I’m Grace Cottle, an interdisciplinary studies graduate with a passion for design, project coordination, storytelling, and the details that make an experience memorable.
My background brings together project management, design, guest experience, and leadership. I’m drawn to the way thoughtful planning and creative problem-solving can turn an idea into something people connect with.
Through my experiences at Walt Disney World, Coastal Carolina University, and in coaching, I’ve learned to value collaboration, clear communication, adaptability, and the small details that help people feel welcomed and included.
I’m especially interested in the intersection of immersive experiences, design, and operations—and in how teams can keep improving an experience while honoring what makes it meaningful.
Experiences across attractions, hospitality, campus leadership, and customer-facing roles have shaped how I approach teamwork, service, and the guest journey.
Support daily attraction operations and help create a safe, welcoming, and memorable experience for guests. This role reinforces the importance of communication, consistency, teamwork, and thoughtful operational details.
Built hands-on experience in attraction operations while learning how storytelling, technology, and cast member interactions contribute to a cohesive guest experience.
Worked in a fast-paced quick-service environment, supporting guest service and daily operations while developing adaptability and teamwork.
Represented the university at campus events, tours, and outreach opportunities, helping communicate the university’s story and welcoming prospective students and visitors.
Developed practical skills in guest service, organization, communication, and working efficiently in active, customer-facing environments.
Combined perspectives from project management and design to explore how ideas are developed, communicated, and delivered through collaborative work.
My time at Walt Disney World has given me a firsthand perspective on how operations, storytelling, and cast member interactions come together to shape a guest’s day.
From attractions to the details that make each park feel immersive, these experiences continue to inform my interest in design, innovation, and the guest experience.
Working in different roles within the parks has strengthened my ability to adapt in fast-paced environments, communicate effectively, collaborate with diverse teams, and maintain attention to detail while balancing multiple responsibilities. It has also shown me how thoughtful planning, consistency, and teamwork contribute to a larger vision. I’ve learned to approach challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset, recognize opportunities for improvement, and appreciate the many moving parts that come together to create a seamless experience. These experiences have shaped the way I think about leadership, problem-solving, and the connection between behind-the-scenes operations and the experiences people remember.
My research explores how Disney can evolve its parks and attractions while preserving the emotional connection, storytelling, and identity guests value.
My capstone explores the relationship between Imagineering innovation, guest expectations, nostalgia, and Disney’s brand identity. Rather than focusing on one attraction, the research considers how Disney can evolve rides, experiences, and the parks as a whole while preserving the emotional connections guests value.
The project is exploratory, with attention to the perspectives of guests, cast members, and the company.
This physics project explored how engineering, ride technology, and immersive storytelling work together to shape the guest experience at Cosmic Rewind. Researching the attraction sparked a broader interest in how Disney combines technical innovation with creative design.
