Never too old for Mickey

Danny Sarnowski, 22, said he lives his life with a "Disney attitude."\nHe remembers one day when he worked at Disney World as a Jungle Cruise ride operator and a young girl suffering from a terminal disease, visited with the "Make a Wish Foundation." \nAfraid, she climbed into the boat and Sarnowski let her steer the ride. The girl's mother began crying while her father videotaped the moment, holding back his own tears, Sarnowski said. As the ride ended, the girl gave Sarnowski a small kiss as her parents thanked him for his kindness. \nSarnowski described the experience as any other day in the theme park.\n"Any person can go to Disney World and have a good time if they allow themselves to be caught up in the magic and fantasy of it," Sarnowski said.\nA Disney fanatic, Sarnowski will turn his childhood fantasy into a career with the Walt Disney World College Program in December.\nSarnowski, a senior, has invested much time and money in Walt Disney. He has viewed around 60 movies, owns 10 soundtracks, has visited Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and Disneyland in California approximately 15 times. He owns 200 collectable pins and, in the last three years, has spent close to $1,000 at Disney World. \nBrian, Danny's younger brother, said the many visits to Disney World led to many childhood memories that are still alive.\n"He goes and buys every movie when it comes out, reads the official employee newsletters, and watches Disney cartoons," he said. "It's ridiculous. He's even more a fanatic than some children."\nSarnowski's roommate, senior John Taylor, said he also sees the happy-go-lucky side of Sarnowski.\n"He's insane. His entire desk has Disney stuff all over it," Taylor said. "It's like living in a Disney store."\nSarnowksi jokingly admitted that he is somewhat of a fanatic, but he said it represents more than just a theme park. During his freshman year, Sarnowski's parents separated and a few months later his grandfather died. That's when his family traveled to Disney World for one "last hoorah."\nHe said the trip was filled with family bonding. Getting ready to leave the park, he looked up to the Magic Kingdom castle and he realized he never again wanted to be apart from the park.\n"This place is always going be with me and I'm going do whatever I can to make sure that I am always here because when I'm here, it reminds me of my family," he said. "Disney is not just a theme park. It's not a movie, it's not a cartoon, it's not a song -- it's a feeling. They're not lying when they say that it's the happiest place on earth because when I'm there, I'm the happiest person I could be."\nSarnowski credits his affection for Disney to his parents. After traveling to Disney World for their honeymoon, his parents took him there when he was 2-years-old. His entire childhood revolved around Disney. His grandmother even bought he and his brother stock in the company before they were born.\nSarnowski leads the typical day of a college senior. But unlike most students, Sarnowski surrounds himself with Disney memorabilia. He is now preparing to leave his college career with an advanced internship exclusively for college program alumni, where he'll serve as a Magic Kingdom Employment Assistant.\n"I've wanted to work there since I started kindergarten," he said. "When I was younger, I wanted to be friends with Mickey Mouse."\nLast year, Sarnowski turned his dream into a reality. Exhausted after completing I-CORE, he was offered a position into the Walt Disney College Program. He spent the next six months as a Jungle Cruise skipper. He now serves as a college representative for the program.\nThe Walt Disney World College Program visits IU each semester and selects students all around the country to work at the theme park in several areas. Sarnowski said he knew immediately this program was perfect for him.\n"You learn a lot about the business of a theme park," he said. "I'd had jobs before, but nothing of this magnitude, and you are miles away from home possibly and you're on your own. It's just something that I knew I had to do."\n-- Contact staff writer Danielle Gingerich at dgingeri@indiana.edu.