Office of Study Abroad and Outreach

Disney & Universal Studios Communication Culture

 

Disney & Universal Studios Communication Culture

Study first-hand the organizational communication used at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando.  Discover how nearly 75,000 Disney employees and nearly 20,000 at Universal create and maintain successful organizational cultures.  The smallest details of communication are planned and blended seamlessly so visitors never notice the flurry going on around them.


Overview
Location(s)  Orlando, Florida
Term   Spring 2020
Credit   COMM 379, 3 sh
Class Sessions In-person on the Macomb campus January-March.  Exact dates/times TBA 
Travel Dates March 4-12, 2020
Housing   Hotel
Passport Not required
 
Eligibility
GPA 2.5
Hours completed 12
Student Judicial Good status
Grad credit No
Non-WIU   Yes
Pre-requisite COMM 130 or instructor permission
Student Year Sophomore, Junior, Senior

 First 5 eligible participants to apply and pay their deposit will be admitted to the program.  Preference will be given to Communication majors and upper division students for the remaining spaces in the Course.
Course enrollment limited to 15 students!

 

Health Insurance

You must have health insurance for the time you are on your program. Only two options are approved to meet this requirement:

  • WIU student health insurance
  • Personal medical coverage
 
Health Precautions

Walking/mobility - Expect to walk 10-12 miles/day.  It is not consecutive but scheduled throughout the day.

Environmental - Average daytime temperatures are in the mid-80s for this time period.  Sun protection is strongly recommended.

Dietary - Some meals are included in the program cost. Contact Kim McDaniel  if you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

Accommodation can be arranged with advance notice.  Please contact Disability Resources for questions on the availability of accommodations for your specific situation.

PLEASE NOTE   It is your responsibility to request accommodation from DR; faculty and staff are not legally permitted to inquire about such needs.  Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange accommodations in your location.

 

Costs & Important Dates

Estimated Cost* $3,200-$3,600
Included in the program Airport transfers in Orlando, lodging (triple/quad occupancy), entry fees to parks, some meals
Application Deadline November 10, 2019
Payments  
Application fee $75 due December 5, 2019
Non-refundable Deposit $1,000 due December 6, 2019
Final payment* $2,500 due January 31, 2020

* Costs subject to change based on student enrollment

WIU reserves the right to adjust the cost or arrangements of this program due to insufficient enrollment or circumstances beyond the University's control.  For details about this or individual withdrawals, see Cancellations and Withdrawals.


Important Dates

MANDATORY Pre-departure meeting: TBA, Spring 2020

 

Academics

Credit offered

COMM 379 - Counts as an upper-division elective for COMM majors/minors

Please check with your academic advisor for more information on how this Course fits your specific academic needs.

 
Objectives/activities
  • Understand key communication elements of an organizational culture
  • Perform a basic observational analysis of an organizational culture
  • Apply elements of both the Disney and Universal cultures to your career field
 
Class sessions

Active class participation, including contribution to discussions and attendance, is expected in all phases of the Course.  You are responsible for completing pre-departure assignments including readings and discussion participation, attendance and active participation during on-site visits, guest lectures and activities, and post-return assignments.  Questions about course content should be directed to David Zanolla .

Student testimonials

Coming soon!

 



 


APPLY NOW

 

 


Contact Us

Kim McDaniel
For Faculty Led

kd-mcdaniel@wiu.edu

Horrabin Room 8

309-298-2504

Advising appointments

David Zanolla
Faculty leader

da-zanolla@wiu.edu

Memorial Room 330


Information Sessions

Wednesday, September 27
Thursday, September 28
Wednesday, October 11
Thursday, October 12

All meetings in Memorial 338 at 4 pm

Join our update list with this form