Friday, April 20, 2012

Set your sights upon the heights. Don't be a mediocrity

When I started this blog I thought I would be able to update a lot more but I actually forgot about it for a little. A lot has been going on, all things Disney related are wonderful. Update time :D

As far as working it has been crazy busy! The week before Easter and after Easter I got to work a little over 120hours which was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I made it through the weeks and got two awesome paychecks. Before I came down here for the program I kept hearing how its the people you work with that will make the job that much better, and it is totally true. I have met some of the coolest people and we have a blast! I couldn't imagine working in the parking lot without them. But speaking of the parking lot I have about 2 weeks left working there. I decided to extend my program to August and well originally I got placed in the same location but I received a call from Disney saying there was no room for me there for the Summer so I'll be working with the events over at ESPN Wide World Of Sports. I could not be happier! I think it is a great opportunity to help me understand more about event planning and what goes into it.

My Guest Service class is going well, next week we are going on a "field trip" to Animal Kingdom Lodge to check out the service in hospitality which I think will be really cool. Class is almost over though which will be nice to just work all summer before having to go back to real school. Speaking of college I signed up for all my classes which I'm not very happy about but I have to graduate! I've got 7 classes, its going to be super hard to get back into the school life after living down here just working.

This morning I got to ride Space Mountain with the lights on, and see the backstage of the Monsters Inc Laugh floor which was pretty cool. One of the awesome perks of being on the college program!

That is the past month wrapped up I guess. Can't think of much more that is going on. I'm going to miss the Jersey Shore for the summer that's for sure but how could I pass up working in Disney and living in Florida for 3 extra months?! I'd be crazy not to!


"Now I'm here, suddenly I see standing here, it's all so clear, I'm where I'm meant to be"- Rapunzel

Friday, March 9, 2012

Some say to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter.

Today I have officially been on the program for two months, and it is flying by. I forget the days of the week, my concept of time has disappeared. I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter if you are on vacation in Walt Disney World or working here, it has the same effect on everyone. It really is a small city in itself and you can just get lost in another world; I don't mind it to say the least.

"Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life" I believe in this so much, I go to work everyday happy that I get to work for the mouse, and when I'm not working I find myself wanting to be at work. It is an odd feeling I must say. When people find out I work in parking I always get the same reaction of "awe I'm so sorry" but I like being able to tell them that I enjoy it and I feel like its a great place for me to start off at in the company. I love the guest interaction and making the guests laugh. It makes me feel amazing when they come up to me and tell me I'm doing well, and that I made them smile. Even if I'm not making magic inside the park, if I can put a smile on a guests face after a long day, my job is complete. I work mostly closing shifts which means I work till 1am, 2am, or 3am most of the days. I've gotten used to it, and tend to like the night shifts better than the morning shifts anyway.

I started my Guest Services class last Wed. I have really enjoyed it this far. The past two weeks have just been introductions, so now this upcoming week should start further into the series and we have lots of guest speakers which will be great for networking and asking questions.

Extensions to stay longer on the program supposedly come out on Monday, but I'm having a manager look further into it for me. I'm hoping to extend in a different role just so I can learn more and get the best possible experience out of being here.

I got to go on a behind the scenes of the Haunted Mansion attraction in Magic Kingdom. It was so COOL and I'm so glad I got the opportunity to go on it. That ride has scared me for years, and now I finally got a closer look on how this ride managed to scare me every time I rode it.

Some people go to the ends of the Earth just to see what they can see. –Piglet

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

On this journey that you’re making, there’ll be answers that you’ll see.

Okay so I've been super busy and haven't touched this blog in forever. So heres a catch up on the last month :D

Work has been a lot of fun actually. Everyone in the parking lot does a little bit of everything; drive the tram, spiel on the back of the tram, direct traffic in the parking lot, tram walker, collecting wheelchairs, and setting the lot. Its a lot more fun than it sounds, and I don't mind going to work everyday. My usual shifts are 5-11 on the weekdays and either 8pm-2am or 7pm-3am. But my hours seem to be changing a little bit since I have morning shifts this weekend.

I haven't had a lot of time to go out and do things since I work most nights but I do get off Thursday and Fridays which is super nice. I've had the chance to go to the parks a lot, seriously they will never get old, I have fun every time. I got a season pass to Universal too, obviously not as good as Disney but its fun and its something else to do. I still have so much to see here in Florida I feel like I've been in a Disney Bubble but its only the first month I've got plenty of time to see everything I want!

I start classes on Feb 29th along with the 24hr at Magic Kingdom day... woo? haha I'm excited for class but I don't want to even know what hours I'll be working that day. Ohwell its all a part of the experience.Speaking of experience it really has been great so far, I'm learning new things, meeting new people in sunny, warm Florida I really couldn't ask for anything more!!

Not much of a post today, not much going on besides work really.. I need more play time, slowly I'm turning into a night person, I'm still working on it, but it'll happen and give me more time to have fun!!!

Whatever I take is the road I make. It's the road of life make no mistake for me. –Thomas O’Malley (The Aristocats)

Friday, January 13, 2012

Dreams are like stars. You can't touch them, but if you follow them, they will lead you to your destiny.

Okay so its Friday, and I finally got to go to Traditions. Hm, I was supposed to go to Traditions on Wed, right? Remember? Haha okay well what I left out on my post earlier this week was that I was a part of a random drug testing. So I had to wait to go to Traditions, and start my training until they received the results of my test and well results didn't come back till yesterday. So anyway moving onto Traditions that I got to take part in this morning.

For traditions you head to Disney University which is backstage of Magic Kingdom. When we got there we were split up into groups and headed to different rooms in which we learned about different keys to success here at Walt Disney World. We had the pleasure of touring the underground utilidors of Magic Kingdom and even got to look around the park a little. After we went back to Disney University and continued a lecture of what we needed to know to be a excellent Disney Employee. We even got a special visit from the boss MICKEY MOUSE!!!! We also got our work id which gives us free access to the parks, and also our nametags!!!!!!!!!! ah I was so happy when I got to pick up my name tag, I have been waiting for this moment for what seems like forever! Below is my name tag and my little Minnie which my group won for naming the most Disney characters :D
So now that Traditions is over, I get to head on over to the parks and hang out and enjoy some free time. Tomorrow morning at 7:15 I have my first orientation for Magic Kingdom! Yay! And I get my awesome bright yellow costume. Oh yippee! haha but really I'm super excited.

On other notes I got a sinus infection the day after getting here :( Not fair but I'm slowly getting over it thanks to some medicine. Also I keep meeting some really cool people. I went to Universal yesterday with some new friends and got a season pass so we can go a lot. It was really fun, and even though I really don't like Harry Potter, Harry Potter World was AWESOME!!!

Well I'm heading out to MK!!

The only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work. –Tiana (Princess and the Frog)

Monday, January 9, 2012

What do you want me to do? Dress in drag and do the hula?

JANUARY 9th is TODAY!!!!!!! Yes I finally checked into the Disney College Program, what a day!

So I'm going to go back to the day I left for Florida and bring up to speed what has been going on, soooo keep your arms, legs, inside at all times and remain seated.

Saturday 1:10-- Arrived at the AutoTrain and waited around till 2:30 when we boarded the train. I was lucky enough to have gotten two seats to myself. The train ride was not terrible, but being on anything for 17hours will take a lot out of you.

Sunday 8:15- Arrived at Sanford Florida and waited only about a half hour for my car, and then went on my way. I typed the hotel address into my GPS but of course I got lost anyway, GO FIGURE! Moving on.. I got to my hotel around 10ish and was able to check in early which was super nice. I got to go to my room, go to the gym, lay out by the pool, shower, and take a nap! So nice! Around 4ish two of my roommates came over, so we got to talk and meet eachother, they're super nice! 6ish we met up with the rest of our roommates at Downtown Disney and met some of their friends. I love my roommates! They're really awesome.

Monday (Today) 5:00am- We woke up, got ready, and checked out of the hotel. We headed over to Vista Way around 6 and there was only like 15people in front of us so we thought we got there at a pretty good time. Anyway we only waited till a little after 8 and they let everyone through the gates. A man led us to the check in desk in which we had to fill the first out of a lot of paper work. We signed housing stuff, and then continued to go through the process. We ended up getting a 3 bedroom apartment in Patterson Court. Not our first choice but its really nice. After we got our housing assignment we got our complex id and filled out paperwork for our cars. We were then rushed over to get a bus over to casting. Casting is where we got our job location along with all our employment documentation. I will be working Magic Kingdom Parking Operations. I'm excited because I did ask for Magic Kingdom so we'll see how these next couple of months go. Through casting there is a lot of waiting and a lot of signing and walking through the entire building. Everything with paperwork and employment is all taken care of here though so once you leave casting, you really don't have to worry about anything else. We got out of casting a little after 11, so again not too terrible on timing. We now went to check out our apartment and start unpacking! Finally! After sweating and loading everything in the apartment, I got some unpacked and then we had a housing meeting at 3. The housing meeting was held at the Commons, in which they tried to keep everyone pumped up but obviously everyone is so tired because we have nonstop moving all day. So after the housing meeting, we came back and finally unpacked everything! Its been such a long day, and finally at like 9pm I can finally relax.

This week has a little on the agenda so far though. Tuesday is an off day for everyone. Wednesday is Traditions which is a class we all have to talk, we get our cast id's along with our name tags (so official). My traditions is at 8:45, so we're trying to go to the park afterwards.Thursday is another off day for me, but some of my roommates start work. Friday is my first day of training at 7:15 am, OH BOY! haha

Anyway there is most likely so much I have left out but I am too tired to even go back and spellcheck and reread it, so enjoy what I've got down so far. I'll be updating more as we go through the week with everything we are doing down here!

I cannot believe I officially am a Disney Cast Member. I couldn't be happier, I already have loved my experience and its the first day, I'm so excited to see what the rest of the program has! Well goodnight <3

OH! BTW: Here is an apartment tour, its short and sweet! Enjoy :D


"If you can dream it, You can do it"-Walt Disney