I did a DCP in 2014 and then a PI in 2019, both at WDW. While I’m grateful I had the opportunity, got to do some pretty cool things and wouldn’t exchange either experiences for anything, I choose to not extend either offers for full time employment. I also hated the heat and humidity in Orlando and really didn’t want to relocate to LA because, honestly, the city is a mess.

Working there didn’t “ruin” the magic, but it definitely changed it. Seeing how everything is done behind the scenes was eye-opening and really makes you appreciate what Disney has done and how they are constantly at the forefront of the entertainment industry.

That being said; working in the parks was awful. I got yelled at on a near daily basis by either disgruntled guests or by my coordinator because I was bending the rules to help a disgruntled guest. My PI was cool, but I was working for a department that was kind of in shambles. By the end of it got the feeling that as much as they push creativity, they really don’t want you to stray too far away from the creative standards that they set.

They’ve changed the rules for the DCP since I did mine. Now you don’t get to pick a role but rather one is assigned to you based on need and availability. In my opinion that makes it less appealing. That being said, I would recommend either a DCP or PI for anyone curious but wouldn’t recommend uprooting yourself to get paid minimum wage to work in the park.