Dayton Engineer
Engineering the Magic through Internship with Walt Disney World
By Alexandria Ford '26
Second-year industrial engineering technology student Olivia Hooten got to experience how the Walt Disney Company magic is made through an industrial engineering internship in the fall of 2024.
Through the internship, Hooten supported facilities and operational services, collaborating with various teams on multiple projects. She managed nine key initiatives, working with area leaders to set up studies, analyze data and plan improvements throughout the parks.
As the youngest of 13 interns, Hooten’s notable achievement was her development of a data-driven decision-making app aimed at minimizing maintenance impact on guests across Walt Disney World attractions. As the lead intern on this project, Hooten oversaw its creation, pilot testing and ongoing development for potential park-wide use.
“It was a very valuable experience to be in such a large operation and gaining new knowledge and skills on a daily basis especially so early in my career,” Hooten said.
Additionally, she provided actionable recommendations on wait time metrics and congestion, contributing to merchandise management improvements by analyzing guest behavior and providing insights. Hooten also optimized a case-pick process by benchmarking current state workflows and recommending output goals, while providing overall improvement recommendations. Throughout these projects, she utilized data-driven insights to enhance operational efficiency and improve the guest experience across various areas.
"It’s incredibly rewarding when your daily work has a direct impact on bringing joy to others. The fulfillment you experience grows when your core mission is to enhance systems that bring happiness to more people,” said Hooten.
Hooten has long been interested in working for The Walt Disney Company, inspired by her passion for Behind the Attraction, a documentary series that highlights the history and development of Disney's unique theme park attractions. After noticing the Disney Internship Program through Handshake, professors and faculty members supported her excitement for the technical experience in Florida.
At Disney, Hooten gained valuable insights from working alongside industrial engineers from larger colleges, building a strong network in the process. Now back in Dayton, she is motivated to continue advocating for industrial engineering, serving as an engineering ambassador and engaging with prospective students through summer camps and outreach events.
Hooten encourages students to explore engineering and emphasized the importance of being open to change in their academic and career paths.
“Your success is defined by your willingness to learn and try something new,” Hooten said, “Embrace the opportunity to acquire new skills.”
Hooten's favorite memories were working backstage at every park, receiving her name tag for the first time and rotating between the parks, meetings and off-site locations.
Through the Disney Internship Program and the support from the University of Dayton, Hooten wishes to pursue a full-time career with Disney following graduation.