I always dreamed of working at Disney World. But after 3 months in the parks, I was ready to quit.
Jordyn Bradley
- I quit after working at Disney World for three months through the Disney College Program.
- I didn't have a say in where I worked and was tossed around between parks.
- After a few years away, I'm ready to go back as a guest, but not an employee.
It was always my dream to work at Disney World, and in 2019, it came true when I was hired through the Disney College Program.
That summer, I counted down the seconds until my start date. I moved to Florida in August, a month before my 20th birthday, and I was officially the farthest I'd ever lived from my hometown in Michigan.
But three months later, I quit.
I initially loved my job, but then the company made me switch parks
Jordyn Bradley
I was originally hired to work at Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, taking orders and giving guests their food and beverages at the booths around the World Showcase.
My responsibilities were different each day, which kept my job interesting. I genuinely enjoyed it. But my program continued until January 2020, over a month after Food and Wine ended.
Most of the College Program employees were reallocated to other parts of the Disney property, even though Epcot's next festival was starting soon.
I had no say in where I'd work next, and I ended up at Magic Kingdom.
I always loved visiting Magic Kingdom for the parades, fireworks, and rides. But I knew working in the busiest park — especially around the holidays — would be a shift from my chiller assignment at Epcot.
A few days into my new position, I knew I had to leave
With my new location assignment, I had to undergo training all over again. And by the time I was trained, I'd only be there for a couple of weeks.
Even though I only had about a month left in my College Program, I quit after a couple of days of training at Magic Kingdom. My feelings toward the job just weren't the same anymore.
It's no surprise that Disney is expensive, but while working there, I realized how true that was for every aspect of the vacation — from park tickets to bottled water.
This left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, especially since I was only paid around $10 an hour for grueling shifts in the Florida heat.
Additionally, because of the timing of my program (August to January), I was set to work my birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.
I was initially excited to be at Disney for the holiday season. But being so far away from home and having to be "on" all the time at work (even when I was tired or out of it) proved extremely difficult.
It's taken me some time to neutralize my feelings toward Disney
Jordyn Bradley
I don't regret my time at Disney, and I'm glad I got the opportunity. But it took me a few years to return after I quit.
It was difficult to transition back to the magical guest perspective after being a frustrated employee.
I don't think I can ever work at the theme parks again. But now that I've gotten some necessary distance, I'm finally ready to continue visiting as a guest.