Engineering the Magic: Co-op Brings Animatronics to Life at Walt Disney World
For Electromechanical Engineering student Maggie McCann, the magic of Walt Disney World isn't just about fairy tales and fantasy; it’s about the intricate engineering that brings those worlds to life. During her Spring 2025 co-op, McCann went behind the scenes as a Show Mechanical Engineering Intern, contributing to one of the parks' most iconic features: Audio-Animatronic figures.
"I assisted in the creation of Audio-Animatronic figures throughout the Disney parks," the Wentworth Institute of Technology student explained. "My day-to-day jobs involved tackling various mechanical force calculations, utilizing digital 3D modeling software, and crafting technical drawings."
While she loved Disney princesses as a child, McCann says her true appreciation for the parks was sparked on a high school robotics trip. That visit "opened my eyes to the shear amount of 'magic' or engineering that allows theme parks like Disney to truly thrive as an immersive experience," she said. "Every single detail is engineered by our talented imagineers to make your experience as magical as possible. Every time I walk into the parks I spot something new!"
The hands-on experience of the co-op program was the "main factor" in McCann's decision to attend Wentworth, a choice reinforced by a deep family legacy.
"My dad and grandfather both attended Wentworth and often spoke highly about the co-op program," she shared. "To this day my dad credits Wentworth with giving him the education he needed to be a successful engineer. I don't think I would've landed this incredible opportunity without Wentworth's guidance."
Once on co-op, McCann found that the experience was the ultimate bridge between classroom theory and real-world results. "I love to learn new things, and there's no better way to learn theory than through practicing practical applications," she said. "There's just so many aspects to every problem and it's hard to find a solution without trying and failing until a solution is born from the chaos."
She sees her role as a a co-op as a unique chance to accelerate her learning by drawing on the expertise of her colleagues. "For me, co-op is a chance to learn from different mentors so I can minimize future failures," McCann noted. "I'm just starting, so I don't have the 20-plus years of experience my coworkers do. They are such a valuable source of information."
When it comes to advice for high school students, McCann points directly to the strength of Wentworth's career infrastructure.
"Wentworth's co-op program is the best program I've seen thus far," she said. "When I send out my resume on WITworks I nearly always hear back from the recruiters.”
Ultimately, McCann's passion circles back to the very work she is contributing to. When asked about her favorite element of Walt Disney World, her answer is immediate.
"Perhaps I'm biased because it's my department, but I'd say the Animatronics," she said. "They are insane feats of engineering and—as the years go by—they only get more impressive! My coworkers truly create what I believe is the magic of Disney."
Among her favorites are some of the most advanced figures in the parks: "Kylo Ren in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and DJ R-3X in Oga's Cantina!"