Twenty-seven students from Île-de-France region recently had the opportunity to discover the resort in a new way, thanks to two memorable encounters that were planned as part of Disneyland Paris’ focus on inspiring youth in surrounding communities.
A different vision of Disneyland Paris awaited youth studying communications, set design, event planning and marketing. Beyond iconic attractions and décor, they learned from Imagineer Laurent Cayuela how much storytelling contributes to immersing our guests, and how every single detail counts at the resort. A designer and writer at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, Laurent invited the students into the heart of Disney magic, sharing anecdotes about Disneyland Park and its history, as well as its inspirations – particularly architectural – that help bring it to life.
“This visit was a perfect echo of the comments we had just made to the students about the projects they are currently developing as part of their degree: it’s all about storytelling,” said Design teacher Noë Brand. “The visit embodied our advice through an analysis of the design of Main Street, U.S.A. What a great masterclass!”
The students also met Etienne, Walt Disney Imagineering Paris Artistic Coordinator, who shared with them his own career path, from his start as a Communications apprentice on the Merchandise team to his current position at Walt Disney Imagineering. Initially a literature student, Etienne decided to change his career path, pursuing a master’s degree in marketing as part of a work-study program at Disneyland Paris – a company with which he was already familiar with through seasonal contracts. His path was particularly meaningful for the students who are currently studying for their bachelor’s degrees.