Melanie Agee – An Internship where Dreams Come True

Melanie Agee is a UTK Journalism student with a big heart and a big smile. In 2009 she got to take her great personality to the one place where everyone’s happy: Disney World! No doubt the place where dreams come true was a perfect fit for Melanie.

When did you participate in the Disney College Program? (And were you in FL or Cali?)
 I participated during the Spring semester of 2009 in Florida at Walt Disney World

Where did you live?
I stayed in Vista Way Apartment, one of the four apartment complexes you can choose to stay in. So much fun and helped to make a LOT of friends!
 
How long were you there?
 I was in Florida from the beginning of January until May (5 months).
 
What made you interested in this particular internship?
 I love Disney and always have. I saw a flyer for this internship hanging on a door at UT and thought, ‘Hey, that might be fun!’ I went to the interest meeting, applied, interviewed and within less than a month of hearing about it, I was deciding whether or not I should go. I was sick of Knoxville, school was dragging for me, even my friendships were going to the gutter, so I figured there’s no place better to runaway to than Walt Disney World!
 
I know this is hard, but if you could sum it up in one word, what was your experience like?
MAGICAL!!!!
 
What were your responsibilities while you were there?
 –Side note: employees at Disney are referred to as “Cast members”
I worked Merchandise. I was placed in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square (Ye Old Christmas Shoppe, Yankee Trader, Haunted Mansion Cart and Heritage House), but I got “deployed” several times when I was there. When a CP (that means a person in the college program) gets deployed, it means they are sent somewhere else to work. It can be anywhere, but I think it’s generally in the same kingdom you’re already in. I got to work in Tomorrowland and on Main Street (which was the best! – people are so much happier when they first walk into the park). While working merchandise, I was what Disney calls a “Merchantainer” which is merchandise + entertainer.
I worked as a cashier, a stocker, a greeter and the best part – I created “magical moments” for guests. A magical moment can be anything, from decorating the Christmas tree in the morning, to a guest’s first pin trade, it’s whatever can be made special with a Magical Moment Certificate!
 
Did you attend classes, or just work?
I just worked. However, hours at the Magic Kingdom can get pretty ugly so that’s still something! I generally worked 40 hours a week, often more than that! I did not attend classes, but they are offered. UT doesn’t offer credit for the college program, so that’s why I didn’t take classes (I didn’t have to! Haha)
 
What was the most memorable thing from your Disney experience?
 The friends I made. I really liked most of my roommates and one of them, Corbin Pickett from Ohio, became one of my best friends of all time.

What did you do when you weren’t working?
Corbin and I played at the parks a lot, but we also liked to do things outside of Disney. We would shop a lot in Orlando, visit Universal Studios, eat at the fun restaurants nearby and more.
 
After the internship ended, how did you get to stay involved with Disney?
 They reviewed my record card (made sure I wasn’t late or didn’t call in often and never got written up) and then offered me to stay on as a seasonal cast member. I jumped at the opportunity. I only had to work 40 hours in ONE YEAR to keep my status and all my benefits! (They’ve changed it now to 150 hours in a year.)
 
What do you do for them now?
 Now I work solely in Liberty Square merchandise, but I can pick up merchandise shifts anywhere in the “world” if I choose to do so.
 
Do you want to pursue internship or job opportunities further with them?
 YES! I recently applied for a Professional Internship with Guest Services, and I really hope I get it. If I don’t, I’m going to do the college program again so that I can apply for the professional internship again after that. I’m hoping to stay on with them at least for a few years.
 
What do you think was the most valuable thing you took away from this experience?
 That I can move on and not be scared. When I applied for the internship, it was sort of on a whim, but then as the date crept closer, I got so scared. The day before I left, I cried to my big brother, Chris and I told him I didn’t want to go. He said, “I know, but in a few months you’re going to be feeling this way about coming home.” And boy was he right! I BAWLED my eyes out when I drove away from Vista Way. Disney became my home in those 5 months. They sucked me in and now I want to go back for years to come.
 
Who is your favorite Disney character, and did you get to “meet” them?
 GOOFY!!!!!!!!!! HECK YES!! Good story: when I was 10 years old, I went to Disney World with my family and all I cared about the entire trip was meeting Goofy, but low and behold, as we were leaving the park, I had not met Goofy. But right before we hit the exit, at the very end of Main Street, I hear “ALL YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY CHARACTERS” and out comes Goofy on a big truck! Now, I didn’t get to meet him at that time, but I ran up to the end of the truck and my parents snapped a photo.
Then, 10 years later, on my 20^th birthday, I met him!!! It was one of my favorite days at Disney EVER! I still feel like a child when I see a Disney character, especially Goofy. And then at the end of my program, Corbin and I went to Chef Mickey’s for a special goodbye dinner. When Goofy came to our table Corbin said, “Goofy, she wants to marry you.” And right there Goofy got down on one knee!!! It was magical. And a perfect end to the program.