Have you ever paused in EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion and noticed how it feels like it’s been there for generations? That’s not accidental.
It’s the result of skilled cast members like Rosa, an Associate Project Manager with Facility Asset Management (FAM). Rosa is the lead of refresh work underway in the pavilion, guiding specialized teams through opportunities to enhance the guest experience and making them feel as if they’ve been whisked to Norway.
The Details That Make Norway Feel Like Norway
Ask Rosa what makes this work special, and her answer is simple: “Every detail matters.”
That’s the mindset she brings to the refresh work in the Norway Pavilion every day. Rosa brought in artisans and specialists who used more than 200 colors and stains to create the layered, lived-in look that makes the pavilion feel steeped in history. From authentic rockwork around the waterfall to paint touches like subtle rust drips and aged finishes, Rosa helped identify key areas to keep the pavilion’s craftsmanship looking authentic down to the smallest details.
As part of this refresh work, guests will spot a new beverage kiosk that looks like it came straight from the Norwegian countryside. Designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and modeled after traditional Norwegian stabbur cabins, the kiosk was created to feel as authentic as the structures that inspired it.
That sense of place is woven throughout the Norway Pavilion. As guests explore, the architecture shifts like a journey across the country; moving from the feel of urban Oslo, traveling through Bergen and Haakon’s Hall, climbing into Setesdal mountain hamlets near the Stave Church, and ending in the quiet countryside of log buildings and sod roofs.
And that’s not all! As part of this refresh work, guests who set sail on Frozen Ever After will also see newly enhanced Audio-Animatronics figures by Walt Disney Imagineering of some of their favorite characters.
A Dream Sparked at Disneyland
Rosa’s Disney journey began with a moment she still remembers clearly: a family trip to Disneyland where she watched her daughter experience Disney for the very first time. Seeing that joy, wonder, and pure delight inspired Rosa, and she wanted to help create those same feelings for other families.
Today, she gets to do exactly that by helping keep the Norway Pavilion looking its best for the millions of guests who visit EPCOT each year.
From Military Service to Disney Magic
Before she began her Disney journey, Rosa served 24 years in the United States Air Force. Joining the company as part of Disney’s “Heroes Work Here” veteran hiring initiative, she ultimately found her calling in Facility Asset Management where the leadership, discipline, and commitment to excellence she built through military service translated naturally.
“In the military, everything you do trains you to lead and care for your team,” Rosa says. “FAM’s core values of ownership, value, and trust echo the military’s core values of service, excellence, and integrity. It was a perfect fit.”
Rosa earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification during her military career and continues to maintain it today. With Disney’s support, she’s been able to apply those skills in meaningful ways supporting complex projects, coordinating partners, and helping teams bring the magic to life behind-the-scenes.
Looking Ahead
Almost 350 cast members work in Facility Asset Management across Walt Disney World to immerse guests in the magic by keeping the attractions they know and love looking their best. For Rosa, that’s what makes the work matter: “Watching kids and adults enjoy the experience out there… that’s why we do what we do.”
Her story reflects Disney’s unwavering commitment to empowering veterans; helping them transform their service experience into careers that make magic for our guests every day.
