There’s no place like home: A reporter’s return to Disney World
"Standing here it's all so clear, I'm where I'm meant to be," - Tangled.
In 2011, I participated in the Disney College Program at Disney World, and I try my best to bring up the program in every conversation I have. Since my time in the program ended six years ago, I have not been back to visit. But, hakuna matata because I FINALLY went back.
For five months, I worked at the food court in the All-Star Music Resort. During that time, I visited the parks almost every day. I knew the parks like the back of my hand. I had all the best times for each ride memorized, and I even learned how to walk through crowds without touching anyone.
Ever since I left the program I have been busy with work and school. I graduated this year and, to treat myself, I decided to go back home to Disney World.
Before I left Houston, I remember thinking, what if I return and everything is different? I know that can’t be true because as you may know, I’m slightly obsessed with Disney, so I keep up with all the updates that take place at the parks. But, I was still nervous.
Luckily, all that information that took months to learn came back to me when I entered the parks. However, Disney is constantly changing and improving, so I did get my sister and myself lost a couple of times.
For example, they took away Snow White’s Scary Adventures and put in its place the Princess
Fairytale Hall. Fantasyland was built and is now home to all the princesses at Magic Kingdom. Disney now sells Starbucks. Downtown Disney is now called Disney Springs. And the most heartbreaking change is Disney taking away ‘Wishes’ and replacing it with ‘Happily Ever After.’
I was in Florida for five days, and yes, I took plenty of pictures and videos and probably annoyed everyone who is friends with me on social media. I wanted to take more pictures, but it rained for the first three days. The rain didn’t stop me and my sister from having fun.
The first park we went to was Hollywood Studios. I was comfortable at this park because not a lot has changed since I left. The only difference was the Star Wars additions, and Disney is currently building Star Wars land so the construction part of the park was blocked off.
We spent our second day at both Disney Springs and Magic Kingdom. Disney has Extra Magic Hours for people who stay at their resorts on different days for each park. Magic Kingdom usually closes at 11 p.m., but it stayed open until 1 a.m. that night.
Magic Kingdom has changed the most since I left the program. I was the most excited to see Fantasyland and meet the dashing Gaston in person, but because of the rain, I was only able to get a picture with his statue.
Because my sister and I spent the morning at Disney Springs and all night at Magic Kingdom, we later found out that we walked over 21,000 steps.
We tried to spend our third day at Epcot, but we were so tired that we didn’t even stay for the fireworks — and that was the only day it did not rain.
You would think that visiting Disney World would make me happy, but, my visit only made me realize how much I miss working at Disney. I guess I have to admit that I’m addicted to Disney World and I need to go back.
Read Crystal’s feature on her Disney College Program experience.
