Dreams come true for alumna at Disney World

 

It’s any child’s dream to work at Walt Disney World. After all, it is the happiest place on Earth. But as we get older, our interests may stray from our fascination with princesses and magical kingdoms as we begin to find interest in our specific career paths. But for Natalie Reyes, growing up didn't mean having to abandon her love for “happily-ever-afters.” 

 

Reyes grew up in Miami, Florida, and received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Illinois in 2013. She is currently a Ride Mechanical Engineer with the Design and Engineering team of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. 

 

“It took me five years to graduate, due to my engineering internships at Walt Disney World,” she said.  “But the delay was completely worth it, because I graduated with 16 months of work experience that helped jumpstart my career.”

 

Disney World was Reyes’ favorite place to visit as a child. In high school, she discovered her passion for the field of mechanical engineering. But it wasn't until her senior year of high school that she identified the perfect career path for herself. 

 

“I attended Grad Nite at the Magic Kingdom, and instantly realized that I could work at Walt Disney World as a mechanical engineer,” said Reyes. “Ever since that moment, I pursued that goal, including during my time at the University of Illinois.”

 

In her junior year of college, she was accepted for an internship at Walt Disney World with the Quality Engineering team, and later received two more internships there, including one at the Sustaining Engineering team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and another with the Ride Mechanical Engineering team. She was hired to join the Walt Disney World staff in January 2014.  

 

Reyes spends her days on a variety of machine design and analysis projects, allowing her to help bring the magical world of Disney to life. Her primary duties include working to improve the functionality and reliability of the rides at the park. 

 

One of her favorite areas of study within mechanical engineering is machine design—a passion she discovered during her time in the ME 370 course. Luckily, her current position requires her to specifically work on machine design problems daily, leading her to become an expert on the subject. 

 

For Reyes, her ability to combine two of her passions is a dream come true. 

 

“Every day on the job is different, and that is what I love about it,” she said. “One of the most rewarding gifts is getting to see the joy on guests’ faces when they are enjoying themselves on a ride I worked on. It makes every second of effort and time spent feel worthwhile.”