My name’s Rory. Not Drury, Lori, Cory, Dory, Marie---Roar like a lion, Rory. I work in the hospitality industry in one of the biggest tourism Meccas of the world: Orlando, FL. I’ve lived in Orlando most of my life, and grew up treating Walt Disney World as my playground. I went to the University of Florida for college (Go Gators!), with the full intention of eventually getting as far away from Orlando as possible. Then I realized just how much I love planning events and helping people—and with my head held high, decided that Orlando was simply calling me home. After college I participated in Disney’s College Program, and started this blog to document what it was like to be an Orlando native (or close enough to one) and working among all these people who traveled from all over the world to work for Walt Disney World. I worked in Frontierland Merchandise, where I learned to talk with a Southern drawl and found ways to make magic every day.
Then, my program ended, and the amazing friends I had made
all went home. Left a little lost in this city that I loved, I tried to make
the Disney thing work, but ended up instead finding my way into hotels and several jobs later, now work for an amazing company, and front-runner in the hospitality industry. I love my job.
Now, officially no longer a Cast Member with the Walt Disney
Company, I write about my life and a little about my work. I write about the struggles on finding a partner and friends in this town and I write to keep my friends across the world updated. Below are a few more concrete details about me. Any
questions, just leave a comment!
NAME: Rory
NICKNAME(S): Ror
AGE: 27
COLLEGE: University of Florida
DEGREE: Recreation, Parks, and Tourism with a specialization in Recreation and Event Management
FUTURE PLANS: Staying with my company and hopefully getting the opportunity to travel around the country--hoping to move to D.C. eventually!
PETS: A bichon frise named Keeper (as in the Quidditch position)
HOBBIES: Reading, Nature walks, Digital Arts and Crafts, Scrapbooking, Event Design, Cooking and Baking
BEST ADVICE I EVER HEARD: Live in the present. Try this beer.
FAVORITE THING TO DO IN SUMMER: See all the new blockbuster movies
FAVORITE THING TO DO IN FALL: Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas at the theme parks
FAVORITE THING TO DO IN WINTER: RunDisney events, nature walks, reading by the fire
MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE: Lee Cockerell, Mindy Kaling, My parents
CURRENT JOB: Hospitality Reservations and Communications
FAVORITE GROUPS OR SINGER: Little bits of everything--The 1975, Walk the Moon, Meghan Trainor, Adele
FAVORITE COLOR: Purple
FAVORITE FOOD: Chocolate and Steak... not together.
FAVORITE DRINK: Non-alcoholic - Water with lots of lemon; Alcoholic - some very random craft beer
FAVORITE BOOK: Sense and Sensibility, Why Not Me?
FAVORITE PLAY: Aida, Hamilton
FAVORITE ANIMAL: Penguins
FAVORITE MONTH: October - December, can't pick one
FAVORITE HOLIDAY: Christmas
FAVORITE PART OF THE NEWSPAPER: Life and Times
FAVORITE WEATHER: Sunny and Cold!
FAVORITE CANDY: Hershey's
FAVORITE T.V. SHOW: Once Upon a Time, Game of Thrones, The Mindy Project
FAVORITE SPORTS: Football and Baseball
