First Day Off

When the day finally came that I had my first full day off and my gate entrance, I went to Magic Kingdom with Shelby. We got a late start by stopping to buy some black athletic shoes with no logo visible. That took longer than we wanted but we got them. Then we went to Magic Kingdom following Siri's instructions... Sometimes Siri isn't that great. We learned to always park in the villains parking lot. Always. 

When we finally got in, we reserved three fast passes for rides we wanted to check out. Before we went on rides we went to Starlight Cosmic Rays. They have some fabulous roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. When we went on our first rid, we found that Shelby's Fast Pass wasn't working. Her light showed up blue, not good. And my light showed up green, good. We were confused but the cast member said it was ok and to enjoy our ride. After that, we tried our second fast pass which turned blue for Shelby again. Unfortunately, this cast member wasn't as friendly as the first. We didn't want to get scolded again, so we went to the fast pass kiosk to see what the problem was. After chatting with one cast member about the DCP while the other worked on trying to fix the problem, we received a no strings attached voucher. This means they gave us three more fast passes each!

From about 1:00 p.m. to about 9:00 p.m. we were able to do the following:

Lunch at Cosmic Rays

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

Starbucks for a coffee: This was a mistake. Me and caffeine don't go well together. Shelby and I also bought the exclusive Magic Kingdom Starbucks mugs.
Shopped at the Emporium: wanted everything

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin: Shelby kicked my butt

The Many Adventures of Winnie the pooh

Peter Pan's Flight

The Barnstormer (A child roller coaster ride featuring Goofy) 

Dinner at Casey's

Pirates of the Caribbean
Big Thunder Mountain
The Magic Carpets of Aladin
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Front row, five min wait... originally 50. #win)

Jungle Cruise: I'd like to go during the day more. Night kind of freak me out. 

It's A Small World

Shelby and I got a lot of good girl talk in. Made up our own code and everything for when we see a cute guy ;) She is a fun girl with a great attitude and a lot of patience. I hope we get to go to Epcot soon. My parents will be coming the first week in March and I need to explore what they might want to do there! :) 

No Strings Attached!

Shelby won...

Day Five - Orientation Day 2

This was an oh so boring day. First we had a class for six hours that went over how to treat guests. They kept on engraving the four keys in our heads and they showed us how to lift boxes, which we did with them.

After we had lunch, we had a class that focused specifically on Merchandise. Pretty boring still but at least it was more focused on what we would be doing.

This is the time we realized the buses suck. More on that later.

But since we got done at 2:00 and some of the other girls had the day off, we went to Magic Kingdom!!! Yayyy.

Shelby, Colleen and Jess went to Magic Kingdom with me. It was my first time back to play since I was 7, and it was perfect.

First we went on the Haunted Mansion ride where I screamed and clung on to Colleen. It was just the beginning when a scream startled me. I was fine the rest of the time... After Jess assured me that nothing jumps out at you.

Then we went on Thunder Mountain... This is in the running for one of my favorite rides. But we have a lot of other rides to try before deciding. The People Mover is pretty basic. Just a moving cart taking you around Tomorrowland. Nothing too crazy but fun. Space Mountain was wild. It was a roller coaster that has drops like no other. It is also in the dark with a few twinkling stars. Lastly, we rode the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which is the one I had my eye on since Traditions. Also in the running for favorites. It's the perfect combination of cute and fun making it worth the wait.

Day Four - Traditions

In Disney language, Traditions is a fancy word for orientation. While there are some exciting moments that I will explain later, it is overall a very tiring process... Especially when it begins at 8:00 a.m. and we had to be at the bus by 6:45 a.m. *yawn*

As I said, there are surprises at Traditions that Disney wants to keep quiet, so they are just as special for you as they were for us. So this is your disclaimer, if you are going to the DCP or want to keep the Disney magic real for yourself, continue reading at your own risk.

Like any orientation day, it was filled with slow moments. Those mandatory company policies you have to go over. Things like safety, company guidelines, etc.

Their were some great highlights to the day. First, we were surprised with our very own pair of ears. Hooray! We received our official company badge that will FINALLY get us into the parks and we were able to take a glimpse of Magic Kingdom. I was hoping we would be able to explore more. My group went on through the utiladoors and came into main street from backstage. In the utiladoors, are large tubes that work like vacuums and suck up the trash, that way, guests don't see trash being hauled around the most magical place on earth.

Did you know Main Street was designed with Walt's hometown, Monterislle, in mind? I didn't. My group ended up at Top Street Circus. We passed Merida on the way and a ride that I would love to go on, called The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

After we came back, we had a surprise visitor... Mickey Mouse himself! And he brought us all a gift in a beautiful gold package. Dadadaadaa! Our name tags!

Next is training! 

Day Two & Three - Housing & Chilling

Day Two

On Tuesday, Jess and I were assigned the same time to attend our housing meeting. We both agreed that this was much more exciting than the day before. The room was dark with lights flashing all around us and the music was awesome. They also had a video on loop. This got me excited because that is exactly what I could see myself doing for Disney, motion graphics. I edited a little clip together of the room and video we watched. The meeting covered basic rules/regulations and safety tips.

Afterward, we figured out a few things for the apartment and decided to go to the Disney Boardwalk that evening. Gabby had dinner with her parents but was able to join us afterwards. Colleen got to see the bakery she is working at as well. Our dinner was delicious. I had a steak with veggies and potatoes.

We walked around and took it all in. I loved the atmosphere. We ended the night by taking a boat ride around the lake and admiring the sights. We managed to catch some fireworks at the end of the night too.

Day Three

Today was my day off. It consisted of getting things we were missing for the apartment, a jog with Jess, a nap, a grocery trip and relaxing the rest of the night. Tomorrow, Jess and I have Traditions! Traditions is a fancy way of saying Orientation Day 1. Here, we will finally get to go to the parks for tours and get our ID badges among other things. Everyone is itching to get into the parks, which we can't go for free until we get our ID's at Traditions.

We are excited to get started!

Day One - Check In & Casting

Mom and dad dropping me off at the airport.

This is my mom and dad. Unfortunately they were not able to be with me on Day One of my Disney journey. But they were with me in spirit... and in the boxes we shipped before hand. They were kind enough to write hand written notes for each box that we shipped to my aunts house before I left for for Florida that lifted my spirits and made me want to cry at the same time. 

Day One

My check in time was at 9:00 A.M. Right away I found out I would be working at the World of Disney in Downtown Disney. I wasn't familiar with the store so I Googled it. A screenshot is provided bellow... my sister is right, my paycheck will be gone before I get it. 

The next three hours consisted of check in and casting. It was very overwhelming but everything went smoothly.

For casting, we went to a beautiful building to fill out paperwork, receive our schedules for the next week and do a background check. It wasn't the most exciting event, but the building was worth it, especially the doorknobs!

After getting my ID, my room assignment, forms filled out and more I was finally able to go to my apartment and see where I would be living for the next few months.

My aunt and uncle were kind enough to move me in. As well as pick me up from the airport, feed me and provide a place for me to sleep the night before. I am very lucky to have had a support system with me.

The rest of the day was pretty laid back. We all unpacked and I made a Walmart run with Colleen and Jess. After an overwhelming day, Jess, Colleen and I had a hard time deciding what to do that evening. We talked about doing many different things including going to Downtown Disney for ice cream and Applebee's for mudslides, we ended up at Steak 'n Shake ordering fries and a milkshake and Shelby was able to join us.

On that note, I love my roommates! All the girls have been kind and helpful. Colleen has helped me fix a drawer and tear apart the boxes my mom shipped that were taped way too well. Jess drove us around that day. Shelby brought great stuff for our room. Gabby and Kacie brought a lot of the supplies for the apartment as well as welcome gifts! Gabby got us each a cup with our favorite Disney characters on them with Pez. Kacie got us Disney cups with a crazy straw and Disney socks!

See? They all rock. And I am already thankful for each of them! (If you don't know me I'm cheesy and quirky. You have been warned.)

The day I was accepted

There are some great stories out there about students finding out they were accepted into the program. Honestly, mine isn't all that exciting. But I thought I'd share anyway.

On an average day, my phone is very active. I am receiving texts and communicating with classmates, family and friends as well as receiving notifications for my social media platforms and emails. It was Saturday evening when I realized my phone had been quiet lately. I went in and found that my push notifications had been turned off. How, I don't know.

I started scrolling through a lot of junk email (I am subscribed to a lot of stuff that I really don't need) when I saw one from Disney. Since the subject line read "Congratulations!" I knew I was in before I even opened the email. But I must have been in shock, because I kept quiet. I didn't squeal or anything. I just looked at my phone and opened the email. Thirty seconds later it slowly sunk in and I yelled for my mom and dad. When we met at the top of the stairs and looked at each other I just said, "I got in! I'm going to Disney World!" I hugged both of them right away. I was so glad I was with them when I found out. 

Next, I called my sister who didn't answer, I decided to leave a voicemail informing her of the news. I woke up the next morning to her ringtone and a joyful sister on the other end. After talking for a few minutes I hung up and saw two text messages from here. First, she texted me asking me if everything was ok. In the second message she said I could probably just check my voicemail which made me laugh.

Going back to the night I found out, after Emily didn't respond I texted one of my best friends. I asked Marie if she was awake. When she responded yes, I sent a screenshot of my acceptance email. Her response was similar to Emily's, a phone call full of excitement. Those are the two reactions that stick out in my mind. 

After trying to reach out to two more best friends and not hearing back, I decided to officially accept the position. It was a very overwhelming process. This is hard to explain; I knew that I was going to accept the position and never said, "maybe I shouldn't." But their were voices in my head second guessing myself. I think of it more like fear, but I didn't let it take control of my decision for a second. It was my dream, and I wasn't going to let it get away.

I texted my brother after I hung up the phone with my sister, that morning. He is a boy, so he didn't call me squealing and squeaking like my sister and friend, but he still gave a response that made me smile.

Naturally, anyone who knows me, knows how much of a passion I have for Disney. When I posted the news on Facebook I didn't just receive notifications that some one liked it. I had comments that touched my heart and received text messages and phone calls that will stay with me. It was after all of this that I knew, I can do this. Even if I am terrified. It is what I am meant to do right now and the adventure will help me grow in so many different ways.

So just for fun, I asked myself. "Where would I have been if my push notification would have gone off and I saw the email when it came in?" It would have been Friday at 8:00 a.m. and I would have been with my colleagues... Do you know how hard it would have been to work and go to class the rest of the day? Really hard. As I mentioned earlier, I'm glad I was with my family when I found out.

Time Flies

Time most certainly does fly. Between the holidays, the trip to Tennessee and a good friends wedding I haven't had much time to think about heading to Disney. The idea is slowly sinking in. However, I have a feeling that within the next 6 days, it is going to hit me hard. I don't know if it will be tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday when I board the plane and get to Florida or when I am finally checking in on Monday. I have no clue.

I do know that a lot of things are about to change, a lot of things have already changed. Change and I don't always agree with each other. But we all know that this change will be for the best because let's face it. It's Disney. The brand that captured my heart at a young age and filled my life with joy. It is my dream job. It is a gift to live out this dream and once in a lifetime opportunity. And I am so incredibly thankful for it.

From here on out, I will be devoted to writing as often as I can. I don't want to forget anything and I want my family and friends to follow my experience through this blog as if they are with me all the time.