An open letter to the Disney College Program.

travlrsclub
May 3, 2016
3 min read

A year ago today you turned my whole world around, the day I submitted my college Program application to Walt Disney World. Remember me? I worked for you for six months in fall of 2015.

You were good to me…

Not a day goes by where I don’t think of you, you taught me how to live and how to adventure. You taught me to accept myself, and others. Anything is possible when you have the courage. I learnt so much in my time in Florida, I would never change my experience for the world.

I think of returning every day, how different would it be? Has anything changed? How would I survive without my roommates by my side? I miss the gated community of Patterson court, I miss running around Walmart at 3 am, I miss getting lost in Magic Kingdom when trying to make it to the next fast pass, I miss Transtar… ohhhh Transtar!! I miss my home resort, lifeguarding and my fellow recreation cast. I miss 6207, Ben and Jerry's ice cream nights and the daily visitors. I miss my Best Friend! And to all my Disney lifeguards out there… Oh how I miss roving in the hot Florida sun.

There were some things that you forgot to tell me before I departed on my journey… you didn’t tell me that my first week would be as emotional as my last week, They don’t tell you that you will most likely come home from your first day of training crying to your roommates because it’s all so overwhelming and new and confusing. They don’t tell you that this is where you’ll make friends for life. They don’t tell you that closing shifts almost always end with a trip to Steak ‘N’ Shake, IHop, Denny’s, McDonald’s or Taco Bell. They don’t tell you that Trails End is literally the best place to get breakfast on property because it’s literally all you can eat mickey waffles, fruit and bacon, $13!!! (Those cast member’s perks though) They don’t tell you that you’ll develop a crush or two, and sometimes it’ll work out and sometimes it won’t, that’s life. They don’t tell you that you get homesick even though you’re having the time of your life. They don’t tell you to get out of the Disney bubble, explore the Bahamas with your closest friends, take a cruise with your roommates, take a few visits to different states and be sure to get to know your best friends hometown. They don’t tell you that the moment you say goodbye, you’re already wishing you could hit the rewind button and start all over again.

You created magic for the old, the young, the wealthy and the poor, but you also helped me to create magic for myself. Dreams really do come true. You made me believe in myself and accomplish everything that I wanted to do. You made me feel a type of happiness that I have never felt before, and you taught me how to share that with the world.

Being back home in New Zealand came around fast, it came as a shock. My experience was over and I was flying home again to return to my little corner of the world. Home is the same; nothing has changed, except me. You changed me. You provided me with these amazing experiences and most importantly you provided me with my best friends who soon became family. You have taught me to be spontaneous and to cherish the memories and people around me before it is to late.