I suggest that you have a little more tolerance and kindness.

 We are entitled to our opinions. You know what they say about opinions, their like a*holes and everyone has one.

I totally understand Jack's arguments.  They refused to accomodate me too.  I have autism and it was my second program and they did nothing that they were supposed to do.  The first time that did great for me.  I don't know what happend they said they would but didn't.

All I can say is keep your bags packed.

Florida is a "Right to Work State" meaning that employers do not have to give you a reason to fire you. Our child is part of the Disney College Program, and we are thrilled. I am bothered by the strong accusations that you have put into your statement. I understand that you have concerns with how you were treated, but they are all within the laws in the state of Florida. There are also two sides to every story. The Disney College program is a great opportunity for those who are accepted into it and participate in it. It is not a scam or ripoff and is a fantastic opportunity. I do not want parents who read your report to prevent their children from participating in this wonderful program. I am sorry for your illness and problems, but do not bash the entire program just because of this. Most of the college classes that Disney offers are free and the most expensive is $24.00, where else would you find that in the US? The cost for their dormitories is less than you would pay at any university. Disney also pays you to work in the parks and gives you free admission on your days off!  Not to mention discounts and lots of other perks for your friends and family. Does that sound like a scam?????  Opportunities for employment are also possible after graduation from your original university. The program is fantastic and is not a scam or ripoff by any means! If any parents are still unsure, take a trip to Disney World yourself. That is what we did. Every student that is part of the program has their home university listed on their name tag. We asked, and asked, and asked students what they thought of the program, and ALL of them loved it. Most of the students we spoke to were either on their second session of the program or were planning to return for another session. Truth speaks for itself. 

whoever you are that commented on this in the first place, you are an idiot and have nothing better to do then put people down, do you just sit at your computer eating getting fat and feeling sorry for yourself so that's why you have to treat people like this? its legitimate for whoever wrote it to say Disney is a crappy company to work for if they came to his school recruited students and they moved to Florida, how would you feel if you lived in another country and someone promised a great opportunity for you, of course you would take it, then something happens to you and you need a stool to sit on at work, god forbid anyone accommodate you, or care, instead you get lied to fired and sent home, without proper notice, if your 18 and rely on your parents how the hell do you get home a*****e, not everyone has money spilling out of their pockets so stop being a f****t b***h

I stand by my original convictions -- there is NO rip off here! You seem to have an attitude that Disney OWES you, when in actuality you work FOR Disney. Any kind of job is a PRIVILEGE and not a right! Making unreasonable demands and nitpicking over every little thing imaginable is what got you fired. End of story.

May I suggest you begin acting like a responsible adult. Get some sort of work ethic. Find a job that you are ABLE to do given your absolute need to sit on a stool. And establish some sort of savings for emergency purposes -- it is NOT Disney's responsibility to arrange your travel home after they just fired you! If you find it absolutely impossible to save money, then get a credit card for such emergencies. Common sense.

1 I was able to do my job with very reasonable accommodations ( A stool I could have provided myself, My job could have been done sitting 50% of the time as prescribed by the physician).

2 They eventually did authorize a few days off( But "Suspended me" and fierd me after that. I NEVER took an UNAUTHORIZED day off. ).

3 my main complaint is failure to provide accommodations specified by the physician, not failure to give me days off.( A STOOL to do my job on, sounds like a reasonable accommodation to me.

4 Pepper spray is LEGAL in Florida.

5. Alcohol is OK, but allowing students to show up to work drunk because several hours ago they had 20 drinks, who drive company vehicles for their job is absolutelly abserd.

6A What good is having an international airport 30 MILES away when you have 50 dollars in your pocket ( Three weeks pay after everything they garnish out for the program.) If you haven't checked in the last 30 years, a plane ticket purchased on 6 hours notice ( in the unlikely event they even have a seat available) will cost you around 800.00. Not everyone ( Especially an impoverished college student going to work for Disney) has this kind of money sitting arround in there underwear drawer.

6B Anyone paying rent to live anywhere other than a hotel must be evicted by a proper process.
Forcefully evicting one as the security guards there did is a criminal infraction whether instructed to or not. We pay rent here with a writen contract of lease. The process in Florida for corporate housing takes five days and requires an injunction before martial force may be implemented. Using such force without court consent is assault.

P.S. Don't you have better things to do than to try to make able bodied individuals with disabilities, who were discriminated against by employers, sound like perpetrators!

Consider getting a job and maybe you will understand discrimination!

1- You had a medical problem which prevented you from being able to continue the position for which you were hired with reasonable accommodation (very few positions at Disney World allow one to sit down all day).

2- You knew as soon as you were diagnosed that Disney would not accommodate any days off due to the condition which would prevent you from working your current position (in other words, there is no reason to keep you on staff if you are unable to work the position for which you were hired).

3- Therefore, you should have left and gone home right away to "seek other work," rather than sit around unpaid and not working, already knowing that Disney did not authorize this time off in the first place.

4- Regarding alcohol consumption, as long as the participants are of legal drinking age, Disney cannot remove the alcohol or alcohol drinking devices from the dormitories, unless Disney has a specific "no alcohol" clause in the rules and regulations.

5- Regarding mace, it is illegal to carry it, period. Whether you are male or female. Get over it.

6- 12 hours notice is hardly "kicking you out on your butt." Considering there is an international airport right up the highway from Disney, 12 hours is plenty of time to make the 5 minute drive and find yourself a flight. If the issue is money, then you should have planned better, as Disney is not responsible for your lack of budgeting.