LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Two Walt Disney World fathers share what it’s like to see their children follow them into Disney careers. Their stories highlight mentorship, skilled trades, leadership and the pride of building a family legacy.
Faron Kelley, senior vice president of Disney Destinations Sales, Strategy & Solutions for Disney Experiences, said his own journey began through the Disney College Program in the 1980s. He started in attractions at Space Mountain before returning after college and working his way through several roles.
“It’s been a great ride over 36 years,” Kelley said.
Today, his daughter Callie Kelley is carving out her own path. She began with the Disney College Program, then returned after graduating and started part-time in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom. She later became a trainer and now works as a relief coordinator.
Callie Kelley said her father’s career gave her perspective — and guidance — as she looks ahead.
“I think that the biggest thing that he, that his journey has given me is some perspective and also tons of advice on just different ways that I can navigate my career, different opportunities that I should take,” she said.
For Faron Kelley, the pride comes from seeing his child step into a company he believes offers room to grow.
“You know what I think every parent wants is a strong future for their kids,” he said. “And that just makes you feel proud as a parent.”
He also pointed to Disney’s roots as a family-centered place — and said that mission still resonates for cast members who raise their own families around it.
“Walt started Disneyland because he wanted a place where families could come together and have that family time,” Kelley said.
Callie Kelley said Disney shaped her childhood in Orlando — and now she draws on those memories in her own work.
“Remembering the magic that was made for me as a kid and now getting able to make it for other people has. It’s been incredible,” she said.
A similar pride runs through the Orosco family. Brian Orosco, an engineering service manager with the Magic Kingdom power and lighting team, said he and his wife first visited Walt Disney World on their honeymoon. Years later, they moved to Central Florida, and he set his sights on working for Disney.
He started as a bus driver, entered a Disney apprenticeship program and became an electrician — building skills that led to bigger roles over time.
“I just tried my hardest and got a job with Disney,” Orosco said. “I became an electrician… and then it just kept moving up.”
His work happens largely after hours, when crews can safely access areas that are busy during operating hours.
“We keep the lights on,” Orosco said. “Everything that the light touches is our kingdom.”
Now, Orosco’s son and daughter also work for the company. Giovanni Orosco is a ticket specialist at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, while Gianna Orosco is a front desk service advisor at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
Brian Orosco said it’s reassuring to know his children are building their lives at a place he trusts.
“I’m very happy that my children work here, because I know what kind of company Disney is,” he said. “And I know the opportunities that they have.”
Giovanni Orosco said his career has taken turns he never expected — and that’s part of what keeps him engaged.
“I never ended up where I thought I was going to,” he said. “It’s been amazing so far.”
Gianna Orosco said watching her father lead — and mentor — shaped her own goals.
“He’s my biggest mentor,” she said.
In her role at the resort, she says part of the job is helping guests when plans go sideways — and making things feel magical again.
“A big part of my role is recovering the magic,” she said. “It really fills up my pixie dust.”
Across Disney, the families say that opportunity is what makes the legacy possible, whether it starts in a frontline role, a skilled trade apprenticeship, or a leadership track built over decades.
And for the fathers, the reward is simple: seeing their kids not just hear the stories but live them.
“It’s very inspiring and makes you filled with pride,” Brian Orozco said, “but see them do it themselves. It is fantastic.”