ROLES

Can I Change Roles?

The quick answer is NO. You can’t change roles because you don’t like the role you have.
*Some International Participants do spend half their term in one role and then the other half in another role.  That’s for the International Program.  If you are in the Domestic (US) College Program, you don’t switch roles halfway through your program.

If someone says that roles can never be changed, that’s not 100% accurate. There are some situations where a role change can happen—but it’s important to understand how and why, and what you should and shouldn’t do.

The Assessment

Every CP goes through training for their assigned role, and every CP is assessed during that training. Depending on the role, there may be one assessment or more than one. The assessment determines whether you’re ready to move into your role.

If you don’t pass, Disney will likely give you additional training. But if after that additional training it’s clear that you’re unable to perform the duties of the role, Disney may reassign you to a different role. This is called being recast.

Here’s where we need to stop and address something head-on.

Don’t believe anyone who tells you that if you want to change roles, all you have to do is fail the assessment on purpose. That is not true—and it could end your program entirely.

Disney isn’t naive. If they determine that you are intentionally failing your assessment to manipulate the system into giving you a different role, they have the authority to bring you in for a meeting and tell you that your program is ending. Right then. Right there. No second chances.

Navigator will also add this: in less common cases, if Disney believes that you would not be able to pass an assessment in a new role either, they may also end your program rather than recast you. So don’t let that scare you away from trying your best—but do let it scare you away from gaming the system.

The good news? If you genuinely struggle with your role and it’s clear you need to be moved, Disney will usually work with you. You’re already there. You’re already through Traditions. In most cases, they’ll recast you to a different role and you can move forward.

Accommodations

Before you arrive, you should review all possible CP roles and determine whether you might need an accommodation for any of them. If you do, submit the paperwork well in advance—many weeks before your arrival date. Being proactive here matters.

But sometimes you don’t know you need an accommodation until you’re actually in the role. Maybe it’s a physical limitation you didn’t anticipate, or a situation that didn’t become clear until you were on the job. If that happens, you’ll need to submit the accommodation paperwork at that point.

Here’s what you need to know: you may not be able to work while your accommodation request is being reviewed. That means you could find yourself sitting at Flamingo, not working and not getting paid—while still owing rent. That’s a tough spot, and it’s one more reason why submitting accommodation paperwork early is so important.

If your accommodation is approved, you’ll likely either be reassigned to a new role or given specific restrictions within your current role.

Now, here’s another thing we need to address directly.

Don’t use the accommodation process as a backdoor to change your role. It’s tempting—especially if you’re unhappy with where you were placed. But the accommodation process exists to address genuine needs, not to manipulate your way into a role you prefer.

If Disney determines that they can’t reasonably accommodate your request, that doesn’t automatically mean you get a new role. It can actually lead to some serious challenges, potentially including the end of your program. The accommodation process is not a loophole. Treat it like what it is—a tool to help CPs who have a legitimate need.