100 Days of Post-Disney Blues

It has been 100 days since I left my job at Walt Disney World.
For 100 days, I have suffered from Post-Disney depression.

I miss Walt Disney World.

From January to June 2012, I took part in the Disney College Program. Basically, I travelled from Melbourne Australia (home) to Orlando Florida to work at Walt Disney World. It's a long way and a lot of money to go, and a lot of people do it to gain practical experience for their university course. For example, many of my friends were studying Tourism.

But I am a law graduate. To me, Disney World was about adventure and gaining independence and life experience. My life was due for a decision from left-field, a shake up, for change.

I remember the precise moment that the insane idea of working at Disneyworld entered my brain. I was spending the weekend in Paris, and was forced to decide between spending the day at the Louvre or at Disneyland Paris. Telling this story has made many of my friends cry... because I picked Disney over the Mona Lisa. And it was watching the 3 o'clock parade down Main St on that day, that I decided that I should be a character performer. You could say that day changed my life.

Prince Ali-Ababwa at Disneyland Paris #ilostit

Disney takes both local and international college students/graduates to take part in the program. Information sessions and interviews are conducted twice a year in Australia/NZ. For more info, see: https://www.disneyinternationalprograms.com/

The prospect of international adventure occupied my thoughts during the final year of my degree. A fair share of my hours on the computer in the Law Library were actually spent looking for temporary work overseas, instead of writing up assignments and reading text books. I came across the website I posted above, which listed information about the Disney International College Program. In a completely rash decision, I attended an information session and applied for the Program two days later. The American recruiters only visit a couple of times a year and they were in Melbourne at the time. I had to act fast.

While waiting for the outcome of my application and interview, I wondered if this was what I really wanted... to leave home on my own for six months. I had made the decision so quickly. Suddenly, I was terrified.

I am a Christian and was primarily concerned with what God wanted for my life. Was I just wasting time wanting to take a gap year? Should I just begin my career? What was in His plan? When I was finally offered a job in Entertainment in the Disney College Program, I wasn't sure whether to take it. I referred to a word that a couple from Church had shared with me specifically:

"God will open doors regarding jobs and what to do next year and everything that is next for you. These (specifically) will seem more natural than spiritual, but God is behind it all and you don't have to be afraid."

I accepted the job offer and began preparing myself for half a year at Walt Disney World. It ended up being one of the best experiences of my life.

My friends and I often say that we would do anything to go back to January and do it all over again. I have been suffering from these Post-Adventure blues ever since I left the Land of the Free. Real life is just not good enough any more!