"Just keep swimming"

Its spring break season and the parks are way crowded. I miss the days when I could walk right onto Space Mountain. But there is always something to do around here. Went to Typhoon the other morning and actually swam in a tank with fish and sharks. Probably won’t do that again, but, it was good doing something that scared me. One of my roommates and I also went to Raglan Road (the Irish Pub in Downtown Disney) on the 16^th to celebrate St. Patricks Day. It’s a great place; what with the live music and Irish dancing.

I am taking a class called Entertainment Show Production Development. Different speakers come in each week and tell us about their jobs in the process of developing the entertainment that Disney has. Last week we had the show director of The Magic, Memories, and You come to class, as well as the lead tech director and an animator/theme park concept designer. He even drew us Simba. This week we had the Disney Dream team come and tell us about entertainment onboard the cruise. I want to go on that cruise! In a few weeks, we are going to get to do a tour of the Fantasmic set which I am very excited about.

Hakuna Matata

I have been really slacking on this whole, blogging thing. If we had better internet, perhaps I would write more often.

Work wise- I am still enjoying my job, which is always a good sign. I've been doing a lot of breakfast shifts in the restaurants..paired with a few random outings with Jiminy, Mickey, etc...

My class also started last week. I am taking Entertainment Show Production Development...or something like that. Its a class full of theatre majors and it seems like it will be a lot of fun. I've only had Day 1 which is basically just an intro so more on the class at a later date.

The other day, my roommates tried to conquer what is known as the "kitchen sink" This is, multiple scoops of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate chip, and coffee ice cream, a whole can of whip cream, and every topping they have at Beaches & Cream. Everything by itself, pretty good. All together in a sink....kinda ridiculous. But we had fun trying :)

Trying to figure out what to do after Disney...or if I should stay through the summer. No developments in these decisions yet, but we'll see....

Off to Neverland!

Things have become pretty routine here in Disney. Well, as routine as Disney can be at least....On the work front, I've worked with some old and new characters alike: Marie, who you can find in France, Jiminy over at Rafiki's Planet Watch, and I've started spending a lot more time with the boss himself, Mickey Mouse!

I also started working at dining locations. My first one that I have done is the Garden Grill at The Land in EPCOT. It is a little difficult to walk around all that food and know you cannot eat it; but the restaurants do make for some great character/guest interaction.

Of course, I am still spending much of my free time in the parks.

On Friday after work, I headed over to toontown to say bye to it before it closes for the new Fantasyland Expansion to start opening next year.

I also have been working on my list of meeting all the characters I can and going on all the attractions; before it starts to get too busy in March. Today's conquest was finding the Genie, and it was a success! :)

Until next time...."Whose the leader of the pack thats made for you and me? M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E"

Only at Disney...

Only at Disney World will you find...

*Jiminy Cricket, Pocahontas , Rafiki, and their attendants playing tag with a leaf

*a cricket getting told that he has made someone's dreams and wishes come true

*a Duck insisting over and over again that he is NUMBER ONE!

*Pinocchio riding on a train to Main Street USA with Jasmine and Aladdin

Did I mention I love my job?

"Disney World- Where everyone screams at the sight of a mouse"

So, it has been awhile since I have updated. Since last time, my days have been filled with tour groups, little kids, roommates, characters, and pixie dust.

Work has been getting easier as I get accustomed to each new place and role, but there are still many that I do not know. Pinocchio has become easily one of my favorites to hang out with, and Minnie Mouse has become pretty easy to work with too from the amount I have been with her. Some of the others that I have either worked with already or are coming up include Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Marie (from Aristocats), and Jiminy Cricket.

Outside of work, exploring Disney has not become old whatsover. There is always something new to check out. One day, the parks were pretty busy so my roommate Kirsten and I spent the day exploring some of the resorts: Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Port Orleans- Riverside. Another day, I spent character hunting, and saw...quite a few characters. One of the best interactions of that day was Tiana and Naveen, who ended up fist pumping with Allison and me.

* There are many different ways to fist pump, even with someone else as shown below*

Many days end with a viewing of the new castle show and Wishes, which never seizes to remind us how magical our workplace is.

Disney Living

I’ve had a few people ask me about my housing situation, and let me tell you; it is pretty great. I am in a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment. It is complete with a living room, dining room, and kitchen. The rooms are pretty good sized and we also have walk-in closets! The three girls I am living with and I are getting along great. Allie (my actual roommate) is going to be working at Cosmic Rays in MAGIC KINGDOM. Kirsten will be working at Pop Century in the food court and Alex will be at Animal Kingdom at the main entrance

But living here is not just about the apartment. It is the atmosphere that living with other college programmers provides. Just to welcome in the CPs, the housing team plans multiple get-togethers complete with free food, a DJ, and CHARACTERS. The first one was Incredibles theme where we met Frozone.

And then, there is the free access to the parks we get. So far, I have visited Epcot and Magic Kingdom; getting to do all the things I would not normally do on a rushed vacation. Allie, Alex, and I had the most magical moment with the princesses during the nighttime parade since no one was waiting in line for them. We just got to hang out and talk to them for like, 15 minutes. The other cast members working are really great about talking to us when its not busy too; but really, what can beat quality time with three princesses??!!

The beginning

About a year ago, I figured out that I would be able to graduate early. Four months ago, I was accepted into the Disney College Program. Two months ago, I was cast as a character performer in the parks. And yesterday, I began my four-month stay in Disney.

We arrived at 7am for check-in. Lucky that we did because as the minutes passed the line got longer and longer. We were finally allowed into the complex at Vista Way to begin the process of getting our housing assignments. The three girls that I had been talking to (Allison, Kirsten, and Alex) and I were fortunate to get exactly what we wanted: a two-bedroom apartment at Chatham Square.

Once housing was completed, we were bussed over to casting where we had to go to numerous stations to finish the process. During the middle of this, I got stuck at the fingerprinting station. Apparently, my fingers just don’t work when it comes to electronic fingerprinting? Maybe because they are so small… Well, finally they just let me fill out a form for a background check so I could continue through casting and get back to my roommates. The rest of the day was filled with unpacking, a housing meeting, a trip to walmart, and TGIFridays (where cast members get a 15% discount!) It was a long but productive day.

While at casting, we were told that Tuesday would be a “settle-in” day and Traditions would start on Wednesday. To this apartment, “settle-in” day ended up translating to Harry Potter world! What can I say about this place except that

it is absolutely great. The Forbidden Journey ride is truly one of a kind. It really felt like I was flying along on the Quidditch field with Harry and Ron. Other parts of the trip to Hogwarts included visiting Ollivander in the wand shop and trying some butterbeer in Hogsmeade. We visitied other parts of the Island of Adventure too but none of them came close to the experience in the wizarding world. I look forward to them expanding in the future so that the trip can last longer.

Tomorrow, I go to Traditions which is a Disney employee orientation session and then I am off again until Friday when I start my role training.

Until next time, have a magical day :)

* The Alice in Wonderland doors at casting *