In May 2014, I embarked on a wild journey to sunny Central Florida to take on the Disney College Program. There were several lessons I learned while I was taking part in this extraordinary opportunity. Just like everything else, there was the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Good
Working for The Walt Disney Company has always been a goal of mine, and it was, overall, a great opportunity. The best part was getting to work the world-famous Disney Magic. When a child is not happy and smiling, a magical moment goes a long way.
Also, the perks and privileges that came along with embarking this journey were extraordinary. Complimentary admission to all of the parks and being able to explore the property for three to twelve months was great. There were several attractions, restaurants, rare characters, and other opportunities that I was able to take experience which made this journey the best.
At Christmastime, getting 40 percent off while shopping was the best way to get family gifts for Christmas. Also, the DCP events were amazing. Free food, free entertainment, and free networking were great additions to the program. There are also busses that can take you to Central Florida attractions like Cocoa Beach, Daytona, Magic Games, Universal Horror Nights, and more. These trips were cheap, fun, and a huge bonus in the program. Lastly, the classes, like earning Duckorate or Mousters’ Degrees, were a phenomenal way to make friends, create a resume, and network.
The Bad
To contradict the good, there has to be the bad. First, the hours. There were nights that I had to work as late at 4 a.m. to count out drawers and clean up. It became normal to leave Magic Kingdom at 2:30 a.m. and be back at 11 a.m. The bad hours lead to the bad busses. It always seemed that I had just missed the bus to go back home. The bus ride from DCP housing to The Magic Kingdom was a solid 45 minutes, and you have to add the good half hour that I stood in the dark waiting for the bus to that.
The same goes for getting to work. When i had to work at 11 a.m., I had to get on the 8:30 bus to the Magic Kingdom. Also, the tardy policy was not at all forgiving, even though the buses were rarely on time. Besides that, the music on those buses was one endless, annoying loop. Listening to "Sunny Ellipse" and “It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" day after day, hour after hour, was beyond driving me crazy! To add to the annoyances. I had to field questions like “What time is the Three O’Clock Parade?,” “Where is Ball State at?,” and “Where can I get alcohol in the Magic Kingdom?” These questions are okay if asked once, but imagine 70,000 guests asking all of these questions.
The Ugly
These are the worse parts of the DCP. These things are what make the program almost intolerable.
First, the friends. The friendships I created were a huge good point, but when they left, it was like a shot to the heart. Working, living, and traveling together brought some of us close together. In August, when they had to leave, and I was still at Disney, I felt awful.
Second, the holidays. Working 14 hours on Christmas Day was not just rough, but a horror story. While my family was unwrapping Santa’s gifts, I was losing my mind on the busiest day of the year. Also, being down at Disney meant that I was not at Ball State, which meant no homecoming, football games, welcome week, or other fall events. Plus, I missed all of my friends more than I ever thought I would. Eight months was longer than I thought it would be. Being over a 1000 miles away from home was heartbreaking at times.
The worst thing of all was falling behind in my academics. To graduate in four years, I had to enroll in summer school, which meant a summer of homework, and piles of it, because summer courses are five for 10 weeks, not 16, like a regular semester.
Regardless of the bad and ugly, I loved my time at the Walt Disney World resort. It was challenging, but a great experience. Working with Mickey Mouse is life goal that I can cross off and a bucket list item that I have completed! i hope to see you real soon, Mickey!
