Disney Parks are known all over the world as “The happiest place on earth”, but how does this get accomplished? By safety. Who works late into the night to bring you magic and keep you safe? Normal high school and college graduates. They are part of The Disney College Program. Everyday people protect you every time you go to the Disney Parks. But how?

What is the Disney College Program (DCP)? It is a program for people fresh out of college or high school who are interested in acting at the Disney Parks. You apply, and if you get in, you get a job position in one of the parks. You have the choice of taking normal college classes, but you don’t have to. Once you’ve been there for a while, you also have the option of staying an extended period of time. No matter how long you’re staying, at the end of the program, you have the opportunity to audition for a role as a character in the parks. In the meantime, the DCP participants work as ride operators, greeters/exit workers, and parking lot.

Back to our original question: How do they keep the parks so safe? One of these ways is thanks to the 4 keys to success: safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency. This is a commonly heard phrase in the world of DCP. Safety is their top priority. To guarantee they are set in all situations, all of the ‘leaders’ in the parks have large books and sheets that they carry around that have what to do in tons of situations. These situations include hurricanes, other weather procedures, if a guest hurts someone, and many others. Jennifer Litzinger, 22, a High School South class of 2012 graduate and DCP participant, states on the matter, “No matter what the situation, our main goal is to get all of the guests to safety, even if it just means getting them into buildings and accounted for. Then, after all that happens, we protect the park itself.” She later says, “Sometimes my job is to stand somewhere blowing bubbles. Looking around, making sure people are safe, but also just getting to blow bubbles for little kids.” This is how the DCP workers give us the joy and happiness we expect from the Disney Parks, while still keeping a sharp eye on what’s going on at the parks.

Even more than keeping us safe, at the same time, DCP workers simply want us to have fun. Jennifer says “The best part about working at Disney is getting to make magic for guests.” DCP participants want real safety, and let’s face it, no one feels safe with people dressed in black, watching your every move. Normal people protect us every day, and it’s because of the need and desire to make us happy. They can work 12 hour shifts just to make Disney Parks work efficiently and, as always, more magical.