- NicoleDeRosa
- Nov 19
- 5 min read
Enjoy my nostalgic blog post rich with vivid memories, and that special kind of Disney magic as I recall my days working for "the mouse"
Growing up, Walt Disney World was practically my family’s second home. Every summer meant a trip to Florida filled with Mickey-shaped ice cream bars, autographed character books, and those iconic mouse ears with our names embroidered in gold thread from the shop on Main Street. My brother Anthony and I even had matching blue suede Mickey Mouse sneakers. We thought we were the coolest kids in the park.
Disney wasn’t just a vacation for us, it was a part of our family story. My parents both grew up in the Bronx, and for a time, Anthony lived there too before I was born and they moved to our first family home in suburban New Jersey. Years later, as Anthony and I reached college age, my parents decided it was time to downsize. Florida, our favorite family getaway, called to them. My mom found an ad for a beautiful community there, and before we knew it, our home was sold and we were packing for the Sunshine State.
Leaving New Jersey was bittersweet. Saying goodbye to Anthony, who was thriving in New York and soon to meet his future wife, was the hardest part. But I was ready to find my next adventure and, as it turned out, it was waiting for me right where my childhood dreams had begun.
My First Step Into the Magic
After settling into Florida life, my first job was at a concierge desk in our new neighborhood. But it wasn’t long before I started wondering, “Could I actually work for Disney?” I’ll never forget walking near Celebration Hospital one afternoon and spotting the offices for Disney Magazine and Disney Cruise Line. With my résumé in hand and a hopeful heart, I walked right into the Disney Magazine office. That’s where I met Valerie, a kind, bubbly woman who chatted with me about moving to Florida and gladly accepted my résumé. A job didn’t come from that visit… but a friendship did. Valerie gave me something even more valuable: a referral card that pointed me toward Disney’s main employment offices. (Those little cards were like golden tickets for job seekers back then!)
The Call That Changed Everything
I still remember walking into the Disney Casting Center for my interview, the whimsical building that looked like something straight out of The Wizard of Oz. (If you’ve ever seen that entryway, you know exactly what I mean....all arches and magic and anticipation.)
A few days later, the phone rang:I had landed a temporary position as Executive Assistant to the President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Merchandise. Cue the fireworks!
My boss, Kelly, was a dream....fun, fabulous, and genuinely inspiring. She believed in me and encouraged me to connect with other departments like Product Development and Sourcing. It was there I met my first circle of lifelong Disney friends: Stephanie, Rebecca, Eneri, and Katie.
When Kelly’s assistant returned from maternity leave, she referred me to Marlo in Product Development, where I became a Product Development Coordinator. The role was temporary, but I was thrilled to learn the ropes and pay my dues. I rotated through departments like Timepieces, Headwear, and Softlines (Disney’s term for apparel).
Little did I know, even bigger adventures were just around the corner.
From Product Development to Disney Design Group
Networking within the company paid off... I soon landed a role with Disney Design Group (DDG) in their Art Resource Center, which was basically a creative dream come true. My days were filled with art, research, and creativity:
Helping artists find reference materials and inspiration
Proofreading menus, packaging, and park content
Maintaining DDG’s online artwork database
One of my favorite daily rituals was driving back to my old Product Development office to pick up new samples for the artists to review.
But the highlight of this chapter?
Contributing artwork to the “Disney Dreams” poster, which was sold in Disney Parks around the world. Seeing something I helped create become part of the Disney legacy was surreal. It was one of those “pinch me” moments I’ll never forget.
Walt Disney Imagineering: Where the Magic Is Made
Just as my contract at DDG wrapped up, the Disney gods waved their magic wand again:
I was hired at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), the dream destination for any Disney fan.
On my first day, I checked in with Maria at reception before being met by my new coworker, June, who led me through the maze of creative spaces and trailers behind Epcot. WDI housed departments like Master Planning and Architecture, it was a world of artists, engineers, and dreamers. And what a world it was.
I met some of the most wonderful people, Eduardo, who would later become my roommate, Andre, Dustin, and later Shaina, Cindy, Joshua, Erin, Jenny, Amy and many of whom are still dear friends today.
We worked hard, played harder, and made a thousand magical memories. We’d spend our off-hours at the parks, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, or the pool at Millenia Mall apartments. We went to concerts, had movie nights, and laughed until sunrise. At work, lunchtime often meant hopping on golf carts and driving behind Epcot’s World Showcase to grab food in Morocco, Norway, or (our favorite) France, where we befriended a few charming French cast members. After hours, we’d head to Downtown Disney for evenings at The Adventurers Club, Raglan Road, Jellyrolls, or the legendary dance spot with the revolving floor (you know the one).
Lightning in a Bottle
Working at Disney was more than just a job, it was lightning in a bottle. It was creativity, community, and pure magic all rolled into one unforgettable chapter of my life. Every time I walk through a Disney park now, I can’t help but smile. I think of the laughter, the late nights, the art, and the friendships that shaped those years. I see traces of what I helped create, and I feel an immense sense of gratitude. It wasn’t just about making magic for guests, it was about discovering my own.
Tokyo Disney with Shaina
While working at Disney I was able to take my Grandfather "Pop Pop", my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Janie into the parks when they came to visit us in Florida many moons ago before he passed away. Seeing my "Pop Pop" cry tears of happiness while experiencing "It's A Small World" together is something I will never forget.
Years later, just before we moved from Florida back to New Jersey, my brother Anthony and my sister in law came to visit and we took my nephew, Declan to all the Disney parks to experience it for the first time. It was another memory that I will never forget and so grateful to have us all experience together.
