Editor’s Note: Amanda Salazar is the editorial assistant and a reporter for the Canarsie Courier. She is writing this article as a first-person account. It is not sponsored or an advertisement.
Happy guests shriek as they plummet down a 52-foot drop. Children excitedly interact with princesses and talking animals during a midday parade. Fireworks bloom in the sky every night, to an uplifting soundtrack that I passionately belt along to, even though I can’t sing.
This was my experience at work every day for nine months in the most magical place on Earth as an attractions staff member.
From January 8 through September 19, 2024, I was living and working at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, as part of the Disney College Program, a program open to all college students and recent graduates 18 years and older.
It was one of the top best experiences of my life, and I’m here to tell you about it from my perspective as a 24-year-old lifelong resident of southeast Brooklyn (I was born and raised in Mill Basin, but now live in Homecrest).
Before working at Disney, I completed both undergrad and graduate school. I graduated summa cum laude from CUNY Baruch College in 2022 with a double major in journalism and political science and a double minor in communications studies and environmental sustainability. I graduated with a Master of Arts in journalism with a concentration in health and science reporting from the CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in 2023. I wanted to get a fun experience in before looking for a full-time journalism job to start my career with, and I had heard about the Disney College Program from a friend.
The Disney College Program, or DCP as we call it, is an opportunity for young adults to gain real-world work experience in a fun environment as Disney “cast members,” the term used for staff members.
You have the option to live in beautiful apartment-style dorms with rent-included bus transportation, can partake in optional social events and classes on campus, work unique jobs you can’t get hired for back home and, best of all, get free admission to Disney World for the entirety of your program.
If accepted, participants — nicknamed CPs for “college program” — are assigned to a location in either one of the four Disney World theme parks, the two water parks, the 32 resorts on property or the luxury outdoor shopping center, Disney Springs. Possible roles include character performer, character attendant, attractions worker, quick service food worker, restaurant seater, park greeter, housekeeper, park custodian and much, much more. Positions are assigned based on operational need, but preferences are considered.
I worked attractions — which includes rides and shows — in the Magic Kingdom. I was lucky enough to get the exact role and location I wanted, even though my interviewer didn’t ask me during our conversation.
My first work location was the Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid ride and Ariel’s Grotto character meet-and-greet in the Fantasyland section of the park. With Ariel being my favorite princess for life, it was an absolutely ideal situation.
On the side, I also got to work some crowd control shifts during the daily nighttime fireworks show, “Happily Ever After” — a show that can make even grown men cry if they’re big enough Disney fans.
I adored my time working at this attraction. I made new friends, some of whom I still keep in touch with, and learned so much about park operations.
It was a great time I never wanted to end — until it did suddenly.
Just a week before my birthday in May, I got a call from Magic Kingdom leadership telling me I was being transferred to the Frontierland section of the park in two weeks.
A new ride was opening up there in late June and staff was being moved all around to account for that. Me and other college program participants were being moved to Frontierland without any say to help supplement the new staffing needs there. We didn’t get to know which ride we’d be working on or even who else was being transferred with us.
I was devastated. I didn’t know where I’d end up, with who, and I only had about nine more shifts to say goodbye to my original work location and coworkers.
So upset, I even considered “self-terming” — the cast member term for quitting. But, I stayed, knowing it would be a shame to let an unexpected change send me packing from what was otherwise an amazing experience.
Two weeks later, in a new silly costume with knots in my stomach, I showed up for my first day of training at my new location.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was the new ride opening there. Originally Splash Mountain, the 12-minute log flume ride was being rethemed from the racist Song of the South movie to Princess and the Frog, about Disney’s first black princess.
The ride was much more complex operationally than my first ride was, and I was terrified I would never learn all that was needed to run the attraction. After a week of intensive studying and nervous training shifts, I passed my assessment. A few weeks later, the ride opened to the public.
I got to work opening night, a rainy, hectic day that made all the stress and anxiety and, yes, bitterness about the transfer feel worth it. People were loving the ride.
It took another month for me to fully acclimate and start really enjoying my time there, but I came to love Tiana’s Bayou Adventure like I loved Journey of the Little Mermaid. Just like the leaders who broke the news of my transfer said, it was an opportunity: to have two different work experiences, to meet new people, to be on an opening team — a rarity for college programmers.
I also got to work crowd control shifts for the afternoon parade, Festival of Fantasy, on the side, which I ended up liking more than my fireworks shifts.
By the time I had to leave in late September, I was so attached to my job, friends and dorm room that leaving didn’t feel like coming home, but like leaving home.
I could go on for pages writing about my college program, but for now I’ll leave it here. Thank you for reading!
If you’re interested in applying for the Disney College Program, check out this webpage: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/disney-programs.
