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Credit: Disney Disney’s college funding program is being cut.
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Disney has confirmed it will significantly limit funding for its Aspire program. Through Disney Aspire, cast members can access higher education, with Disney previously pledging 100% of the cost of tuition.
Beginning November 27, 2024, Disney Aspire will introduce an annual funding cap of $5,250 to in-network schools.
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Disney’s Aspire program began in 2018 and was envisioned as a way for the company to “invest” in its cast members, the people responsible for a lot of the magic found throughout Disney’s theme parks and other entertainment offerings.
Disney will still fully fund the first term for those currently enrolled in classes between now and November 27 but may enact a funding cap starting next year. Disney intends to roll out this new funding cap to all students across all schools in the Disney Aspire program.
While these changes to Disney Aspire may not take effect for several months for some cast members, the Master’s programs, as well as the Penn Foster Trades programs are being cut effective immediately.
Reactions to this news began pouring in early Friday morning, with many disappointed and even angered by Disney’s decision to cut funding from its Aspire program.
“Disgusting cost cutting move by Disney,” said Twitter/X user FiBelleFi. “This is one way of reducing your workforce without dealing with layoffs/severance.
Disgusting cost cutting move by Disney.
This is one way of reducing your workforce without dealing with layoffs/severance. https://t.co/ZiPzXzpclZ
— Belle (@FiBelleFi) September 6, 2024
“What a slap in the face to CMs,” said Helmsman Freddy. “Disney put some serious advertising dollars into Disney Aspire to distract from how unhappy CMs had become. While the pay has increased and a strike was avoided, clearly Disney balanced the books by cutting benefits.”
What a slap in the face to CMs.
Disney put some serious advertising dollars into Disney Aspire to distract from how unhappy CMs had become. While the pay has increased and a strike was avoided, clearly Disney balanced the books by cutting benefits. https://t.co/bcf66ny5IX— Frederick Chambers (@HelmsmanFreddy) September 6, 2024
“And just like that, Disney undoes one of the only actually good things it offered behind the scenes,” said EscAuthority. “I’ve said it for years and it rings true now more than ever – while Disney may arguably have the best product in the world, they will always be among the worst company in it.”
And just like that, Disney undoes one of the only actually good things it offered behind the scenes. I’ve said it for years and it rings true now more than ever – while Disney may arguably have the best product in the world, they will always be among the worst company in it.
— Chris Moschella (@EscAuthority) September 6, 2024
The discussion continued on Reddit, with hundreds of users sharing their thoughts on Disney’s new approach to its Aspire program. “This is insane… like seriously what is the point of aspire anymore,” said Puzzleheaded_Way9950.
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“I’m completely devastated,” said AbbreviationsOwn8957. “I just started getting back to school with the aspire program. I’ve been out of school for a year or 2 because of my dcp program and then deciding to stay in Florida.
It was a huge relief when I heard the program was fully funded. I thought I was finally getting my life back on track. Now this? Just another finance I’ll have to worry about just so they can fund the new IP coming to the parks this is Terrible.”
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“We know that finances can be a tremendous barrier for some employees, particularly those hourly employees,” Tonya Cornileus, SVP of learning and talent solutions at the Walt Disney Company, told HR Brew last year.
“We wanted to remove those barriers and again, finances is just one hurdle that people have to address when they are looking to go back to school. We wanted to take that away, and so we fully committed to providing educational programs for our employees with no cost to them.”
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Disney global HR operations associate Daniela Del Carpio talked about how the Disney Aspire program helped her find a career, initially starting out working at a retail store in Disney Springs in Orlando in 2018.
This program literally takes you through college debt-free. It has impacted me personally because it allowed those doors of opportunity to open where I wouldn’t have to worry about having to take out a loan or paying costs and [could] really focus on growing myself on a professional and a personal level.
Drew Chiasson, Attractions Host at Disneyland Resort, shared the following statement regarding their experience with Disney Aspire.
Disney Aspire enabled me to continue making magic for our Guests while investing in my future with ease. The program allowed me to be extremely flexible and keep a healthy work, life, and school balance.
As of 2023, over 14,000 students were part of the Disney Aspire program.
Stay tuned here at Inside the Magic for all Disney news.