By AJ Mun
Staff Writer
The lessons Isabella Percontino ‘25 has learned since leaving the College have led her all the way to “The Happiest Place on Earth.”
A recent communication studies graduate, Percontino’s involvement at the College was no small feat. With engagements in TCNJ Musical Theater, Theta Phi Alpha, TCNJ Ambassadors, Communications Honor Society and the Communications Student Advisory Board, she filled her collegiate days with hard work and passion. Her work at the Disney College Program is no different.
As a child, Percontino was always in love with the magic of the Walt Disney Company through film and TV. With her love spanning to the Disney Parks, she consistently saw and interacted with cast members who were able to add that extra bit of pixie dust to her day.
Upon entering college, she had known about the Disney College Program but had felt as though there was never a right time for her to apply, and so she had let that dream slowly fizzle out. It wasn't until speaking with a friend who had done the program, secured a permanent job offer and had returned to the College, that she learned that Disney offered a postgraduate program.
Percontino applied in late January 2025 and accepted her role in late February. When applying, the roles she had in mind were in merchandise, character attending and attractions, but ultimately she was offered a role of character attendant, primarily in Hollywood Studios.
Percontino mostly spends her days hanging out with characters in Hollywood Studios, featuring Mickey Mouse & Friends, as well as the Disney princesses. Her personal favorite characters to hang out with are Goofy and his son Max from “The Goofy Movie,” because most people don't realize how they can make a diehard fan’s day so special from the interaction with a niche character like Max.
“This is a program that I always dreamed of doing. Throughout college though, I never saw it in the cards for me, but the timing felt right and now I am living a dream and fulfilling the goals of little me,” she said.
Percontino is currently staying on property at Disney's Flamingo Crossing and loving her experience so far. While balancing her 40-hour workweek, she’s learning about life outside of the collegiate bubble. She has had the opportunity to attend networking events, meet employees on the communication teams and even some of the chief marketing directors.
Throughout all of this, she's learning how to grow with the company and assemble her tool belt for her future professional endeavors.
Her career goal was always to work in entertainment and the Disney College Program helps her do just that. Percontino finds it inspiring to meet other people just like her, who studied communications and are finding their way in the entertainment world through the program. She believes that one of the biggest cores of communication is the art of storytelling, and that's exactly what she's doing each and every day.
“Not only am I fulfilling a lifelong dream, but I'm learning how to grow in entertainment and do what I want to do in the future,” she said.
Whether it be the networking, work days, storytelling in the parks or managing her schedule, Percontino feels it's all helping her to build her skillset to strengthen her potential to ultimately grow as a professional. She also finds it rewarding to end her days with a sweet snack underneath the magical Disney fireworks.
When asked if she would recommend this program to other students, Percontino lit up and said “yes, absolutely.”
“If you are a fan of Disney, it will be life changing for you and you will have a blast. If you want to work in networking, entertainment, or with Disney longterm, this could be a great opportunity,” said Percontino.
She also advises joining for those that may have an interest in engineering, as the Disney College Program provides insight into the company’s “Imagineering” candidates; that is, the creatives and builders responsible for new, exciting concepts in Disney.
Percontino misses the College everyday, mostly because of the community that she was able to build. She knows she would not be where she is today without her extracurricular involvement, encouraging peers, roommates, friends and faculty.
To any incoming or current students, Percontino says: “Take any opportunity that you can that the College offers and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Even things you may view as steps back, take it as a moment to grow as a person, student or leader.”
