Hard Truth #4 About the Disney College Program: Your First Costume Fitting May Send You Into a Spiral

Hi. Former Disney World Cast Member and Disney College Program participant here. It has become my job to act like an older sister and tell you what to expect if you’re considering a job with Disney. It’s a blast, truly. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, and it’s better to hear that now than learn it the hard way, right?

My experience with Disney was largely positive. I was lucky with my assigned roles. I had great roommates and a lovely apartment. I was happy and active, and I made a lot of friends whom I still talk to years later. But there are some parts of the job that still make me cringe, so you need to hear this hard truth if you want to become a Cast Member.

For context, the Disney College Program is a special internship in Disney World exclusively for college students. It offers you the opportunity to take a semester (or more) off of school to work for Disney as a Cast Member. You could end up working at the front desk of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort or in the kitchen at Cosmic Ray’s in Magic Kingdom. Oh, and you can’t choose your role.

Disney takes care of your housing AND transportation, and yes, you get free tickets to Disney World. There are so many factors that go into your program that no two experiences are ever the same. One person may have the best roommates, the best job, and the best schedule. Someone else may end up with a role they didn’t want or a roommate that they don’t get along with. It all comes down to luck (and how you view your situation).

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk expectations. If you’re lucky enough to be hired as a Disney World Cast Member, you’re in for an exciting onboarding process. Without spoiling Traditions (one of the core rites of passage all Cast Members experience when hired), it’s safe to say that you’ll feel important, special, and proud to work for Disney. Soak it in! Listen to your trainers. Take notes if you have to! Enjoy those early days as you learn how to work in one of the most popular theme parks in the world.

As part of the onboarding and training process, you’ll go to a Costuming location for your costume (a.k.a. your uniform). First, let’s be honest. The costumes aren’t cute. Many aren’t flattering. Some are OLD, so you might be stuck in a thick, stiff polyester pair of pants or an ill-fitting top with elastic around your arms.

But the real thing we have to warn you about is Disney sizing. Let’s say you typically fit in small to medium-sized clothing. Forget that. Let’s say you normally wear between a women’s size 4–6. Irrelevant. Disney clothing is NOT like your normal clothing, and if you don’t bring multiple sizes of the same garment into the changing room, you might be in for a sad surprise.

My best advice? When you go for that first costume fitting, grab SEVERAL sizes. Size up more than you might expect. Like I said, the sizing here is DIFFERENT, and it can really send you into a spiral if you’re not prepared. Don’t forget — size is just a number. It does NOT mean anything beyond that.

The good news is that once you know your size, it’s a lot easier to swap costume pieces and hunt for the best top or pair of shorts. And if your costume comes with tan khaki shorts, pay attention to the hems. Some bottoms are much shorter than the standard Bermuda-length shorts!

Well, I hope this helps all of you hopeful College Program participants. I wish you the best of luck in your journey. Don’t forget to have FUN — Disney World is an amazing place to work if you lean into the magic and embrace it.

• Hard Truth #1 About the Disney College Program: Your Roommate Could Be Unhinged
• Hard Truth #2 About the Disney College Program: You Could Get a Job That You Hate
• Hard Truth #3 About the Disney College Program: Transportation Is a NIGHTMARE

In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

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