How Karilin’s Creativity Meets Engineering at Magic Kingdom
At Walt Disney World, magic lives in the details, and cast members like Karilin help bring those details to life every day. As a civil engineer with Facility Asset Management at Magic Kingdom, she helps care for the iconic spaces, structures and show elements that turn storytelling into unforgettable guest experiences.
From California to Cinderella Castle
Originally from California, Karilin once imagined a career focused on roads, buildings and city infrastructure. But after a conversation with a friend, she began to wonder: what if those same engineering skills could help support a place built on storytelling, creativity and joy?
That curiosity led her to Walt Disney World, where she traded cityscapes for castle views and discovered a new way to use her expertise—helping support the magic behind the scenes.
“In most industries, construction leads the process,” Karilin explained. “Here, construction supports the experience. Everything we do needs to feel seamless for our guests.”
Helping the Magic Keep Moving
One standout moment in Karilin’s Disney career was supporting the Festival of Fantasy Parade, working alongside partners to refresh all seven parade floats without disrupting the guest experience.
Built around the world and each with its own electrical systems and infrastructure, the floats may glide effortlessly down Main Street, U.S.A., but behind the scenes, each comes with its own unique circumstances that need individual maintenance attention. To help keep the magic moving, the team carefully planned the work around the parade schedule, prioritizing the most iconic floats so this beloved experience could continue uninterrupted for guests.
Her Advice for Aspiring Engineers
From colorful circus canopies to beloved parade floats and even Cinderella Castle, Karilin’s work helps care for the places and details that make Walt Disney World memorable for guests from around the world. For anyone hoping to follow a similar path, she offers this advice:
Be curious. Stay open. And always be ready for a new challenge.
“You don’t have to know everything,” Karilin shared. “But if you’re willing to learn, solve problems and work with others, there’s so much opportunity here.”
