Day Off #3

So today is probably one of the last days I will be making regular posts. I start training tomorrow and I assume that I will be working and such for most of the days after that. Between work and playing in the parks, I will probably be exhausted every night and nothing noteworthy will happen everyday that will compel me to make a post. But thanks for following along!

Today I went to Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom with my roommates. We just happened to catch one of the buses as they were changing drivers so it literally took 2 hours and the bus was sitting at Vista Way for a looong time! But we were able to ride Everest twice and the Safari.

At Magic Kingdom we did the Swiss Robinson Treehouse, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Snow White (before it closes!). We also got Dole Whips, which are always amazing!! We then ran by the parade to get a good viewing spot for Wishes, which was amazing!! The projections on the castle were fantastic!! We then went to Cici's because we were starving and we didn't want to spend a lot of money on dinner.

I didn't really take a lot of pictures, but here are some I took on the safari:

I have my park orientation tomorrow! Time to learn all the backstage secrets even though I already know where Company D and the Cafeteria are at the studios!

Day Off #2

So today was my second day off and I went to Hollywood Studios with a friend that I met at Casting and who will be working with me at the muppets!

It was awesome being able to go into the parks for basically free.
The first ride we got on was Rockin' Rollercoaster and it was awesome! We also did the new Star Tours, Tower of Terror, Muppets, and Backlot Tour. It was a really great way to start off this adventure with someone I hope to be friends with for a long time!

My New Home

We didn't want to pay outrageously high prices for food so we decided to ask where the cast cafeteria in the park was. After meandering around backstage (which felt rebellious in a HUGE way), we eventually found the cafeteria and Company D, which is a cast-exclusive store behind the Magic of Animation attraction. It was so cheap - I got a burger, fries, and a drink for $5!

It was really awesome how nice the Cast Members were when we were lost. I was freaking out that they would yell at us and kick us out because we were in street clothes and didn't have our IDs out, but everyone was really helpful!

Today was also a housing event party called O'Hana and Lilo & Stitch and Mickey & Minnie were taking pictures! There was free pizza, which was amazing because we barely have any food in our apartment, so I was a happy camper. And I made new friends!!!

They Were Dancing And Grooving

Tomorrow is my last day off before the real work starts. I might be going to Animal Kingdom or Epcot or Magic Kingdom with my roommates or people that I met today so we'll see!! I'm definitely starting to love being here in Florida and meeting different people, and I'm getting along great with the roommates that are already here. I'm so glad I made this decision.

First Official CP Picture!

Traditions

Today was possibly the second longest day of my life. "Traditions" is the company's crash course training session on work conduct and the Disney legacy. Before I went it sounded like some cult ceremony where we would be bowing down to the mouse on an alter at the end of a candlelight procession.

All Hail Mickey

Just to put my gay activist persona on here, it made me so happy when the presentation said that the company prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity while showing a picture of two male hands interlocked. It just makes me so happy that such a powerful company can be so inclusive while other companies fail to be socially progressive.

This Was The Actual Picture They Used!!

Basically the 4 hours consisted of sitting in a classroom at Disney University (yes it exists!) going over why Disney is so good at what it does. I was elected the Team Leader of my table and I got a little figurine of Donald! However, I now understand why Disney is so successful as a company and a brand. My lips are sealed on the secrets!

All Of Walt's Secrets Are Locked Away In Here

Successful Day

The coolest part of Traditions - going in the tunnels under Magic Kingdom! There were so many people down there and we got to wave to some princesses getting ready!! We entered at the back of the park and walked down this huge corridor and ended up at the front. It was amazing!! It kind of made me want to work at Magic Kingdom so I could walk around in those tunnels some more.

No One Will Ever Know What Was Down There

At the end, Mickey himself came and delivered our name tags! I got my cast member ID and I can now get into the parks for free!! This is what the program is about!! I'm going to Hollywood Studios tomorrow and apparently Obama is going to be at Magic Kingdom!! Exciting!

I've talked to a lot of different people over the past few days but I don't really have a set group of friends yet... We'll see how that goes.

And NO, Wilson I did NOT see the frozen head of Walt Disney!

Day Off #1

Today I spent the day just walking around the complex and seeing what's here. The weather was a gorgeous 80 degrees and it felt awesome being in the sun in shorts and a t-shirt! The buildings look really nice on the outside and the pool area is cool. I like how my apartment is really close to everything - it only took me 5 minutes to walk to the bus stop at Chatham.

Home Sweet Home

Hanging Poolside

So apparently I have to move out of my room and into the other apartment. There are 2 other guys that are going to move in and the housing is making us consolidate so there is a free room open for them when they arrive. I'm kind of annoyed that I have to move all my stuff after it's all put away, but it's not really a big deal. Just hope everything works out!

Tomorrow is Traditions! I think we get to go under Magic Kingdom in the tunnels!! And I will finally get my Disney ID so I can get into the parks! I don't have training until Saturday so I have 2 days to go play in the parks!! Exciting!!!

Check-in Day!

I made it through the first day! It has been a long, long process and I am super exhausted.

After a restless night, I finally arrived at Check-in at Vista Way at about 8am. The information says it officially started at 9, but people were checked in way before then, even before 8am! It basically felt like waiting for a ride, except at the end of the line there was a mountain of paperwork. 

I'm living in a 3 bedroom apartment in Patterson! There are currently two vacant beds in the apartment - one in my room and one in another, so fingers crossed the people that move in aren't crazy. The guys who are here seem alright. If you know me in real life you know that I don't do well with the male gender so we'll see how it goes.

We were shipped off to Casting where I had a mini-heart attack when they told me that the birth certificate card I had brought was not a valid document. BUT they double-checked and it worked. Phew. It was only 9:30 in the morning and I was already having heart palpitations! That usually doesn't happen until at least 2pm.

I am working at Hollywood Studios at The Muppet show! At first I wasn't that jazzed about it, but now I'm thinking it's beginning to grow on me. We'll see for sure once I go to Traditions and my training and such.

After Casting Allie moved me into my apartment! I then had my first experience at Cici's. It was awesome - Mac and Cheese pizza!

After lunch there was a housing meeting which was a grueling 2 hours long. They went over basic information like no alcohol in wellness apartments and visitor information and all the things that could get you terminated! I'm determined to not be termed obviously, but I feel like some people are here for the wrong reasons. We're here to work and not just party. I may be a negative nancy about this, but I have heard so many stories of people getting rejected even though they are perfectly good candidates and actually want to work. 

My apartment went out to Wal-mart (ahh!) and dinner at Planet Hollywood for the first time! It was insane - we had a cart overflowing with stuff for the apartment and we seem to be attempting to share food... We'll see how long that lasts. I feel like we're all going to be on different schedules so the food will be all scattered. Planet Hollywood was awesome. Bette Midler was on the wall from when she was in Hocus Pocus!! It was awesome!

Where's Waldo On Crack

Tomorrow I have the day off! I don't really know what I'm going to do... Have I made friends? Kind of. I talked to people in the lines but we didn't really exchange numbers or anything... I have Traditions on Wednesday and I actually don't begin training until Saturday. Still - I have this lovely bedroom and bathroom all to myself until (probably) Wednesday!!

Biggest Walk-in Closet I Have Ever Seen

I Will NEVER Go Back To Dorm-Style Bathrooms

I Took Over

All To Myself For Now!

Oh and it's going to take me awhile to get used to military time - I have to subtract 12 hours every time I look at my watch!