Ever since I was a little girl I've always loved Disney anything! From the big Disney store I loved going to at the mall, the awesome Disney original movies and TV shows that I grew up on, to the endless videos I watched on repeat, and the commercials that made me want to visit Disney World and meet Mickey Mouse and his gang. (Sound familiar to any other Disney fans?) Disney's magic was something almost every little girl or boy wanted to experience for their own and possess!
Unfortunately, growing up, I never got the chance to visit Disney World with my family. Even though my brother and I probably begged over a thousand times, it just never worked out. So when I found out in college that I could possibly visit Disney World and work there, it made me determined to figure out more of how and when I could possibly take on this great opportunity. I found out that it was called the Disney College Program (DCP for short) -- a paid semester-long internship at either Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. or Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. where you get to work among other cast members who work for the mouse and enjoy sharing the magic.
After doing endless research via Google and YouTube, and speaking to alumni of the Florida program from my previous school SUNY Delhi, I weighed all the pros and cons. Some of the pros included being able to go to any of the Disney parks for free, pretty much whenever you wanted and getting your family and friends passes as well, having a Fortune 100 Company on your resume, meeting and working with people from all over the world, and having an experience like no other.
Some of the cons included Florida's bipolar weather, the peculiar animals that inhabit Florida, and the bitterness of not having a car and wishing some days that you had one, especially on rainy ones. The pros definitely outweighed the cons, to me. Plus, I was hoping to send my family down if I got in, particularly my little brother, who at the time was sick with leukemia. At the end of the day, I knew it was a job -- and most jobs have their ups and downs.
In the spring of 2014, I applied and a week later (on my mom's birthday), I found out I got accepted! Nervous isn't even the word to describe how I felt before finding out the news. Thousands of students apply to get in and only a few get accepted on their first try. I was so excited to find out that I had a chance to complete one of my dreams and experience the magic on my own.
I booked a plane ticket for two days before my check-in date (August 4, 2014) and after a few months of waiting for the big day, it finally arrived. Thankfully, my dad came along to help me settle in and send me off to live on my own. On check-in day, I found out that I would be working at Flame Tree BBQ in the Animal Kingdom and living at a Patterson Court. I quickly bonded with my housemates and bought bed sheets plus other necessitates since bringing my whole life on one flight for six months didn't quite cut it.
I loved it all, from my crazy looking multi-color costume to my apartment and living arrangements, to the rinky-dink Transtar bus that I had to travel on to get to and from work every day, where I got to meet other DCP cast members like me and converse about any and everything. I was having the time of my life and finally got to see Cinderella's castle and all the other workings of Disney. Unfortunately, disaster was brewing without my knowing and a few weeks in I got a phone call that would change my life forever.
On August 30, my dad called me telling me to come home. I was in complete shock. My brother wasn't doing so well and from the sound of his voice, I knew it was serious. In an instant, my only concern was going home. I didn't care about anything but finding a way to see him. I barely had any money to afford a last minute plane ticket, but by the grace of God, various phone calls and help, I was on a flight the same day back to New York. I finally arrived and greeted my brother one last time. The following day he passed and the pain was unbearable. I didn't want to go back to Disney. I wanted to stay home and be with my family, but my parents said I had to go back, that it would be what Dimitrius would have wanted. They told me how he would brag about me in the hospital to the nurses and doctors telling them how I worked at Disney and earned my Mickey Mouse ears. Everything happened in a whirlwind and, luckily, with the help of my managers I was given a week and a few days to help put my brother to rest and then head back to Florida. I was distressed and didn't know how I could go on, but going back to Disney helped mend part of my heart by giving little kids and their families what Disney calls "Magic Moments."
I got to see and help little boys and girls brighten their day by giving them something as simple as a yummy cupcake, extra cookie, or cute Donald pin. I saw Make-a-Wish kids stop by and get food and help cater to their special wish. I got to volunteer at a wonderful place called "Give Kids the World" where they make every day special for kids battling life-threatening diseases like cancer. I got to tell and help one of my good friends and co-workers, who was going through a similar situation, to go home even if it meant not coming back because at the end of the day family is more important.
Being in a different environment and creating happy moments for others helped make me happy. Being part of the reason why I saw a kid smile or cheer them up from a bad day brought joy to such a negative time in my life. I felt as though I made a difference. Being down in Florida coping with my loss made me more independent and helped me grow to learn how to deal with such hardships primarily on my own. It wasn't easy but I'm proud to say that I did it, I graduated from the program (DCP FALL'14) with the strength of my brother in my heart. It taught me to pass on the kindness that was given to me. Going to Disney was honestly one of the best and worst times of my life, and it just goes to show you that two extremes can unite as one if you just push forward. So, thank you, Disney, for a lot of bittersweet memories and for an experience that I'll cherish for the rest of my life.
