Born with an appetite for adventure, Samantha says that she wasn’t made to sit behind a desk. Throughout most of her 6 years with Disney, from her first role with Disney Cruise Line (working aboard the Disney Fantasy ship as part of the Youth Activities crew) to now creating exclusive events for Disney Vacation Club Members, she’s successfully catered to this craving for an ever-changing work environment.
“As young adults, we’re faced with the challenge of choosing a career path and landing that first job out of college, but there are a lot of misconceptions,” she said during a visit with Disney Files Magazine. “Even after completing my 5-month contract with Disney Cruise Line, I went against the grain, left the country and traveled the world with my husband, who I actually met on the ship. These unbelievable experiences shaped me into who I am today, and through it all, I’ve been lucky enough to stay true to my passions and have this unique Disney journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
Always on the go, Samantha spends most days investigating potential event spaces and dreaming up new ways to enhance the Member experience, whether that means giving a dance hall more “character” (Disney Villains assembled last Halloween season, for example, to strike a pose with eligible* Members and their guests during “Meet & Treat” events inside the Atlantic Dance Hall, just steps away from Disney’s BoardWalk Villas), infusing a Theme Park event with a touch of Membership Magic (last year's Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates at Magic Kingdom Park, for example, included a special gathering of Disney Vacation Club Very Member Merriment) or turning Disney Parks into eligible* Members’ moonlit playgrounds for Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic events.
“I’ve shed a lot of happy tears seeing the fun and enjoyment that comes out of these year-round events,” Samantha shared. “I remember organizing our first ever Disney Vacation Club ‘Eat & Greet’ (a special Member meal starring an equally special guest) with Disney Legend Jodi Benson. In real-time, before my own eyes, I watched core Disney memories being made. To be in the same room as the voice of Ariel was amazing, and sharing such a special moment with a room full of genuinely engaged and excited Members meant more than words.”
Samantha’s omnipresent smile widens whenever she reunites with a Member she’s met during one of these many memorable events.
“At Moonlight Magic last year, a Member shared with me that seeing Darkwing Duck in the character meet and greet lineup was a dream come true,” she recalled. “Knowing that we elevated their Member experience in this way, without even realizing, and that we made a positive impact on their evening was beyond heartwarming to hear.”
Calling the experiences making magic for Members her ultimate adventure, Samantha said, “It’s more than a job to me; it’s a lifestyle.”
Look for more profiles of “Membership Magic Makers” across our “Membership Magic Insider” email newsletter, on the Life at Disney blog (visit sites.disney.com/lifeatdisney/ and explore the “Employee Stories” section), as well as in each edition of Disney Files Magazine.
*See important eligibility information at the bottom of page 1
