My Roommates

Hmm not much happened today. Other the fact that I am living in Florida, which is a great reason to be alive every day :) I got to sleep in for once, I ironed some of my business clothes, got some grocery shopping done, rented some DVDs, and watched a few TV shows. Today was a relaxing day.

So since I wasn't very interesting today, let me tell you about my roommates and how fantastically awesome they are!

Let's start on the left. HOLLY goes to BYU Idaho, she's from Seattle, WA, and she gets to drive the tram from the Magic Kingdom Parking Lot to the Monorail entrance. She is super funny makes me laugh a lot. She says it boosts her ego, but she really is truly very funny. Not in a bad way, but an awesome way. Next is ALYSSA. She also goes to BYU Idaho, is my room roommate, and works at Soarin' in Epcot (BTW: Did you know that stands for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow? Just a bit of trivia for ya.) She is so great! Alyssa is a fabulous roommate and is so great at leading in groups. She's an example to me of how to be a good leader but way fun and totally cool at the same time. The third is KRISTY, from BYU Provo. She gets to work in Downtown Disney in one of the shops. Kristy is such a cute, sweet girl. There is nothing not to love about her. And I found out today that she's a twin! Cool? I submit that it IS! Next up is KENDALL, , from BYU Provo. She's a song and dance kind of girl and has the most awesome job. Kendall gets to work in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom on Mickey's PhilharMagic, the Carousel, and Dumbo! How cool is that! And she gets to wear the awesome lederhosen costume I love so much. Kendall is the perfect Fantasyland cast member. Next to me is TRYSTEN (sounds like Tristan). She goes to BYU Provo, and her family has lived so many places! Her dad works for the US Dept of State so they moved around from embassy to embassy. Right now they are in Panama. Trysten has got to have the coolest job out of all of us! She is a character performer!! This coming week she gets to be Dale of Chip-n-Dale, Winnie the Pooh, and one of the girls from Little Einsteins. She might even get to be Mike Wazowski later this summer! Trysten is a spunky redhead with lots of talent, and a kickin dancer. I love all my roommates so much! They are so cool!! I'm glad I get to live with them this summer and can't wait to learn even more about them all. TTFN

Magic Kingdom Pictures

My camera and computer made up and are friends again :) Yay! So here are some of the magical pictures I took on my first trip to the Magic Kingdom. Enjoy :)

The parade right now is called Celebrate Today. Disney is all for celebrating all types of occasions and things. To welcome us into the park, the characters waved and danced and even sang to us :)

Here's Aladdin and the Genie

Bert and Mary

Peter Pan, Wendy, Alice, Mad Hatter

Prince Charming and Cinderella

Belle and the Beast

Prince Eric and Ariel

Cinderella's Castle

Captain Jack Sparrow (a super cool show in front of the ride)

What a cool show!

And this is only the beginning of my magical summer! :) TTFN

First Day of Training

I started my Food and Beverage Training today!! And I got a full, extensive tour of Disney's Hollywood Studios. I'd never been before, so it was a good way to get the lay of the land. It was so cool!! I didn't take any pictures on that tour, but I'm sure I'll have many to post in the future. After the tour, we split into our roles and got some more specific training. I studied with five other Food and Beverage cast members. After a few hours of general "these are the policies and rules and benefits" training, we.....got our costumes!!! I am so stinking excited to go to work in this!!! I'm not sure about pictures, I heard some people got in trouble for posting pictures in their costumes. So I'll look into that and post them if I can :) But if not, I'm wearing plain black pants, a white button down shirt with short sleeves and cuffs that look like the top of that little slate that they use in movies and they say "Scene such and such, take whichever, marker!" :) with a blue or red apron. My favorite part, though, is the white beret I get to wear!

I had originally planned to finish work and ride a few of the rides in Hollywood Studios, but I didn't realize I'd have five days worth of costumes to carry around. So I came home instead and took a little nap that turned into a little slumber (I'm famous for that). A few of my roommates and I had a costume fashion show. We are so cool!! Tomorrow I'll go get my work shoes and maybe go play in the parks. I am so lucky to be working here! TTFN

The Magic Kingdom...truly magical

So Traditions was fabulous. It was put on by Disney University, the branch that deals with a lot of the company's human resource training and stuff. We spent forever talking about how to be safe in the work place (just so you know, SAFE-D begins with Me!) and what makes Disney such an amazing company. It truly is awesome! I am so excited to be working for them. After a few hours of that, we came back to the apartment, had some lunch, and then split for the...oh, wait! I forgot! I got my name tag and Disney ID today!! I am so official and now I can get into any park for free! Whenever I want! Heck. Yes.

Anyway, after Traditions, we headed over to Disney's Magic Kingdom to play. Holy cow! I got a really cute "1st visit" button to wear and I went on all my favorite rides from Disneyland in California and I watched an awesome parade and Aladdin waved at me and I got really wet on Splash Mountain and I screamed like there was no tomorrow on Space Mountain, twice, and now my throat hurts a lot and I got to see some spectacular fireworks and I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, I feel like a total dork because I keep saying this, but it's SO true!

I wish I could get my camera and computer to make up Apparently, they are in a fight right now. They are not speaking to one another. So until they get over whatever stupid argument is keeping me from importing pictures (I'm pretty sure it's not user error), I'll have pictures of my name tag, and first day in the park to put up. TTFN

Block Party, say what?

Our first official "cast member only" party! It was a "Welcome to the neighborhood" type thing. And way fun at that. My roommates and I danced the night away and had a fantastic time participating in the quite-obvious Mormon circles. You gotta love us :)

This is, well, me! After most of the fun we got our cameras out and captured all the fun we'd had. I had a great time! After a day of housing rules and job assignments (more on that in a sec) and laying by the pool, I was ready for some fun fun fun.

I am so excited for tomorrow, though! We start our Traditions class. From what I understand, it's the basic training every cast member goes through to help them catch the Disney magic and get them ready to start working in their assigned roles. We learn a lot about the history of the parks, the company, and our specific duties. I've also heard we get tours of the secret underground tunnels...shh :) I'll let you know how that goes.

So I found out where I'll be working this summer. After much anticipation, I was assigned to Disney's Hollywood Studios (what used to be MGM) in the Backlot Express area. Don't ask me where exactly that is — I've never been here before. But I will know very soon! I am so psyched to be here!! TTFN

Let it begin!

Ho...ly...cow!!!! This is going to be the best summer of my entire life!!!! So it started with my first ever night alone in a hotel. I got to stay in an Embassy Suites near the Orlando airport. I felt like a total big kid with a King size bed all to myself :) From the hotel, I went back to the airport in the morning and caught a shuttle to the apartment complex where I'll be living for the next few months. We checked in, moved in, unpacked, got fingerprinted, and grocery shopped, and chilled by the pool today. I am exhausted! But I am already catching the Disney spirit. I met all my roommates and love them. I think we are going to have a fabulous summer. I also made some other friends, one of whom is a guy with a car...awesome! So now that I'm all moved in, and so so tired, I am going to bed. I can't wait for tomorrow. We get to have orientation and, hopefully, get our costumes and find out where, exactly, we are working. Eek! I can't wait! Well, yes I can because that means sleeping...oh yeah. Like one of my roommates just said, "I am taking my tired and excited body to bed." Definitely. Goodnight and TTFN.

Disney World, Here I Come!

Needless to say, I AM SO EXCITED!! For those of you who don't know, I will be working at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida as part of the Disney College Program. I have wanted to work for Disney since I was a kid, and this is my shot! I will be working in the Food & Beverage Role in one of the four parks (yet to be determined). Although it sounds like just another summer job flipping burgers, it's not. Those burgers are sprinkled with Disney Magic! :) I probably won't make very much money this summer, as I will only be paid about minimum wage and required to pay all of my own living expenses, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make my dream come true and I wouldn't miss it for anything.

I just got a bunch of things squared away last night. My dad helped me book a flight to Orlando, a hotel because I'll be early, and a shuttle to the apartment where I'll be staying for the summer. I have been SO anxious since November when I started the interviewing process. And now it's finally time! My adventure begins April 26, 2010 and I plan to chronicling all the awesome stuff that happens this summer and all the amazing stuff I get to do. So look out for some great stories :)

In the words of one of my favorite tiggers (I hope we get to be friends ;) — TTFN, ta ta for now!