This week marks 2 years since I jetted off to Florida and started my summer working at Walt Disney World in Orlando. It was one of the best things I ever did, I loved every second and the experience I gained has opened up many doors since. So to celebrate, I’ve done some reminiscing and shared my highlights of the program below!
Learning the Disney way
I am a huge fan on Disney theme parks, I had visited Disneyland Paris & Walt Disney World, Orlando before the program and loved the way Disney’s theme parks create magic and an experience that in my opinion no other theme park can top. The shows, theming and customer service are all world class so the chance to go through their training programs and be taught the ‘Disney way’ was a dream come true for me (especially being a tourism student and wanting to further my career in this industry!). We had a week of training sessions learning the emphasis Disney place on the ‘guests’ experience and the role us ‘cast members’ play in bringing the stories to life. I use these techniques everyday in my current job roles and it was brilliant being able to learn some backstage knowledge of how the company and all its cast members create those magical experiences.
Behind the Scenes at Disney
On our first day working in the parks, we were given a full in depth tour of the park we were working in. Luckily, mine was Magic Kingdom, so we walked around the entire park including venturing into ‘backstage’ locations behind rides, plus into the utilidors (the underground tunnels), as well as being told secrets of imagineers who designed the park and things to look out for. This was something that no guest can do, unless you pay for one of the vip tours and even then they don’t go into the detail and the areas our tour went to, so I absolutely loved it and I got paid for it, bonus! It was amazing being able to see some of the backstage work that goes into creating the happiness in the parks, there are details that you don’t even think about so it was really impressive to see the amount of employees and the different departments that help create the magic.
Dinner parties
One of the best things about living in Disney apartments was that you shared accommodation with people from all over the world who were on the same program as you. This meant that there was loads of opportunities to meet people from different countries and share your experiences. Also, everybody loved inviting people over for dinner parties to cook their countries traditional foods. It was great to chat about our differences and similarities in culture and see different perspectives. And food always makes it into my posts somehow…
Disney Graduation
When the program started I had just completed the final year of my degree, yippee! Though the graduation ceremony was that summer, the time when I was in Orlando so it meant that I missed out on having the whole graduation experience and getting that photo with the graduation hat & gown. However, the Disney Cultural exchange program I was completing actually had its own graduation ceremony which meant I could put on my Mickey ears graduation cap and enjoy a Disney graduation! The event included a free buffet, a DJ, lots of freebies and photo opportunities with Mickey & Minnie in their graduation outfit! Despite the queue being ridiculously long and the weather not on our side, we got the photo and continued the celebrations in Disney village with an ice cream sundae and day in the parks!
My Last shift
On my last shift my colleagues and managers were so kind to me and gave me such a memorable last day. The team were a big part of the area I worked in and it was hard to say goodbye but we had lots of fun on shift that evening, my team leader also let me stand outside and watch the night time firework show in its entirety for the last time, I had heard and seen this show almost every shift but it never got boring! I got the chance to skip the queues and have a private photoshoot with Mickey Mouse at the attraction I worked at and then had photos on an empty Main Street with the castle in the background. To complete it all we were given the photos free of charge so I have a souvenir of my last shift to keep forever.
2 years later I am still so grateful for the opportunity, these are just some of the main highlights I took away from the program and have loads more memories from my time there. If you are thinking about doing a program like this, I would definitely say to go for it as they are a once in a lifetime experience. I’d love to hear your thoughts & questions in the comments!
Wow. Sounds like an awesome experience! I love Disney. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you for reading! 😊
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That sounds like a brilliant job and an incredible experience. Your last shift sounds like the kind of thing you’d never forget!
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Yes Definitely!
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This seriously sounds so cool and so fun! I really wanted to do this program, but It didn’t fit into my schedule well.
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Oh that’s a shame, it doesn’t work for everyone but hope you found a great alternative! Thanks for reading 😊
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I’ve always wanted to work at Disney, so I loved reading your post! It sounds super cool and I hope I get my own Disney experience someday🤗
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Oh I hope you do! Thanks for reading 😊
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I love being afforded peeks at how people make the magic work on their businesses or dreams, and seeing how the magic happens at a Disney park, of all places, sounds like it was eye-opening.
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It really was, I loved every minute!
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Sounds so fun! I really wanted to do the college program but it never worked well with my school schedule.
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Oh it doesn’t fit sometimes, hope you went on to have a great time though , thanks for reading 😊
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This sounds amazing! I’d love to be able to work at the happiest place on earth ahahaha
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Aha it was a brilliant experience!
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Wow this must have been so incredible! I did a work program over in America last summer and it was the best time of my life! I loved it!
Amber – The Unpredicted Page
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Oh that’s awesome, so glad you had just as much of a great time! thanks so much for reading 😊
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Thanks for sharing your experiences, it must have been a great time you had working in such a magical place 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
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Yes it was a few months in another world, thanks for stopping by 😊
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Amazing post! I’ve been to Disney world once and I loved it! I really want work there for a summer in the future!
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Oh good luck!! There is so much to like about Disney World!
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This is one interesting program, could hear your excitement while reading. All the best
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Oh was it that obvious haha! Thanks a lot for reading 🙂
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Definitely, my pleasure
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Sounds like such an amazing opportunity! I bet it was so interesting going behind the scenes and discovering all the secrets of a Disney park!
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It was, the good thing is that it doesn’t spoil the magic created in the park, it just makes you admire it more seeing how they do it!
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I loved reading your article ❤️ I have never been to Disneyland but would definitely want to 😍
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Thanks so much, oh hope you can soon!
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It is so cool that you worked at Walt Disney World! It is so interesting to see how effective Disney’s training program is. Employees are so consistent. Oooh! So cool that there are different experiences as you live in the Disney apartments. Working with great people makes the biggest difference. Glad you had an amazing opportunity!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
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Thanks for your lovely comments 😊 ✨ yes it was a great opportunity, I will remember it forever!
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So jealous! I would love to work at Disney 🙂
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Oh anything is possible!
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Ahh this sounds like such an amazing experience! I’ve always wondered what it would be like to work at Disney and I’ve heard so many differing opinions. This is really making me want to do it though, might have to give it a try. Meera-Abroad | Travel, Fashion & Food
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I would really reccomend it, go for it!
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This sounds SO extremely fun! I would love to work in anything Disney related!
🌿 Marissa Belle × marsybun.com 🌿
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They are a great company to work for! Thanks for reading 😊
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Love this!! Glad you had such a great time. Which ride did you work on?
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I worked as part of Main street operations so at Meet Mickey, tinkerbelle and parades 😊
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Thanks for sharing Chris 😊 very interesting to know behind the scenes
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Glad you enjoyed, Thanks so much for reading 😊
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This actually sounds like a DREAM! Honestly would love to do something like this! That’s great you had a great time and have so many lovely memories and learnt skills too! Great post! X
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Thank you so much, I loved it loads, it such great memories! Thanks for stopping by 😊 ✨
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This is so cool! As what they say there is always a child in us. I remember the day i set foot in HK disneyland, my excitement is just on the highest level. I love mickey forever! 💕
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Love this! Thanks for reading 😊
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Sounds like you had a great time while working there!
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Thanks a lot! It was a great experience 😊
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I am a former Cast Member as well! I sure miss it sometimes.
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