Lincoln, Neb.--When families step into Adventureland at Magic Kingdom, they see colorful attractions, beloved Disney characters and the promise of adventure. What they may not notice is the cast member quietly ensuring every ride operates safely while creating the kind of memorable experience that keeps guests coming back year after year.
For Elly Cheatle, that role is much more than a summer job. It is the realization of a childhood dream — and an opportunity that is helping shape the next chapter of her career.
Cheatle, a senior music and English major from Elkhorn, Nebraska, is spending eight months in Orlando, Florida, as part of the Disney College Program. The Disney College Program is a competitive, paid internship that allows college students and recent graduates to work at Disney parks and resorts.
From May through January, Cheatle is working in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom, where she rotates among three iconic attractions: The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and the Swiss Family Treehouse.
The experience has immersed her in one of the world's largest entertainment companies while teaching her leadership, communication and problem-solving skills that extend far beyond a theme park.
"I had always wanted to do the Disney College Program, so being accepted was a dream come true," Cheatle said.
That dream began long before she arrived in Orlando.
Cheatle visited Walt Disney World regularly with her family since she was two years old. Cheatle looked up to the Disney College Program cast members who worked throughout the parks.
"My favorite cast members were always the ones on their Disney College Programs. I always loved to learn about them, their goals, and their adventures while doing their programs," she said. "I looked up to them, and wanted to be them in the future, and now I hope that I am doing that for children visiting the resort while I am here."
When applications opened, she decided to take a chance.
The process moved much faster than she expected. After submitting her application online, she received an invitation to interview less than an hour later. A 20-minute phone interview focused on guest-service scenarios followed a few days later, and shortly afterward she learned she had been accepted.
Today, no two workdays are exactly alike. Because she rotates among the three attractions, Cheatle has developed expertise in three very different operating environments.
“This is a really cool opportunity because unlike those on one single attraction, I get to experience the three different types of attractions we have at Magic Kingdom,” she said.
At The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, guest safety is her top priority as she helps load riders, checks restraints and monitors the attraction throughout each ride cycle. At Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, she watches over the show's Audio-Animatronics, identifying maintenance issues before they affect the guest experience. The Swiss Family Treehouse offers yet another type of operation, giving her experience with a walk-through attraction that requires a different approach to guest interaction.
The work can be demanding, particularly in a park that welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each day. Yet the responsibility has become one of the most rewarding aspects of the program.
Just as meaningful as the professional development has been the opportunity to meet people from around the world.
“From guests to my fellow cast members, I have met incredible individuals from across the globe,” she said.
Her closest friends now come from places as varied as Mexico, Oregon and the United Kingdom. Every day, she interacts with guests representing different cultures, languages and life experiences.
"This opportunity has helped me realize how much of an impact a single person can have and how many different lives, experiences, and opportunities there are in the world," she said.
The experience has not been without challenges.
Like many people working in customer service, Cheatle has learned that difficult interactions are inevitable. One of her biggest lessons has been learning how to move forward after a negative encounter instead of allowing it to affect the next guest she serves.
"I have really worked on allowing things to roll off my back and move forward," she said. "I definitely think that I have gotten better about it, but I am still working on it every day."
Cheatle credits her education in the Glenn Korff School of Music with preparing her for Disney's collaborative environment.
Years of private lessons, ensemble rehearsals and classroom discussions taught her to welcome constructive criticism, ask thoughtful questions and learn from people with different backgrounds and experiences.
"The Glenn Korff School has helped me be comfortable in the fact that I will never be the smartest, most talented, or most experienced individual in a room," she said. "This allows me to be very open to critique and feedback."
That willingness to learn proved invaluable while training for what Disney classifies as a safety-critical role, where cast members are responsible for the well-being of guests operating major attractions.
“Training on a safety critical role is a stressful experience, but because I was comfortable asking questions, things got easier significantly faster than if I wasn’t,” she said. “Along with this, I have learned so much about different cultures and backgrounds. This has made me want to travel and learn so much more than I had before I got to Orlando.”
The experience also has reinforced her long-term career goals.
Although she has not settled on a single path, she hopes to continue working within The Walt Disney Company after graduation.
“I am hoping to either continue with performance in groups like the Voices of Liberty in EPCOT or on their cruise ships or continue with my publishing career in New York City with their publishing house Disney Hyperion,” she said. “Along with this, I have such wonderful networking opportunities here, and I know that I will be able to use that to my advantage when looking for future careers.”
For students considering applying to the Disney College Program, Cheatle offers simple advice—Go for it!
"There are so many opportunities for everyone here," she said. "Find those people, network, and who knows. Maybe in a couple years you'll be where they are now. If you have the opportunity to do this program, do it. You will not regret it."
Whatever direction she chooses in the future, Cheatle believes the Disney College Program has given her an invaluable foundation.
“This program might be the greatest thing I have ever done,” she said. “This is something I will look back on for the rest of my life, and I will encourage anyone who asks to take the opportunity to do it as well.”
