People who take part in the Disney Institute’s professional development training programme are now getting a theme park operating experience as part of the curriculum.

The Institute – which is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) – began what it calls “leader walks” last year, which will now become a regular part of the course after a successful rollout.

The leader walks will allow trainees to see how the park operates and see how employees and managers at the park run the business side of things. The walks will see them taken out into the park to gain insight from a variety of Disney employees – from animal trainers to housekeeping executives – to see how they go about their daily work schedule and experience best practices Disney uses in order to both run its business and keep the Disney brand strong.

“People were saying they wanted more of a field experience,” said Bruce Jones, programming director of the Disney Institute, speaking to the Orlando Sentinel. “The basic principles of the Institute haven’t changed, but now people can come here and meet with Disney leaders out in the parks. In the past, Disney Leaders have been facilitators in the class room.”

“We have people show their best practice principles, where they are being used in the field.”

The institute offers one-day professional development courses or multiple days and package deals. Cost for a single person for one day is US$1,000 (€734, £587).