Walt Disney World Chefs turn college lessons into culinary careers
- Emma Walton
- Aug 5
- 6 min read
Meet the Valencia College alumni who turned dreams into realities at Walt Disney World.
Every Disney trip needs a snack break… or maybe a few! From sweet treats to savory snacks and delicious meals that hit the spot, there’s no shortage of great eats at Walt Disney World.
Behind each bite are talented culinary cast members from all over the world — including many who studied in Central Florida at Valencia College’s Walt Disney World Center for Culinary Arts & Hospitality.
This school has become a launchpad for chefs looking to turn their passion for food into lifelong culinary careers. Let’s take a deeper look at the school and meet some of the Disney chefs who started their journey there.
Inside Walt Disney World’s Center for Culinary Arts & Hospitality
The Walt Disney World Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality at Valencia College combines classroom teaching with real-world experience, helping students with big dreams deepen their passion and skills in the kitchen. By their side every step of the way? Disney chefs and culinary cast.
Here are some of the ways that Walt Disney World provides support to the school:
Disney chefs frequent the school to give cooking demos and teach new skills, provide mentorship and share important lessons from inside the kitchens at Walt Disney World.
Students are also invited on Disney World field trips to see firsthand the culinary magic that Disney chefs cook up every day.
Disney’s casting team brings special recruitment opportunities to Valencia College, giving students the chance to learn about open roles, apply and interview without leaving campus.
In 2019, Disney invested $1.5 million to help Valencia College move its culinary arts and hospitality school to Downtown Orlando, bringing new technology and state-of-the-art classrooms to students.
What’s it like learning directly from Disney Chefs?
Disney’s culinary team has taught and mentored students from the Walt Disney World Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality for years. While classes on technique and skills are imperative, some of the most important insights shared are about what the future could look like after graduation.
“I love teaching at Valencia College because I know that my knowledge from inside Disney can help develop the next generation of chefs,” said Chef Amanda, the Chef de Cuisine of Pastry at EPCOT. “I always get questions about what really happens inside a kitchen, the equipment we use, what shifts look like — things that take real-world experience to know.”
These interactions with Disney chefs have helped many go on to have successful careers — some even at Disney. Chef Amanda has several people on her team who studied at the Walt Disney World Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality, including Chef Shaqori, Chef Valarie and Chef Christy.
“Disney chefs would always visit campus to encourage us and tell us about the opportunities we could pursue. Their lessons and visiting the parks helped me realize that I could see myself working at Walt Disney World one day,” Shaqori said. “Their support became my guiding light to my career.”
Want to try one of Shaqori’s creations? Visit Connections Eatery and try a Liege waffle!
What makes this school so special?
The Walt Disney World Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality is the only public culinary and hospitality school in Florida that offers an associate degree in Baking and Pastry Management. With Disney’s help, students receive unique learning and career opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else. This school is also special because so many students choose to study there because of their love for Walt Disney World.
Chef Molly is one of many Valencia College graduates who enjoyed visiting the parks as a child and dreamed of one day working at Walt Disney World. She accomplished that after graduating and landing a full-time position at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
“I always knew that I wanted to work in baking, and I was also a huge Disney fan. My family and I were annual passholders and would visit the parks all the time to try different foods,” Molly explained. “I picked Valencia for my culinary training because I saw that Disney was partnered with them. It’s the perfect place to be if you want to do culinary and work at Disney one day.”
Interested in tasting one of Molly’s dishes? Try the Steakhouse 71 Signature Chocolate Cake.
What’s next?
The learning doesn’t stop after graduation, though. Chefs who go on to work at Walt Disney World continue to level up their culinary chops every day they work in the kitchen. Valencia College graduate and Disney Chef Jennifer shared that her favorite part of being a cast member is that she is always acquiring new skills as a line cook at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.
“I love working for Disney because it’s given me so many chances to grow new skills and take on new opportunities. My team has been an amazing support system for me and has taught me so much about working in a kitchen and being efficient,” Jennifer said.
Visit the Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort to try a dish from Jennifer.
It looks like these Valencia grads turned Disney chefs found the recipe for success! Interested in learning more about a culinary career at Walt Disney World and joining the team one day? Visit DisneyCareers.com to see all open roles.
For Real News, Real Orlando, you Gotta Go Orlando! Get the Latest Orlando News now!
Check Out The Best Of Orlando - What's New To See & Do In The City!
Never miss anything happening in Orlando again, we've got you covered with the latest and best things to see and do throughout Central Florida. We update our website and social channels daily.
Looking for things to do in Orlando? Check out our weekly and monthly event guides with the can’t-miss happenings throughout Central Florida. Plus, for Orlando on a budget, check out our the weekly, and monthly things to do in Orlando that are either free or cheap.
From major headlining tours, to local indie music nights, Orlando features an eclectic music scene! Catch the latest shows at Kia Center, House of Blues, The Plaza Live, Hard Rock Live, Addition Financial Arena, The Social, The Vanguard, Conduit, Will's Pub, and more.
Orlando features an endless choice of entertainment on the stage each day, with an impressive choice of venues, including Dr Phillips Center, The Ren, Orlando Family Stage, Winter Park Playhouse, Theater West End, Funny Bone Comedy Club, SAK Comedy Lab, and more.
The City Beautiful has a thriving arts scene, and is home to Orlando Ballet, Opera Orlando, Orlando Philharmonic, Breakthrough Theatre Company, Osceola Arts, Orlando Sings, and more.
Go Team Orlando! Orlando is home to an exciting selection of hometown teams to support including the Orlando Magic, Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride, Orlando Solar Bears, UCF Knights, and more. Plus, regular big game action takes place at Camping World Stadium, including the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and the StaffDNA Cure Bowl.
Orlando is home to a year-round schedule of amazing festivals and events, including the Central Florida Fair, EDC Orlando, Silver Spurs Rodeo, Orlando Fringe, Orlando Pride, and many more.
Central Florida is home to a never-ending choice of amazing theme parks and attractions, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Gatorland, Fun Spot America, Island H2O Water Park, and more.
If you're looking to explore Orlando's cultural scene, you have an an impressive choice of museums and galleries, including Orlando Museum Of Art, Orlando Science Center, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, The Mennello Museum of American Art, and more.
No matter your tastes or budget, Orlando’s incredible dining experiences are endless, including MICHELIN Guide restaurants, celebrity chefs, local James Beard honorees, and more.
There is always something new to experience in Orlando, and whether your looking for the latest restaurants or nightlife hotspots, what's new and coming soon to the theme parks and attractions, or the biggest festivals and the latest events, we've got you covered.
Now go and explore everything that our beautiful city has to offer, you Gotta Go Orlando!
Contact us here. To advertise with us, click here. To list your upcoming event, submit it here.
Sign up for our newsletter and stay in the loop with all the latest news from Central Florida delivered daily to your mailbox.
Join the local conversation on X, Facebook, and Instagram, plus, for extended coverage, catch the latest on our YouTube channel.
Comments