I Create Magic as a Disney World Cast Member

Since graduation, many of my Tufts friends have moved on to grad school and some impressive internships. When we check-in with each other about life developments, I’m happy to report that I’ve been hanging out with Mickey Mouse.

I applied to the Disney College Program on a whim during my senior year at Tufts. The program is a paid internship where college students and recent graduates get to live, learn, and work at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. At the time, I knew very little about the parks themselves, but I knew Disney was a company I admired and hoped to work for someday in a corporate or creative capacity.

Tufts fostered a culture of creativity and exploration, and I was inspired by classmates who took unconventional leaps after graduation. So I took this chance to gain firsthand experience within one of the world’s most influential entertainment companies. 

I started at Disney World in August 2025 as a character attendant. I facilitated guest interactions for characters like Peter Pan and Cinderella, helping with photos, lines, and autographs. I really loved the work and recently extended my time in the program to try other entertainment roles.

As a character attendant, Palamar worked with costumed icons like Chip and Dale. Photo: Courtesy of David Palamar and DisneyCastLife

Now, I know the parks like the back of my hand. I even spend my days off eating my favorite Mickey-shaped beignets or drinking alien-themed beverages at Olga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I’ve really come to appreciate how much creativity goes into everything; it’s magical to just walk around.

Each day at Disney World is different. We have a saying as cast members that to us, it’s our every day, but to someone else, it could be everything. You do your best even if you’re tired or had a bad day, because to someone else, it could mean the world. 

The diversity of cast members has been one of the most rewarding parts of the program. In my dorm, I have lived with people from Italy, France, Mexico, and various parts of the U.S. One of my favorite things about the EPCOT World Showcase is that all 11 countries are run by cast members who are from those countries.

Disney trains us how to communicate with guests without words, so we can help guests no matter what language they speak. I speak Mandarin Chinese, so I have used it sometimes when speaking to guests. When cast members are proficient in another language, we receive "language tags" on our name tags, which I was proud to receive.

There are courses and networking events available only to those in the Disney College Program, on topics like hospitality, communications, leadership, and finance. You can earn certificates, like a Mouseter’s, Goofy Graduate, or Ducktorate.

Learning to Create Magic 

My time at Tufts inspired me to follow my own dreams, wherever that may take me. I majored in theater and psychology and minored in film and media studies. I have Tufts to thank for teaching me how to make magic through performance, like in the Creating Children’s Media class with Julie Dobrow. My advisor Maurice Parent taught me about the business side of theater and how to do professional work for something that is very creative.

I was a counselor for Tufts Children’s Theater and a performer with the Local Bard’s Players, a children’s Shakespeare troupe. We’d have talkbacks with children after the show to discuss the sensitive topics that would come up in Shakespeare’s tragedies. It was there I first learned how to answer tough questions from children—which I now do every day at Disney. 

Embracing Your Inner Child

Growing up, my sister and I would watch our VHS tapes of Mulan on repeat. It was very special to us, because my family’s Asian American, and we always felt like there weren’t many Asian stories in American media. 

I will never forget when my sister came to visit me working at the parks. She’s usually the type of person who doesn’t love giving hugs, but she hugged every character and cried during the parade and fireworks. It was one of those moments that made this whole program worth it to me. It opened my eyes to what the park means to some people—it was so cool to watch my sister’s inner child come out. It was a moment I thought, “I work here! That’s crazy!”

Palamar with Mulan at the China Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase at Disney World. Photo: Courtesy of David Palamar and DisneyCastLife

It is crazy to think I will have lived at Disney World for an entire year. I’ll be leaving the program this August. But I will leave knowing that Disney can mean so many different things. For some people, it's a nostalgic reminder of childhood and a way to connect with one's past self, family, and imagination. And for other people, Disney helps them connect with their current imagination and the magic in the world around them.

The best part about Disney World is that the magic can mean whatever you want it to mean to you. This place lets you dare to dream. I have very much felt that magic in the months I’ve been here and will carry it with me wherever I go next.