My Experience Doing the Disney College Program

I’m currently a senior in college and, let me tell you, it hasn’t always been easy. I hit a rough patch in school and needed a break to clear my head to figure out my next move. At the end of my freshman year, I applied to the Disney College Program, and never looked back.

My experience officially started when I received the magical email that I had been accepted into the program I knew nothing about, except what I had heard in YouTube videos. I also knew I would have to pack up and move eight hours away from my family and friends for seven months. However, I quickly realized how lucky I was to have been selected. Saying I was grateful was an understatement. I felt it was destiny.

As a Disney cast member, we are assigned to specific roles in the parks ranging from attractions, food, and beverage, merchandise, concierge, or my personal favorite, entertainment. For entertainment, there was a special process I had to go through. Auditions were held all over the United States. I attended the ones in Atlanta. When I arrived at the audition space there were over 500 dancers there. The auditions were gruesome and lasted all day. By the end of the day, there were only five dancers left, and I was one of them. I received my email that I was accepted into the entertainment portion of the college program a week later.

I was truly living the dream in Walt Disney World as a character performer. I was so excited to dance down Main Street and experience a new level of happiness and magic.

During this time, I lived with five other girls as random roommates and we are all still best friends to this day. How could you not be happy living five minutes away from Cinderella’s Castle?

We were living in the most magical place on Earth, but there were some not so magical moments. Struggling through long 40-hour weeks, constantly being homesick, and so many other things made my time away from home difficult. The worst part was not being able to come home for Christmas. However, I had many friends that I made from all over the country and the world, who were now members of my new Disney family. They helped me enjoy my favorite time of year away.

When people ask me if they should do the Disney College Program I always say, “Yes, 100 percent!” It taught me many life skills like money and time management, communication, living on my own, and stepping out of my comfort zone. Also, the opportunity looks great on a resume and builds future networking relationships.

There is nothing in the world, I would trade for the valuable memories and experiences I had in the happiest place on Earth.

Be well, Auburn.