My College Program journey has come to an end. I am back home in Massachusetts enjoying my summer vacation until September.
I have written so many personal journal entries about how to summarize my experience, but none of them ever seem to fully capture what this spring term has meant to me. I have laughed and cried so much and met so many people that I will never forget. I can't even fathom how I'm going to be able to get back into school mode come fall. I won't be able to hop on a bus and go to Magic Kingdom on my days off anymore.
When I think of all the times I was stressed out at work, in retrospect they mean nothing. I have a positive outlook on my program now that I'm done with it and it is all behind me. I don't have to worry about anything catching up with me now that I am out of Florida.
The one thing I am taking away from this experience is my boyfriend. We decided to try a Long-Distance relationship and things seem to be going great so far. In the back of my mind I always told myself that I would find a boy in Disney and it turns out that my hopes came true.
I probably won't update this blog anymore since I seemed to have stopped making posts anyway. I will leave it up for anyone contemplating doing the College Program and for myself. Who knows - I might do a PI next spring and come back to document a different Disney Adventure! Have an amazing (and magical) day!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Time Flies When You're Having Fun
It has been a long time since my last post. Once I got settled into a routine I didn't really feel the need to make new posts. You can only hear so many stories about crazy guests and code V's.
I decided not to extend my program through the summer - I'm kind of regretting it at this point. I had fully come down with the intention of extending, but the week the applications went out, I was having the most miserable time and all I wanted to do was go home. In hindsight I was foolish to not apply because if I was approved at least I would have had the option to turn it down. Now I really have no choice but to go home.
It also doesn't help that I've met a boy here that I've started seeing. Things are going to be tough once I leave in May.
Things have seriously been crazy. I've had some of the best times and worst times on this program. My experience would be shaped like a valley - I started off at a high point and during the middle I was at rock bottom, but now I'm on my way to the top again. I've learned so much about people and the way this company works that I'm excited to bring all of these memories with me wherever I go.
My roommate self-termed yesterday. Apparently he was really miserable and there were some issues with his boyfriend back home that he thought were more important than staying here. I'm sad that he's gone because I feel like he was my closest friend here, but he obviously has to put himself first. It just stinks because there were so many people here that tried to convince him not to leave, but he had made up his mind. Hopefully I don't get a new roommate and can have my room to myself!!
I've got about a month left here and my family is coming down next week, so I'm hoping to make the most of my last few days here at Disney!!
I decided not to extend my program through the summer - I'm kind of regretting it at this point. I had fully come down with the intention of extending, but the week the applications went out, I was having the most miserable time and all I wanted to do was go home. In hindsight I was foolish to not apply because if I was approved at least I would have had the option to turn it down. Now I really have no choice but to go home.
It also doesn't help that I've met a boy here that I've started seeing. Things are going to be tough once I leave in May.
Things have seriously been crazy. I've had some of the best times and worst times on this program. My experience would be shaped like a valley - I started off at a high point and during the middle I was at rock bottom, but now I'm on my way to the top again. I've learned so much about people and the way this company works that I'm excited to bring all of these memories with me wherever I go.
My roommate self-termed yesterday. Apparently he was really miserable and there were some issues with his boyfriend back home that he thought were more important than staying here. I'm sad that he's gone because I feel like he was my closest friend here, but he obviously has to put himself first. It just stinks because there were so many people here that tried to convince him not to leave, but he had made up his mind. Hopefully I don't get a new roommate and can have my room to myself!!
I've got about a month left here and my family is coming down next week, so I'm hoping to make the most of my last few days here at Disney!!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
High Ho! High Ho! It's off to work we go!
So work has been so much fun! Now that I'm getting the hang of things, everything seems a lot easier. I still get the occasional weird question from a guest or a guest that doesn't speak English, but overall I'm having an enjoyable time.
My favorite part is when I greet people and I get to give little kids stickers. Seeing their faces light up as I give them something as simple as a sticker just makes my day. I get to make their day magical!! Apparently we’re only supposed to give them out selectively, but I went sticker CRAZY today! As soon as you let one kid have one, mobs of little children wanting stickers SWARM you! It’s insane, but so much fun.
I got two mentions in our daily newsletter already for doing a good job! Some of the full-time members also orchestrated a valentine’s day exchange like we used to do in elementary school. We all made our own bags and hung them up on the bulletin board. I’m so excited!!
Rumors have been going around that all the CPs at my location are going to be training for the Jedi Training Academy show, and half of us have already started training. Some said that they would love to get away from Muppets, but I’m happy with where I am. I don’t hate it at all. Like some parts of the job can be boring or gross, but it’s good that I’m doing a physically demanding job while I’m young.
I feel like I haven't been to the parks to play in so long. Everyone is on such different schedules and usually when I get off work I'm exhausted and starving so I come home to sleep/eat. I went to Flippers and Menchies the other day and it was delicious!!
I’m also on a hunt for the Muppet Balloon Vinylmation from the Park Series. I need to find it by the end of my program, but I’m having a hard time!!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Training
So for the past 3 days I have been training at The Muppets! I definitely have a different appreciation for cast members and the attractions now that I am always behind the scenes. Being in the park before opening was the most eerie and coolest thing ever.
My trainer's name was James and he was awesome. Muppets seems really relaxed on a bunch of rules in comparison to some other attractions. There are a ton of old ladies that work with me and they are all so sweet! I messed up my spiels a bunch of times, but he said that I've been doing a good job, so I guess it's not that big a deal. I have to stack glasses after people wear them, and I swear we go through a bottle of hand sanitizer a day when doing that!
Playing in the parks has been fun. I haven't spent a ton of time in them or taking pictures, but I'm having so much fun! I have never been more exhausted, but I have never been happier at a job or place before. There is just so much that I haven't experienced or seen even though I've been to these parks more than the average person.
The FOOD I have eaten this past week. Of course I have spent a lot of money (my mom is going to kill me), but ugh Disney definitely has some of the best food in the same area. I had my first Minnie Mouse apple and it was soo good but soo sweet! I almost couldn't finish it due to the sugar overload!! I can't wait for my first paycheck because otherwise my mother would be cutting me off!!
I have my performance review tomorrow and I feel like I've forgotten everything! Hopefully I won't fail!
My trainer's name was James and he was awesome. Muppets seems really relaxed on a bunch of rules in comparison to some other attractions. There are a ton of old ladies that work with me and they are all so sweet! I messed up my spiels a bunch of times, but he said that I've been doing a good job, so I guess it's not that big a deal. I have to stack glasses after people wear them, and I swear we go through a bottle of hand sanitizer a day when doing that!
Costume
Lab Coat
Playing in the parks has been fun. I haven't spent a ton of time in them or taking pictures, but I'm having so much fun! I have never been more exhausted, but I have never been happier at a job or place before. There is just so much that I haven't experienced or seen even though I've been to these parks more than the average person.
Never had such enthusiastic photopass photographers before!
We Trolled Cindy
The FOOD I have eaten this past week. Of course I have spent a lot of money (my mom is going to kill me), but ugh Disney definitely has some of the best food in the same area. I had my first Minnie Mouse apple and it was soo good but soo sweet! I almost couldn't finish it due to the sugar overload!! I can't wait for my first paycheck because otherwise my mother would be cutting me off!!
Onion Volcano!
Good Japanese Stir-fry
Sugar High
I have my performance review tomorrow and I feel like I've forgotten everything! Hopefully I won't fail!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Work It Girl!
You know the feeling when you come back to school after a long vacation? You're excited for a new semester, but you're nervous that you might get lost or not make friends. Yeah, that's what today felt like... except I started working for the mouse.
The day started off with so many uncertainties. Once we got into the casting building there was a holdup at the turnstiles. Those things were confusing! People didn't know how to swipe into the building and there were directions, but when the real cast members are behind you expecting to just go in quickly you start to freak out a little. We ended up running around the building like chickens with our heads cut off because we didn't know where the green room was and there weren't any maps around.
I was lucky and got the funniest guide ever. We spent 2 hours walking around the studios and learning basically everything there is to know about the history and the hidden stories that the Disney Imagineers came up with in their designs. We also got to walk around backstage which was totally mind-boggling. We were walking down sunset boulevard one moment and the next we were in animation courtyard.
The characters were hilarious when we ran into them. Stitch like ran up to our guide and told her he ate Lilo. Gahh love these parks.
The best part of all? I was getting paid for that :)
And now unfortunately I have a 7:30 am - 4 pm shift tomorrow and monday so I'm pretty sure I'm going to be exhausted for the rest of my life. Oh well!!
The day started off with so many uncertainties. Once we got into the casting building there was a holdup at the turnstiles. Those things were confusing! People didn't know how to swipe into the building and there were directions, but when the real cast members are behind you expecting to just go in quickly you start to freak out a little. We ended up running around the building like chickens with our heads cut off because we didn't know where the green room was and there weren't any maps around.
I was lucky and got the funniest guide ever. We spent 2 hours walking around the studios and learning basically everything there is to know about the history and the hidden stories that the Disney Imagineers came up with in their designs. We also got to walk around backstage which was totally mind-boggling. We were walking down sunset boulevard one moment and the next we were in animation courtyard.
The characters were hilarious when we ran into them. Stitch like ran up to our guide and told her he ate Lilo. Gahh love these parks.
The best part of all? I was getting paid for that :)
And now unfortunately I have a 7:30 am - 4 pm shift tomorrow and monday so I'm pretty sure I'm going to be exhausted for the rest of my life. Oh well!!
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