Best part of the Disney College Program?

There’s so much I love about the DCP. Living on your own (a wild concept for a young Latina), making your own money, meeting people from all over the country, living so close to LA and the beach (we’re ignoring traffic in this instance), and uhh… working for the mouse and being able to visit Disneyland whenever you want for free!! The ladder is definitely the biggest selling point and conversation starter when it comes to the DCP. It isn’t my favorite part, however.

My favorite part is making friends and making memories with them outside of Disney property. From my previous program in Fall of 2017, the parts I distinctly remember having the most fun were: late-night Sonic runs for milkshakes and slushies, and writing down our orders in the Notes app on our phones (I still have mine saved), jamming out to early-2000’s Alternative Rock while returning from the 12 mile hike to the Hollywood sign (we got LOST, OKAY?), driving to Santa Ana to visit Plato’s Closet for a whole new wardrobe, and visiting The Coffee Bean before each shift and ordering apple juice from those classic glass containers because they’re reminiscent of childhood.

These are all my favorite memories of my College Program last year because, as cheesy as it sounds, it was made with friends. Making close friends from work, your roommates, or around your floor at Carnegie Plaza can make or break your limited time on the Program. It’s challenging this time around, I’m not going to lie, because none of these friends I’ve made memories with have returned to SoCal. They’re off doing other things, and I couldn’t be any prouder, but wow does not having them around make a difference.

I’m still enjoying myself and making new friends on this program, but nothing can quite compare to your first program. I know this is a new experience with a new role and rules, so I am open to the new possibilities and memories I will make. But sometimes, I just want a dark chocolate Oreo custard with mozzarella sticks and popcorn chicken.