I’m Maria D’Alema and you’re watching my journey as a Cast Member in the Disney College Program (cue Disney Channel wand intro). Here are some highlights from the first half of my program. I can’t believe it has already been three months!

 

I wanted to capture my entire College Program experience and what better time than at the midpoint! Here, I have put together collages of moments showcasing life as a Cast Member, days in the Parks a guest, time spent with friends, and more!

 

I have dreamed of working at Walt Disney World since I was a little kid. One of my dad’s favorite memories is the first time I saw Cinderella Castle when I was four years old. No matter which way he turned, my eyes would not leave those beautiful blue, white, and gold spires. Now, nearly 17 years later, I am still mesmerized by the Magic Kingdom’s gleaming center piece. Here, on my Disney College Program, I get to see the castle every day while I make magic in Adventureland and Frontierland. There are times where it still shocks me that this is my real life. I get to be in a place that people have dreamed of going to their whole life. How lucky I am that I get to call the Magic Kingdom my home Park. 

 

As a Cast Member, I take the magic and guest experience very seriously. My motto is to be the Cast Member that I would have wanted to interact with as a guest. That means being the person who is able to have fun and bring others into the moment, even if it means being larger than life and playing into the “show.” As Cast Members, it is up to us to protect the magic, preserve the stories and character integrity, create an immersive and engaging experience for every guest, and look for moments where we can sprinkle a little extra pixie dust. 

 

Through this program, I have met so many new friends from guests to fellow Cast Members. This is truly an experience that can only be best understood by those who have lived through it. There are so many highs and every day feels like a new adventure. I have been fortunate to have opportunities to meet Disney Legends; attend learning sessions that feature stories of the company’s origins, backstage tours, and behind the scenes “making of classes” that feature hidden (Mickeys) and secrets of my favorite rides, lands, and attractions; meet important people across the Walt Disney Company, and even travel to Disneyland. But with the many highs, magical moments, and days that feel like a never-ending vacation; there are days or moments where things aren’t Mickey Bars and Glass Slippers. But even during times where I do not feel quite magical, there is beauty in reflecting on all the wonderful things I have been able to do, all of the magic I am able to create, and remember that I am literally standing in the Magic Kingdom and get to drive under the Walt Disney World sign on my way to work every day which was always the most exciting start to a Disney Trip. 

 

My favorite memories over these past few months as a Cast Member making magic at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Cafe and Inn is when I got to pass on a magical moment that was given to me when I was little. My favorite positions in Pecos and in my Stands around Adventure and Frontier are the Greeter or Busser positions because they allow me to spend most of my day interacting with guests for a long period of time. In Pecos, if I am in one of the dining rooms, I am able to see a family when they first arrive, during their meal, and as they leave to return to their adventures in the Park. My first special moment with guests was when I met a family with daughters that were four and two years old. I got to interact with the girls and their brother when they first arrived by bringing lots of stickers and doing the “Disney Kneel.” The Disney Kneel is my favorite thing to do with our smaller princes and princesses because you get to be on their level and interact with them in a closer way and are able to actually hear their adorable responses when they talk about their favorite characters and rides. Every time I saw this family, I would wave and that sparked the cutest laugh from the two year old. After the family had been with me for a while, I noticed they were getting ready to leave. The two girls hopped out of the stroller and ran to find me and I got to interact with them again. This time, I noticed that they were wearing adorable little dresses so I thought it would be fun to twirl with them since my Pecos costume has the perfect twirling skirt. This prompted a small dance session and plenty of twirling. I taught the girls how to curtsy so that they would be ready to greet all of their favorite princesses for the rest of their trip. I probably spent 10-15 minutes with them and couldn’t hide my glee and joy every time they smiled or laughed. The parents thanked me for spending time with them and creating a special moment, but truly it was them who made a special moment for me. I got to do something that had been done for me as a child and I got to make those girls feel as special as I felt when I had Cast Members go out of their way for me. 

 

My second interaction that I hold very dearly was at Pecos when I was bussing the outdoor dining room, Prairie. I met a little girl, who just so happened to be celebrating her third birthday. She was waiting with her grandmother while the rest of her family were riding Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. I started out by bringing stickers and talked with her for a bit. She was dressed in a Minnie Mouse dress, something that I had done often when visiting the Parks when I was that age, and I saw the opportunity to begin my own Cast Member Tradition. Once I was cross-trained in Pecos Bill Cafe, I took it upon myself to buy a small pocket autograph book that I began bringing with me to work. I had been dreaming of the day I would be able to start an autograph book for my Royal Guests or other Disney Characters who visit my restaurant. My goal is to fill this book with signatures (or art pieces from my smaller guests). This is something a Custodial Cast Member did for me when I was visiting the Parks dressed as one of the princesses. It is special because those little girls and boys get so excited about meeting all of the characters and having them sign their books, so to have someone–especially a Cast Member–get excited about meeting you and wanting to have you sign their autograph book is a memory that will last forever and make that child feel truly magical. For me, it is a way to pass on the magic and make a child feel as important as the characters they look up to. This little girl was my first signature/work of art in my autograph book and I spent a good portion of my shift sitting with her while she drew colorful lines across the page picked out just for her. 

 

So, here is where your journey can begin! You can make the Disney College Program a part of your story and reach out and find your happily ever after. 

 

“Each of us has a dream, a heart's desire. It calls to us. And when we're brave enough to listen, and bold enough to pursue, that dream will lead us on a journey to discover who we're meant to be. All we have to do is look inside our hearts and unlock the magic within...”- Happily Ever After, Walt Disney World.