Behind the ‘Most Magical Place on Earth’: The Disney College Program

The Disney College Program gives eligible college students and recent graduates the opportunity to work at Walt Disney World in Florida. Participants work in roles ranging from attractions and merchandise to food service and resort operations, gaining firsthand experience in what goes into creating the magic of Disney.

For many participants, the program offers a chance to turn a love of Disney into work experience. However, former participants say the job also comes with long hours, demanding guests and lessons that extend beyond the parks.

Allison Hegburg participated in the program in spring 2023 and returned for three additional programs in 2024, 2025 and 2026. She worked in attractions at Magic Kingdom, merchandise at World of Disney at Disney Springs, and bell services at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Polynesian Resort.

Hegburg said she had always wanted to work for Disney and discovered an interest in hospitality while in high school. Despite the challenges that come with the job, she said the positive experiences made her want to return.

“Obviously, there are a lot of hard days, but I feel like they get outweighed by the good ones,” Hegburg said.

She said students considering the program should understand that working at Disney is different from visiting the parks as a guest.

“It is a job and it is going to be hard and there’s going to be hard days, but you're going to learn a lot,” Hegburg said.

Mallory Cook participated in fall 2023, working at Casey’s Corner on Main Street in Magic Kingdom. During her program, she worked through Halloween and Christmas celebrations and experienced the parks from an employee’s perspective.

Cook said seeing the parks after hours and watching fireworks were highlights of the experience. However, working in a busy park location also showed her the effort required to maintain the guest experience.

“You get to see behind the magic,” Cook said.

Working at Disney changed how Cook viewed the parks as a guest. She gained a greater appreciation for cast members and the work they do to make visitors’ experiences memorable.

The program marked Cook’s first time living away from home and working full time. She said the experience helped her become more independent and learn how to handle challenges.

“I think it taught me that I can do hard things,” Cook said.

Ashlee Brown participated in the program from January to August working in quick-service food and beverage at the Boardwalk Inn.

Brown said the reality of working at Disney differed from the image guests experience in the parks. Cast members are expected to create positive experiences even when dealing with difficult situations.

“The reality of working there is very different because at the end of the day it is a job and you're asked to be above and beyond even when management or the guests aren’t treating you right,” Brown said.

Through the program, Brown learned how to handle frustrated customers while continuing to provide good service.

“The program taught me what true customer service looks like and humbling yourself when dealing with angry or annoyed customers while still going above and beyond even if no one is watching,” Brown said.

She also said working at Disney gave her a greater appreciation for the employees responsible for creating the experiences guests remember.

“I think as an employee I give more credit to the people who work at Disney and still make it magical for guests,” Brown said.

Despite the challenges and hard days, the program helped Hegburg, Cook and Brown develop skills they can use in future careers, including communications, customer service and adapting to unfamiliar situations.

Hegburg encouraged students to consider the program even if they did not plan to pursue a career with Disney.

“It’s a beneficial job no matter what your major is,” she said.

Students interested in applying can find eligibility requirements and application information on the official Disney College Program website.