Four OCU seniors will pack their suitcases for Orlando, Fl.
Maddy Donatelli and Grace Fairbanks, acting seniors, Emma Licata, music theater senior, and Mandy Sigale, music/theatre and performance senior, have all been accepted into the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World Resort.
The Disney College Program is an eight-month-long paid internship at a Disney Park. The program began in 1981 and selects students from across the globe to work at Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort.
Sigale said she first remembers having a love for Disney when she was six years old.
“I remember I stopped wearing actual clothes and would only walk around the house in my Belle or Ariel dresses or my Disney clothes, so they had to rotate me so I would be in clean clothes,” Sigale said.
Sigale said she found an interest in the Disney College Program before she came to college, but she thought it would be difficult to balance with her double major.
Sigale recently went to Disney World to celebrate her 21st birthday.
“I celebrated by drinking around the world at Epcot,” she said. “Disneyland is nice and chill, and you can take your time, but Disneyworld has so much more to see.”
Licata began her trips to Disney World when she was 11 months old.
“I feel like it was in my veins before I even popped out of the womb. My grandparents were vacation club members, so they took my brother and I often as a kid,” Licata said. “My grandparents would take me, my brother, my immediate family and my extended family on trips biannually. I feel like I know Disneyworld backwards and forwards because of it.”
Licata said her education as an artist has made her appreciate Disney even more.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten so much more of an appreciation for the work that goes into creating any aspect of Disney,” she said.
When applying for the Disney College Program, students go through three rounds of screening. The process begins with an application, then the applicants are narrowed down for a video interview, and then narrowed again for a final phone interview.
Applicants are initially accepted for a role they don’t have to audition for. Interns then get the opportunity to audition for character roles in the park.
Sigale, Donatelli and Licata have been accepted for attractions, meaning they will be working for specific rides across the park. Fairbanks was accepted for merchandising, meaning she will have the opportunity to work in stores across the parks.
Fairbanks said she is excited for the chance to work in merchandising.
“I’m looking forward to being able to see the castle every day on my way to work,” Fairbanks said. “I also am looking forward to meeting tons of people from all over the world and making new friends.”
Fairbanks first went to Disney World when she was five.
“I actually lived in Florida for a year, so we tried to go every weekend,” she said. “We had the Floridian pass, and we went a bunch when I was in the third grade. We’ve tried to go once every year or every two years since then.”
Fairbanks said the first Disney movie she saw was “Monsters Inc.”
“After that, I became obsessed with Boo,” she said. “I’ve been obsessed with the princesses since I can remember, picking the qualities from each that would help build me into the woman I am today.”
Fairbanks said she hopes to create a career at Disney World.
“If I can make a career in the performing aspects I would love that, but also Imagineering is something that really interests me,” she said. “They hire a lot of artists to choose what shows go where and why a certain set piece works better. I think that would be incredibly cool.”
Donatelli said she grew up with Disney.
“When I was little, we would go to the parks once every year. I’ve just had a lot of really nice memories with Disney,” Donatelli said.
Donatelli found out about the Disney College Program through a friend, she said.
“She had a great time, and I knew I wanted to finish college, so if I wanted to stay longer I could do that and still have a degree.”
Licata said this internship will motivate her to move across the country.
“I wanted to use the college program to give me the foot in the door to get in with the company and then also move to Orlando,” Licata said. “I hope to stay in Orlando and work as a performer for a few years. There’s numerous equity theatres and performance opportunities.”
Sigale said she will use her time in Florida to think about the future.
“I’m going to be there for eight months, so I’ll be there for a while,” Sigale said. “I think this will be a nice time for me to figure out what my next move is.”
Donatelli said she can’t pick one specific Disney movie to be her favorite.
“It’s weird, because I have favorite Disney movies in categories, so for Star Wars it’s “A New Hope,” for Marvel it’s “Captain America: Winter Soldier,” for princess I really liked “Frozen 2” and “Tangled,” and for Pixar it’s “Monsters Inc.”
Sigale’s favorite Disney movie is “Lilo and Stitch,” while Licata’s favorite is “Frozen 2,” and Fairbanks’s is “Aladdin.”
Sigale said potential applicants should use their form wisely.
“Use all the space you have on your initial application to brag on yourself,” Sigale said. “The more you put, the more likely you are to get moved forward.”
Licata said to make sure to do your research.
“There are numerous amounts of resources on the internet. I’m really happy with all of the preparation I did,” Licata said. “I’d say, know what you’re getting yourself into. This is one of the biggest entertainment capitals of the world, so I’d say know how to tailor to that.”
Donatelli said she thinks OCU students have a good chance with Disney.
“I feel like the Disney College Program really likes OCU kids,” Donatelli said. “Just make sure to be the best version of yourself that you can be.”
Also going to the college program is sophomore Nicole Gould, a BA Music vocal major!