Katie
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The Kidult (formerly Miss Katie and the Teen) had sworn us to secrecy - well, online - and now we can spill the beans, so I can start this TR.
When the Kidult and I were at Disneyworld (Florida, USA) in 2024, we met a young man from Brisbane, working for Disney, on some kind of college exchange program. He tells the Kidult she should do it too.
Then, in January 2026, the Kidult sees that applications are open for the Disney International Exchange AU/NZ program. She can't contain her excitement, and her application to work at Disneyworld in this program is submitted within a day of the applications opening. The International Exchange program is an international variant of the Disney College Program, where college/uni students spend a semester or two working for Disney.
For Aussies, it comes under a J1 visa, they're allowed to work, and continuing Uni study during the program is really up to the student and the remote learning access for their uni. Each month of the program, they must submit a report about cultural activities they've undertaken - that can't be going to a theme park. Options might include visiting the nearest Buc-ees, going to a baseball game, and so on (to the Kidult's horror, I've suggested a few times that attending a very American church service could be cultural experience). There's accommodation available near Disney, which they need to pay for, and the participants are meant to have a minimum of 30hrs/week work and are currently paid USD 18/hr.
After submitting the application, it was maybe 2 months of anxious waiting before hearing anything back from Disney. Then - success! She was in for an interview in late April. The Disney recruiters were on a tour of Aus and NZ, and interviews were in most AU capital cities and one or two NZ big cities I think. The interview went well, she bonded with the interviewer over a love of specific Disney characters - how many job interviews are you asked about your favourite Disney characters and it's not some weird psychological assessment of you??
The recruiters also held an information session to discuss visa application, accommodation, the "Disney look", working at Disney and all of that information to help them make an an informed decision about their application. The applicants also get to nominate three roles they're interested in - such as Photographer, Ride attendant, Custodial, Character assistant, Food and beverage service, Hotel concierge. I think Disney still reserves the right to put them anywhere they need them, though.
Disneyworld has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and something like 30 hotels where staff may work.
In May she received an offer for a position! Do you think she waited to accept??!!
Her DS2019 paperwork (needed to be able to make the booking for the J1 visa appointment at a US Consulate in SYD, MEL or PER) finally came through in June. She then spent hours online on a Friday night entering information and waiting in an online queue to book her visa appointment at the US consulate in SYD. She got through, and the first visa appointment was for 11 August - and her start date was meant to be 17 August!! Luckily I'd researched and knew there was an expedite process for J1 visa applications. She submitted the expedite application that night, and over the weekend approval came through for an earlier appointment in July. To keep her costs down, I got her CR flights to/from Sydney. The consulate is in an easy spot to get to from the airport on the train, even if you stop at Kinokuniya or Haigh's on the way.
The passport and J1 visa came back in the week of 3 August. Eek! Felt very fine timing; the application sat at Approved for about 10 days before it became Issued. Really stressful time in our household. Even Disney recruiters were emailing her asking if her visa had come through yet ...
When the Kidult and I were at Disneyworld (Florida, USA) in 2024, we met a young man from Brisbane, working for Disney, on some kind of college exchange program. He tells the Kidult she should do it too.
Then, in January 2026, the Kidult sees that applications are open for the Disney International Exchange AU/NZ program. She can't contain her excitement, and her application to work at Disneyworld in this program is submitted within a day of the applications opening. The International Exchange program is an international variant of the Disney College Program, where college/uni students spend a semester or two working for Disney.
For Aussies, it comes under a J1 visa, they're allowed to work, and continuing Uni study during the program is really up to the student and the remote learning access for their uni. Each month of the program, they must submit a report about cultural activities they've undertaken - that can't be going to a theme park. Options might include visiting the nearest Buc-ees, going to a baseball game, and so on (to the Kidult's horror, I've suggested a few times that attending a very American church service could be cultural experience). There's accommodation available near Disney, which they need to pay for, and the participants are meant to have a minimum of 30hrs/week work and are currently paid USD 18/hr.
After submitting the application, it was maybe 2 months of anxious waiting before hearing anything back from Disney. Then - success! She was in for an interview in late April. The Disney recruiters were on a tour of Aus and NZ, and interviews were in most AU capital cities and one or two NZ big cities I think. The interview went well, she bonded with the interviewer over a love of specific Disney characters - how many job interviews are you asked about your favourite Disney characters and it's not some weird psychological assessment of you??
The recruiters also held an information session to discuss visa application, accommodation, the "Disney look", working at Disney and all of that information to help them make an an informed decision about their application. The applicants also get to nominate three roles they're interested in - such as Photographer, Ride attendant, Custodial, Character assistant, Food and beverage service, Hotel concierge. I think Disney still reserves the right to put them anywhere they need them, though.
Disneyworld has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and something like 30 hotels where staff may work.
In May she received an offer for a position! Do you think she waited to accept??!!
Her DS2019 paperwork (needed to be able to make the booking for the J1 visa appointment at a US Consulate in SYD, MEL or PER) finally came through in June. She then spent hours online on a Friday night entering information and waiting in an online queue to book her visa appointment at the US consulate in SYD. She got through, and the first visa appointment was for 11 August - and her start date was meant to be 17 August!! Luckily I'd researched and knew there was an expedite process for J1 visa applications. She submitted the expedite application that night, and over the weekend approval came through for an earlier appointment in July. To keep her costs down, I got her CR flights to/from Sydney. The consulate is in an easy spot to get to from the airport on the train, even if you stop at Kinokuniya or Haigh's on the way.
The passport and J1 visa came back in the week of 3 August. Eek! Felt very fine timing; the application sat at Approved for about 10 days before it became Issued. Really stressful time in our household. Even Disney recruiters were emailing her asking if her visa had come through yet ...
