Disney's Cultural Exchange Program - FAQs

After completing one program and now counting down to my second, I sometimes get messages from applicants and future program participants asking for advice/information/general queries. These are often pretty similar, so I figured I would make a post answering a bunch of these for anyone searching.

Hope this helps you!

How much money do I need to take out with me?

You won't get your first proper pay check until the third week in, as you only have Traditions in the first week. You're going to need to buy essentials like bedding and towels, but the first week is also full of bonding opportunities with fellow CPs.

For me that involved a lot of eating out, so I'd say try and have $300 at least to get you through, whilst $500 is comfortable and gives you a buffer for any crazy spending weeks later down the line. If you're planning on getting a Universal pass to fill the days before you can get into the Disney parks, that number considerably increases.

Will I make enough money on the program?

This depends on how much you work and also how much you're planning to spend. My pay checks were typically around $200-$300 a week after housing and tax deductions, which was more than enough for a Disney buffet a week, merch and groceries! Your park pass is free, so after that it just depends on how much you're planning to buy.

How many hours will I work?

This varies a lot from person to person, area to area, and role to role. Merchandise cast members always seem to be in demand, and whilst they guarantee a minimum 30 hours a week, the least I heard people getting scheduled in my role property-wide was 40.

Lifeguards are always needed, and I heard of people getting scheduled 60 hours in this role, whilst I also heard of QSFB cast members getting both the minimum and maximum. The good news is that it's super easy to pick up extra shifts or request overtime if you need the hours and money. Equally it's fairly easy to trade down to get shorter ones if you fancy a little extra park-playtime.

How will I get paid? Do I need a US bank account?

Disney will supply you with a card that works almost like a prepaid gift card. All your pay checks go onto that card and you can use it in stores and online like any other. Therefore you do not need to set up a US bank account.

Do I need to buy a US SIM card for my phone?

This depends on your situation and personal preference. My UK phone carrier is 3, so they allow me to use my phone abroad like I do back home without any extra charges. It's worth looking into buying a SIM from them and unlocking your phone for the summer if you use your phone a lot.

The parks do have wi-fi, and if that's where you'll spend most of your time outside the apartment (which also has wi-fi), you may not need to get a new SIM at all. I mainly wanted one for the bus journeys (which are pretty long) and for emergency situations, as well as travelling after my program was up.

How will I get to work?

Disney Housing works with Transtar, a bus company, which gets you anywhere on Disney property including the resorts, parks and Disney Springs. The buses are pretty regular but they do go in a loop, so if your stop is right at the end you're going to be waiting a while.

This is just part of being a CP, but you'll inevitably get a few Ubers whilst you're out there as you either miss your bus or want to get home quicker at the end of the night. These are typically $10 from housing to the parks, so if you do that a lot, it works well to try and share with other CPs in your complex.

If you're lucky enough to make friends with some American CPs in your area and they have a car, that's also an awesome option for getting home faster!

What date will I finish work?

Your last official work day will be 2 days before your program end date. This gives you the next day to "pack" (play in the parks and cry at Happily Ever After one last time) and then on your program end date, that's when you have to move out - usually by around 10am/11am.

How do I choose my roommates?

You don't have to! As part of staying in Disney Housing, when you input your apartment complex preferences they'll ask if you want to link up with other CPs or not. Not everyone chooses to, so you'll be totally fine if you don't.

However if you want to, look on Facebook groups, get chatting to people, and see where you end up!

Can I drink on the program?

If you are over 21, yes, you can legally drink in the US. If you are under 21, you should not drink as, if caught, this will lead to immediate termination from the program and you have 48 hours to leave the country. You cannot be rehired by Disney or their partner companies ever again and they take underage drinking very seriously.

If you are over 21 and stay in a non-wellness apartment with all over 21s, you can drink at home. If you stay in wellness with under 21s, you cannot drink, and if you are found to be doing so or have alcohol in the apartment, everyone living there can be immediately terminated and sent home. So don't risk it!

Can I get into the parks for free? What about my family?

After Traditions, which will be on Thursday or Friday of your first week, you can access the parks for free. This includes the water parks unless they are having a blockout period - this is common in summertime, but I was only blocked for 2 weeks last summer!

In terms of getting family and friends in for free, after working 150 hours you'll get 3 one-day park-hopper passes, and another 3 after the next 150 hours. If your family are visiting from the UK, it's probably best they buy their own passes if they want to go into the parks more than once or twice as there are much better deals available back home and online.

What other discounts will I get?

Typically, 20% off merchandise and 20-40% off full-service dining options (there will be a list on The Hub, Disney's online employee website, detailing which ones and how much). You'll also get 40% off hotels for family and friends, and 50% if you're staying in the room.

IMPORTANT to note: you can use your cast member discount on the whole table if dining with family and friends, and they can pay for you. However only you can use the discount for purchasing merchandise, and you must pay for it. If it is found that someone gave you money to pay, both you and the cast member who checked you out could get into serious trouble. Again, don't risk it!

Hope this was useful and feel free to message me if you have any other questions. Enjoy your program!