The Road To Imagineering

Rachel BBlog

Hello everyone! My name is Rachel, and I’m currently a high school senior and an aspiring Imagineer. I am so incredibly excited to be a part of the All About the Mouse website and to document this insanely busy year of my life.

When people ask me where my passion for all things Disney comes from, I never really know how to explain it. Like many others, Disney has been a huge part of my childhood. In fact, one of my earliest memories is from my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was just two years old. I very vividly remember sitting on my uncle’s shoulders watching the afternoon parade at the Magic Kingdom, and ever since then, I’ve been hooked! I grew up loving the Disney princesses (especially Belle), singing all the classic Disney songs, and visiting Walt Disney World. Now at seventeen years old, I still watch Disney movies, new and old, listen to several Disney podcasts, and actively keep up to date with the latest Disney news. I think we can all agree that there’s no other company that quite compares to Disney, especially when it comes to the theme park industry. You immediately feel a sense of childlike joy the second you walk into any Disney park. You get the chance to remove yourself from the “real world” and be a kid again, even if just for a day. Where else can you meet Mickey Mouse, visit 11 countries from around the world in one day, go on an African Safari without ever leaving the country, or have a lightsaber battle with Darth Vader? So when people ask me why I love Disney, I tell them it makes me inexplicably happy. There’s a pure, exciting joy I haven’t been able to find in any other activity or hobby, and that’s why I love Disney.

It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I’m heavily involved with theatre and choir at my school, so for a while, I figured I would study something in the fine arts. After looking at those options, I realized a future in fine arts wasn’t something I could see myself pursuing. Back at square one, I focused on the things I enjoyed learning in school and my passions outside of fine arts. I’ve always enjoyed math, because I’m usually able to understand new concepts relatively easily, and I’ve been in love with Disney practically since I was born. So, why not combine the two and work for Disney as an Imagineer? As soon as the thought popped into my head, I was positive that this was what I wanted to do. I love everything about the Disney parks, and if I got the opportunity to help design something for a park, I’d be over the moon. I cherish each and every memory I have with my family at Disney, and I would love to have even just a small role in creating Disney magic for other families around the world. Now, here I am at the beginning of my final year of high school, about to embark on the crazy journey of figuring out what college and major best fits me and my goals.

After researching advice on how to become an Imagineer, I noticed a major lack of advice from modern Imagineers about how they got their coveted job at Imagineering. That’s why I have decided to start this monthly blog- to give updates on my pursuit of a job at Imagineering. I’m planning to document everything from college visits, to advice I’ve been given from those currently working in the industry, to any insight I’ve gained from the college admissions process. I know this year is going to be a challenge, but I am ready to tackle it head on and give you updates along the way.
If you or someone you know is also interested in working for Disney, please feel free to leave a comment! I am hoping to reach out to other students in either high school or college pursuing a job at Disney in order to include as many different experiences as possible.

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
-Walt Disney