For years Disney has operated a Cultural Exchange Program at Walt Disney World. You would see this program utilized heavily in the World Showcase at EPCOT where Disney would bring in people from the countries represented at each pavilion. They would work the locations and bring authenticity and knowledge with them. It as always something that I thought was really fun about the World Showcase.

Sadly, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and closed the parks in 2020, the program was suspended and students were sent home, or at least the ones that could get home.

Now Disney is reinstating the program in phases with the first group comin in August. It will start with “participants from select countries who’s program was shortened, cancelled or waitlisted in 2020.” Those who had offers but hadn’t gotten to Walt Disney World yet will also be brought back first.

Here is the statement from Disney:

Since the reopening of Walt Disney World, we’ve frequently been asked when Disney International Programs will bring back the Disney Cultural Representatives.

Today, we’re thrilled to announce the Disney Cultural Representative program will return in phases and begin welcoming the first new participants in August.

The Cultural Representatives play an important role in our storytelling by helping us create authentic, immersive experiences for our guests as they share their countries’ culture, heritage and traditions that have inspired our resorts, pavilions, and theme parks.

We know how much our guests and cast love the program and have been waiting for just the right moment to reintroduce it. As we continue to bring back more cast and guest experiences, we are encouraged by the progress we’re seeing in recent health trends, including the return of international travel and the expansion of vaccine availability around the world.

Right now, we are reaching out to participants from select countries whose program was shortened, cancelled or waitlisted in 2020, as well as those who had an offer and had not yet arrived, and offering them the first opportunity to reapply. We will then invite others to apply soon.

We are doing this in a thoughtful and responsible way with the safety of our participants and working cast top of mind. With this phased re-introduction, initial recruitment will start in Germany, Norway, Italy, France, UK, and Canada for World Showcase at EPCOT. We look forward to bringing additional countries on board and sharing applications with them once they clear travel restrictions and / or have CDC-authorized vaccine availability.

We’re building on the solid foundation of last year’s relaunch of the Disney College Program. Both programs provide a great pathway for career development as they offer participants the opportunity to learn, grow and develop and as they stay at Flamingo Crossings Village, a new state-of-the-art housing complex.

We’re eagerly counting down the days until we welcome back our Cultural Representatives and will continue to keep you updated as more countries join us to share their magic in our parks and resorts.

I’m just happy that Disney is bringing back the program because it really did make the World Showcase better.

What do you think? Comment and let us now!

Source: WDWinfo