September 21st: a College Program love story
What’s your favorite song on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? For Cast Members Nicole and Ethan, the answer is more than just a song. It’s also their wedding date. Their love story, much like the ride itself, is full of unexpected twists and thrilling moments.
Nicole and Ethan met on their 2019 Disney College Program – a life changing experience that not only jumpstarted their careers but also brought them together. Nicole was a food and beverage cast member at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and Ethan was a parking attendant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They worked, played, and created memories that last a lifetime. When their programs ended, they decided to continue their #DisneyCastLife and joined Walt Disney World full-time.
“We were friends first, best friends, even while we were apart after our program,” Nicole explained. The two kept in close contact, texting and talking “every single day, 24/7.” Three years later, she surprised Ethan by visiting on his birthday weekend where he asked her on their first date. After a fun date at Disney Springs, he later asked her to be his girlfriend, “Her saying yes was the best birthday present.”
Their love continued to grow, and Nicole became an attractions cast member in EPCOT’s World Discovery, including at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Now, she’s a recreation cast member, and brings fun activities to life each day for guests at Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts. Ethan’s journey has brought him to roles supporting attractions as well as front desk and concierge operations at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
The pair learned valuable skills during their Program that have helped carry them through all their Disney roles and support each other’s growth too. “Even though we both work at resorts, we do different jobs, and we handle things differently,” Nicole said. “And I love that – being able to bounce ideas off of each other, give suggestions and go home and talk about work with someone who gets it.” She added, “Ethan resembles what a cast member should be. He always helps me focus on creating magic.”
Ethan shared the same admiration: “Nicole is my voice of reason; she gives the best advice and has that Disney creativity when she does it. She's always there for support, and I love that very much about her.”
In a truly Disney-style proposal, Ethan planned a scavenger hunt across property with eight different stops, each one meaningful to their Disney journey and relationship. One of those stops was riding Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
The scavenger hunt ended with a proposal on the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, right in front of the campfire. “Be Our Guest,” Nicole’s favorite restaurant, served as the final stop for what they called their “engagement debriefing dinner” where she shared her magical adventure with Ethan and their friends.
As for the wedding? September 21st seemed like a no-brainer, and it was Ethan’s idea to have a Disney Wedding. “The minute we walked into Disney’s Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian, everything changed,” Nicole said. Ethan agreed: “We fell in love with the Wedding Pavilion, and we knew we had to do our wedding here.”
Doing a Disney College Program can open a lot of doors, and sometimes those opportunities are the ones we least expected. Now, six years after their Program, Nicole and Ethen took some time to reflect. “I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be so lucky to find my literal Prince Charming on my Disney College Program,” Nicole shared, “I just keep thinking about everything we’ve accomplished at Disney together, and it’s all because we took a chance on doing the Program and making the most of all the opportunities that come with it.”
Congratulations to Ethan and Nicole on all of your accomplishments. We wish you well as your hearts ring, souls sing, and you danced the night away remembering the 21st night of September 2025!
If you or someone you know is looking to launch their career while having fun and making new friends from around the world, the Disney College Program is the right place! Applications are currently open for the Spring 2026 semester. Visit DisneyPrograms.com to learn more and apply.
