Disney recruiting more Bay students

The presentation yesterday was slick, as you'd expect, from The Walt Disney Company.
Backed by action-packed video clips of movies and theme park activities, recruiters Scott Barczak and Jeni Madsen put on their own one-hour show cajoling Bay of Plenty Polytechnic students to take up a company internship at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
The hospitality, tourism and travel students were being given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of experiencing the culture and business disciplines of the world's leading entertainment company, rated in the Fortune Top 100.
They could join the six and 12-month Disney International College programmes, gaining work experience in the Disney World theme park and resort, attending professional development courses and seminars, and networking with the company leaders and fellow overseas students.
While they are there, they can even complete an online business course and put a Harvard University certificate qualification on their CV.
They have to cover the cost of their air fares over, and be paid up to US$8.55 ($10.80) an hour for between 30 to 45 hours a week. They would stay in one of Disney's four apartment complexes, costing between US$82-US$108 a week, but would have money left over for food and to enjoy the experience.
Part of the deal is being issued with an ID and having free admission to the theme park - comprising Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Water Park (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach), Epcot (technology and cuisine) and Holywood Studios.
There are 500 food and beverage kiosks and 500 merchandise outlets scattered throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
In January the first 16 polytechnic diploma students arrived at Disney World and the company was recruiting for the second intake next January. The recruiters will be back in September looking for another intake in July next year.
This time 21 students applied and went through interviews after the presentation yesterday. They will be told on June 1 whether they are jetting to Disney World.
"If they are great, we will take them all," said Mr Barczak, manager international recruitment of Disney Worldwide Services. "The New Zealand market is so strong in hospitality and it's a good fit for us."
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic was one of four New Zealand tertiary institutions visited by the two Disney recruiters - the others were Otago University, Auckland University and Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Over two weeks the recruiters interviewed more than 200 students in New Zealand and Australia, and the successful applicants would join a staff of 64,000, made up of 62 nationalities, at Disney World.
There are 7200 students on the United States and international programmes at any one time.
Not that they are called "staff" - they are "cast members who make magic a reality every day".