The Walt Disney World College Program is a paid internship offered to students of all majors all over the world. It gives college students the opportunity to live, work, and even take classes on the Walt Disney World property. It’s a simple process: students attend a presentation, interview with a campus recruiter and, within two weeks, they receive information on whether or not they have been extended an invitation to the program and what their field of work will be. If they accept, its off to Orlando the following semester.
I arrived in Orlando in January of 2004 with a loaded car and butterflies in my stomach. I only knew one thing for certain: I had a role with Attractions/Operations. That could be anything from running a ride to parking services, and could be at any one of the five Disney parks. When I checked into my apartment, I got some great news: I would be working in the Adventureland/Liberty Square area of the one and only, Magic Kingdom. I just knew, deep down, that I would get to be a skipper on the Jungle Cruise, something I had my heart set on since I first interviewed. I could hardly wait for the following week when I would start.
After two days of unpacking, finding my way around Orlando and attending countless classes and meetings, we all received the sacred Disney name tag and Disney ID, our pass to all the parks for free. My roommates and I went to the Magic Kingdom to explore the area in which I would be working. As we climbed into a doom buggy at the Haunted Mansion, my roommates all playfully poked me, saying “What would you do if you got to work here?” “Yeah right,” I laughed. “I think I’m a little too cheerful to work here,” I said as we passed a girl with long black girl and ghostly white skin.
That thought didn’t enter my mind again until I met with the other CP’s (college programmers) assigned to my area to get our specific roles. As I opened up my schedule and saw the word “Mansion” inside, my heart sank into my stomach and tears welled up in my eyes. “Wow,” the girl next to me said. “You’re so lucky, everyone begs for the Haunted Mansion.” But I already had set in my mind that I would hate it.
And hate it I did…for about three days. I hated being told I wasn’t scary. I hated being made fun of for my deep Southern accent. I hated the fact that I was a southern happy blonde with pigtails stuck in a dark damp Mansion. Then I gave it a chance. I realized I was lucky to have such a highly coveted position. I slowly let myself fall into the role and was thrilled the first time I actually scared a guest. I learned that many of my fellow cast members weren’t as rude and sarcastic as they seemed, they just really took pride in their job. And I found my spot in the Mansion crew. I was the one that lost children were taken to because I was probably the least scary. I was the one that parents turned to for an encouraging word to convince their children to try the ride. The first time a six year old boy came running out of the Mansion with a huge smile to give me a hug before getting back on the ride, I finally felt like I had a place at the Mansion.
Now that I’m back home, I still look at pictures of me with my fellow maids and butlers and wish I was still down there. This is why I am now a campus rep with Disney, trying to spread the opportunities I was fortunate enough to have to other students. Disney is a great learning experience, not only in everyday life lessons but also in important business skills such as communication and patience. Disney even offers networking to put students in contact with important individuals to help further their careers. I wish I could tell more people about my experience; they just might want to give it a shot themselves.
Our college program presentation will be Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:00 in the UTC University Center Raccoon
Mountain Room. Anyone who has questions can visit the website (www.
wdwcollegeprogram.com) or contact me via email.
Amanda LeRoy
amanda-leroy@charter.net