When signing up for the Disney College Program one is excited that they get to either work in Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Once on the program one learns the ins and outs of working for the company, the park they work in, and what kind of work they will be doing. Once training is done, everyone eventually gets into their own little routine.
Once one starts, they get to see people just finishing up their three, five, seven months or a year programs and on their way home. Something no one (who is new to the program) thinks of because it is still very new. One still has that idea of there is a real world out there, and once the program is over, one gets to go home. But one is newly on their program with their arrival group. Ready to make a bunch of memories and friends that will be remembered forever.
Fast forward to being there for a month, or two months into the program, one will realize that time is flying by. This just like with anything, into one's new job or the semester. Also, one is highly adapted into the culture of the Disney Company, and also the culture of the Disney Internships Programs life. Once one is in their routine with others, it all starts to blur into one. Everyone is on their different types of programs, but they all have the fact that they are on this adventure together.
These other interns are your roommates, co-workers, friends, part of your arrival group, neighbors, and so on and so fourth. There is that one bond connecting everyone: you all live work and play on Disney property from anywhere between three, five, seven months up to a year. You are officially in the Disney bubble, as we call it. You exist in both the real world, and your Disney bubble. It's the real world with a Disney twist. Truly, that's the only way I can describe it.
If one is doing the five month, seven month, and year stints; it could feel like your stuck there forever. Not really, but each time period feels like a long time before your even half way through. But on your program, there is always something to keep you busy with work, or outside of work with your friends. Program events or non-program events, there is always something to keep one's mind busy.
Once your so into your routine on the program, and feeling so happy that you are where you are. You would be completely comfortable if someone told you this would last forever, and would easily accept this news. That is usually when it strikes you or someone pipes up and mentioned the phrase: "Post Disney Depression". This is usually one of the full timers who are trainers, and who have trained at least all of your arrival group, or one of your coordinators, or possibly even one of your managers, that mentions the phrase. These guys are not new to this concept, they see the turn over of the Disney Program interns constantly.
The concept of watching interns come and go, and sometimes in some cases come back. Once one's program is over, it will hit them when they are leaving, by driving out of the state of Florida, or up to their driveways as they pull into home. Maybe not in a car, but on the Magical Express headed to the dreaded International Orlando Airport (we all know it's true, even as guests who went to Walt Disney World, Orlando, or Florida on vacation — that is a different form of Post Disney Depression). Trust me, I have been the one to be tear-y eyed on the Magical Express leaving my first program... the C of Mickey's name got me. I also was plotting possibly jumping off the bus James Bond style to run back to Disney.
I am not the only one who felt this way leaving their program, about mostly (basically) everyone goes through it. Working on the Disney College Program is an experience that effects everybody who does it anyway, any shape or form. It is one of those things that leave an impact on you. So much of an impact, where some of us do come back and do a round two, like yours truly.
What is Disney Post Depression you ask? It's not as serious as it sounds. Like I mentioned before it is something that the full-time cast members make up seeing a bunch of interns go through the various Disney Internships offered. Once you reach home, it hits you hard that you won't be able to wake up and go to the parks whenever you want, also you cannot get into the parks for free anymore. Goodbye cast member discounts, because your no longer a cast member anymore. You cannot hug Mickey Mouse, and crew anytime you want to, and also you don't get to work in the parks anymore. What really hits you, you do not get to spend time with your Disney O'hana (Hawaiian for family) anymore.
The group of friends you arrived with, worked with your whole program. You're awesome roommates, and your fellow cast members. You lose that bond; that bond you had on your program, it won't be the same after seeing each other day after day. No one will tell you to shut up after numerous: "This time at Disney..." stories. This group of people will appreciate them, because they understand. They understand what happened on the program and because they went through it with you. Another thing is you don't have to over explain things to them, because they know the ins and outs of things, and you won't have to filter the story because you maybe giving away the magic of Disney.
I am not missing riding the bus systems they had for us, or the cleaning inspections they had for us (but it was motivation to keep your apartment nice and clean). I am missing the idea of riding Space Mountain endlessly on rainy days when the wait times went down from their 125 minutes or 150 minutes to five minutes where I would just hop on with random friends I have made from this adventure of continuously riding the ride. One thing I know we all miss is the fireworks every night. Always a show, weather appropriate, depending on rain storms in Orlando.
If it where a rainy night where the firework shows had to be canceled due to bad storms. If a group of friends and I would be in Epcot, we would go watch the Impressions de France movie in the France Pavilion in the World Showcase, then after the movie we would hang out in the big shop that the movie exits out to. Our friends who where working in the shop and/or the movie at the time would hang out with us, until the storm has lightened up. I have been involved in a few soccer/football circles with friends, and random guests who we joined in with. If we where not doing that we would be just talking about random stuff and just hanging out like one would if they where at home with friends.
Then after the storms would clam down, we would all leave (if our friends who where working at the time were done with their shifts) and walk back to the Disney Internship buses that would take us back to housing. We would walk by our other friends who would be leaving as well, and we would catch up with them on our way out. If not, I would eventually meet up with the group of people I worked with in 2010. Watching them unclog all the drains so the puddles (mini lakes) could be drained out. I remember once after a really bad storm, I saw a branches that where blown from the trees. As I was walking back to the housing buses, I was happy to see all my co-workers and friends where alright, and not hurt.
Lately or every now and then I will have strange little memories about the smallest things at Walt Disney World. Things that guests won't notice because they are to busy with going on and about on their vacations. As in a certain trashcan where I know you have to shut the door more than once after taking out the trash (same one maybe there from eight years ago?), or a certain tree, and bushy area where my friend had to shoo a duck family into so they would not be trampled by guests.
I have not done the Disney College Program in six years, so things have obviously changed. Because six years ago I used to work at Downtown Disney, that is now Disney Springs. From videos, and pictures of Disney Springs it is a total different place than what Downtown Disney was in 2012. They have this sky-way thing over the road that can take you into Disney Springs itself from a parking ramp. Yes, a parking ramp... six years ago that used to be a parking lot.
There are also changes that have been made in parks to, not only changes but the fact they added on to Animal Kingdom with Pandora – The World of Avatar a new part of the park, that was this last year (2017). Since I worked in Epcot eight years ago they changed a ride, in Norway they had the old Maelstrom ride, that they changed into Frozen Ever After where riders can join the characters of Frozen on a boat ride adventure. Now they have closed down Ellen's Energy Adventure in the Universe of Energy Pavilion and it will be replaced by some kind of Guardians of the Galaxy ride/show/attraction
– no matter what it will be, it will be something new. Disney Hollywood Studios is also getting a new Toy Story Land (open now, new as this year (2018)), looks promising! "Adventures for Kids 'n' Grown-Ups Alike," the website says, also the website itself is fun too.
When I did both Disney College Programs in 2010 and in 2012 it was exactly ten years since I have been there myself. I was there during the Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebration, with Epcot having a parade, and Illuminations of Earth getting a revamp, of what it is today. The ride Toy Story Mania was a new thing in either the Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios (or was it still MGM at the time), and Animal Kingdom was a very new park. I remember around the World Showcase in Epcot they had these moving statues that would pose with you when you took a photo with them.
Why are you bring up Disney World's future, present, and past? I think all of you are asking. The point is what used to be my Post Disney Depression is now memories. Memories that go with the memories before I was a cast member, to when I was. For the future, to help to cure the Post Disney Depression a little bit would be going back and paying a visit. I will be visiting as soon as I am able to. Just traveling and going on vacation right now as a young adult that just finished her college degree, it's a little bit tight at the moment. But, Disney I will see you again one day.
As, you can see life happens to you. Your Post Disney Depression blues can be overcome. If you just finished your Disney internship it may not seem likely, but one day you will feel better. Those words may not seem like they are helping now, but you will get over it. It may take longer for others, and maybe another program or two for people to realize if they do actually want to work for the Disney Company or not – that is truly up to you as an individual. If that is your plan to work for the Disney Company, good luck!
Fast forward to being there for a month, or two months into the program, one will realize that time is flying by. This just like with anything, into one's new job or the semester. Also, one is highly adapted into the culture of the Disney Company, and also the culture of the Disney Internships Programs life. Once one is in their routine with others, it all starts to blur into one. Everyone is on their different types of programs, but they all have the fact that they are on this adventure together.
These other interns are your roommates, co-workers, friends, part of your arrival group, neighbors, and so on and so fourth. There is that one bond connecting everyone: you all live work and play on Disney property from anywhere between three, five, seven months up to a year. You are officially in the Disney bubble, as we call it. You exist in both the real world, and your Disney bubble. It's the real world with a Disney twist. Truly, that's the only way I can describe it.
Another favorite picture of mine, from Rhodel (on your left), with
our trainer Carrie in the middle. This was Rhodel's last shift.
If one is doing the five month, seven month, and year stints; it could feel like your stuck there forever. Not really, but each time period feels like a long time before your even half way through. But on your program, there is always something to keep you busy with work, or outside of work with your friends. Program events or non-program events, there is always something to keep one's mind busy.
Once your so into your routine on the program, and feeling so happy that you are where you are. You would be completely comfortable if someone told you this would last forever, and would easily accept this news. That is usually when it strikes you or someone pipes up and mentioned the phrase: "Post Disney Depression". This is usually one of the full timers who are trainers, and who have trained at least all of your arrival group, or one of your coordinators, or possibly even one of your managers, that mentions the phrase. These guys are not new to this concept, they see the turn over of the Disney Program interns constantly.
The concept of watching interns come and go, and sometimes in some cases come back. Once one's program is over, it will hit them when they are leaving, by driving out of the state of Florida, or up to their driveways as they pull into home. Maybe not in a car, but on the Magical Express headed to the dreaded International Orlando Airport (we all know it's true, even as guests who went to Walt Disney World, Orlando, or Florida on vacation — that is a different form of Post Disney Depression). Trust me, I have been the one to be tear-y eyed on the Magical Express leaving my first program... the C of Mickey's name got me. I also was plotting possibly jumping off the bus James Bond style to run back to Disney.
I am not the only one who felt this way leaving their program, about mostly (basically) everyone goes through it. Working on the Disney College Program is an experience that effects everybody who does it anyway, any shape or form. It is one of those things that leave an impact on you. So much of an impact, where some of us do come back and do a round two, like yours truly.
What is Disney Post Depression you ask? It's not as serious as it sounds. Like I mentioned before it is something that the full-time cast members make up seeing a bunch of interns go through the various Disney Internships offered. Once you reach home, it hits you hard that you won't be able to wake up and go to the parks whenever you want, also you cannot get into the parks for free anymore. Goodbye cast member discounts, because your no longer a cast member anymore. You cannot hug Mickey Mouse, and crew anytime you want to, and also you don't get to work in the parks anymore. What really hits you, you do not get to spend time with your Disney O'hana (Hawaiian for family) anymore.
One of my favorite picture of everyone who I worked with (including
Scott's girlfriend, who did not work with us) between the months of
January to June of 2010. Some of us actually, stayed on until August.
The group of friends you arrived with, worked with your whole program. You're awesome roommates, and your fellow cast members. You lose that bond; that bond you had on your program, it won't be the same after seeing each other day after day. No one will tell you to shut up after numerous: "This time at Disney..." stories. This group of people will appreciate them, because they understand. They understand what happened on the program and because they went through it with you. Another thing is you don't have to over explain things to them, because they know the ins and outs of things, and you won't have to filter the story because you maybe giving away the magic of Disney.
I am not missing riding the bus systems they had for us, or the cleaning inspections they had for us (but it was motivation to keep your apartment nice and clean). I am missing the idea of riding Space Mountain endlessly on rainy days when the wait times went down from their 125 minutes or 150 minutes to five minutes where I would just hop on with random friends I have made from this adventure of continuously riding the ride. One thing I know we all miss is the fireworks every night. Always a show, weather appropriate, depending on rain storms in Orlando.
Views like this everyday I would see when I was working in Epcot in 2010.
If it where a rainy night where the firework shows had to be canceled due to bad storms. If a group of friends and I would be in Epcot, we would go watch the Impressions de France movie in the France Pavilion in the World Showcase, then after the movie we would hang out in the big shop that the movie exits out to. Our friends who where working in the shop and/or the movie at the time would hang out with us, until the storm has lightened up. I have been involved in a few soccer/football circles with friends, and random guests who we joined in with. If we where not doing that we would be just talking about random stuff and just hanging out like one would if they where at home with friends.
 |
| Rainy Epcot |
Lately or every now and then I will have strange little memories about the smallest things at Walt Disney World. Things that guests won't notice because they are to busy with going on and about on their vacations. As in a certain trashcan where I know you have to shut the door more than once after taking out the trash (same one maybe there from eight years ago?), or a certain tree, and bushy area where my friend had to shoo a duck family into so they would not be trampled by guests.
I have not done the Disney College Program in six years, so things have obviously changed. Because six years ago I used to work at Downtown Disney, that is now Disney Springs. From videos, and pictures of Disney Springs it is a total different place than what Downtown Disney was in 2012. They have this sky-way thing over the road that can take you into Disney Springs itself from a parking ramp. Yes, a parking ramp... six years ago that used to be a parking lot.
There are also changes that have been made in parks to, not only changes but the fact they added on to Animal Kingdom with Pandora – The World of Avatar a new part of the park, that was this last year (2017). Since I worked in Epcot eight years ago they changed a ride, in Norway they had the old Maelstrom ride, that they changed into Frozen Ever After where riders can join the characters of Frozen on a boat ride adventure. Now they have closed down Ellen's Energy Adventure in the Universe of Energy Pavilion and it will be replaced by some kind of Guardians of the Galaxy ride/show/attraction
– no matter what it will be, it will be something new. Disney Hollywood Studios is also getting a new Toy Story Land (open now, new as this year (2018)), looks promising! "Adventures for Kids 'n' Grown-Ups Alike," the website says, also the website itself is fun too.
When I did both Disney College Programs in 2010 and in 2012 it was exactly ten years since I have been there myself. I was there during the Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebration, with Epcot having a parade, and Illuminations of Earth getting a revamp, of what it is today. The ride Toy Story Mania was a new thing in either the Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios (or was it still MGM at the time), and Animal Kingdom was a very new park. I remember around the World Showcase in Epcot they had these moving statues that would pose with you when you took a photo with them.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Park is turned 20 this year on Earth Day!
*Photo Credit: Walt Disney Company*
Why are you bring up Disney World's future, present, and past? I think all of you are asking. The point is what used to be my Post Disney Depression is now memories. Memories that go with the memories before I was a cast member, to when I was. For the future, to help to cure the Post Disney Depression a little bit would be going back and paying a visit. I will be visiting as soon as I am able to. Just traveling and going on vacation right now as a young adult that just finished her college degree, it's a little bit tight at the moment. But, Disney I will see you again one day.
As, you can see life happens to you. Your Post Disney Depression blues can be overcome. If you just finished your Disney internship it may not seem likely, but one day you will feel better. Those words may not seem like they are helping now, but you will get over it. It may take longer for others, and maybe another program or two for people to realize if they do actually want to work for the Disney Company or not – that is truly up to you as an individual. If that is your plan to work for the Disney Company, good luck!
** I would also like to thank my friends for letting me use their photos I found on their social medias. Also is a picture from the Disney Company as well to in here too (it is not mine; copyright belongs to Disney). I took some of these from myself too. **
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