The Magic Behind Disney World: Storytelling, Design & Innovation
$1,145 + (price fluctuates based on month)
+ registration fees
72 Hours (equivalent to 6 credits)
DAY 1: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
DAY 2: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
DAY 3: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
DAY 3: 8:00AM – 2:00PM
Offered in collaboration with Hudson County Community College
Instructors & Coordinators: Andrea Smith & Vanessa Hornedo
July 16 – 19, 2026
September 17 – 20, 2026
October 22 – 25, 2026
November 19 – 22, 2026
December 10 – 13, 2026
Take a class in the “Happiest Place on Earth” and discover how the magic is made. This interdisciplinary course explores the design, storytelling, and cultural impact of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Blending history, engineering, business strategy, and cultural studies, the course examines how immersive experiences are created across theme parks and the broader entertainment industry. Through a combination of pre-trip academic preparation and on-site experiential learning, students will explore the history and global influence of The Walt Disney Company and analyze how storytelling, technology, and design shape meaningful guest experiences.
During the immersive portion, students will explore all four Walt Disney World Resort parks—Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios—using attractions and environments as real-world case studies in innovation, creativity, and storytelling.
At Magic Kingdom, students will analyze historical narratives and technological innovation through attractions such as The Hall of Presidents and Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, while exploring how environments like Main Street, U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle use architecture and symbolism to shape emotional experience. Classic attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean will serve as case studies in immersive storytelling.
At EPCOT, the focus shifts to cross-cultural communication, globalization, and the role of narrative in place-making. Students will explore the World Showcase, engaging with 11 country pavilions representing cultures from around the globe. Experiences such as Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Canada Far and Wide will be used to examine national identity and cultural representation through entertainment. Attractions like Spaceship Earth and Soarin’ Around the World will support discussions on technological advancement, communication, and environmental awareness.
At Animal Kingdom, the course explores environmental storytelling, conservation, and the integration of ecological education into entertainment. Through experiences such as Kilimanjaro Safaris and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, students will examine how conservation messages are communicated through themed environments. The Pandora – The World of Avatar area serves as a case study in immersive world-building that blends fantasy with environmental themes.
At Hollywood Studios, the focus centers on film, television, and immersive media. Through experiences such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Slinky Dog Dash, students will explore how cinematic storytelling, advanced ride systems, and themed environments come together to create fully immersive worlds that extend beyond the screen.
By the end of the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of how Disney combines storytelling, technology, and design to create experiences that influence global entertainment, tourism, and culture.
* NOTE: You will have some free time at the parks to attempt riding Magic Kingdom’s Tiana’s Bayou, EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Animal Kingdom’s Pandora Flight of Passage.
** Detailed agenda, schedule and information will be shared on Google Classroom 2 weeks prior to class start date. All registered students will connect via WhatsApp, giving an opportunity to get to know each other before the trip and make plans to share a taxi from the airport.
THE DETAILS
DAY 1: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
DAY 2: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
DAY 3: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
DAY 3: 8:00AM – 2:00PM
– Tuition fees
– 3 x nights of Shared Room Accommodations at SpringHill Suites Hotel OR SIMILAR HOTEL. You will sleep in your own bed (can be a pull-out bed/sofa bed)
– 3 x continental breakfast
– Transportation to and from the theme parks
– All activities including park passes to 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios
– Registration fees (credit card processing fee & registration platform fee)
– Lightning Lanes
– Airfare to/from Orlando, FL
– Airport transportation to/from hotel (it’s a 30 minute ride, Uber is around $60. You may want to coordinate with other au pairs in order to share the ride)
– Lunches & Dinners
In addition to the in-person meetings, this class will include pre-assignments and post-assignments as part of the 72-hour class.
You will be invited to join Google Classroom about a month before class starts, which is the platform we use for the course. Check your spam folder, as invitations to join Google Classroom sometimes end up there. Please make sure you register for the course with a valid email address, since this is where you will receive the invitation and later, your certificate. Your email has to be Google compatible, so it’s best to use gmail, outlook, hotmail or yahoo. If you do not receive a notification to join Google Classroom, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to contact us.
Pre-assignments will be posted on Google Classroom 3 weeks before class starts. Make sure you join Google Classroom early and complete the assignments BEFORE coming to class. It will take you approximately 18 hours to complete
Follow-up assignments will be posted on Google Classroom on the weekend of class, and also consist of 18 hours. You must complete them in order to receive your course completion certificate. Course completion certificates will be emailed to you, a few days after the class has officially ended. You will have 4 weeks to complete the assignments. If you need your certificate earlier, please indicate it during the registration process and upload proof. The earliest you can receive your certificate is ONE WEEK after in-person portion of class has concluded.
Attendance IS MANDATORY all days during the class in Orlando. If you are late or leave early, your will risk not receiving your certificate. Please note, that this is a long weekend intensive class and the days are long. Bring comfortable shoes, appropriate clothing, water & snacks. We expect you to come to class rested and ready to participate, learn and have fun!
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Analyze the Historical Significance of Walt Disney:
– Demonstrate an understanding of Walt Disney’s influence on American culture and entertainment through readings and discussions about his life and legacy.
2. Examine Disney’s Evolution:
– Critically assess how Disney continues to evolve through technological advancements, new attractions, and corporate strategies, as evidenced by discussions and the analysis of recent articles.
3. Understand the Principles of Imagineering:
– Apply the core principles of Imagineering to create their own original attraction, demonstrating an understanding of storytelling, design, and guest experience.
4. Evaluate Theme Park Design:
– Discuss and analyze the elements of theme park design, including how visitors experience themes and narratives through rides and attractions. This includes understanding engineering principles and aesthetic design.
5. Connect Cultural Context to Attractions:
– Explore how social and historical narratives, including race and American identity, have shaped specific Disney rides and attractions, especially in contexts like “Tiana’s Bayou” and “It’s A Small World.”
6. Interpret and Reflect on Themes of Identity:
– Investigate representation and cultural significance in Disney attractions, analyzing how they reflect broader social themes and narratives relevant to American culture.
7. Synthesize Learning Experiences:
– Produce a well-structured reflection paper summarizing insights gained throughout the course, connecting personal experiences in the parks to academic discussions of theme park design and cultural relevance.
8. Communicate Effectively:
– Engage with peers and instructors in discussions about Disney characters and attractions, showcasing the ability to articulate insights and respond thoughtfully to others’ ideas.
9. Conduct Independent Research:
– Develop a research paper that discusses the importance of re-envisioning rides and attractions, demonstrating an ability to gather, synthesize, and critically analyze information related to Disney’s theme parks.
10. Reflect on Learning Outcomes and Personal Growth:
– Demonstrate a personal understanding of how the magic of Disney and its theme parks influence social connections and storytelling, as discussed in the course and reflected upon in post-assignment papers.