David M. Edmonds Jr’s Post

I love scrolling through the inspiring posts of Disney Cast Members who kick-started their journeys through the Walt Disney World College program. It's not just a fantastic staffing strategy; it's a gateway to life-changing experiences! Many of my close friends and colleagues began their Disney adventures on this incredible program. Let me share a slightly different twist to my Disney tale – one that might raise a few eyebrows on the College Program Marketing side, but bear with me! Framed and hanging in my Disney office for years was the letter below. Take a closer look, and you'll see it's my 'rejection letter' from the Walt Disney World College program (and yes, it was produced on a typewriter!) Yup, not exactly the outcome I hoped for at that moment, but I didn't let that stop me. Fast forward, and I am grateful to have enjoyed an amazing 31-year career with the Walt Disney company, filled with extraordinary experiences in pivotal roles supporting our incredible Cast and business. I traveled the world, met Disney enthusiasts from every corner, and achieved all my career goals. All of that would have never happened if I stopped at "No". Why share this? Because I know there are others out there who, like me, have and will face setbacks in their pursuit of the dream job. A rejection letter doesn't define you; what matters is how you handle it. I persevered, took a different route, and found my way into a career I cherish. So, go ahead – seize every opportunity, including the WDW College Program. Being on the program will change your life. Also recognize that not every path may unfold as expected, but that doesn't mean there won't be another entry point. I kept that rejection letter in my office as a reminder that opportunity exists in every outcome. Share your 'rejection letter' stories! How did you navigate setbacks and use them as stepping stones to success? I believe in celebrating the strength of resilience and learning from each other's journeys. Let's connect and share our experiences. DisneyPrograms.com #DisneyPrograms #dontgiveup #successahead

🇺🇸 WHAT I LEARNED WORKING AT DISNEY: It's been less than a month since I returned from the craziest experience of my life: working at Walt Disney World, in Florida. As if that wasn't enough, I was also one of the few Brazilians selected to work in the entertainment department, as a Character Attendant. Working for one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world is challenging right from the application process, but I learned some valuable lessons that I would like to share with you all: - It takes people to create magic; There is nothing like a team aligned and ready to make a positive impact on someone's life. Disney Entertainment makes thousands of tourists' dreams come true everyday. If the character, the character attendant and the photopass photographer are working to keep the magic alive, there is no one who doesn't feel part of this world. - Fun and good performance go together; Can you believe it? As much as we're talking about work, if you're not fully present, it won't flow as it should. Before I started my shifts, my bosses would always tell me, "Have fun," and that really is the basis of everything. It's a job that requires a lot of mental dedication, attention to detail, time management, communication in different languages and storytelling, but all of that happens naturally when you're willing to be immersed in the story and, then, perform well. - Confidence and wisdom to understand where I belong; Being a Character Attendant demands a lot of responsibility and firmness to deal with the most diverse situations. Most of the time, the character is the attendant's priority, and nothing that could be considered a threat should be allowed. Unlike the good-natured stereotype of Disney employees, it'’s essential to know how to say no, position yourself and keep everyone's safety above all else. Furthermore, as you do not work with the same people every day, it's important to know how to carry out your role in the most professional and expected way possible. - Find my inner magic; All attendants have the ability to develop the same skills as all other Cast Members in their respective areas. The question is: what makes us special? Our essence. Each person brings to the "stage" everything they have within them. Working at Disney makes you dive into your own soul and understand where magic is created in each person. The application process, the experience and this post-exchange that I am experiencing now, make me completely sure of what brought me here and what continues to move me forward: the possibility of impacting people like Disney has always impacted me.

I’ve been away on a magical vacation for my 6th year wedding anniversary at Disney these past couple of days. ✨ I love coming to Disney to get creative, play, use my imagination and gain some inspiration. But while I was at Magic Kingdom the other day, I couldn’t help but get emotional knowing that the Founder and innovator of these parks, never got to walk them( Walt died before WDW in Florida opened) which then got me thinking about being a CEO and seeing the brands that we are building in a different light, posing the question to ourselves 100 years from now, how do you want your legacy as a Founder & CEO to continue on? ✨Would you be proud of the brand you built after it has been taken over by multiple CEOs? ✨How are you planning NOW for your brand and companies to carry forward long after you are gone? Succession planning is quite interesting to think about when you’re in the thick of BUILDING and SCALING. But it’s such a vital component as life is so short. As we enter the final month of 2023, how are you preparing for the short term and the long term?

When you build a client-centric business that focuses on creating the best experience for the guest, brand loyalty and reputation happens organically. That is the Hi Ho difference! It matters where you book. #qualityoverquantity #hihodiffernce

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.” – Walt Disney Whether it's work or life or worklife, you need to get curious. What did we do on our family vacation at Walt Disney World this month? Met up with Mickey and Donald. Discovered that a four-year-old and six-year-old are all in for rollercoasters, the faster and crazier the better. And, for the most part, found that The Happiest Place on Earth is really cool. But sometimes the lines for attractions are long. Or the monorail is slow. And there can be a lot of waiting, waiting and more waiting. People get frustrated, bored, and tired. It gets harder for everyone to feel the magic. So what do you do when you hit a rough spot, whether it's when you’re stressed at the House of Mouse or when you're struggling in your work life? Start looking around, change the plan, make a move, and be open to new possibilities. Be curious about what you can do. At the Contemporary Resort, the four-year old broke her momentary meltdown by wandering over to touch and look up at the Grand Canyon Concourse ceramic mural at the hotel. Designed and crafted by American artist Mary Blair in 1971, this artwork doesn’t always get much focus. It’s abstract, dense, and only really draws you in if you take the chance to examine it. There is so much Disney energy going on around it that garners attention instead – gift shops, character performers, and dining spots, all whizzing with lights, noises and action. If you’re not looking, you might miss something more. But if you’re a bit curious, you can notice, see, and do a lot. Even from where you are, and especially if you look up. #curiousity #imagination ##joyfulliving #neverstopexploring #imaginationunleashed #imaginationinaction #vacationmode #vacationlife #vacation #holiday #knowledge #imagination #vacationmodeon #possibilities #endlesspossibilities #justforfun #neverstoplearning #opportunitiesaregrowing #careerdevelopment #careergrowth #careergoals #careerchange #coaching #careercoaching #executivecoaching #anythingispossible #executivecoaching #lawyercoaching #coach #worklifebalance #worklife #worklifesuccess #lettinggo #gettingitdone

Exciting news for all Disney enthusiasts! The newly redesigned Disney Careers site is now live! As someone who first applied for the Disney College Program back in 2012, I can attest to the excitement of applying through their career page. Take a peek through the link below and who knows, you may even be greeted by a special character! ✨ #DisneyCareers #LifeAtDisney

Recently to Walt Disney World last month I saw many senior couples and then families with infants to toddlers visiting the “Happiest Place On Earth”.. A Question that I and my team of MAGICAL Specialists get asked very often is .. “What is a good age to take littles to Disney?” or “Will Disney be good for Adults/Seniors?” Our Answer is : Although the baby/toddler or young child may not remember certain parts of the trip- you will. You'll remember their 1st "AWE- Big Eyed Moments" when they meet Mickey or an iconic character that they love. Our Answer to Adults/ Seniors is : Life is too short to be thinking you can’t do things that maybe you or your loved one might want to do… Resort Hopping and Relaxing along with some nostalgia sprinkled in is what we do BEST and more. To sum it up , there’s no age limit when it comes to Disney , Walt himself made that perfectly clear when he designed the park in Disneyland that became somewhat of a footprint for future parks such Walt Disney World in FL, Paris , Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai… Here at Making Magical Vacations Travel we have clients that have “Family Traditions” to Adults having alone time and we have assisted you in the planning of crafting and creating every detail so that you’ll have a MAGICAL experience that will truly last a lifetime. "We're in the business of "Making MAGICAL Vacations NOT TRAGICAL ones!" Making Magical Vacations Travel 717-847-7654 info@mmvacationstravel https://lnkd.in/eGrreugr

🎢✨ From Disney's Queues to Career Clues:The Rollercoaster of Professional Growth!✨🎢 This weekend, I revisited Disney World for the first time since I was a toddler, accompanied by my family and close friends. The occasion? Celebrating my four-year-old's birthday in the realms of Magic Kingdom and Epcot! It was amazing and exhausting! But beyond the fun, what struck me was the complexity of navigating the "optimal Disney experience." From mastering the app, to strategizing with Lightning Passes and ride schedules, it was a lesson in efficiency and decision-making. 🚀 Here's where it got fascinating for me as a career coach: This experience paralleled the job search process. Just like at Disney, having a guide in your career - someone who's been through it, who can offer best practices - can transform the journey. It makes it less stressful, more enjoyable, and far more efficient. With our friends who were Disney veterans, our adventure was not just enjoyable but made me think. We maximized our time, much like how an expert guide can help in navigating the career landscape. 🔍 So, here's my question to you: Have you ever had a "Disney guide" in your professional life? Someone who made your career journey less about stress and more about enjoying the ride and making the most of your time? Share your stories below about guides in your career or your Disney adventures! p.s. I still need a guide to help get good smiles from my kids lol. #CareerDevelopment #Guidance #DisneyWorld #CareerCoach #JobSearchStrategy #Networking #PurposeUp

"𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹?” Is it a ride, winning a prize at a game of chance, or food? 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 – that’s what I plan my trip around at an amusement park such as Disney or Six Flags. I’m a fan of the older coasters without corkscrews or loops, I ride these as well. The iconic Cyclone at Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY is my all-time favorite, but Space Mountain at Disney is a split-hair behind (mostly because of the travel and planning required). My second favorite ride - 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴. I had an experience in Reykjavík, Iceland that I can recall with total clarity after only one visit. It was over July 4th weekend no less. The best way to describe it is a ride in your bathing suit on water inside Disney’s Space Mountain. It was fully enclosed and used light and darkness to create misdirection so you expected to go Right but were taken Left, etc. Is your career pivot journey taking you on a water slide with darkness and light? 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. I’m Mark Wolf, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵. I help experienced, non-traditional, professionals change careers to successfully pivot into a new role in the fastest growing sustainability field. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲. 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁. #careerchange #careercoach

🌟 That feeling you get when you begin a journey of a lifetime 🌟. 🎉 Everyone remembers their first time at Disney. You walk into the park, and you feel that excitement in the air, where reality seems to fade, and the only thing that matters is the magic you feel 🪄. 🎉 I can never forget my first time going to Disney, and while that feeling may not be the same as it was my very first time; those memories are core celebrations that stay locked in my brain forever. However, If I can compare that feeling to anything else, I can always compare it to my first day at Southwest Airlines 💙❤️💛. 🔹️ My first day at Southwest resembled the exact same feeling I had when I walked through those “Golden Gates” to the Disney Castle. I walked in dressed to impress in my Southwest gear, like how I was in my Disney gear. 🔹️ I remember before learning about any rule, policy, or schedule – I was greeted with LUV, smiles, and cheers down a red carpet; just like Disney as you are greeted by all the characters cheering your way into the park. 🔹️ And lastly, I left my first day feeling like a changed person, and even though every day is always not rainbows and sunshine, I still think back to my very first day and how the People keep our Culture alive, just like how they do at Disney. 🎉 Today we had 60 Cohearts that embarked in that feeling today. There’s lives will change as their Southwest journeys will mold them into future leaders, as well as caring for our customers as we continue to navigate change 🙏. 🎉 It is a journey that is exciting, and while there may be bumps along thebway – we will be there cheering them one every step of the way, just like how we are cheering for YOU to land that new journey. You got this ✈️. #recruiting #networking #motivation #jobseekers #aviation #opportunities #jobs #hr #careers #celebration #culture #letsconnect #newbeginnings #southwestairlines #SouthwestHeart