Time Flies!!!!

Well, I promised myself I wouldn't become that blogger who disappears onces she starts working for Disney, but inevitable I fell into that pattern! Let's see, I left off at Traditions...

Saturday August 13th, the day following my Traditions, was my first day of "work" except it was more of an orientation =) Since my heels and soles of my feet got wonderful blisters from my Mary Janes for the boutique, I decided to wear HIGH HEELS for this orientation. I had no idea that we would be taking a 2 hour tour of the ENTIRE Downtown Disney area!!!! It was probably the dumbest decision I've ever made in my life! I had never given myself such motivation EVER. Before we crossed the street from Planet Hollywood and back to the Cast Services building, I decided to take the heels off and barefoot-it back. Yet another mistake. Pavement plus heat= RAW feet. I wanted to chop them off-- I added on another 4 blisters. Totaling to 10 total within 2 days! Anyways, orientation was good, it was 4 hours long full of all the Downtown Disney information we needed to know.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I had training every day from 8:30am-5pm with the lovely Ruby. This is called "Earning My Ears." The first day was mostly small tours of where things are behind the scenes at the boutique, aka the breakroom, stock/inventory, etc etc. The coolest part was being taken upstairs into the World Of Disney stock room and walking over the store, where as a guest I thought was not accessible. It was amazing! The same day of all the touring, I also had a 4 hour e-learning assessment on safety and other fun Disney stuff on how to speak to guests and staying in character, and also how to work our website called THE HUB (which is still confusing to me lol). The second and third day was HAIR HAIR HAIR!! On mannequins of course, but it was VERY difficult because the mannequins are old and have more knots than Rapunzel!!! On my last day of training, I was in the boutique working on my first few princesses! It was nerve wrecking, but my trainer was by my side to help me when I needed it. I also learned "podium" which is where our princesses check in, tell us the package they want, and we give them their royal invitation and possibly a pager depending on how busy we are. Since training, I have heard a max of 153 reservations, which is AMAZING! Before starting the program, alot of the FGITs (Fairy Godmothers in Training) were complaining about having reservations in the 40s! So, I'm glad the count is up!

The days I had training, I was home early enough to get to the parks so my roomates and I parked it up everyday. Then I had that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off which was so completely wonderful. Of course I went to the parks, but I also ran to get some errands done, as well as go check out Cast Connections which is a building (for Disney cast only) in an "undisclosed location" where you can purchase some food stuff in their small grocery store... things like a massive bag of pasta for $1 and water for $0.64--- its crazy! Then there was merchandise and old kitchen stuff/things from the resorts/uniforms/clothes all there for you to purchase for REAL cheap! It's pretty cool.

I've had 44+ hours every week and the best princesses ever! The stories that I have would take too long to try and divulge, so I'll keep the ones I've already experienced close to me, and write about more later on =) This morning though, I had a little Princess named Brooklyn who was on vacation with only her mom and grandma and she was such a sparkler that we put her in the window, which is where one special princess gets to go in front of the store, viewable to everyone walking outside (and I was her FGIT!) She was such a ball of cuteness and laughter that it made her momma cry, which made me cry... and seeing her complete transformation, we were all in tears again! It's such a magical place to be at... I am home. This is where I've needed to be all along!

Work since training has been amazing. Any days I work 8-5 I am at the parks later that night, but a shift that is 10-8 I normally don't go because the parks close at 9pm. So I normally just make dinner, shower, and crash cause it's about 11 by then! And any days off I have, I'm park hopping =) I love it!

Stay tuned for more frequent updates.... I promise that now since I have all the training parts done, I can atleast keep up with blogging once a week (but I'll try for more!)

Always with love,
Erika

Day Off & Traditions!!!!!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

I didn't blog for this day because my roomates and I were all scheduled off! Wednesday night I stayed with my mom in her hotel room for the night so that I could sleep in Thursday morning and boooooooy did my body love me for that!!! Once we were up and going, we had breakfast at WaffleHouse and then headed over to the apartment to unload last minute really heavy things. Upstairs, my roomates Michelle and Jamie were home hanging out--completely unpacked. We all hung out in mine and Michelle's room watching me make a fool of myself putting my storage cubby unit together with my mom. It was quite entertaining, but it came out amazing! Afterwards, I said bye bye to my mommy as she left to go back home (Ft. Lauderdale). I spent a good part of the day unpacking my life into my new room. I really did overpack. Around 4ish, we headed to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to pick up these behind the bed storage racks. I had it in mind way before even moving out here, but didn't wanna travel with it, so I waited. It completes the room and it looks INCREDIBLE! Michelle and I both got one. Anyways, here's a picture lol 

I'm on the left side, Michelle is on the right!

My side of the room =)

So yes, that is our room. I will take more pictures of the apartment and put them up, as well as a video blog tour of the apartment because that always interested me- to know about housing. We were going to do Grocery Bingo, which is a game held in the complex. It is Bingo, but you win bag(s) of groceries... pretty self explanatory... but we decided to go to Walmart to buy pizza and other groceries/apartment items and relax inside. Now those behind the bed racks, they were tough to figure out! "No tools needed" was written on the box, but unless those poles are up against a wall, ya better watch your face cause you might get hit! My bed is on risers, and we had to move it out from the wall and down by the dresser in order to get the rack behind my bed. I had to get UNDER my bed and lift it with the girls to move it because it weighs a TON! But, eventually we got it in place and all was good to go! I bought 2 black panels from Walmart and ribbon to tie around it. I superglued (might not have been a good idea) the panels to the top of the rack and draped it down. When I am underneath it (like I am now) it feels like such a Princess bed! Behind the black curtains are things that clip onto the poles, like theres a cupholder with some extra part on it.. so I keep a drink there at night. There's also a "magazine rack" and a 2 clip hanger which I have equal to my bed so my chargers rest there when they're not in use. I love it. Putting it together was one of the most comical things ever between all of us!!! Kodak moments. We ended the night with a few drinks, pizza, new friends, and ironing Traditions clothes!

Friday, August 12, 2011
TRADITIONS day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was SO stoked about this!!! I've heard such negativity about Traditions and all I can say is........ THIS is where I want my career. THIS is what I've been passionate about since the first time I watched a Disney Princess movie. THIS is my Tradition. Disney is what I call home. I was up at 5am getting ready for my Traditions class, which started at 8am. Leighann and I were scheduled for the same class so we left the apartment at 6:20am to catch the bus to Disney University. We arrived an hour before we needed to be there, but we sat for 15 minutes and then they separated us into different classrooms!

Blue Card= maingate card to get you into all the Disney theme parks for FREE as a Cast Member

My Classroom for Traditions!

the other side of my classroom for Traditions!

So, the class started out with a 30 minute online learning course. The man doing it sounded similar to that Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing computer program and it was the only thing that allowed my mind to wander (into thinking of Disney things). Then our trainers came in! Now, I'm not gonna tell you guys what I learned in Traditions cause that's all secretive hush hush stuff =) But I will tell you some stuff. **IF YOU ARE A FUTURE CAST MEMBER AND WANT TO BE SURPRISED, DO NOT READ THIS!!** The trainers in my classroom were SUCH great actors when going through certain things. Kristin and Patrick---- amazing! Kristin started out back in 2003 I believe she said, working at the Animal Kingdom Express on her program. Came back another round for the program, and then finally did a Professional Internship. She is now working at the Cinderella's Royal Table as a reservationist.... BUT she speaks to those men wanting to pop the question to their princess. HOW CUTE IS THAT!? Patrick started on in the program as well back in 2003 and worked at the Polynesian Resort and Spa. He is now working as a Guest Services Operator on Mainstreet in the Magic Kingdom! So, clearly this program can do a LOT for you in your career, and that's my intention: staying with this company. 

About an hour or two into our Traditions, we were pumped to find out that we were going to take a tour of the Magic Kingdom...... UNDERGROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were not allowed, and will never ever ever be allowed to take pictures or use a phone while being down here. Disney is a magical place, but seeing Pooh Bear on his lunch break eating a sandwich and posting it on Facebook would not be. For this reason, the company forbids it. I respect that. I remember what it was like finding out that the tooth fairy didn't exist and being sad about it, so I wouldn't want to exploit things that take place behind the scenes at Disney. Now, I knew that we were going to go to the Magic Kingdom, but I wasn't prepared for my breath to be taken away. We hopped off a bus which took us to the entrance and we started walking down the tunnel. I'm not going to go into detail (I'm sorry) but I'm not so sure with this on what's okay to talk about and vice versa. Better safe than sorry! We did see Cinderella's stepmother and the two ugly stepsisters walking to their destination which was pretty cool, and saw all the costumes in a room hanging up. Did you know Disney Costuming is the largest operating Costume Wardrobe in the world? =) So, we walked up a flight of stairs underneath Fantasyland and were standing in front of these big blue doors. When they opened, we were on Mainstreet. It's crazy how both worlds are so different.. ours and Disney's. It's an amazing feeling to know that you can only experience that inside Disney. MAGICAL MOMENT. We took about 10 minutes worth of touring and headed back to Disney University for more training. As we were discussing our "KEYS" to maintaining the magic... MICKEY COMES IN WITH A PRESENT!!!! Can you guess what it could be? 

Our name badges. Shut the front door. MICKEY delivered our name badges as OFFICIALLY being Walt Disney World Cast Members!!!!!!! I was in tears. We watched a video slideshow direct from Walt to us and this is what stuck to me and brought me to tears, "The dreams they once built now become your heritage." 

Shortly after, we were let go (12:30pm), I met up with Leighann and we took our bus back to the apartment. When we got home, we changed and went to Downtown Disney for lunch (at Earl of Sandwich) and some slight shopping (I bought Mickey houseslippers because I got blisters on the soles of my feet at Traditions). I also checked out the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique and visited Kathryn =) Then we came back to the apartment and I took a nap while Michelle and Jamie were in their Traditions class and Leighann was out with her parents. When they got back, we decided to have dinner in Epcot, so we took the bus over. When we got there at 9:10, Epcot had closed so our Mexican dinner plans went out the window. So we decided we would go to Boardwalk instead. In order to get there we were told we could take a bus, or a boat (from Canada). So we got dropped off by an inside bus to the back of France-----very creepy at night behind stage. When we were inside the park, I thought Canada was to the right of France, but I was brutally wrong and we ended up walking the entire park just to get to Boardwalk. We ended up meeting with Leighann and having dinner at ESPN at 10pm. We walked to a cast member parking lot and then headed back home! 

This program is absolutely incredible! I am SO glad that everything has worked out the way it has for me and I can't wait for everything else that is to come! Tomorrow is my first day of Orientation at Downtown Disney where I get to learn all the secrets and find out my work schedule for all of next week =) Goodnight ya'll!!!!!

CHECK-IN, CASTING, HOUSING MEETING!!!!!!

OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH YOU GUYSSSSSS!!!! (Legally Blonde, Broadway) haha =)
I cannot believe how amazing today has been.  It's hard to even put a full English sentence together while talking to me in person. I'm beyond blown away. WHAT A DREAM COME TRUE THIS IS FOR ME! Here is how my day went... and for those of you Cast Members still waiting for your arrival date to roll around, take heed to my pointers because it WILL help you on check in day!!! *This is a very detailed blog.... if you're a College Programmer waiting to arrive in Orlando and you want to be surprised by the events that happen when you get here, DO NOT READ THIS! This is for those students and my friends and family who are interested in MY journey with the Walt Disney World Company!*

CHECK-IN (Vista Way, 9am-12pm... can take anywhere from 1-3 hours)
My roomates and I decided to meet early at Vista Way at 6:30am. By the time we got there at least 60 people were ahead of us already! We ended up splitting into twos and walking over to the gas station (a Chevron, across from a Walgreens---remember that landmark if you have never been in the area before) to get some water bottles and gatorade. At 8am they open the gates and you walk to the Welcome Center Pavilion where you begin your Check-In process. Anyone who had luggage with them were directed into another direction to leave it there--- this set them back tremendously, so DO NOT ARRIVE WITH LUGGAGE! Or do your best to arrive early enough to get it to that room and get right back in line. We were handed a Program Guide (which has all of the important phone numbers and information you need to know about the program) and inside the Program Guide, there were a few sheets of paper sticking out. Those forms a Cast Member goes over with you before you fill them out. Once you're done, you hand them in and you walk inside the building. This is where one person out of your group (if you have your roomates paired with you) is selected to gather all of your apartment information i.e.: apartment complex, apartment number, etc. Michelle was chosen to do so, and although we wanted Chatham, I am REALLY excited because we actually ended up with PATTERSON COURT!!!!!! I will explain about that complex later! So, once we found out we were in Patterson, we handed in one more paper, and then we were directed to take our picture for our HOUSING ID. Within seconds, our cards were printed! ******IF YOU LOSE THIS CARD, THERE IS A $50 FEE FOR GETTING A NEW ONE BACK! KEEP TRACK OF IT!****** Once we had our IDs, we walked back outside where Leighann and I gave in our License, Registration, and Insurance on our cars so we could have parking decals  (the decal and parking is free). Afterwards, we were given a sticker on the back of our Program Guides for our Casting Time and our Housing Welcome Session! We waited in line for about 30 minutes IN THE RAIN for the bus to get there and take us over to Casting. We left Vista Way at 9:30am so our total time checking in and getting our housing information settled, was about an hour and a half. Parents cannot come with you during this time, but they are allowed in the Welcome Center, but it rained, and they were not inside... sooooo... plan accordingly!

CASTING (can take anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours--- NO family allowed)
When our bus arrived to the Casting building, I was stunned! I was literally THAT Floridian still acting like a tourist. The building is so whimsical and cheery. Now, most people will never get the chance to ever be inside this building, so I took as many mental pictures as I could. Walking into Casting, the doorknob was the same as the one used in Alice In Wonderland, it was absolutely adorable.

Walking further into casting was a round room. This is where some more Disney Cast Members walked around and put ANOTHER sticker on your Program Guide. Now this sticker....... this sticker is the sticker you have anxiously waited on hearing about during your WHOLE waiting process. This sticker will tell you where you are working, and what you will be doing! For me I am: Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique in the Downtown Disney Marketplace!!!!!! I am sooooooooooooooooooo excited I can't contain myself!!!!! Once you've got that, you are brought into a small office room where they discuss Disney Collegiate Courses and then send you on your way to hand in ALL of your paperwork forms. It felt like one big maze, but it was SO incredible to walk around and see all the amazing artwork, paintings, and keepsakes in shadow boxes. While you're here, you get fingerprinted--- all 10 of your fingers! You also have a background check, so make sure you are truthful in your paperwork. They told us that last year there was a guy who did the program and he had a loitering charge when he was 14 but it was removed and he didn't think anything of it and therefore marked on his background information that basically everything was okay. The next day, he was terminated because that charge showed up. So, ask questions if you're unsure about something! After that, they take your direct deposit information for payroll, or get you set up with their Pay Pal card where your deposits will be loaded right on them. Then, you head over to another room where they go over the Disney Look with you! Once that is done, you go into a room where you are given a sheet with all kinds of fun information on it about your work location, time for your Traditions class, and your first day of work! So, my Traditions class will be held at 8am on Friday and my first day of work at BBB will be on Saturday!!!! On your way out of that room, you take a few professional Disney pictures and you're given your very own Disney Photopass =) Afterwards, I met up with my roomates right outside that room, and we waited 5 minutes for a bus to pick us up and take us back to Vista. By the time we left Casting, it was 11:20am, so it took us about an hour and a half to go through Casting.

HOUSING WELCOME SESSION (about an hour and a half long---Mandatory!!! NO family allowed)

After Casting, we had nothing scheduled until our Housing Welcome Session/Meeting at 3pm, so we split up and met with our families for lunch. Then, we met at our brand new Disney apartment at Patterson Court!!!!!

We are seriously IN LOVE (and so are my asthma and allergies)! We got a 2bdr/2bth apartment on the second floor! The doors are deadbolted and automatically lock behind you which is great! So, we all started moving our stuff in and tried to get stuff settled as fast as possible. We started to make mental lists of things we needed and had to pick up later. Michelle and I selected a bedroom on the opposite side of the apartment with one window centered on the wall, two bedside tables underneath, and two beds (one for each of us) next to the tables and against the walls. There is a 4 drawer dresser with a mirror on it, a huuuuuge walk in closet with 5 shelves and 2 spaces inside a locker. The bathroom countertop area is a bit small, and there is nowhere to hang my rollup bag, but I will make it happen!!! =) As of right now, here is my bed space... I will post more housing pictures when everything is sorted. 

**Note** if you are bringing a TV, bring the cable cord because it is NOT provided in housing! I will post another blog about things that come in your apartment and what not later on.

So, my roomies and I took about 2 hours to get some stuff in and organized. I still have to put together a dresser and sort through my clothes! So far though, I can sleep cause my bed is done, and we can shower cause the curtain and liner is hanging!

At 2:35pm we headed over to the Commons, which is where all the International Students live during their program. The Commons hosted our Housing Welcome Session/Meeting at 3pm where we were given all the rules and regulations about what to and what NOT to do. VERY interesting to say the least. Not too sure if I can go into detail because I reserve that right with Disney now, but I will play it safe and not disclose that wonderful hour and a half long session! Bring a sweater cause it is cold!

Around 4:45pm we walked back to Patterson, where we then split up again. This time, my mom and I went to Walmart and Target to pick up some last minute things for the apartment. Things like: toilet brush cleaner, tooth brush holder, door hangers, lamp, storage cubby, crates, bed risers, stand up mirror, and a double extender closet rack which doubles your clothing basically... hard to explain. Basically makes another row underneath your normal row, if that makes sense. Then my mom and I dropped all that stuff off at the apartment where we noticed Jamie's dad had made us all rice krispie treats!!!!! Mmmmmmm... and then we came back to my mom's hotel room for the night.

That has been my day. It's been incredible, exhausting, and absolutely memorable. I wouldn't trade this for anything in the entire world--- I am right where I belong.

Tomorrow, we are ALL off. We plan on getting everything settled completely and hanging out! Friday is my Traditions class.... once I am out of that class, I will be able to get into the parks at ANY time I want to =) I can't wait!!! Well, that is SO enough for one blog! Goodnight everyone!

ROOMIES!!! Check-In Tomorrow!!!

Well, I am OFFICIALLY in Orlando!!!!!! My very sick momma and I left at 3:30 this afternoon in the pouring rain and met my roomates and their parents as soon as we got in town at around 7! They are AMAZING and I can't wait for our adventures to begin! We check in at Vista Way tomorrow morning---- there, we will find out the apartment complex we will be in, as well as what time our Casting Appointment and Traditions class will be =) In Casting, they tell you your work schedule, and WHERE you will be working... it's VERY exciting! There is more about Casting in one of my earlier blogs if you are a future CP wanting to know all the details! I will, of course, post more after I go through Casting tomorrow. Once I have gone through Traditions, I am able to hit the parks, and I fully intend on doing so THAT DAY.

As for tonight, I am sitting in my hotel room with anticipation that is BEYOND my control at this point. I would say that it's gonna be hard for me to fall asleep if I didn't have a SLEEP NUMBER bed in my room, haha. Anyways, here are some pictures of the packing process, goodies I made for my roomates, and our very first picture together! Blog ya'll tomorrow in my BRAND NEW DISNEY APARTMENT!!!!

Martini Glass I made and a cute little Crystal and  Black Pearl bracelet I put together as goodies for my roomates!

All wrapped up!

ROOMIES!!!!!!!!!! <3

MICKEY BUTTERFLIES!

It's 1:15am in Hollywood, Florida right now as I lay in bed completely ecstatic for the next 32 hours. Tomorrow, I leave for Orlando (an almost 4 hour drive from where I live now) where I will be checking into a hotel with my mommadukes and then meeting my 3 roomates for dinner with all our parents! Then Wednesday is CHECK- IN!!!!!! Therefore, I am WIDE awake right now. I can't sleep, I can't eat, and I am beyond jittery. My body was NOT prepared for the extreme amount of anticipation I am currently experiencing! =) This is my little girl dream.... all coming true. 

I am completely done packing. In the morning I will be loading the car up with 5 XL Ziploc "Grand Sacs", 2 Space Bags, 2 pieces of luggage, 4 under the bed bins, tv, audio tower, and 2 plastic storage bins with 3 drawers. I am NOT a light packer! Plus, once I move to Orlando tomorrow, I will not be moving anywhere else for quite some time! So, it all had to come at some point anyways!

I'm getting better with this whole vlogging thing on YouTube. Please check out my Channel (click channel) and Subscribe! Between Facebook, this, and YouTube... there is ALWAYS something to be said about Disney from me. I apologize in advance for everything Disney related to come =)

Until I am settled in my DISNEY DORM ROOM, see ya REAL soon!

2 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!

OH YEA!!!! I'm having trouble sleeping, packing all my last minute things, and thinking straight! It's a bit of a problem, but Tuesday I will be on my way to Orlando and Wednesday I will be checking-in with my girls!

I went to visit my Dad today so we could catch up before I left; he's such a riot! I honestly don't know who's more excited about the Disney College Program, him or me! It's a tough call (but I think I win by far)!! Can't wait to see him when he visits me!

All I have left to pack up is my bathroom stuff and do whatever little laundry I have! Then it's loading the car and headed north! 

I also got my glasses today!!!! YAY! I'm officially a nerd lol I love them, though!

Anyways, that's all for now! I'll post before I leave! Ta-Ta!

8 DAYS UNTIL CHECK IN!

In exactly ONE week, I will be on my way to Otown (Orlando) to start a brand new chapter of my life! I'm still in the process of packing... it's brutal. I'm an overpacker. What stinks is not knowing how the winter is going to be here, so I have every kind of weather packed for. Which is taking up a lot of room, and will up there too if it stays that way! I'll have to go through it all again to cut out some stuff!

Along with packing, I've gotten my dental visit out of the way so that I'm good for the next 6 months. I also went to have an eye exam today because my vision is starting to get blurred. It's been hard to see things from far away, especially at night, so I had to get it checked out. Turns out, I'm in the generation of too much texting and being on the computer, so it's affecting my eyesight- SURPRISE! This is why I cant read street signs at night, nor the TV guide! So, I selected a pair of glasses- no contact lenses cause I can barely put eyedrops in without freaking out haha! There were 3 racks of glasses frames to choose from, and of course they were ALL designer. I was like, seriously? They cant just be normal plastic frames!? So I ended up finding a cute, thin, black pair of Coach frames... then added some stuff to the lenses like anti glare, scratching, etc and that really cool effect where if you go outside, they darken... yeaaaaa =) SO happy my vision plan covered the majority of that cost cause I won't be getting paid with Disney for another 3 weeks!

So that's what's new on my end..... OH!!!! My gramma moved home from Arizona! I haven't seen her since I graduated HS in 2008, so I'm happy to have her home right before I move =)

That's all for now... back to packing!