Disney’s Military Fellowship Program creates new opportunities behind the magic
The Walt Disney Company has a long-standing history of supporting service members of the U.S. military, which began with Walt and Roy Disney. From their service in the armed forces to today’s Flag Retreat ceremonies, flyover events at Magic Kingdom and volunteer opportunities, Disney is proud to show respect and appreciation for those who serve.
Disney also offers opportunities for veterans looking to transition to the civilian workplace. Disney’s Military Fellowship Program is a three-to-six-month program where veterans can expect real project work, mentorship and a structured transition experience. Fellows are matched with teams across the company and given meaningful assignments that help translate their military skills into civilian roles. They also receive guided onboarding, support from a dedicated program team and access to a network of veterans and leaders who help them adjust to Disney’s culture and set up their post‑service career path.
Meet Erica, Dan and Steven! Three past Fellows who have now found full-time roles at Walt Disney World in Facilities Operations Services.
The Journey to Disney
During her Fellowship, Erica supported the Environmental Sustainability team as a project manager. “After the Navy, I wanted a complete change of environment. I had spent years serving aboard a ship, working in a demanding, high-pressure setting that often meant being far from home and family. It was incredibly rewarding work, but I knew I wanted my next chapter to be something different,” she shared. “Honestly, one of the reasons I chose Disney was because I thought it would be fun. I wanted to work somewhere that was full of energy, creativity and optimism—a place where people came to make happy memories with the people they love. I wanted to be part of creating that experience.”
Similarly, Dan was inspired by Disney’s impact on families’ lifelong memories and wanted to be a part of that. While stationed in Germany with the Army, his family enjoyed visiting Disneyland Paris any chance they could. “As I began preparing for my transition from the military, I found myself reflecting on those experiences. I quickly realized I wanted to be part of creating that same sense of joy and happiness for other families. In short, the opportunity to help deliver experiences that bring people together and create lifelong memories is what inspired me to pursue a career with Disney,” Dan reflected. Through the Fellowship, Dan worked with Casting Services as a Recruiter, focusing on veteran recruitment.
After 25 years in the Air Force, Steven knew it was time to transition with his family out of the service. The Walt Disney Company had always been his dream and when he learned about Disney’s Military Fellowship Program he knew this was the perfect next step.
Disney’s Military Fellowship Program
During his Fellowship, Steven worked in Disney Cruise Line Sourcing. He found the transition eye-opening, not realizing how many transferable skills he learned from his time in the Air Force. Skills like flexibility and a willingness to learn helped him find success in his new role.
Dan can also attest to how his military experience set him up for success in a corporate setting. “From my background in aviation operations and maintenance, I brought a strong foundation in systems thinking, troubleshooting and disciplined execution in high-stakes environments,” he shared. “Just as important was the emphasis on teamwork and relationships. The military is a team sport; success depends on trust, communication, and every individual understanding how their role supports the larger mission. That mindset has translated directly to Disney, where collaboration across technicians, operations partners, peers and leadership is essential to delivering a seamless guest experience.”
Hosts are also an extremely important part of the Fellowship. Throughout Fellows’ time with the program, they are paired with Hosts that act as guides and mentors at The Walt Disney Company. They are integral in helping Fellows network and understand the corporate environment. Erica was able to foster a strong relationship with her Host, “My Host spent a lot of time helping me translate my military experience into language that made sense in a corporate environment. We worked through multiple versions of my résumé, practiced interviews and talked about how to communicate the value of the skills I had developed in the Navy,” said Erica. “She also encouraged me to network across the company. She introduced me to leaders in different areas, helped me set up meet-and-greets and challenged me to think intentionally about the kind of career I wanted to build instead of simply looking for the next available role.”
She also shared how her team helped with the overall transition from her duty station to Orlando. As moving for a short-time period can often lead to uncertainty, Erica found the experience worthwhile and meaningful, largely thanks to her team, “The entire Environmental Sustainability team was invaluable during my transition. I was moving from Hawaii and didn't know anyone when I arrived in Orlando. From day one, they welcomed me, included me and made me feel like I belonged. The friendships I built there became the foundation of my personal and professional network at Disney.”
Growing your Disney Career
Today, all three past Fellows have found success at The Walt Disney Company. Dan is now a leader in Engineering Services. “As an Engineering Services Manager, my growth continues daily. Leading cast members who are experts in their craft has reinforced the importance of trust-based leadership,” he said. “Rather than having all the answers, my role is to create clarity, remove obstacles and empower my team to do what they do best. I’ve learned that the most effective leaders are not those who direct every action, but those who build confidence and alignment within their teams.”
Steven is proud to work on iconic attractions like the monorail at Walt Disney World. “Transportation and monorails specifically have such a visible role throughout Walt Disney World, providing monorail trains every day allows guests to experience the magic that they may remember from their childhood or even introducing it to their own children for the first time.”
Many of the projects that these cast members work on are often, intentionally, not seen or noticed by guests. “What I enjoy most is knowing that the work we do overnight directly enables the magic guests experience every day. While most guests never see it, every inspection, repair and decision we make is part of creating a safe, seamless and memorable experience for them,” shared Dan.
Similarly, Erica enjoys working behind the scenes to bring magic to life. “My team's role is to make sure that experience feels effortless and seamless. Guests may never notice if a show light is out, an Audio-Animatronic isn't making one of its movements or a wheel has started to squeak. But it's the countless small details working together that create the level of quality and immersion people expect from Disney.”
Steven has found meaningful experiences with his diverse team. “Disney stands out to me because of the environment of inclusivity and this feeling of being welcome no matter your background.”
Erica finds joy in working with her team everyday. “Without a doubt, my favorite part of my role is the people. I have the privilege of leading an incredibly diverse team of mechanics and electricians, each bringing a unique combination of experience, knowledge, skills and perspectives. No two cast members are the same, and I genuinely believe that everyone has something they can teach you if you're willing to listen.”
Start your story!
Here at Disney, we understand that life after service is not one-size-fits all. There are many decisions to make regarding family members, location and various opportunities. With initiatives like Heroes Work Here and Disney’s Military Fellowship Program, Disney aims to assist veterans no matter where their path may lead.
“My biggest piece of advice for other service members is to take the time to really think about what direction you want your life to go. If you're anything like me, that may be harder than it sounds,” said Erica. “In the military, there is a lot of structure built into your career. You may not know exactly when you'll be coming home, but you generally understand the path ahead: when promotions happen, what qualifications you need. When you transition out, a lot of that structure disappears. You have to start building your own roadmap.”
Erica suggests asking yourself these questions:
- What motivates you?
- What are your values, and what do you need from your career and your life?
“Once you understand that, you can start working backward and identifying the steps that will help you get there,” she shared.
Dan also shared three pieces of advice that helped him find success after the military:
- Humility is essential.
- “After years of military service, you bring a tremendous amount of leadership and experience with you. However, it’s equally important to recognize that every organization has its own language, culture and way of operating. Being willing to listen, learn and ask questions opens more doors than trying to immediately replicate what you already know.”
- Step outside of your comfort zone.
- “Transitioning out of the military can feel like starting over in some ways, but that’s also where the greatest growth happens. My experience with Disney’s Military Fellowship Program reinforced that success comes from being willing to learn unfamiliar systems, work alongside new teams and embrace being a beginner again.”
- There’s no such thing as starting too early.
- “The transition from military to civilian career is not something that happens overnight. The earlier you begin exploring options, building your network and translating your experience into civilian terms, the smoother that transition will be.”
“My experience with other veterans in this company has been that overwhelmingly they want to help.” – Steven
Are you an active service member looking for their next step? Join Disney’s Talent Community to learn more about Disney’s Military Fellowship Program!
