The Disney College Program: My Stint Working for the Mouse
I promise, we were actually happy to be working the Christmas party!
In the spring of 2013, I received a newsletter from my university's psychology department containing a handful of internship options they recommended for the summer (because we all know you need upwards of ten internships under your belt to just get an interview after graduation...and sometimes even that isn't enough - can you tell I know this firsthand?). I saw the link to the Disney College Program and began envisioning what this magical place might be like, as we never had the money to get within spitting distance of Disney when I was a kid. Impulsivity took the wheel, and I applied right there. I immediately got an email inviting me to complete a personality questionnaire, which I passed, and scheduled my phone interview for the following week - all within the span of a couple hours. Needless to say, I got accepted and took a semester off to work at the happiest place on earth.
One of the first pictures of Austin (far right) and me, which was taken after a full summer of working together and only having three conversations!
DCP #1
First stint: Pinocchio's Village Haus in Magic Kingdom, Fall 2013! It was a truly life-changing five months. I learned what a hangover felt like, developed a killer work ethic, and met people that I am still friends with today (some of which even came to my wedding last month!). I took a mid-program vacation to visit New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and an accidental wrong turn into Delaware - my first time ever visiting New England! I worked through the busiest time of the year in Magic Kingdom - Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. I discovered the infamous tunnels that run under the park, though I never learned to navigate them since Pinocchio's was right at the mouth of the tunnel. All in all, it was a fantastic experience, but it left me wanting more...
Getting ready for another parade!
DCP #2
Second stint: ESPN Wide World of Sports (where?), Summer Alumni 2015! Disney relaunched their summer alumni program right as I was getting the itch to return to my home away from home, so naturally I applied all over again. This time ESPN WWS, a sports complex that hosts sports competitions of all kinds and ages. I worked at the various concession stands around the complex, as well as the restaurant inside. This is where I met all the wonderful International College Program students (ICPs) - some of which I visited the following year in Scotland and Thailand *foreshadows future blog post*. More importantly, this is where I met my husband, Austin! However, we only had a total of three conversations the entire summer, despite our plethora of mutual friends. I guess you could say it wasn't exactly love at first sight. Then, as soon as it began, it was time to go. But I wasn't ready, so I extended my program and transferred to my final location.
DCP #2.5
Stint #2.5: Magic Kingdom ODF, Fall 2015! You know that famous three o'clock parade that graces the pavement of Main Street daily? I was in it! Well, sort of. You know those cast members in white pants and pinstripe shirts that rush down the street selling ice cream and soda, with the start of the parade hot on their heels? That was me! I took these last few months at Magic Kingdom to really branch out of the Disney bubble, too. I took a trip back to Seattle, went on my first booze cruise to the Bahamas, drove down to Key West for a weekend getaway, and finally went on a date with my future husband (though that is a future story).
The Disney College Program is an internship that provides a plethora of work experience, a value for hard work, and opportunities that you could never get anywhere else. If you would like to learn more about the DCP, visit my retired blog All Roads Lead To Disney, or the Disney College Program website here.