Kami Chadwick, a junior with a business marketing major at Merrimack, spent last semester at Walt Disney World in Florida to complete the Disney College Program. This program has many intern opportunities, but Kami worked in the merchandise department. She was placed at Hollywood Studios, and worked at the store Hollywood Boulevard. Her main responsibilities included providing customer service and staying involved in day-to-day operations of the business, such as working closing shifts for about five to six days a week.
Kami’s experience at Disney not only helped her career-wise, but also in personal aspects. Transitioning from Merrimack to Disney was difficult at first, but she embraced the independence and grew as a person because of it.
“They have apartment complexes for the people that work at Disney…in Winter Garden, which is not too far from the parks,” Kami said. “I’ve never lived that far away from home. At college…you’re on your own, but you don’t have a dining hall [at Disney and] it’s very much up to you on how to do everything and I really enjoyed that aspect.”
Kami had been to Disney once prior to this internship, and that was when she learned about the Disney College Program.
“I went for the first time in high school…my best friend’s mom…took us [there and] she did the college program,” she said. “I didn’t even know it was a thing… she showed us where she was placed and all that stuff, and I was like, this sounds super cool.”
She also had plenty of experience in retail before this internship, as she worked at Dick’s Sporting Goods since her junior year of high school. Disney has a very different work environment according to Kami, as the cast members are trained more thoroughly. This knowledge about different workspaces will help with her future endeavors.
“[Disney] is very specific and particular about the way their cast members are trained to fit the Disney look and [it’s] expected for everyone to have,” she said. “It’s very different [from] what I’ve experienced [in] a regular detail chain”
For someone looking to apply to the Disney College Program like Kami, she recommends learning interview skills, particularly because the interviews happen over the phone.
“I’ve never done that before,” she said, “Just show your personality, that’s the only way they’re going to be able to know who you are. Share your passion [and] the reason why you want to do it, and [show] you’re going to… be a good cast member for guests.”
As a business marketing major, Kami looks to go into advertising and social media. She’d consider working for Disney since she enjoyed her experience so much. Either way, she will put this experience on her resume and take the lessons she’s learned with her to her next opportunity.
