The Past Week!

Hello world! Nothing of too much importance has happened these last few days. Our apartment is actually clean tonight, which makes me extremely happy! Yesterday I went to Hollywood Studios and Epcot with one of my lovely roommates Kristen. We had so much fun! I love being able to go to parks on my days off, but I have to be super careful because I spent a ton of money yesterday. Like, a lot. I had planned on saving money during this program but right now we still have a holiday discount on all merchandise, and that discount is just trying to kill my bank account. But I’ll be more careful once the discount is back to normal… hopefully ;)

Other than that I’ve just been working! I’m getting more into the groove of work and making each position my own. I’m also beginning to get to know my coworkers more, and they seem really great. The other day I submitted a form to cross-train but I have no idea if they’ll let me, but it never hurts to try!

So, yeah, that’s about all I can think about at the moment. But hopefully I’ll have more exciting stuff to share with y’all later :-)

Mini Update!

I got my little weekend in, and yesterday was a lot of fun! I went to Magic Kingdom—which is still my favorite park, even though I work there—and got a few hours in the park! We got to ride Jungle Cruise at night (crossed off the bucket list), Kristen and I got an entire boat to ourselves on Pirates of the Caribbean, we saw Wishes while riding Big Thunder Mountain, visited our other roommate, Katie, on the people mover, and then went to Poly for some Dole Whips! I’m so blessed, where else can you go to your favorite place in the world and basically visit for free and get paid to work their every day?

So after my lovely weekend, I will be back at work today. But I have to say this: while I may deal with difficult guests, attractions shutting down, stroller duty, and a ton of other craziness; I truly believe I have one of the greatest jobs in the world. Where else can I call every little girl princess, and make a strangers day just by wishing them a Happy Birthday? I mean I get to watch Wishes when I’m working! How much luckier can I be? Yes I have long hours, and yes I will have bad days, but I’ll always come back the next day ready to see what’s coming for me. I just, I truly love what I am doing right now.

P.S. I also signed up to work the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival! So we’ll see if that request is approved or not.

P.P.S Live with Kelly and Michael are coming to Florida in mid-February, and I was able to sign up for tickets! So cross your fingers, and hope that I’m chosen to go see them!

I earned my ears!

It’s official guys, I earned my ears! I can officially operate all of the positions for Prince Charming Regal Carrousel and Mickey’s Philharmagic on my own! I had three days of training: the first focused on the carrousel, the second was Philharmagic, and the third was a combo of each. Then, I had my assessment on Sunday, which I was super nervous about. My assessor was great and very helpful, but she did e-stop (emergency stop) the carrousel when I wasn’t looking to make sure I knew how to handle that situation. And yesterday was my first day on my own! It was actually a lot of fun. I got to see so many cute little kids and wish them Happy Birthday or call them princess, I love it! I mostly did stroller parking and the exit glasses for philhar, but I made the most of it and actually had a good time doing those!

I have lost my voice though, because I have to scream/annunciate at guests to fill in all the available space in the queue for carousel. So if you guys are ever told to move all the way down please do it! Anyways, I’ve been hanging out with my roommates and friends a lot lately, which is great! And our sixth and final roommate arrived this morning. She seems super nice so hopefully everything turns out well!

In other news, the buses suck. I waited for the Walmart/Publix bus today and it never showed. Then, once I called transportation from the apartment they said it was running half an hour late and that I would have to just guess and wait for it to arrive. Yeah, ummm no thank you. So I’m either going to Publix tomorrow or getting groceries delivered, at the moment I am still undecided. 

Well, I am going to enjoy my two days off, and to end this post I will be posting some pictures of my time here so far!

First Day of Work

So yesterday was my first day of ‘training’! I would call it more of an all-day park orientation. I took the 6 a.m. bus because I had to be there by 7:15… let’s just say that I was dead to the world until I got to Magic Kingdom. When everyone was there we were split up into two groups and took tours of the Magic Kingdom before the park was open! That was super cool because I have never seen the park empty, so that was a dream come true right there! We also got to ride Haunted Mansion and the People Mover, which I love. Then when the tour was over we split up into more groups that were specific to our locations. Right after we were separated I found out that I’ll be working Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel and Mickey’s Philharmagic! So that’ll be cool!

            We then had lunch, and went on a tour of Fantasyland! I just love Fantasyland so much; it’s just wonderful in every possible way. Once our tour was done and when we finished riding the Barnstormer, it was time for costuming! I personally like my costume, although I was jealous of the New Fantasyland and Storybook Circus costumes lol :) Costuming took a little time only because we all had to get our costumes, make sure they fit correctly, and check them all out together. And after that my day was done!

            Today was my day off so I got to sleep in, and then I start another class tomorrow, and on the job training Thursday. So wish me luck! 

here is me in my costume!

Traditions!

So this post will be pretty vague, only because I’m not allowed to disclose a lot of what we did! 

My roommates had Traditions this morning at 8, and their bus left at 6:45 so I had the apartment all to myself from 7 until 12. That was definitely weird, if only because I’m not used to being by myself because it’s been so crazy lately. After my few hours of boringness it was time to get ready for traditions! You are supposed to be wearing a business casual outfit. I found the perfect dress (which I posted about earlier) and left for the bus. 

I got on the bus at 12.45 and Traditions started exactly at 2. The beginning was pretty boring but then we got to go to Magic Kingdom!!!! Let me just say that going through the backstage areas of Magic Kingdom was a dream come true for me. It was so cool seeing all of these cast members in their uniforms walking around and hanging out. I also saw Belle and Ariel heading into work, and Cinderella about to go onstage!

Once we left Magic Kingdom we did a few more activities relating to the company, and then got our name tags. Which was a great moment for so many reasons—if you’ve been through Traditions then you understand ;-). Overall, it was a pretty relaxing day, and I feel so blessed and fortunate to finally be able to make my dreams come true at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Tomorrow we are heading to Hollywood Studios and Epcot, and then I have my first day of training on Monday! I’ll let you all know how that goes when the time comes! :D

The last two days!

So I have only been here for two days and my roommates and I have already done so much stuff!

• met lots of new people
• played a huge game of apples to apples
• made our first roommate meal
• went to downtown disney
• started a flash mob
• gone to the pool (twice so far)
• and went to the housing meeting

The housing meeting was definitely... different. It was fun, but they have to be informative also, so a lot of the info was kind of boring. But when we walked in they had fog machines going, loud music playing, and lights flashing and moving everywhere. It was very club-like. 

After that we went to the pool and hung out for a while! Now we are hanging out in the apartment and probably going to have a board game night. And tomorrow is Traditions, and I cannot wait. I'll let you all know how that goes soon!

Check-in Day!

Hello all!!! Well it is official I have moved into my new apartment and am part of the Disney College Program! It is two days after check-in and it was definitely interesting! So let me get into what we did…

            My suitemate Katie got to Vista Way at 3.50 in the morning and was I believe the 6^th group to be there, which is crazy! My roommates and I all got there from around 5-6 a.m. and we all hung out in line. Unfortunately, one of the girls who was supposed to room with us backed out at the last minute; so we had 5 girls instead of 6.

            They said that check-in would start at 9 a.m. but they let us into Vista Way at 7, and we probably began check-in at 7.20 or so. Our first station was double checking that all of our contact information was correct, once we finished that we got our program guides that had stickers telling us when our housing meeting would be. My roommates and I will be going to our meeting tomorrow at 1 p.m.! Then we were led to a new station. They had two areas: one for last names A-L, and the other for last names M-Z. This is where you find out where your location will be! And I found out that my location will be in…. wait for it….

FANTASYLAND!!!!!!!!

I jumped up and down and was so excited! This was my dream to work in Magic Kingdom as a Disney Cast Member! My dream is finally coming true! :D

Anyways, after that excitement you arrive at a table where they tell you and about 5 other people what the basic housing rules are and what the major things that can get you kicked out of the program are, i.e. drinking under age. Then you go to the housing station! We were hoping for a Chatham 3 bedroom, and that is the main reason why we were there so early. Thankfully, they had some left! So we got a 3 bed at Chatham! Woot woot!!!! Then you get your key, sign forms saying you understand how much you’re paying for the apartment every week and that you will not drink, and at the end of that station you fill out all the forms for a car if you brought one. I didn’t bring one so I didn’t need to go to that station. Then you get your housing ID photo taken, and I believe it is also used for your main gate pass. They go over the Disney Look and make sure you are following it before your picture. Once they take your picture you get your ID immediately afterwards and are led outside the building to a table where someone will discuss the Disney look again, specifically for Traditions. Once you let them know you understand you head to the last booth which talks about the education opportunities you can take part in and what not. After that you wait for your assigned bus to casting, Katie and I were lucky enough to get onto the first bus to casting at 8.30!!!

            Once we got to casting, which is an absolutely amazing building by the way, we were directed to several different areas to complete all of our new hire info. This includes: background checks, finishing I9’s, signing more papers, and getting your training schedule. One of the DCP recruiters whom was helping out said that casting can take as little as one to four hours. Thankfully I finished at around an hour. When all was said and done, I was finished with everything for check-in by 9.50 a.m. Which I thought was awesome, so it really does pay off to get their early!

            Now the fun part of the day… my mom picked me back up at Vista Way and we drove over to Chatham. I had to stop by the clubhouse because the check-in station did not have our key yet since our room just became available, this should have been a huge clue. I walked into our apartment and it was extremely dirty. It smelt disgusting, the bathrooms were filthy, the dishwasher in the kitchen stilled had dishes in it and the fridge was gross. In other words, not what I was expecting; neither was my mom. We just assumed that we would have to clean the apartment ourselves, so we went to Walmart and bought all of my groceries and some cleaning supplies. When we came back some of my roommates were there and said that we were given the wrong apartment because this one hadn’t been cleaned yet. This led to us: changing apartments, them not having anymore 3 bedrooms available and then suggesting we take a 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom apartments, or move to a new complex, and finally just send a cleaning crew to the original apartment immediately.  Once we came to that decision I left the apartment for a few hours and when I came back it was clean and no longer stank! Yay!!!

            By the end of the day I was unpacked and in my new apartment with my lovely roommates! We had some people come over and played apples to apples! So overall, it was a great, long, and stressful day! If any of y’all have any questions about check-in please let me know J

Done and ready to go!

I did it! I packed everything I’ll need into 2 suitcases, a carry-on, and a moving box! I leave early tomorrow morning, and I’m pretty psyched. I’m not freaking out yet or super anxious just ready to get there! So you guys, the next time I update you I’ll be in Florida! Thanks for everybody’s support and love, and if you could pray for safe travels and strength I would appreciate it. :D

Rest of 30 day Challenge :)

So I've been really busy lately and I promised myself that I'd finish this 30 day challenge! So if you all don't mind i'm going to put the rest of these days into one post! So here we go!!!!

Day 19: Least favorite Pixar

I love all the Pixar movies but if I had to choose one it'd be The Incredibles. It has been a while since I’ve seen it but I was never amazed by it.

Day 20: favorite sequel

Toy Story 2!!! They didn't completely butcher one of my favorite movies! You go Pixar!

Day 21: overrated movie

High School Musical series… I’m sorry everyone who may love this film (especially my cousin)! I did see all 3 but it just wasn't true Disney to me. I love all the actors who were in it but after the first film I feel like the sequel and the third one just lost any charm the original had.

Day 22: underrated movie

The Emperor’s New Groove! It’s a good film that no one remembers or really appreciates L

Day 23: movie that makes you laugh

Tangled is great! It has lots of comedy but a great storyline as well.

Day 24: movie that makes you cry

Up. You cannot tell me that you had completely dry eyes after Ellie and Carl’s love story.

Day 25: favorite scene from favorite movie

Since I said my favorite classic was Peter Pan, then I’ll stick with that. My favorite scene in it was when they defeated Hook and the ship turned gold.

Day 26: saddest death

That would be Ray’s death in The Princess and the Frog. I totally bawled during that one.

Day 27: favorite quote

“Second star to the right, and straight on till morning” –Peter Pan

Day 28: favorite theme park

Magic Kingdom!! It is my home and is absolutely gorgeous and wonderful.

Day 29: favorite theme attraction

Splash Mountain is my absolute favorite. In Kindergarten when I was finally tall enough to be able to ride I rode it back to back all day long. And it is definitely still my favorite!

Day 30: favorite theme park show

Wishes! It’s gorgeous and the soundtrack makes me cry every single time.