Giant U.S. Company Cancels Major Employment Perk for New Staff

 Giant U.S. Company Cancels Major Employment Perk for New Staff

**PwC has canceled its signature end-of-summer internship trip to Disney World for its 2026 class, marking a significant shift in how the Big Four firm approaches early-career talent. The move follows a similar decision by EY and reflects broader changes in the professional services industry as AI reshapes entry-level work.**

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## What PwC Canceled

PwC has confirmed it has canceled its annual end-of-summer trip to Disney World for interns who received full-time job offers. The multi-day event, known as **Impact**, had been a staple of the firm's summer internship program for roughly 15 of the last 20 years .

The trip was typically held in mid-August and featured entertainment, keynote speeches, career-development panels, free food and accommodation, and access to the Disney World Resort . For thousands of interns, it was the capstone of their summer experience—a celebration of their transition from intern to full-time staff.

Instead of the Orlando trip, at least some interns were told their programs would wrap up with office-based events. One tax intern said the plan was a team dinner at an Italian restaurant .

## Why the Change?

A PwC spokesperson told Business Insider that while the celebration was no longer happening, the firm continued to make "significant investments" in its early-talent programs. The company said it is shifting resources toward experiences that give interns more time with colleagues and clients, rather than a resort trip .

The official explanation is: "We're intentionally focusing our programs on experiences that provide more time with colleagues, greater exposure to clients, and stronger opportunities to build relationships within the offices and teams where interns begin their careers" .

**But the broader context suggests a structural shift, not a one-off budget decision.**

### EY Also Canceled Its Disney Trip

PwC isn't alone in this. Ernst & Young also canceled its annual Disney trip for summer 2026 interns, according to Going Concern, which has tracked Big Four intern programs for years. EY also reportedly cut its internship down to six weeks, did not pay interns for the July 4th week, and canceled intern gifts .

The pattern across two of the four largest accounting firms in the same summer suggests something structural is happening.

### The AI Factor

The growing use of AI is prompting professional-services firms to reconsider how they recruit and train junior staff. Some Big Four firms have shifted intern training to focus less on the technical aspects of the profession and more on critical thinking, data analysis, and drawing conclusions .

As AI increasingly performs some of the data-heavy tasks traditionally assigned to entry-level workers, the traditional "learn on the job" model is under strain. PwC has also signaled it plans to reduce its hiring of entry-level workers in the U.S. by a third over the next three years, with an internal presentation linking the decision to "transformation efforts, the impact of AI, and further AC integration" .

## The Mixed Reaction

Interns had mixed views about the cancellation. One was disappointed, saying that although PwC had organized some happy hours and office-based events, they were "nothing compared to what Impact would have been."

On the other hand, another intern said: "Honestly, I don't mind! Many current interns went a year and a half ago during Destination CPA" .

## The Bigger Picture: Big Four Intern Perks Are Shrinking

The Disney cancellation isn't a standalone decision. It's part of a broader pattern across Big Four accounting and consulting firms:

**KPMG** announced it would lay off 10% of its U.S. audit partners after failing to secure enough voluntary retirements, citing new AI audit tools that introduced redundancy in managers .

**Deloitte** has cut back benefits for employees, reducing paid time off by 5-10 days, freezing its pension plan, cutting paid family leave in half to 8 weeks, and ending a $50,000 family planning benefit .

**EY** has offshored large numbers of support roles for "cost management" and, as noted, canceled its Disney trip .

**PwC** has reduced the number of locations where entry-level consultants can start their careers, from 72 to 13, to bring junior consultants closer together during their first years at the firm .

**The bottom line:** The era of Big Four internships as lavish, perk-filled experiences is fading. As AI handles more of the data-heavy work that once filled a junior employee's first two years, firms are reconsidering the cost-benefit of large-scale celebrations and entry-level hiring volumes. The Disney trip was a symbol of the old model—and its cancellation is a sign of the new one.

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## Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Did PwC cancel the Disney trip for all interns?

A: Yes. PwC canceled the "Impact" event, its signature end-of-summer trip to Disney World, for its 2026 summer intern class .

### Q: What is replacing the Disney trip?

A: PwC is replacing the resort trip with office-based events and team dinners. One intern reported their program would end with a team dinner at an Italian restaurant .

### Q: Did EY also cancel its Disney trip?

A: Yes. Ernst & Young also canceled its annual Disney trip for summer 2026 interns .

### Q: Why are Big Four firms cutting intern perks?

A: The changes reflect broader shifts in the professional services industry. AI is taking over data-heavy entry-level work, prompting firms to reconsider hiring volumes, training approaches, and the cost-benefit of large-scale celebrations .

### Q: What other changes are Big Four firms making?

A: PwC plans to reduce U.S. entry-level hiring by a third over three years . Deloitte has cut PTO, frozen pensions, and reduced family leave . KPMG has conducted layoffs . EY has offshored support roles .

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## Disclaimer

**IMPORTANT:** This article is for informational and educational purposes only. The information contained herein is based on publicly available sources and reflects the author's understanding as of the publication date. Company policies, internship programs, and hiring practices are subject to change. You should consult with the relevant firms directly for the most current information. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice.