Toppers Tour Around the World: “Where Dreams Come True”

Louisville sophomore Breanna Carter. 

Kalee Chism

Over the next several weeks, the Herald will be publishing stories about the summer adventures WKU students have taken around the globe.

Disney World—the land of dreams, fairytales and magic. Each year for thousands of college students from all over the world, it becomes a place to rekindle childhood fantasies and spend a semester studying away. 

Breanna Carter, a sophomore from Louisville and former Disney College Program employee, says working for Disney had always been her dream, and the program allowed it to come true. 

“The program is really cool because it was diverse,” Carter said. “They don’t discriminate at all when it comes to hiring, so we had people from all over the United States and from all over the world working together in one place. It’s actually pretty awesome being around so many different kinds of people.”

Another Disney alumna and Taylor Mill native, junior Montana Hatfield, says being a part of the park where dreams come true definitely has its perks. 

“By far the best perk of being a Disney cast member is getting into the parks for free,” Hatfield said. “How many people get to wake up in the morning and just casually decide to go to the Magic Kingdom before work? It was so surreal.”

Carter believes one of the best parts of the experience was meeting life-long friends through the program. 

“The people: They make the experience. I met some of my best friends working at Disney, and Disney friendships last a lifetime,” Hatfield said. “I can go back in a year and pick up right where we left off.”

Applying to the Disney College Program is a time-consuming task, and sometimes applicants must apply multiple times before they are accepted.

“The application process is quite a different experience for everyone. Most people have to apply two or three times to even get to the next phase of interviewing. They want to know that you really want it,” Haley Moore, Louisville junior and Disney College Program alumna, said. 

The students can work in a position in operations, entertainment, lodging, food and beverage, retail and sales or recreation, according to the Disney Careers website. The students can also take classes online through their school or courses at the park to earn college credit. 

“There is such a large variety of roles offered for DCP applicants to choose from,” Hatfield said. “On my first program, I worked at Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure at Epcot, then on my second program I worked at the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Fantasmic!” 

Although Carter had always dreamed of working for Disney, she had to head home early because of her desire to graduate school on time. She hopes to return in the future to pursue a professional internship instead of the college program. 

“The cool part about the college program is that you can graduate and still do the following semester of your graduation as a college program intern,” Carter said. “Maybe I will work for the program in the future because Disney is an absolutely amazing company to work for.”