So, unlike my post yesterday, I thought I'd actually tell you a little bit about what I'm doing. You know... instead of being weird...
My day on Thursday consisted of the parks. Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios to be exact. Did you know they redid Star Tours??? It's the Star Wars ride. I was not happy when I heard they had done it up with 3-D, but it was so. cool. Found out yesterday that you can ride that ride 54 times and get a different story each time. Cool, huh?
Anyway, we rode Tower of Terror and all those awesome rides. Haunted Mansion has a new, interactive queue which is pretty fun. Just a tip: Don't try to pack more than two adults into one of their "Doom Buggies". It's too cramped. Still fun, though. They redid a little of the end of the ride, but don't worry. It's still awesome.
Watched the Main Street Electrical Parade which I hadn't seen in years. Oh! Anyone know about the Fantasyland expansion? The first part is scheduled to be done by spring of 2012, so I definitely want to be here. Cast member perks and all that jazz. There's a TBD date for the official finish in 2013 of the whole thing. They're also taking out the Snow White ride! It's been there since Walt Disney World opened 40 years ago on October 1, 1971. I've heard they're gonna do some awesome stuff on Oct. 1 this year to celebrate.
Also, did you know that December 5 of this year would be Walt's 110th birthday? Yep. I doubt they'll do anything, but it's still kinda cool.
Then, yesterday I went to Port Orleans for some training and to get my costume. The training included walking around to tour the resort. I'd never been. It's absolutely amazing. I haven't been to New Orleans, but I almost felt like I was there. Very cool. I'd recommend staying there. I'll be working in the food court at Riverside, so look me up! I'm so excited!
Other than the too-long bus ride yesterday, this entire experience has been so cool! I also found out that I can check out Rosetta Stone for free! Disney offers it! So on my list are the following languages:
French
Spanish
Italian
German
Japanese
Chinese or Mandarin
I'm really looking forward to starting up again with French and Spanish. You can get additions to your cast member pins if you pass Disney's language tests and the additions say that you speak certain languages. I've seen a lot so far and I really want to be one of them. But I want to be that insane cast member that, in addition to English, knows 6 other languages and everyone just says "Why?" and I can reply "Because I can".
Anyway, today I had a few more hours of training, but now I'm off until Tuesday morning. Disney is doing this new thing where they provide shoes to their cast members! Or at least some of them. I get it though. They want food and beverage cast members to have non-slip shoes and it's safer if they know that's what the cast members were given for sure. I already had my shoes from my last two restaurant jobs, but new ones never hurt!
That's about all I've got for now. With my next two days, I'll probably head back to the parks. My goal is to do all of the rides and attractions in EVERY park by August 1. I'll keep a checklist up starting soon.
Have a magical day!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Disney Secrets
You want to know this silliest question ever? Well... maybe not ever, but definitely in the top five or so...
"Excuse me, what time is the three o'clock parade?"
Dead. Serious. It's a real question that cast members get asked all the time. Well, one of my amazing roommates (I have 5 and yes, they're all awesome. No joke) decided she had the perfect response. Here is the following scenario:
Guest: "Excuse me, but what time is the three o'clock parade?"
Cast Member: "You know, I could tell you right out, but I have this really neat little formula for how to be right on time and get the best seat."
Guest: "Really?"
Cast Member: "Really! And you seem like a pretty cool person, so I'll tell you."
Guest: "Gee thanks! You're swell!"
Cast Member: "You need to listen carefully. Are you ready?"
Guest: "I'm ready."
Cast Member: "Are you sure?"
Guest: (with more anticipation now) "I'm sure."
Cast Member: "OK, here it is. For the three o'clock parade, what you do... is you take that time and double it. Then you add three. With me?" (Guest nods, a little confused) "Then, you take the square root of that number and you've got it! Have a magical day!"
Understand? 3 x 2 = 6 + 3 = 9. The square root of 9? It's three!!!
So that's my roommate quote of the week.
My updates are as follows:
I am exhausted.
I have my costume (ridiculous, but that's to be expected).
I'm exhausted.
I had a 2 1/2 hour bus ride today which should have been 45 minutes.
I'm exhausted.
My apartment is very short on spoons so I ate my dessert with a mixing spoon.
I'm exhausted.
I work until 12:30 in the afternoon tomorrow and then I'm off until Tuesday morning.
I'm exhausted.
My roommates are ALL awesome.
End of updates.
To return to the whole "my roommates are...awesome" thing... I spent the entire ferry ride from Magic Kingdom last night pretending I was a Jedi master pulling our boat toward the opposite shore... and KD (initials) played along. She mentioned it again tonight and said that I was pretty cool. That's how awesome my roommates are.
That's all for now! Keep dreaming!
"Excuse me, what time is the three o'clock parade?"
Dead. Serious. It's a real question that cast members get asked all the time. Well, one of my amazing roommates (I have 5 and yes, they're all awesome. No joke) decided she had the perfect response. Here is the following scenario:
Guest: "Excuse me, but what time is the three o'clock parade?"
Cast Member: "You know, I could tell you right out, but I have this really neat little formula for how to be right on time and get the best seat."
Guest: "Really?"
Cast Member: "Really! And you seem like a pretty cool person, so I'll tell you."
Guest: "Gee thanks! You're swell!"
Cast Member: "You need to listen carefully. Are you ready?"
Guest: "I'm ready."
Cast Member: "Are you sure?"
Guest: (with more anticipation now) "I'm sure."
Cast Member: "OK, here it is. For the three o'clock parade, what you do... is you take that time and double it. Then you add three. With me?" (Guest nods, a little confused) "Then, you take the square root of that number and you've got it! Have a magical day!"
Understand? 3 x 2 = 6 + 3 = 9. The square root of 9? It's three!!!
So that's my roommate quote of the week.
My updates are as follows:
I am exhausted.
I have my costume (ridiculous, but that's to be expected).
I'm exhausted.
I had a 2 1/2 hour bus ride today which should have been 45 minutes.
I'm exhausted.
My apartment is very short on spoons so I ate my dessert with a mixing spoon.
I'm exhausted.
I work until 12:30 in the afternoon tomorrow and then I'm off until Tuesday morning.
I'm exhausted.
My roommates are ALL awesome.
End of updates.
To return to the whole "my roommates are...awesome" thing... I spent the entire ferry ride from Magic Kingdom last night pretending I was a Jedi master pulling our boat toward the opposite shore... and KD (initials) played along. She mentioned it again tonight and said that I was pretty cool. That's how awesome my roommates are.
That's all for now! Keep dreaming!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Traditions
Traditions. What does the word mean to you? Maybe it's the memories of holidays spent with family. Maybe it's repeated rituals within groups and families. Maybe it's playing a game of cards with your family. To Webster, it is "the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction".
In the WDW College Program, Traditions is the first step in becoming an official cast member for the company. It's a class, usually given to about 70 people at a time (but multiple groups go at once), in which the newcomers learn about the practices, business policies, and even a few trade secrets of Walt Disney World. SHH!
We got a tour of backstage and onstage, given by someone who's been with the Disney company for quite a while. She showed us examples of the four keys to success: Show, Courtesy, Efficiency, and Safety. Then she asked us to find some. I had never noticed just how helpful the employees... excuses me... cast members are here. From things like taking a picture for a family, to pointing out where certain rides are and even recommending rides depending upon the guests' tastes. Cast members do it all!
So, we got back from the little tour and learned a little more about things like the Disney Look and then... MICKEY MOUSE comes in! And guess what he's got! Our name tags!
Yeah, Mickey Mouse brought us our name tags. That's right.
Then we left. Sorry to be anti-climactic, but... that's about it. So now I'm exhausted, but thoroughly pleased with my day.
Until next time!
In the WDW College Program, Traditions is the first step in becoming an official cast member for the company. It's a class, usually given to about 70 people at a time (but multiple groups go at once), in which the newcomers learn about the practices, business policies, and even a few trade secrets of Walt Disney World. SHH!
We got a tour of backstage and onstage, given by someone who's been with the Disney company for quite a while. She showed us examples of the four keys to success: Show, Courtesy, Efficiency, and Safety. Then she asked us to find some. I had never noticed just how helpful the employees... excuses me... cast members are here. From things like taking a picture for a family, to pointing out where certain rides are and even recommending rides depending upon the guests' tastes. Cast members do it all!
So, we got back from the little tour and learned a little more about things like the Disney Look and then... MICKEY MOUSE comes in! And guess what he's got! Our name tags!
Yeah, Mickey Mouse brought us our name tags. That's right.
Then we left. Sorry to be anti-climactic, but... that's about it. So now I'm exhausted, but thoroughly pleased with my day.
Until next time!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Dream It. Do It. Disney.
The title is the slogan for the Walt Disney World College Program... of which I am NOW a member! Woohoo!!!
So many people have asked about my first day. We started by checking in at one of the apartment complexes. I got my Property ID, room assignment, and session schedule. Then, because I had to catch the bus so soon (in about 30 minutes), we quickly emptied my mom's van (she helped drive me down) and I said goodbye, then hurried to the bus stop.
The nice, charter bus took us to the casting building. I took some pictures, which are on Facebook. I'll try adding them to this post later, so check back.
It took a few hours to get through the different places in the casting building, but I figured out where I'll be working: QSR (Quick service) in the Port Orleans food court. Come visit!
After that, I got to finish unpacking my car, made a Wal-Mart run, where I ate Subway (my first food and drink since about 9am and this was close to 5pm now). Then I unpacked my stuff and relaxed as much as I could the rest of the night while talking to my newly met roommates.
I live in a three-bedroom apartment with 6 girls total and have just one actual roommate. I love first-night conversations because you talk about the most random topics. We really did. I found that I have a few roommates who are just as nerdy as I am, which is hard to achieve, really. One was even wearing a Star Wars shirt. She's awesome.
I seem to be the only one (or one of the few) that CAN cook, but since I like to experiment with recipes, that's perfectly fine.
One thing, though... I accidentally forgot my TV. I have the cord, the cable, the remote and my Wii, but I forgot the actual television set. Oops.
But, through it all, the heat, the lack of food and water, etc., I am now moved in and ready to begin my journey in the Disney College Program.
Thank you!
So many people have asked about my first day. We started by checking in at one of the apartment complexes. I got my Property ID, room assignment, and session schedule. Then, because I had to catch the bus so soon (in about 30 minutes), we quickly emptied my mom's van (she helped drive me down) and I said goodbye, then hurried to the bus stop.
The nice, charter bus took us to the casting building. I took some pictures, which are on Facebook. I'll try adding them to this post later, so check back.
It took a few hours to get through the different places in the casting building, but I figured out where I'll be working: QSR (Quick service) in the Port Orleans food court. Come visit!
After that, I got to finish unpacking my car, made a Wal-Mart run, where I ate Subway (my first food and drink since about 9am and this was close to 5pm now). Then I unpacked my stuff and relaxed as much as I could the rest of the night while talking to my newly met roommates.
I live in a three-bedroom apartment with 6 girls total and have just one actual roommate. I love first-night conversations because you talk about the most random topics. We really did. I found that I have a few roommates who are just as nerdy as I am, which is hard to achieve, really. One was even wearing a Star Wars shirt. She's awesome.
I seem to be the only one (or one of the few) that CAN cook, but since I like to experiment with recipes, that's perfectly fine.
One thing, though... I accidentally forgot my TV. I have the cord, the cable, the remote and my Wii, but I forgot the actual television set. Oops.
But, through it all, the heat, the lack of food and water, etc., I am now moved in and ready to begin my journey in the Disney College Program.
Thank you!
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