What should I do with my life?

mickey04

mickey04

Member
Original Poster
Okay, here's the situation. I'll be entering my senior year of high school in the fall and its around the time that I'm being pressured to consider where I want to go to college and what I want to do with my life. What I know is this: I want to work for Disney and I want to live in Florida. I also plan on attending the colege program during college. Now as for what I want to do- I know I want to do one of two things. I either want to try to get into the business end of Disney- especially involving themeparks- or be an Imagineer. Here's the problem. I'm not really sure what a business executive or an Imagineer does! I know I'm interested in ride design and park management (I love the game Rollercoaster Tycoon) and I know I love Disney. I've often kidded that I want to be the next CEO of Disney, and I even read MIchael Eisner's book, but I still have no idea if I want to be in business or in Imagineering.

So, finally, here's my question- does anyone know exactly what each of these jobs entails and what kind of colleges I should be looking at for each one. I'm really confused and would appreciate any help from anyone.

Thanks,
Mike
 
cm1988

cm1988

Active Member
Live long and prosper

Ok, I'm over 50 and have accomplished a couple of life goals... one being "working at Disney" as you mentioned, Mickey04/Mike.

My advice is don't get too hung up on goals. Yes, set them, but be ready to change them. The important thing is, what are your <i>values</i>. "Who", not "what", do you want to be? Who do you most admire? Do you have the same qualities as that person... or is there something you might want to change? That's another kind of goal to consider.

It bugs me that schools don't give you a better idea of what "work" is. That hasn't changed since the 60's. You almost have to experience employment and figure it out for yourself. Why don't schools teach that instead of, say, long division?

But back to your question. WDWCP (the college program) will give you great Disney experience plus a lot of college-type fun. You may just develop other goals after that... having experienced WDW inside-out.

You could take business classes at just about any university to find out some things about Management. Still, that won't teach you what it's like to hire, coach, cajole and find compensation for human beings... while remaining within a budget.

Imagineering is <b>dozens</b> of different jobs. e.g. do you like writing scripts? --- be a script writer. Or do you prefer to build models, or supervise construction, or plan projects, etc, etc.? So before you consider "imagineering" as an option, you'll want to decide what facet of imagineering suits you best.

No job that I know of is even remotely like "RollerCoaster Tycoon". Even a theme park VP doesn't get to make all those decisions, and that quickly. Having said that, there are a lot of jobs, in many places where you make some decisions, and build a few things. It just takes much longer and you do it mostly by clicking with people, not by clicking a mouse.

Most jobs are like a 'pick-up' baseball game. You decide, with others, that you want to play. A couple people start choosing people for their teams. You really, really want to be chosen. Then you are! You take a position not necessarily because you were "born to be center field", but because somebody else took shortstop already and there is an opening in center field.

During the game, you try to hit a home run. You do your best as an outfielder. You cheer your teammates. Sometimes the game seems to go well, sometimes not so well. If you can have fun in either circumstance, your prize is: <i>you get to be happy.</i> If it takes winning to have fun, then your prize might be a brass-plated trophy.

Usually, what makes it fun is you know how to get along with people and (as previously mentioned) you know who - not just 'what' - you want to be.

Good luck, Mike.
 
H

HennieBogan1966

Account Suspended
What to do with my life

Mike:

I would agree with that gentleman, that you should strive to be happy. That is what will be most important in your life. In addition, he again is correct in saying that you need to be able to work "with" people. I have found over the years that the biggest fault in "any" type of business is lack of communication. (e.g. people not getting along, or working well together.) I once worked for the Disney Store here in Austin, and it was no different there. You have to be a "people" person these days to succeed in any form of business. A good personality, good sense of humor, being able to laugh at yourself. These are all very good qualities that will serve you well, no matter what your career choice is. Addtionally, I had a colleague that attended the College Program there, and although I haven't spoken to her since that time, I can tell you that the "gleam in her eye" said it all for me when we spoke about her impending "vacation" there.

But I would say this: Chase your dreams!!!! Figure out what you want for your life, stick to it, and don't give up until you reach that, or those, goals. Nothing wrong at all with dreams. Set goals. Don't wallow in mediocrity. Always look for that next "rung" on the ladder.

Good luck Mike
Brian
 
T

TURKEY

New Member
Mike,

What both of these guys said is true.

One thing to keep in mind is that not every dream has to be accomplished right away. Working FT at Disney is one of my dreams. I had a position open, but I didn't take it for several reasons. One was staying here and helping out my family. The other was it wasn't very practical to do it right now, (I just couldn't afford it really). I'd rather put off my dream for a year or two than to suffer and be miserable now.
 
Mickeyman819

Mickeyman819

Member
Well mike I cant offer you any advice but I know what you are going through, but luckily im only going into my junior year of High School. I know I wanna work with Disney somehow, I know I want to go into the college program, and I know I want to go to University of Central Florida. Which is near disney. I dont want to be an imagineer though. I would like to though work on the Business side of Disney, but when you say that you have to look at all different views. There is animation, themeparks, movies, TV and much more. I kno I want to be in the themepark business. Now all i have to do is find out wut types of couses I need to take in college :)
 
FutureCEO

FutureCEO

Well-Known Member
How expensive is it for a person from lets say New England to be in the College Program too and does disney have any other interships without doing the college program
 
Disneyanna0521

Disneyanna0521

Account Suspended
Hey,
It kind of sounds like we are in the same boat. I, too, will be a senior in the fall. However i know what i want to do with my life (yeahhh 1 thing i know) i want to become an interpreter for the deaf. I plan to move down from north alabama to Central Florida sometime this next summer. if u want to talk e-mail or im me

anna elizabeth
 
I

imagineergurl

Member
Hey. I have a similair problem too, seems like a lot more people are on this boat then I thought. Since I'm only a freshman in highschool, I have a little time. Ever since I was little I wanted to be an Imagineer but as I grow up, I've realized I can't draw a realistic anything to save my life and I'm not that great with mechanics even though all I ever wanted to do was design and build the rides. I guess all that was just wishful thinking...
 
T

TURKEY

New Member
Originally posted by FutureCEO
How expensive is it for a person from lets say New England to be in the College Program too and does disney have any other interships without doing the college program
Click to expand...

What type of expenses?

Rent is 67 or 79 (I think that's still current) that includes local phone, cable, and rest of utilities. Then you have gas (if you have a car), grocery money, laundry. I can't think of any other expenses that are necessary, the rest is extra expense.
 
H

HennieBogan1966

Account Suspended
A couple of answers on the cost for College Program

I at one time was employed by The Disney Store. We had a cast member who was going to attend the Disney College Program in April of this year. She indicated to me that the expenses for the utilities did range in the neighborhood of 65-80 Dollars per month, as board is paid for by Disney. However, she did say that the pay was going to be below what she was making working in the store, and that she would "really" have to pinch her pennies while down there. And she is fairly young so she didn't have a lot of "added expenses" each month anyway, which helped her to decide to go through with this opportunity. But, if you're career goal is to work for the company, then I think it's a fantastic opportunity for young people to take advantage of. In addition, my Wife and I traveled there in January, and spoke to several students there on foreign work visas, working internships at various locations throughout Epcot. I believe that their circumstances are very similar to those of the college program students.

Brian
 
SpaceRangrQueen

SpaceRangrQueen

Member
Originally posted by imagineergurl
I've realized I can't draw a realistic anything to save my life and I'm not that great with mechanics even though all I ever wanted to do was design and build the rides. I guess all that was just wishful thinking...
Click to expand...

I also want to be an imagineer. I am going into my 4th year of architecture school and I can tell you don't give up on your dream. Being able to draw "realisticly" is not a necessary requirement. There are many tools to the trade. Abstract thinking, creative impulses, a sense of humor. I assure you that if you want to design things you can. If you are more interested in design concepts don't worry about the detailed mechanics of things that's what engineers are for. No one person designs the entirety of a ride I'm sure there is some aspect of ride design that you will discover you are skilled at. Being a freshman in high school I'd say you should look into any interesting classes your school has to offer like art classes, crafts, creative writing, computer graphics, web design etc. Also buy and read the new book by the Imagineers "The Imagineering Way" It is very inspirational.

Wow that was a lot. :lol: Hope you find this of some use. :)

Becky
 
A

Ash

New Member
I'm also a senior this fall, and just as confused as you are. My main interests are writing, music, theatre, and, well, Disney. And while there are many career options, I'm also concerned with money. I want to live comfortably. I'm really not sure what I want to major in or do for the rest of my life; but I think that for now, I'm just going to say I'm majoring in English, because writing is what I do best.

I DO know that I want to do the WDWCP some time during college, though :)
 

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