Did disney affect your career choice?

[TheDisneyQueen]

I have been considering majoring in public relations or advertising but when i find myself sitting in class bored i think about how i would love to be around little kids because it will remind me of how i felt when the largest problems i had were if i was tall enough to ride space mountain.LOL i really feel like i am gonna lean towards teaching because of disney and how being a kid to me was a great, and most carefree time of my life. i feel like i should be surrounded by kids to make me happy, since they are so innocent and more carefree than adults. Disney i feel has led me to this choice. My question is has this happened for any of you. Has disney influence you to teach or explore a career that you didnt believe you were...?

Angie

 

[MyNameisStitch]

Definitely, I guess in 2 ways. I packed up my stuff and moved to Orlando to work for Disney LOL. I'm not working for them currently but I will be going back one day. Now i'm working for an airline which allows me to fly to Disney anytime I want. That was definitely a selling point for me

 

[DisneyLindz]

My parents starting taking my sister and I to Disney as babies and have continued ever since. I've probably been there 20 times in the last 25 years. I honestly do believe that my love of Disney, coupled with my parents always allowing us to be silly and act like kids, led me to a career working with children.

I am a licensed counselor who specializes in working with children and adolescents. And thank goodness Disney movies/characters/trips are so popular with the population I work with, because it's the easiest way to connect with them and develop a therapuetic relationship. I even had one little girl come in dressed in her Belle costume for her second session, because we talked Disney princesses during her initial session. SO CUTE!!!

 

[Montyboy]

Not even a little bit. Disney is for vacation.

 

[Michi4515]

It was a huge influence for me. I started out wanting to major in Sign language and then decided to change my major to hospitality management/tourism. I choose the hospitality industry b/c I love to service people and be part of their memorable moments. I was part of the CP program and one of the most memorable moments I had was that a guest approached me and asked to take a picture with me b/c they were so thankful for my help throughout their stay. I've also had several occasions were guests would just stop by my location (All-Star Sports End-Zone food court) to say thank you as they were checking out and heading back home. To me, that feeling is indescribable =) It's true that once you work there and visit so often that it doesn't feel so much as a vacation spot but now to me it feels more like home =) which is even better! I still have to make a trip there at least twice a year!! lol

 

[camithepirate]

Im in Culinary School now, hoping to do both of my iternships for disney. =) I think WDW def. infulences my want to be a pastry chef, becuase I want to be able to make people happy in the happiest place on earth. lame, but still true. =p

 

[Disney05]

I still have to wonder, will Disney lose that magic for me if I work there and see everything behind the scenes?

 

[DizneyPryncess]

For me, no not right now. I own a women's clothing boutique. I did sell Disney Couture clothing for a while! But other than that, my job has pretty much nothing to do with Disney.

However, recently I've been realizing how much happy I would be if I did do something for Disney. So you never know, maybe in the future Disney will have an impact on what I'm doing with my life.

 

[RiversideBunny]

A question would be-

For someone who's going to a university and major in something, where and what would apply if the end objective is to work for The Walt Disney Company?
Not as a cast member but in one of the 'hard core' Disney jobs like imagineer, or park operations/construction, or movies.

Seems like mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, etc. would be good for imagineer and/or park operations.

These days computer graphics and programming are important. The old time hand drawn images may not be so prominent.

The Disney company is headquarted in California. Maybe some of the universities in that area have degrees that would help in getting on with Disney. A lot of subcontractors to Disney are there also.

 

[FatBoy976]

I directly thank Disney for my career choice. Every time we went to Disney, I wanted to know how the rides worked. My dream always has been to be an Imagineer, so I got my degree in Mechanical Engineering and I currently enjoy designing and testing machines. If Disney ever wants me to be an Imagineer, that would be awesome, but my career involves working with machinery because I was so fascinated by what Disney does.

And there has been no loss of magic for me, even though I've figured out the secrets behind all of the magic tricks.

Disney helped me figure out what I was passionate about. If they can do the same for you, go for it. Do what you love and you'll lead a happy life.

 

[OddDuck]

I just relocated from the Midwest to be closer to Disney, and my dream job would be working in the Disney archives. Hopefully some day....

 

[laynalee07]

I work at a car dealership where we have to park in a lot across the street and have us bused over to our buildings...
I am still trying to convince them that we need a monorail to go from dealership to dealership... BIG DREAMS... i know.... but it would still be awesome!

 

[joanna71985]

Yes it has. Since doing my CP, I decided that I wanted to work at Disney FT once I graduate. Hopefully I will be able to move down in May.

 

[DisneyEverest]

I still have to wonder, will Disney lose that magic for me if I work there and see everything behind the scenes?

I always think about that too, I hope not.

 

[WDW Monorail]

Not quite sure. I'm a Chemical Engineering major. While it would be very nice to work for WDI, I don't see that happening. Besides, it's not the place where I really want to work. That's a few miles East of WDW .

 

[Ravenclaw87]

I just relocated from the Midwest to be closer to Disney, and my dream job would be working in the Disney archives. Hopefully some day....

That's my dream job, too!!! I'll fight you for it

Actually, another one of my dream jobs is to write a screenplay for Disney Animation. I know it will never happen, but I can wish, right?

 

[Phonedave]

I am a Civil Engineer by education, and Project Manager and a Staff Manager by the route life has taken me.

Would I like to work for WDI or even Disney in general in a project management sense. Sure, only if they make it worth my while, which would have to include a HUGE incentive in order to move.

Did I follow this path because of Disney? Not at all.

Would I want to work at a Disney Park. Not right now. Maybe if I ever retire to Florida, it may pass thought my mind, but I have done service type jobs in my past. There is a lot of downside to them.

-dave

 

[kcw]

Ironically enough....

I distinctly remember watching the MSEP one day (I even remember where on Main Street I was sitting), and when the court dancers came by I thought to myself "Ok, this is what I want to be when I grow up" And now some 9-10 years later, I'm lucky enough to have my dream job and be working in the entertainment dept. (and while I can only be seasonal right now, I plan on going FT right after I graduate) Funny enough, I actually found a journal from elementary school in which I wrote something about how when I grew up I wanted to be "an astronaut, a doctor, and a character and dancer in the parades at Disneyland" That was of course while I was young and naive and I didn't think the characters were real- don't worry though, I'm smarter now and I know better :animwink:

 

[Scar Junior]

Like most people here I grew up on Disney products and traveled to WDW very often.

While in high school I was acting and made a few movies that I sold to classmates. I also knew I wanted to do the CP.

My freshman year at the U of MN I did the CP and it was the greatest time of my life.

When I got back to school I was a campus rep for Twin Cities colleges and universities.

I planned to work for Disney after I graduated - and was offered a few jobs - but decided to start a production company instead.

I enjoy making TV commercials/promotional videos and it pays the bills, but it is no where near as fun as working and living in Disney World.

The "magic" isn't gone when you work there - it just changes from the aspect of moving from consumer to producer. Face characters become your girlfriends or boyfriends, or you walk around backstage and see what sets are made of - but you become part of being "in" on the show.

Don't be surprised if I leave my company and wind up working down there again... after all, I'm only 24...

 

[DivineMadness7]

For me, no not right now. I own a women's clothing boutique. I did sell Disney Couture clothing for a while! But other than that, my job has pretty much nothing to do with Disney.

However, recently I've been realizing how much happy I would be if I did do something for Disney. So you never know, maybe in the future Disney will have an impact on what I'm doing with my life.

What is the name of your boutique? I may have to check it out the next time I'm visiting the 'Burgh! :wave:

I guess my thoughts are this: If what you want to do could get you a job at Disney, great! For me, all of my family is in the northeast so a relocation to either FL or CA is just not a priority or desire at the moment. I didn't choose my future career based on a specific place I want to work (the Met) but on a general area (museums.) If Disney ever wants to hire someone with an art history degree, I'll be first in line.... :lookaroun