The past two weeks my daily memories on social media have filled up with posts from when I was in Disney World doing the Disney College Program, and it caused me to reminisce more and more about my time there. I went down in August 2017, nervous because it was my first time being that far from home for an extended period. I was also excited for the opportunity ahead.

Disney has apartment complexes right off property for the people in the program, with shuttles that take you to all parks and resorts. In my apartment there were five of us. Three I met in a Facebook group beforehand and the other was randomly assigned. We all got along and went to the parks a few times together before we started working.

In Disney everything is a show, so employees are referred to as cast members, your job is your role and your uniform, your costume. My role was Quick Service Food and Beverage.

For the first few months I worked in Epcot at the International Food and Wine Festival. The costume was a shirt with a flag from every country in The World Showcase and white shorts. I thought I looked good in the shirt and wish I was able to keep it. During that time, I met some of the most amazing people. My friend group still talks every day in our group chat, and we have plans to meet up somewhere annually for a few days. I really enjoyed working the festival because there was a lot of guest interaction, and the people I worked with made every day great.

After the festival ended, I worked at Sunset Market in Hollywood Studios. The costume I wore was not as fun. It took a little while for me to become friends with the people there because they were already so close, having been there the whole time. I was able to become close with them there as well, though, in the short time I had.

When I wasn’t working, I was able to go to the parks whenever I wanted, so most of my days off I would go to a park with one of my friends. Since we could go whenever, we didn’t feel the usual rush to do everything in the shortest amount of time possible. We just casually went and enjoyed ourselves.

That period was one of the best times of my life, and I am glad I have those memories.

— Andrew Melnick, intern