Young Carleton County resident to represent Canada at “Most Magical Place on Earth”
Addison Grey has loved Disney World since she was young. “We used to beg our parents to take us back,” said Grey, who has now taken seven trips to the destination dubbed the “Most Magical Place on Earth.”
Eventually, that dream for the young woman from Peel grew from merely wanting to visit Disney World to wanting to work there through an international program called the “Disney Cultural Representative Program.”
The program is a 12-month work experience at Walt Disney World where “participants…have the opportunity to share the unique culture and customs of their country with Guests, while working different front-line, guest-facing roles.”
Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply, so Grey completed her first year of university, then took a chance and said, “I’m going to do it.” The 20-year-old submitted her application in May 2025.
“I had to complete the application form and write a cover letter on why I was a good fit and what I would bring to the program,” said Grey.
She received an email in June saying she had been selected for an interview in Toronto.
“My dad and I drove 12 hours to Toronto for the interview,” said Grey.
After the interview, she was told it could be weeks to months before she heard back.
After offers went out, Grey was disappointed to learn she had been waitlisted. However, others encouraged her not to give up hope as she prepared to return to school for her second year.
“I had just gotten back to school, when I got an email saying ‘Congratulations!'” said Grey. “I was at the Regent Mall when I got it. I opened it and freaked out, right there in the mall.”
Grey could have started her job last January, but chose to delay until August so she wouldn’t miss her little sister’s high school graduation in June.
Grey is taking an official gap year from university for the 2026-2027 term. She and her family left on Aug. 19 to move her to her new, temporary home in sunny Florida.
Grey said Disney provides her with living accommodations in a ‘Cast Member’ housing complex near the theme park, and that her subsidized rent will be deducted directly from her paycheck.
The family had a short vacation together before she officially started her new job on Aug. 24, working as a cultural representative in the Canada pavilion at Epcot.
Since applicants must agree to work holidays and weekends, Grey said she is unsure whether she will be able to get home for a visit during her one-year work term.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” said Grey. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I feel very grateful that I was chosen to do this. The fact that I get to say ‘I made magic at Disney World’ is insane to me.” Grey said. “It was like that Little Addison inside of me saying, ‘Look at what you’re doing! You’re chasing your dream!'”
And now she is proof that dreams really can come true.
