Disney World Magazine

Disney World December 2013

A look at the Disney College Program from a former Disney World cast member Take a walk through the Flower and Garden Festival at Ecpot

Plus, Disney Castles around the world, see which one is your favorite

From The Editor:

Since I was little, all I can remember is the fact that Disney was the one place that I could always feel like was home. I moved a lot when I was younger and our yearly trip to Disney World in Orlando, FL was the one constant that I could always count on. Disney has been a staple in my life for as long as I could remember, and I have always wanted to share my love for Disney with the world. This magazine is what all of that love for Disney over the years has come to.

Disney is a place for everyone. From the very young to the young at heart, it is a place that anyone is welcome. From the very first day Disneyland in Aneheim, CA when Walt Disney opened the park, it has been a place that everyone can go.

“To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” - Walt Disney I truly hope that in reading this magazine that people get the feeling of love and a sense of wonder that I feel everytime I read something about this magical place. These characters, these places, and this company have a special place in my heart that nothing could ever compare with. I hope that all of the readers get to go to one of the parks and experience the amazing feeling of belonging and a sense of home that I feel everytime I go back to Disney World.

“I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse.” - Walt Disney

Emma Thompson Editor in Cheif, Walt Disney Magazine

Table of Contents Working with the Mouse

Page 4

Walking Through the Gardens

Page 8

Ever wondered what it would be like to work at Disney? Emma Thompson gives us an inside look at life in the Disney College Program

A visual take on the International Flower and Garden Festival held at Epcot every fall

It’s A Small, Small World

Page 14

Think you know everything about the Castles of the Disney Parks? Find out here!

Working for the

Mouse

By: Emma Thompson

Imagine getting to watch fireworks over a castle every night at work.

Imagine getting to lead a safari through an African reserve. Imagine getting to go to France and Morocco or going to see a broadway musical all on your Tuesday off. When you are working for the mouse all those things you just imagined can be a reality. Over the course of your four years in college you will find many different programs you can pursue. You will not find any as unique of an experience as the Disney College Program, you can take it from me, I did it.

For the spring semester of 2013, I packed my bags and headed to Orlando to start my journey of living, earning and learning at the happiest place on earth. Now I have always been a Disney fanatic, but I never imagined how much more I would come to love it through my time down in Florida. The company, the parks, the music and, of course, the characters have so much more meaning to me now then they ever did before.

Pulling into check in at Vista Way Apartment Complex was surreal. I am actually here, living and working at Disney. I got my placement at Magic Kingdom, the center of all of the magic.

I spent my semester working at Main Entrance merchandise with the perfect view of Cinderella Castle from everywhere I stood. I had no idea the memories I would make working at an area that doubled as the rental hub for strollers, electric vehicles, lockers and wheelchairs, but I could not have imagined working anywhere else.

Once I got my work placement, I went to my new home to meet my roommates.

We were a perfect fit.

I was in an apartment with five other people.

Five of us were nearly inseparable the whole program. I would never have guessed I would get so close with girls from all over the country. I was living at Vista Way Apartments. It was a fun complex and it was a perfect place to spend a semester.

The first day of work was a class called Traditions. In this class you learn about all of the history, missions and the ways of life when working for the Walt Disney Company. We got to go into the tunnels below Magic Kingdom for the first time and it was like a whole different world. I had been in Magic Kingdom many times before and I had never imagined what could have been going on right underneath my feet. We got to see all of the behind the scenes things that would become a staple of my daily life working on Main St. USA.

I spent my days hanging out wtih my roommates and coworkers at the theme parks and my nights watching Wishes Fireworks Spectacular and The Main Street Electrical Parade. I was in a complete state of bliss. This semester was what made me realize that I truly want to be working for any part of the Walt Disney Company for my life long career.

My whole life I had never imagined being able to go to Walt Disney World all the time

without even having to buy a ticket. Spending all of my time there, unlike what most people would think, did not make me dislike anything about Disney. It just strengthend the fact that I am really a child at heart and that is really what Disney is all about.

I even got to be there during some of Walt Disney World’s special events. Every year Epcot hosts an International Flower and Garden Festval where they create topiaries of various characters with flowers and bushes.

I also got to be their to experience the Easter parade, which was something that I had never seen before. Another experience I got to be a part of was Star Wars weekends in May. Actors that played parts in Star Wars come to Hollywood Studios as the whole place is transformed into a Star Wars fans paradise.

My family even got some of the benefits as well. My aunt, uncle and cousins came down in February and I got to take them to the parks for two days for free and get them into one of the best resorts on site, the Boardwalk, which is right inbetween Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

During spring break my parents and brothers came down and we got to spend four days playing at the theme parks, staying at the fantastic Polynesian Resort, and laying on the beach that is right across the lake from Magic Kingdom. It was so great showing them all the new things I had learned and discovered from working at the park and from Traditions class.

The entire experience felt like I was living in a dream. It was something I have wanted my whole life and I was there. Living, learning and earning at Walt Disney World, in the Magic Kingdom, the happiest place on earth and it truly is.

I worked the late night shift, closing the park everynight and I got to see something that not many other people get to see. I got to experience a completely still Main St. USA. The stillness with the music and the lights on Cinderella Castle made every night I was working there such a magical experience.

How many other people get to say that they got to be the only person standing in the middle of Main St. looking at Cinderella Castle. I am so thankful everyday for the experience that I had down in Orlando and I honestly would not trade it for the world.

“I got to experience aspects of Disney that other people will never get the opportunity to see or do, and for a Disney nerd nothing can beat that.�

I can honestly say that this experience has changed my life. I am a better person coming back from it and experiencing the things that I did. The people I met will be with me and in my life always. The memories are something that only the few people get to have in this world.

My last day, I came to the Magic Kingdom with my friend Ricky.

He worked in my area with me and had to work later that day. When he went to work I just went and sat in the back room with all of my managers and co-workers just talking because I couldn’t leave. I did not want the experience to end.

Now looking back I know that it does not have to end, I am applying in the fall for a Professional Internship at Disney. I hope I get the chance to experience this wonderful company again first hand and I owe it all to the Disney College Program. It really did change my life in the best way possible.

Walking

through the

fLOWERS

A dozen new food and beverage garden marketplaces, 30 million multi-hued blooms, 1,000 native butterflies and 100-plus whimsical topiaries add splendor and substance to the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Right: Prince Phillip and Aurora topiaries near the International Gateway.

Right Corner: Cinderella and Prince Charming topiaries in the France pavilion

Every year at Epcot Center the flowers come alive to form the bevoled characters from the Walt Disney vault. From princesses to cars and lions to our favorite mouse, the International Flower and Garden Festival, hosted by HGTV, brings in guests from all over the world. This year the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The Flower and Garden Festival is a place where everyone in the family can find something to enjoy. Along with the topiary displays as the forefront, there is also stands along the World Showcase where guests can buy exclusive garden decor.

Along with the topiaries and garden specialties, There are specialty food stands in each country of the World Showcase featuring different cusine that you could not normally get at Epcot. At night the Bandstand in the America pavillion fills with the music of the Flower Power Concert Series, which in the past has featured band such as, Starship and the Village People.

The kids even have things to do. Every year a kid zone area is constructed. Most recently in 2013 it was themed to OZ: The Great and Powerful with fun carnival games and prizes to be won by all.

Children admire topiaries featuring Bambi, Thumper, and Flower.

Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto topiaries enjoy a nice picnic

Friends from the Hundred Acre Wood play in the United Kingdom

Above: Lotso Hugginbear greets guests as they enter Epcot Center.

Below: Mike and Sulley stand at the gates of Monsters University ready to learn to scare.

It takes more than one full year and about 24,000 cast member hours to prepare for the annual festival.

The Circle of Life topiary, featuring Rafiki and Simba is one of the biggest hits of Flower and Garden Festival every year.

225 floating mini-gardens, each three feet in diameter, provide splashes of color on two ponds that border the walkway between Future World and World Showcase.

Above and Below: The chracters of Beauty and the Beast dance among the flowers in the heart of the Paris in the France pavillion.

Lady and Tramp play in the flowers at the Italty pavillion

It’s a Small, S

With 5 current Disney properties around the world and one under construction, o

Disneyland in Anaheim California opened its its doors July 17th, 1955. It was the first Disney park and the one park Walt Disney ever saw opened. It features Sleeping Beauty Castle as its centerpice.

Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida opened on October 1, 1971. Magic Kingdom park features Cinderella Castle as its centerpiece. Now it has 4 parks, 2 waterparks and 22 resorts; making it the biggest of all.

Disneyland in Paris, France opened on April 15, 1992. It originally opened as Euro Disney Parks.

Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, or Sleeping Beauty Castle is at the center of the park.

Small World

one thing remains, the magical feeling of a Disney castle translates everywhere.

Disneyland in Shang-hi, China broke ground on April 7, 2011 and is expected to open in 2015.

It will be the only interactive castle that will include attractions and represent all of the Disney

Disneyland in Hong Kong opened on September 12, 2005. The park hosts another version of Sleeping Beauty Castle. This park was build to incorporate Chinese culture and feng sui.

Disneyland in Tokyo, Japan opened its doors on April 15, 1983. This is the only other Disney park to host Cinderella Castle, with incorporated Japanese flair. It was the first international Disney park.