Ever since I was little, I have been a huge Disney fan. Disney has always been an outlet that helped me escape reality when times were tough and experience something magical. As I got older, I became fascinated with the man behind the magic, Mr. Walt Disney himself, and I quickly knew that I wanted to be a part of the empire that he had created in some way, shape, or form.
When I was in my junior year of college, I decided to apply for the Disney College Program. For those of you who don’t know what I am referring to, the Disney College Program is an internship for college students that allows the students to work in Walt Disney World (or Disneyland in California) for a semester. I knew this was something I wanted to do for a while, and after applying before to no avail, I finally was accepted for Spring of 2014. I packed my things up and moved into Disney housing in January of 2014, and ever since then, my life has been changed for the better.
My first program with the company was from January-August 2014. I worked on Main Street U.S.A in the Magic Kingdom, and everyday felt like a fairytale. For me, the whole experience was scary at first, being away from home and living on my own. I entered the program shy and timid, but I soon realized, that you can’t be shy and timid in Walt Disney World. My job at Disney helped me come out of my shell and really connect to the public. I was no longer scared of talking to people, it just came naturally. I even enjoyed spending time with the guests that visited Magic Kingdom. I felt like I was making a difference in their day just by talking to them. I had a great sense of pride knowing I put a smile on their faces. I gained confidence and I believed in myself more just by seeing all that I could accomplish on my own.
Disney made it possible for me to make a family’s vacation the most magical experience of their lives. I have met so many amazing families from my time here and it has made me a better person in the long run. One of my favorite experiences from my first program happened while I was greeting at one of our front doors on Main Street. A little girl in a princess gown, Cinderella to be exact, came running up to me with her mother rushing behind her. The little girl looked distraught, and she was holding a small Rapunzel doll in her hands and her mother was holding a package filled with accessories to put on the doll. The mother quickly explained that her daughter had lost one of the outfits for her Rapunzel doll, and was hoping I could help her find another one. At first, I was puzzled and thought there was nothing I could do for them. I quickly decided I would find a way to make this day better for this little girl. I went and found my manager and they asked me what I thought would be the best thing to do for this child. After moments of figuring out a solution, my manager and I found a way to get the little girl a replacement outfit for the one she had lost. I ran out to the little girl and showed her the outfit, and she threw her arms around me and gave me the biggest hug. She then walked over to her mother and whispered something in her ear, then walked back over to me with a paper in her hand. She handed it to me and gave me another hug, and quickly ran out to show her Dad her doll’s new dress. The paper she gave me was a card that exclaimed “Thank you for making my third birthday magical!” , a card that I still have because it meant so much to me. Something as simple as giving her an outfit for her doll made her day. After that, I knew that I was put on this earth to make people smile. I realized that I had the power to make someone happy just by doing simple tasks, and it helped me to want to do more for others.
I not only gained confidence from the program, I also gained friends. My first program, I lived with four girls, all who I loved and still love. We became a family over that time and I felt such a connection to all of them. I made friends in my work location, and throughout the parks in general. I have met some of my best friends from doing the college program. I connected with all my fellow CPs (college programmers for the outsiders) on a different level because we all had the same interests and values, and I had never had friends like that before. I still talk to all my best friends from then, and I can’t believe I went half my life not knowing them. I met people from all over the world, and learned so much. I would have never met any of my best friends if it weren’t for Disney, and for that I will always be thankful.
After my first program ended, I was devastated. I had finally found somewhere I belonged and it was all over in an instant. I went back home and it was almost like it had never happened. I was back to reality and everything was dull. I couldn’t call my friends up and ask them if they wanted to go ride Haunted Mansion at ten o’clock at night. When I was bored, I couldn’t just go to the parks anymore. I didn’t feel that rewarding feeling of making a difference in someone’s day anymore. After a year, I decided I had to go back, so I applied and was accepted for a second program.
My second program lasted from August of 2015 to May of 2016. I was more knowledgeable this time around, and experiences weren’t as new and exciting as they once were, but the magic was still there. I got to work in a Disney resort and in Hollywood Studio’s, and the job was just as rewarding as I remembered it being. I met more friends who I will keep with me forever, and had many more guest experiences that I will always remember. I can’t explain how great it feels to know that you are helping families create memories that will last forever. I knew this time around I didn’t want to lose this amazing job, so I decided to stay in Orlando after my second program ended.
I hope to work for the Walt Disney Company for years to come. I want to pursue different jobs within the company once I finish my schooling, but I know that this is the company I want to be with. It’s hard for me to make people understand why I love working for this company so much. I love how family oriented it is. I love how we put the guests first, and we make sure they are the happiest they can be. Most importantly, I love how fun it is. I love looking forward to going to work. I love getting excited to see my fellow cast members and to see the guests that visit our parks. I am forever grateful for the Disney college program for introducing me to this magical world. I’ve never been as happy at a job as I was when I worked for Disney. If you want a life changing experience, apply for the College Program. It is the most rewarding opportunity that you won’t regret, if you make the most of it. Mickey Mouse will be the best boss you ever had.
