It's Not Goodbye, It's See Ya Real Soon

For the past week I've been looking at my life the past few months. Did all that really happen? Did I really have my first adult desk job (internship though it was)? Did I really graduate college? Did I really leave all I knew and loved in Gainesville to come back home to Orlando where most I loved were gone? I've learned so much about myself, made mistakes, made big decisions, made plans. How--in such a short time--did I grow so much as a person?

Everyone experiences the Disney College Program in their own way. Who are we kidding? Everyone experiences everything in their own way--but let's just say, for me, the Disney College Program was my segue into adulthood. It was the in between of college and the real world. It was a time when I got to make mistakes and a time I got to learn about myself. If I wasn't ready to enter the real world when I left college, I'm certainly ready now.

“So long CP Housing! I can’t say I’ll miss your constant ID checking, inspections, signing in guests or having a curfew for those guests, but for 7 months you were home, and for that I am grateful.” – Facebook Status, 1/3/12

If there’s anything you can learn from reading this entire blog it’s that CP Housing and me did not see eye-to-eye. As a 23 year-old, I didn’t take kindly to be told exactly how I was expected to live, how often I was supposed to clean, when I could have visitors over. I’ve done dorms, on-campus apartments and my own apartment—CP living conditions are the worst for the price we pay.

Though Patterson Court is lovely, quiet, and homey there is absolutely the worst internet and cable. Halfway through our program they decided to cut half our channels. Even though we had wireless, our internet was so pathetically slow that watching any sort of video on your computer required hours spent loading it. If I really wanted to see a missed episode of Glee or Merlin then I had to set it up to load before I went to work, go to work, and then pray that the internet didn’t disconnect while I was gone.

We had the nicest security guards. Even though I hated that I had to stop every time I came into the complex, our guards were always nice to me and welcomed me home. Please, if you’re currently on the program, or about to go on the program, be nice to the guards. Smile, wish them a nice day, and don’t just treat them like a checkpoint. I always felt very safe and secure at Patterson, so that was a plus.

“Daddy, I’m 16, I’m not a child!” – The Little Mermaid

The negative is, of course, signing in guests. As someone from Orlando, I have a lot of non-CP friends who I wanted to show my new apartment to, but most of which never saw it. We were limited to 3 guests a day, and they had to be out by 1AM. So many times I’d have a friend over and have to keep an eye on the time and they’d have to leave almost always before the night would have naturally ended. That is certainly the part I won’t miss about CP Housing.

I will never miss Inspections. It is my full belief that if you are paying for an area to live than it is your right to live in that area as you see fit, so long as you leave it the way it came (like the way most apartments work). I did not appreciate having to find time in my crazy work schedule to then go crazy with cleaning.

When you’re a CP I feel like you constantly live in fear of being termed for some silly reason. I used to joke that I wanted to write a book: “Disney College Program Termination Obituaries” and it would document the ridiculous ways CPs got termed (both deservedly and non-so). I heard stories of whole apartments being termed because they needed to make room for new CPs. Price Management held extra surprise inspections to see if anyone broke a small rule that would normally get overlooked, but that week happened to be cause for termination. One night we had a letter saying that our apartment was being called in for a meeting (one of our roommates was having problems with the rest of us) and I honestly thought that I’d leave the meeting without a job.

I honestly don’t think anyone should be termed for housing reasons. I could understand if we didn’t pay for our housing, but we do. If they want to kick someone out of housing, then fine, but that person should be given the option to find alternative housing before they make them lose their job. Just my opinion, really.

“I didn’t make it all the way through the third grade for nothing.” –The Rescuers Down Under

I took 2 classes on the program: Discovering Guest Relations and Discovering Leadership. Taking classes after already graduating was, for lack of better words, an odd decision. Still, I’m glad I took these classes. I ended up dropping one of them because I needed the extra time, but I did earn my Mousesters Degree in Guest Relations. There were certainly times when I wondered why I was sitting in a classroom on my day off in Disney Look-approved clothing, but I did take something very valuable from my time in that classroom. There is no company I respect more than the Walt Disney Company. They treat their guests so much better than most companies are even expected to treat their customers. Though I’m not sure if I’ll be staying with the company, I know I’ll take their values with me every where I go from here on out. That’s what I learned from my class.

“What do you want me to do? Dress in drag and do the hula?” – The Lion King

I remember when I first checked my record card and saw that I’d be in Frontierland Merchandise—my first thought was that God-awful skirt. A couple days before move in I went to visit. I can’t remember any of the people I saw, save one: one of my best friends from the program, Stacey. At the time, Stacey was being trained on the porch, and she was on her own. I didn’t introduce myself or anything, I just watched. (Creepy, I know, sorry Stacey!).

“Follow the strums of the banjo music and the smell of the smoked turkey legs and it will lead you to the old-time wild west of Frontierland. The crash of the cascading water of Splash Mountain and the screams of the guests in the runaway trains of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will entice you to see more of America’s pioneer homeland.” - wdwinfo

I had no idea what to expect in Frontierland, but I know now, without a doubt, that I lucked out on my location for this program. First of all, Frontierland’s in Magic Kingdom, one of the most popular theme parks in the world. Magic Kingdom changes with the seasons, having special events for Halloween and Christmas that make our time go a little too fast.

“Welcome home to the night, when you’re sure to get a fright. From us you’ll get a trick and not a treat.” – Mickey’s Boo to You Parade

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is without a doubt the most exciting in park event at Magic Kingdom. Complete with Trick-or-Treating, Villains galore, and a parade that’s sure to knock your socks off, the party is worth every penny. I, unfortunately, did not dish out the money to go to this event, but I now know what I should save for next year. As for working it, it’s the most fun I’ve ever had at work. I loved seeing all the guests in their costumes and making “Best Costume” buttons. I loved playing with our Glow Merchandise and having Glow Sword fights with our younger guests. Halloween is quite possibly my new favorite holiday.

“It’s a very special time, and the magic that you’ll find, on that Once Upon a Christmastime.” – Disney’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is magical. There’s really no other way to describe it. Now, I’ve had memories from my past with my parents going to this party and being wowed. This year I loved the snow on Main Street and the castle light show and the fireworks, although I’ve decided there really is no better firework show than traditional Wishes. I didn’t work as many Christmas parties, but I know they weren’t nearly as fun to work as Halloween. In the end, I was glad they were over. I’m also not a huge fan of the parade, though give me snow on Main Street any day of the year.

“First rule of Leadership: everything is your fault.” – A Bug’s Life

The managers in Frontierland are so awesome, and the people we worked with are so unforgettable. If you ever find yourself down on the Ol’ Frontier, make sure you peek in the stores and say hello, have a few conversations and make your day just a little better. One interesting observation was how often there would be a complaint about one of the company policies. I’d always listen to my fellow cast members, but in the end my education from my BS in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism would kick in and I’d realize why those policies existed. I feel this understanding made it easier for me to stay happy on the job, as well as have a few ideas up my own sleeves.

“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” – Walt Disney

Anyone who’s followed this blog, or knows me personally knows how much I hated my HOH shifts when I first started. 5AM is not an ideal time to wake up, and heavy lifting and hard labor is not what I signed up for when I was offered a role in merchandise. Still, with keeping a happy face and a positive attitude I not only got through them, but eventually ended up loving them. In fact, as you’ll read later on, I’ll be spending even more time in HOH coming up. My one piece of advice I would push on all CPs is to never dismiss the job you’re given: you could end up loving it, and if nothing else you’ll have the knowledge that you had the strength to complete this particular hardship.

“You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” – Walt Disney

I love Magic Moments. I loved having the ability to make someone’s day special by having them fill out a postcard to their favorite character or making them honorary sheriff of Frontierland. I loved making someone feel special. Our job was fun, and that’s really what’s most important. We don’t make a lot of money. Even knowing this going into the job, I didn’t realize how broke I’d be at the end of it. We’re there to make people happy and to have fun. The idea is that if we’re having fun than our guests will have fun.

“Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?” – The Little Mermaid

One of the awesome parts of being in Merchandise is pin trading. Now, I’ve been in Orlando for most of my life, and I’ve pretty much avoided pin trading, but once you get started, even with pins that aren’t your own, you really can’t stop. Eventually I started buying my own pins with my discount and starting my own collection. For the most part I just got pins that made me smile, but I did like to collect all Peter Pan pins, and eventually had a lanyard just for those pins. For Christmas, my mom had a friend make me a lovely holder for those pins, as seen below. Now I’m a pin trading addict.

“Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind, or forgotten.” – Lilo and Stitch

But forget the area, forget the magic moments, forget the hardships. Frontierland would have been nothing without the amazing people I met. There were the full-timers who have been with the company for decades, a few even before I was born! There were the part-timers and seasonal workers who were all so great to work with. Most importantly were my fellow CPs who made every shift a thousand times more enjoyable. From nights when we sang Christmas carols, to mornings when we praised the first riders of the day; from last-minute proposals to cast ride photos; from shouting at Jack Sparrow to crying during wishes—work will not be the same without this amazing group of people. No other group I’ve ever worked with would be half as understanding to sit down and listen when you’re crying about something. No other group would do their best to help out a fellow cast member with a broken foot or a bad back. No other group goes out of their way to make sure you have a good day, to make sure you leave work smiling. I would not have survived some days without this group of people, and I will forever miss them.

Aside from work, there were plenty of good times to be had. Funny how Disney Cast Members can bond so well after a day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure—honestly, the level of service is simply just not the same, though the rides are great fun. I think if the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was not at Universal we wouldn’t have visited nearly half as much.

The IHOP on 535 must survive solely on Disney Cast Member coming in after park close. Our last night there we saw groups from Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, as well as our own group. IHOP nights were a highlight of our program, filled with lots of yelling, lots of food, and enough laughter to fuel a huge city (Monsters Inc joke =P).

“No matter what happens, I’ll always be with you, forever.” - Pocahontas

My sole regret from this program is the mindset I had entering it. A recently graduated, native Orlandoean, I wasn’t planning on making friends. My goal was to work hard, save money, and make it far in the company. For the majority of my program I focused on friends outside of the program, mostly so I didn’t have to worry about saying goodbye. I realized too late what my friends on the program mean to me, and I feel I didn’t have enough time with them. For the most part I’ve held back tears during this week of goodbyes, but this is the time for losing it. I’m sorry I didn’t get to spend more time with everyone. I love you all, please visit often. I will always be grateful for the time we had together, and I miss you all so much right now.

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.” – Mulan

Being an Orlandoean CP is really a different experience. I get to go home whenever I want, so I don’t have that separation everyone else has. I know the area well, so new experiences for others are every day chores for me. I know how most Orlandoeans view Disney and the College Program, so for the most part a lot of Full-Timers and Part-Timers forgot I was a CP, because I acted different around them. I didn’t form bonds outside of work because if given the option, fortifying existing friendships from home was more important than forming new ones from people I’d lose so soon.

“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it.” – The Lion King

The most important thing I’ve taken from this program is the importance of knowing yourself, knowing what you think and why you believe what you do. There’s an importance in staying true to yourself and knowing when to act certain ways. I’ve learned so much about myself, my weaknesses and strengths, my inner policies, my goals and aspirations—and I don’t think I would have learned that without the help of my peers and leaders. So again, thank you everyone.

“Life’s not a spectator sport. If watchin’ is all you’re gonna do then you’re going to watch you’re gonna watch your life go by without ya.” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame

So, “What’s next?” you may ask, and I honestly don’t have a straight answer for you. I’m officially a seasonal employee, and the HOH manager requested I pick up shifts with HOH the coming months. Meanwhile, I’m looking for a job elsewhere, and for the first time I’m looking in Orlando as well as away from it. I’ve decided that now is the time to take risks and if I play it safe I won’t get where I want. So I’m at home now, saving money for my own place, and my limit is 6 months. I’ve given myself that limit to get back on my feet and find a job that will enable me to support myself fully. Prayers, kind thoughts, and job offers are appreciated.

I know, I know, this entry was long. Too long almost. Yes, it’s another one of my famous, useless essays, but I can think of no better way to end this blog—for this is the end of Have Faith in Dreaming. I thank the many of you who read my updates—and my mother especially for always commenting. I hope to create a new blog of some new adventure, if my dreams of sailing ‘round the world come true. ‘Til then always have faith in dreaming. There will always be hardships, but if you smile through it all and fight through the pain, the rewards will be greater than even you can imagine. Think of the happiest things, have faith in your dreams, and always let your conscience be you guide!

Best Wishes from WHO?

For those of you who don't know, and trust me, there are many who do not, the week between Christmas and New Years is the busiest week of the year at the Walt Disney World Resort.

I know, many think it's summer, because, let's face it, summers are busy and hot and crowded. But in the summer, at least, there's a divide as to when families may take their vacations. Some prefer July, others take June or August.

The families who come in the winter aren't as lucky. They have 2 weeks to choose from: the week before and the week after Christmas. So many people think the week before is busiest... that families want to be home for Christmas, so they'll do their vacations and then go celebrate with their families. But think about it: how many YouTube videos have you seen with children finding out Christmas Day that they're leaving for Disney World soon? December 26th is a traveling day. December 27th it hits like a Gaston punch. WHAM! People everywhere, people pushing, people waiting in line, people buying jackets because they thought Florida is always warm, people buying ponchos because they thought Florida is always sunny, people eating at restaurants because Disney offered free meals if you got your hotel and tickets through them. People, People, People!

So you'll excuse me if I don't post again until after my program is over. This is my last day off and I plan on enjoying the rest of it.

Real quick, I just wanted to share one amazing present my sister got me this year. During Thanksgiving a friend teased that he was going to see Alan Rickman in Seminar while he was in NYC. (Alan Rickman, if you don't know, is God. Ok, no, not really, but he has been a constant celebrity crush since I was 3... seriously). Well, my mom, hearing this, told my sister (who lives in NYC) that she should go to the theatre and get something signed saying "Thank you for loving me since you were three." My sister isn't the type who would stalk a celebrity, but she did send a letter to the theater to Mr. Rickman to let him know how I felt. A couple weeks later the mail at our PO Box had a package with a return address for Rickman in NYC, inside a signed Playbill from Seminar saying To Rory, Best Wishes, Alan Rickman. AHHHHHHHHH!

My mom also noted that there is a hair in the tape on the envelope. I'm certain it's just an assistant, but Mom thinks we should get some polyjuice potion to see who it is. Oh goodness =P

Til next week!

The Last Days with Price Management

Today started like any normal day off. I took an ROS last night, which means Release of Shift. It shows up on my record card, but no point value added to it. Honestly, as long as it doesn't happen all the time, I think an ROS actually says a lot on your card. It means that you tried to come in, even though you were sick, but couldn't make it through the shift. In means that you tried.... if you just work through your shift there's really nothing to show for it.

Anyways, so today started like any normal day off. I woke up after sleeping in and could hear my roommates out in the living room. We talked a little, and I noticed they were cleaning... nothing too out of the ordinary since I thought we had inspections tomorrow. I put stuff in the trash and they told me not to, but I said I'd take it out before I left for home today. They reminded me to take down my board and I said I would, before I left. At about noon there was a knock on the door and two people from Price Management came in saying they were here for departure inspections. 2 of my roommates left this week, so I figured they were just checking their rooms... but then they changed our air filter, like they usually do, and they started going into all the rooms. I looked at my one roommate and asked if they would come again tomorrow and she just stares at me. "No, these are our inspections... it's the 15th."

Wow. Was I out of it. For the first time I was not even near ready for inspections. My bed wasn't made, there was a slight mess in the room, my second cork board was on the wall, there was trash in all the cans... and we still passed. They even gave us cookies. Wow. Let's look back on my first inspection, when we cleaned the place like crazy, when it was spotless, when I stayed up after a 4am shift because I didn't want to make my bed messy... and basically the same results. This just goes to show you how much we all seem to be over it.

At work it's more about getting through the day than making magic moments. We hang out more because suddenly the time is disappearing. In 19 days most of the friends I made here will be leaving to go all throughout the country (plus side: I know people all throughout the country now!).

Once all is said and done I'll have a full blog post reflecting on my time with the college program. But for now, looking at the experiences I've had, the friends I've made, the multiple roommates, inspections and curfews, the real question is: Was it all worth it?

Yes. A million times over and over again. No regrets. Yes.

You've Got a Friend in Me

As this program winds down I'm finally realizing how difficult it will be to say goodbye.

Those friends that you can call and walk straight over to their apartment won't be around. Those friends who are there at work to listen to your problems, to give advice, to let you cry on their shoulder, who always seem to have the answer... who make each day better, who make life better... they're all going back to their lives, and I'm here. It's a small joke, that whenever they come back, I'll be here to say hi.

I'm not sure I can do goodbyes just yet. Love to everyone <3

God Bless Us, Everyone

There is so much to be thankful for this year, but most of all I'm thankful for the unique opportunity to share this season with so many wonderful people. Unlike my last post, I'm not talking about guests and tourists. Today I'm talking about my co-workers, my friends.

When I started the program I promised myself I wouldn't get too attached. I just said goodbye to all my friends from college, packed everything up and moved on to start a new life. I knew that at the start of January any new friends I made would leave Orlando and I'd be back to square one. I figured it'd be easier to not care about anyone and then not have to go through the separation anxiety again.

Well, we all know I was fooling myself. I like people too much, I make friends easily, and already I don't want them to leave.

So many of them have to make due this holiday season--they have to attempt their mom's greatest recipes alone, celebrate on non-holiday days, make their own traditions. It really humbles me--I have my family here. My best friends are all coming home for the holidays. And I get to celebrate with my co-workers in their own special way. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so many tidings of good cheer!

Yesterday one of my co-workers hosted Thanksgiving at her place--it was fabulous! "Turkey" (rotisserie chicken since none of us liked turkey), stuffing, potatoes and green bean casserole. Pumpkin Pie for dessert, sparkling grape juice for drinks. She decorated her apartment and we played games and watched the Jim Carey "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". It was Thanksgiving.

Tomorrow I'll be home with my parents, watching the parade, drinking hot chocolate, eating ravioli (tradition!), and helping cook a wonderful meal. Friday we'll pack in the car really early to do some fun shopping. Saturday evening I'll watch the UF/FSU game with some of my best friends, a tradition every year (*cough*gogators*cough*).

So thank you, everyone, from the bottom of my heart. I am blessed to have so many people in my life to celebrate the season.

If you know someone who might be lonely this Season. If you know someone in need of a friend or someone to hang out with, invite them to your celebration--share the joy and happiness. You too will find yourself blessed <3

Christmas isn't about candy canes, or lights all aglow, it's the hearts that we touch and the care that we show

Anyone who knows me knows that Christmastime is my favorite time of year. When I was little my parents made it extra special: bags of toys hanging from the outside trees, shredded carrots lining the porch where the reindeer waited for Santa, opening gifts one at a time while watching 24-hours of a Christmas Story, just to make the day seem longer. As we've gotten older the traditions have changed, some of which have stuck for years now. We have the same breakfast, the same dinner, I make the hot chocolate, the dog plays with the wrapping paper. We have theme stockings (this year it's our favorite books!) and one of us always plays Santa.

One of my favorite personal traditions is spending as much time as possible at Disney. If you've never been to Disney at Christmas, make sure it's noted on your bucket list. It's certainly something you don't want to miss. Between the amazing Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights, the inspiring Candlelight Processional, the beautifully lit Cinderella's castle and every single fireworks show there's just no beating it. Some of my best memories involve Disney at Christmas.

I'm not gonna lie, it's somewhat brutal working Disney at Christmas: the crowds mostly. I'm not looking forward to working Christmas Day, especially since my family's in town. I am looking forward to the wonderful paychecks that come with the long hours. I have plenty of Christmas shopping to do, and my family knows that most of their gifts are Disney-related.

What I must remember this Christmas season, when I'm at work and when the parks are packed, is that I get to be a part of that Christmas Disney Magic that I always rave about. I get to help make memories and create magical moments. Somehow it all seems a bit better when I realize what I can do for the guests. I get to share with them the Christmas magic I've known and loved, and maybe get them to return again and start their own tradition.

With the way my posts have been going, I might not post again before Christmas, so Merry Christmas in advance!

The King (Queen?) Has Returned!

Ok, it's been awhile since I last updated... Honestly, I just haven't really had the time.

It's Inspection Time again and this time it's working a little bit differently. Remember last time I told you all about how we split up the duties fairly evenly and were able to get the white glove award? Yeah, it's not so cohesive this time.

It's not like they tell us more than a month ahead of time when our inspections are... this time our inspection happened to fall when one of the roommates was out of town and another has family in town. We also have a roommate who does absolutely nothing to contribute to the well-being of the apartment, so that left three of us to do a job meant for 6 people. Oh boy.

That being said, it's been an interesting time before inspections. With inspections tomorrow, my room is spotless, as is the living room and the kitchen. After that, it's beyond my control. I'm guessing we'll only pass, no white glove, but that's just me. Honestly, after all this cleaning, I'm really indifferent and just glad to have a clean apartment again.

Now, about work. Well, work is work. It's still happy always being at the happiest place on earth, but things are starting to fall more into a pattern. We've started doing the wonderful Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and I absolutely love working the event. When I'm in upper I'm usually stocking, but it's still fun to see everyone's costumes and tell them Happy Halloween. When I'm in lower we play different games and pass out candy. There's this one great game we played that involved bending down a lot, and halfway through the night I realized I had pulled something in my upper leg... throughout the next few days it got stiffer until one day I couldn't sit without being in excruciating pain. Luckily, that was the worst day, and it got better after that.

We also had our 40th Anniversary on October 1st, and the park was PACKED. Seriously, there were lines everywhere, especially for merchandise. 'Tis the season for Pin Hunters... some people come and spend HUNDREDS, sometimes THOUSANDS of dollars on PINS. It's the limited editions (Halloween, Christmas, 40th Anniversary) and they're going like hot-cakes!

Did you know that at Disney, Christmas starts a week after Thanksgiving? Yup, my holidays are officially out of whack. Everyone keeps telling me Halloween hasn't happened yet and I just don't believe them.

We are officially in my favorite time of year. My birthday was this past Thursday (ewww, I'm old/23) and that signals the start of the rest of the year. There's Halloween and cool weather and Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping and then Christmastime! Seriously I LOVE this time of year.

I had to resist the urge to play my Glee Christmas Album this week. I WILL wait until at least Thanksgiving. I WILL wait. As for watching Love Actually, I hardly doubt I can hold off watching that... maybe I'll watch it this week. Probably... it's hard to watch it and not get in the Christmas mood though. Thoughts? Honestly, just watching Alan Rickman, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant is enough to make me happy =D

Oh! That reminds me, although I'm not sure why, this is also the season of the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. I've been once already and it's quite good, but extremely filling. If there's one suggestion I can make this year it's to try the Apple Strudel. Not because I tried it, but because you'll regret it forever if you don't try it. Seriously, it will follow you everywhere.

I'm going again on Wednesday with my sister. And this time I'm gonna get the Apple Strudel.

Well, sleep calls. Here's to hoping the best for the rest of the year and this awesome season =D Who knows what might happen I guess =D

Til then, keep having faith in dreaming... one day your wish will come true (with hard work and perseverance, of course)

<3

Have Faith in Your Dreams and Someday Your Rainbow Will Come Smiling Through

I'm going to be honest: I'm having a hard time being positive these days. I'm trying not to lose all hope of finding a decent career. Sometimes I feel like I have no support at all. I've tried to talk to my managers, but there are just so many of us. It's hard to be a shining star when we're all so bright.

It's ok when I'm at work. When I stock I literally put everything I have into making sure my stores look perfect. It's hard work, it's sometimes difficult work, but I do it all with a smile. No one likes stocking, but it has to be done. When I'm on registers I relish every moment, because how often do I get to be on registers? I honestly love my job.

But it's over in January. Internships are posted, it's time to apply, and I'm just stuck on that one-note, one-point not even a month away from being gone in time. I feel so lost. I don't know what I'm supposed to do, what I can do. I feel like I've let myself down, my family down, and everyone I know. I wish I could photograph their faces as I tell them I work merch for Disney, that way I have evidence.

Some Natural Magic

I got some bad news since my last post. I'm a bit unwilling to go into the details, but it basically leads to the impossibility of me getting an internship for the Spring. Which leads me to beg the question:

What am I doing here?

If you were to ask me what I'm best at, I'd tell you in an instant that the thing I know most about, the thing I know best is Walt Disney World. If you asked me about the thing I cared most about I'd tell you it's happiness: my own, that of others... that's why I'm in this field after all. Happiness is so important, so essential that I do my best to find the happiness in every situation. But the more and more I think about it, the more and more unhappy I become. The more and more I think about where I am right now, in comparison to so many others, to friends and cohorts, the more dissatisfied I am.

So where do I find happiness in such a situation, when the happiest place on earth is not so happy? I go back to simplicity... my first thought is a movie, where I can escape into happy endings... well, the few I've seen in the past few days all had depressing endings... fail 1.

So then I turn to music, which for the most part makes me happy, but sometimes just reinforces the sadness...

So then I turn to nature--to the calm of a Florida summer night, to the occasional brief gust of wind, to the low rumble of thunder. Sometimes it's exactly what I need.

So where do you find your center of peace?

High-Ho, High-HOH, to Registers I Go!

So, in some movies or TV shows there's the idea that if you want to escape Death someone else must take your place. Well, apparently HOH works the same way.

This past week one of the seasonal CMs started getting HOH shifts... and then on Sunday when we got our schedules, she got the HOH shifts I usually get, and I didn't get any.

It was bittersweet, because of course I'm thrilled I don't have any, but at the same time I'm sad for her because I know that feeling of, "Oh, great, now I'm stuck with these." I really wish they would just rotate people through the shifts, that way no one gets stuck with a whole week of them. I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen though.

Anyways, so I have 2 more HOH shifts and then I'm back to registers for the time being =D It's late hours, but I'll be happy to be around people again!

Quick personal note, I love having my friends here from all sides of life: CP friends, college friends, high school friends, church friends, family. I'm really really lucky to have such a great support team. So thanks to all of you who read this, and thanks to those I don't know who continue to give me support <3

A Bruise by Any Other Name.... Would Still Be a Bruise

One of the simple joys in life is seeing a movie by yourself at a small movie theater in the morning. It's usually empty, so for the most part you have a HUGE screen to yourself, and you only pay about $5 for it!

You know how movie theaters have those railings on the side, and sometimes it's dark and you can't really see? Yeah, that's what happened to me on one lovely Monday morning when I decided to see a movie on my own. I ran into the railing. I'm not sure how, but basically I slammed my arm into the railing with such force that it left a bruise.... a bad bruise... and then the second day I had the bruise I rammed it into something else... so the bruise spread.... now it looks more like someone grabbed me by the arm forcefully. I can't tell you how many people have mentioned it looks like I have an abusive boyfriend. Freaky, right?

Anyways, back to Disney topics... I was back on registers these past 2 days and I miss them so much! Today I got to sing Happy Birthday and make sticker crowns and smile til I was blue in the face! I've gotten to work with some of my favorite people too!

I miss registers =(

Back to HOH tomorrow!

Finally Back at Regis-wait... you need me to be a stocker tonight?!?!

Today was my first day scheduled back as a normal register shift... and three hours before my shift was supposed to start I get a text from one of my roommates: Deployment just called, they need you to come in as stock tonight.

Seriously?

Seriously?

It's like someone up there is pointing down and laughing at me each time. Yes, Rory, we'll give you a little hope at something normal, but WAIT, come back and do this instead.

I mean, it was fine. Seriously. I've started taking pride in my stocking skills these days... and at least it was a non-HOH, non-morning shift and I got to work with and see some of my favorites. This is one of the hard parts of always getting HOH shifts: I never see any of my friends at work anymore ='(

I've decided if things don't change I'm going to start picking up shifts and having more 14-hour days. Register shifts are seriously *that* important to me. I wish I could make someone higher up see that, so I'll just have to prove to them that I'm a hard worker.

*Basic Story of the Day*

On my way toward my one and only break today I passed a family talking with the CM outside Splash Mtn. The CM was trying to suggest they go in the Splash store, but I stopped to let them know it was down. The guest really needed flip flops (her shoes broke!), and the only open place we sold them was Trading Post (a 5-10 min trip back and forth). So I offered to go grab the shoes and bring them back. As a result, my break was delayed about 30 minutes, but it was totally worth it, and it really made the guest happy. My closing manager was also impressed, so that's good =D

All You Need is Faith and Trust, and a Little Pixie Dust

"Think of the happiest things, it's the same as having wings!"

Today was a busy day. But I'm back. No Early Release today, no awful feeling like I might drop down with the plague any second. No, I'm back, with a little something special to prove it!

I was a stocker today, not Put Away, just a stocker, and I really liked it... for the first time I actually truly enjoyed my stock shift. My main responsibility was the Briar Cart, a small cart that sells water and squeeze breeze fans. It's practically everyone's least favorite place to work because it's out in the sun in a high guest contact area, and it was a blazing hot day today.

Perhaps one of the reasons I loved my shift today was because I was able to prove myself. So many times I hear complaints about the stockers, and I wanted to prove to those I was working with that I could be a good stocker, even with bronchitis. It was a day of running back and forth between getting ice, grabbing water, filling squeeze breezes, and regularly stocking the Briar Patch. It was a day of asking what I could do to help, a day of being friendly and courteous.

And I got a GSF. Now, in case you forget, or just tuned in, a GSF is a Great Service Fanatic card. It's given to a CM who follows the Disney Service Basics and is recognized for doing an outstanding job (either by a manager or by a fellow CM).

Now, today was a hot day. Today was a crowded day. Today was not a good day to be in a theme park, but by focusing on the positive (ie I'm getting healthy again, my life is pretty rocking right now, my best friends are almost all coming back to town this week, I'm going home to a bed that doesn't creek and a ceiling fan, just to name a few =P)... anyways, by focusing on the positive I was better able to "soar" through the day and make it a good day =D

A Day at Liberty, A Talk with a Manager, and a Cough That Just Won't Go Away

Today's been interesting, and it's only 2:45!

Today was another HOH day and we were over-staffed in Frontier and under-staffed in Liberty--so I volunteered to go help at Liberty Square today.

WOAH. What a difference. Seriously, this was an entirely different HOH experience.

In Frontierland we spend the first part of the day putting stuff away all together. We usually have 5-9 Bales worth of merch on Upper days, and about 4-6 on Lower days. We usually put away stuff in the store, and then, for the most part, put it away in the shop as well. Sometimes we'll just bring it to the stock room, where we'll individually go to for the second part of our shift. It's a lot of stuff, but it always gets done, usually early too. There's a lot of teamwork.

In Liberty we had 2 SMALL bales, and we all pretty much split up from the beginning. I was working in a shop called Yankee Trader... it didn't get a delivery today, but the stockroom from yesterday wasn't put away... at all. It looked AWFUL--2 VERY small rooms FULL of boxes and barely any order to follow. And there I was, my first time working in Liberty Square. Let's just say it was confusing and different.

I got to speak with my scheduling manager today about having so many HOH shifts. For the time being it's going to stay pretty much the same, but eventually I will get more of a balance, which I'm really looking forward to! Balance is certainly one of the most important aspects of life.

And finally, my cough. I now compare it to hacking up death or something similar. I got to work feeling awful, so I put in for an ER for noon, which I got. After I got home I changed and ran to the store to get chicken soup, ginger ale, tea and medicine. I'm now in bed propped up with pillows and watching Grey's Anatomy (the perfect thing to watch when you're sick =P). I'm seriously hoping that an almost full day of rest will do me some good. If you're the praying type, all prayers are appreciated <3

Maybe I should just wish on a star =D

Sick, Terrified and Determined

So, as you know from my other post, I've been sick the past week. For a few days it was bad enough for me to call into work (which I really don't like doing). When I was Seasonal I knew that I could call in 3 times in a row sick and it only count as one point, so that's what I did, with the goal to be better by, if not before, the 4th day.

Well, there was one little tiny eensy small detail that turned my last day of "recovery" into a sorta hellish nightmare. CPs don't fall under the normal CM guidelines... we're only allowed to be sick one day. So instead of getting one small point, I ended up racking 3. That equals a reprimand. Not good.

We get ONE reprieve. If we go to the doctor and get a note excusing us, and then bring that to health services and their nurse excuses us, THEN we can have it only count as one point. Well, the minute I found this out I was out of the apartment and on my way between Health Services and Walgreens to see a doctor and prove to the World that I really was sick. (On the plus side, I did get much needed cough medicine...)

I worked myself up that I was in BIG trouble that I actually made myself more sick... but return to work I had to on Saturday. Just as a FYI, coughing while lifting boxes should be some sort of hazard... I actually don't hate working the early morning HOH shifts.... just that I don't have any register shifts.

Today I got my schedule and saw that I was working half registers and half HOH next week! Excitement beyond words! I did, however, decide that I would make the most out of my HOH shifts. After all, it is a great opportunity to know more about the stock rooms and where everything belongs. Also, during the second half of the shift, it's really easy to talk with guests and still provide that world-class guest service!

So the moral of the story: if you call in, you better be dying (or already dead) and make the most out of whatever situation puts itself in your way. After all, isn't character defined by how we face our challenges?

Keep choosing to be happy <3 I'll let you all know more about the rest of my HOH shifts this week!

So How DO You Survive a 17-Hour Day?

I think I'm at that point where I am BEYOND exhaustion. If my head hits the pillow I most certainly will fall asleep in an instant... but while it's still on my mind, let me tell you about the past 24 hours.

Yesterday was my first 5AM put away shift... at this point I was thinking it was the first of only 5 and it would be over soon. Soon it would be some other poor CP's task to have a week of waking up at 3:30AM to get to work. I was amazed how fast the day went, so I thought if I picked up a shift after my shift today it would be ok.

Here's my problem: I want to work in a high volume guest area. I'm a people person, I thrive on human contact... and they stick me in a tunnel with the mole people. Not saying anything against the usual HOH stockers, just that these shifts don't see a lot of guests. It was Saturday that I heard the awful news: being the only CP in my program to work this shift, I would most likely be stuck with it... for the rest of my program. WHAT?!?!?! No, no, no, no this is NOT good.

I spent the rest of the day fearing Sunday when my schedule drops. I went home. I took a short nap, which of course ruined my sleep schedule for the rest of the night. I finally got to sleep around 1:30A.... 2 hours before I had to wake up for my next HOH shift. When I got up this morning everything was fine. I double packed a bag so I had breakfast and dinner, and all the stuff I needed for both costumes, as well as for some free time in the park. I stopped at McDonald's on my way in for coffee... where even the guy at the drive-thru was amazed I was only heading into work.

Then I got to work, clocked in, and... moment of truth... checked my schedule for next week. NO CHANGE. All either HOH or early morning stock shifts. For the next 2 hours I was close to tears, thinking *this* is what I would have to do for the next few months. All my CP friends get register shifts... maybe some stock... but not all stock. After talking with some more CPs I discovered that this will most likely be my fate, unless I do something about it. And this is where I step into action.

After my HOH shift ended I drove home for a quick break before my register shift (that I picked up) for the evening. I wasn't originally planning on this, but today's HOH shift was a slight physical toll... Argument #1.

This evening I worked in Splash all night. I made sure to stay super friendly, as always, and to keep pepped up. I made sure to greet my manager and explain to him that I was back because I have to get register shifts in order to stay in practice with guest relations... he's not my scheduling manager, but it's a good start. Today was tiring, exhausting, and one of those awful days, but I didn't let it show to the guests, or to my managers. If this is what I have to do to tell them I'm serious about working registers, than this is what I'll do.

I'm going to work tomorrow on drafting an email to my scheduling manager about why I feel I should be taken off HOH shifts. It feels like the first adult email I have to send... feels almost like I'm asking for a raise or something, because I want to work with guests. I want to prove I'm worthy, and most importantly I want to be taken seriously, as a professional.

17-Hour Days? Yeah, I've got those.

"I Wish We'd Never Have to Grow Up"

Sometimes I just love that Disney is a place for kids of all ages.

I worked in Upper Frontierland today, the location where you can watch all the parades and fireworks. It was an 11-hour day, but to be honest, it didn't feel like it. I spent most of my time at Big Al's, the outdoor location. I spent most of my day playing with bubble guns and string-things and wearing cowboy hats. I was merchantaining at it's finest today, handing out special occasion pins and singing happy birthday. Today myself and my coworkers truly displayed excellent guest service.

There's a quote they say at the Magic Kingdom's opening: "Whether it is your first visit, or your one-hundredth, we know you'll have a magical day."

As someone who's been to the parks countless times, it sometimes stinks that Disney focuses so much on someone's first visit. Of course you won't forget your first time (unless you're like me and you were a baby), but I think the quote says it all. So when I ask someone what number trip it is, and they're not on their first, they usually think they won't get something. Instead I take a marker and make a 1st visit pin say 15th visit instead.

Today I got to be a kid at work. I played with all the toys and gadgets, and I got to watch the parade and fireworks. Wishes always makes me nostalgic, I absolutely love it. And for the second Electric Light Parade I was the only person on my side of the street, so all the characters waved at me, and Mickey even drew a heart with his hands and pointed at me. Yup. It made me happy.

This goes back to saying what I said before: if you choose to be happy, you most certainly will be!

Late Nights and Early Mornings

It is currently 8:45PM. I LEAVE for work in 30 minutes. I start work in 90. I get off work at 4:15AM. Ah, the life of a Disney CP.

In Frontierland most CPs get the late hours. My sleep pattern is used to that, to staying up til early morning and sleeping til early afternoon.

Starting Saturday, however, my sleeping pattern is going to change. Instead of late nights, I'm working early mornings. And no, I don't mean 7AM or later, no. I'm talking about 5AM-1:30PM shifts. 5 of them. And the one that I have next week that isn't a 5AM shift? Yeah, try 6:45AM. Somebody clearly hates me.

My hope is that after this sort of hell week, I'll be able to go back to the late nights. That is, at least, my hope. We'll see how it goes.

Just as Happy When You Leave?

At work today I got to merchantain with a stuffed animal Paschale from Tangled. I had fun with him, with my coworkers, and overall had a pleasant time at work today. On the bus, however, something odd hit me. I wasn't happy.

I couldn't tell you why. I can't seem to pinpoint what's disturbing me, even now. Sometimes we say we unscrew our smiles when we step off-stage. That's exactly what today felt like. Sometimes, you're just not happy.

If 10 years ago someone asked me where I thought I'd be, I would never have thought I'd be working for Disney. Better yet, I'm pretty sure I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be working for Disney, for minimum wage. 10 years ago I thought that at this point in my life I'd be in law school and married (yup, because Annie Banks became Annie Banks McKenzie when she was 22... don't know the reference? Look it up =D ).

Well, times have changed, my life has changed, and I'm nowhere near where I'd thought I'd be. I do, however, firmly believe that in order to be happy you must first decide to be happy. That's what we do everyday at work, and that's why on stage we're always happy. It's just time to bring a little bit of that Disney magic back home with me.

Magic Kingdom v. Hollywood Studios

Ok, so I've been flabbergasted for a bit about how much more on theme Magic Kingdom is. Just the mere thought of walking into Fantasyland in my hoe-down gear slightly scares me, however I always see Mania and Sunset people walking all over DHS. And then it just hit me:

At Magic Kingdom the idea is Fantasy... you need to be totally immersed in you're own land. But at DHS the idea is Hollywood, on with the show... and what happens on a hot set? Actors walk around, all over the set in costumes from whatever show. All of DHS is like a hot set, or a movie studio with costumed actors walking to their scene. It's totally still themed!