Busy Busy Busy

Sorry for not updating for a while. I've been super busy! On Friday, I had what Disney calls "Traditions." It's the Walt Disney orientation that all Disney employees at all the parks from around the world have to complete before they can be considered employees. During this class, we were given our formal Disney ID. In addition, Mickey came and gave us our name tags, which doesn't sound all that exciting. But believe me, name tags are a big deal! During Traditions, I got this overwhelming feeling that I'm exactly where I need to be, doing what I should be doing! It was wonderful! Once we received our official IDs, we could then enter the parks (for FREE!!).

I started training on Saturday. That day was an orientation to Hollywood Studios. And then on Sunday, I started on the job training. I've worked Sunday and Monday, opening shifts. Today, I work 3:30pm until Midnight to learn the closing shift things. I have assessment tomorrow. If I pass (which I should because it's super easy), I will then be done with Training and will start working on my own. All my shifts next week are closing shifts so that'll be interesting! But I love my job! And all the people I work with are really great and nice!

Outside of work, I've met a whole bunch of interesting and fun people! My roommates are great! All six of us get along really well!

That's about it for now! I'm only starting my seventh day, but I feel like I've been here a lot longer! But it's great!

Traveling and Check-In Day

Sorry for the long over due update! It’s been crazy and I haven’t really had internet access. The last two days of my trip down went well. Monday we drove from Louisville to Grovetown. It was actually an easy drive. We made it to my cousins’ house by about 4:30pm. It was great to catch up with Rob and Lis. We left on Tuesday and drove down to Palm Harbor, where Jordan lives. We drove through a bunch of rain for the first time on Tuesday. Other than the rain, and hitting rush hour traffic in Tampa, it was also a good drive. However, once I dropped Jordan off, things went a little downhill. Google gave me some poor directions. Add that to construction and to the crazy driving rules that is Florida, and I felt lost for the first time on my trip. But I got through it and made it to Phil’s apartment. I was completely brain dead by the time I got there though. Just exhausted. Went to bed and got up early for check in.

Check in was actually super fun. I got there about 6:40am. Met up with all five of my roommates right away. They are cool guys! I think Nick and I lucked out with having such a good group. We waited in line for about an hour. Disney people let us in an hour early. How it goes down is like this. People show up and have to wait outside Vista Way (one of the housing complexes). Security does not let us in so we line up on the sidewalk along the road. When we are let in, the line just moves to a building (the clubhouse? I can’t remember). Here, you wait in line some more. You get some paperwork that you have to fill out and then there are several stops in the line to go through.

One of these is housing. We got the complex we wanted. Originally we wanted Chattham Square. But last minute, we changed to Patterson Court. So that’s where we are, in building One. As of now, building One seems to have a lot of parking because we are in the back corner. This may change, who knows. After housing we go through some other stops, we get out housing ID as well so that we can get into our complex. We also go through parking registration if we brought a car. After all that, we wait for a bus to take us over to casting. At this point, it had started to rain so we were waiting in the rain.

At casting, we did all of our working documents and such. I found out that I will be working at Hollywood Studios as a Park Greeter. I’ll tell you later what this entails, as right now I’m not entirely sure of all my duties. We got the I-9 forms turned in and direct deposit. Filed a background check and did a few other things. We got back to Vista Way and then had some free time. My roommates and I came over to check out our new apartment. It’s a nice complex. We’re on the third (top) floor which means we have to climb stairs. Usually not a bad thing in my book, but moving in was not fun. We got all our stuff into our apartment and then sat down with the roommates and discussed some things that needed discussing. Then at 3pm we had a housing meeting. It was an hour and a half long. Kind of boring, but had some interesting parts as well.

The meeting was over at 4:30. And then, not having eaten all day, the six of us wanted food. We drove out to Downtown Disney and ate at the Rain Forest Café. We came back to our apartment and did some more unpacking. Then went to bed. Long day! But that brings you up to date on everything!

If you have any specific things you would like me to answer, please feel free to put them in the comments and I will answer them in the next blog!

Traveling, Day 1

Well, we left Hampshire at 1:30pm. Google said it would take six and a half hours to get to Louisville, KY. We stopped a couple times, but made it by 7:30 (8:30 KY time). So that's good. We cut off a half hour from the trip. It was a good drive. We hit some stop-and-go traffic in Norther Indiana, but otherwise, we were good. I drove the entire way today.

Tomorrow, we are getting up early and hitting the road. We hope to be on the road around 8am. Just a quick update for ya'll.

DDC #1

Last day of the Double Disney Challenge! I leave today between 1pm and 2pm for Florida!!

Day #1: Your favorite theme park attraction/ride
As it stands right now, my favorite park ride is The Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom. And my favorite park attraction is Fantasmic in Hollywood Studios.

Day #1: Your absolute favorite Disney song
So, most of the songs that I have used for previous days are my favorite songs. And instead of picking a brand new one (which is proving difficult), I'm going to pick one I've already used. I tend to sing this one randomly all the time. From Hercules, Go the Distance.

DDC #2

Day #2: Your favorite theme park
I've been to Disney World three times. Once in 1997 (fourth grade) and twice in high school. From these experiences, I would have to say Magic Kingdom is my favorite. But I look forward to re-evaluating that decision when I'm down there.

Day #2: From your favorite Disney movie.
I'm going to have to say, at least at the moment, my favorite Disney movie is Mulan. This may change periodically. But right now, that's what it is.

Down to the Wire

So, it's about that time! Tomorrow is my last full day at home. I go and pick up Jordan from the airport in the afternoon. Then, it's my hometown's annual festival. So Jordan and I will hang out there with my family for food and fireworks. Sunday morning is the pancake breakfast. We'll go to that as well as pack the car sometime in the morning. Then at noon, there is a parade. Straight after the parade, Jordan and I hit the road.

Our first day traveling, we are heading to Louisville, Kentucky. We'll stay there for the night. It'll take us about six and a half hours to get there. The next days (Monday), we'll leave in the morning and head to my cousin's house right outside of Augusta, Georgia. That will be about a nine and a half hour drive. And then Tuesday we will head to where Jordan lives in Florida. I'll drop her off, then head over to Kissimmee where I will be staying with Phil.

Then Wednesday is the big day. I'll arrive to our place of check in about 7am. Check in doesn't start till about 9am, but the crazies are out and the line gets long early. Haha. I'll be vlogging about the whole trip down with Jordan. I will also vlog about the check in process. I'll probably blog about these things too.

It's just so close. Right now, I'm past the apprehension that I was feeling a few days ago. I'm back to pure excitement! It's going to be great! And we're going to leave it at that

DDC #3

Day #3: Your favorite quote
One of my favorite quotes comes form Disney-Pixar's Ratatouille. And I think it's really applicable to my situation right now. Gusteau says to Remy "If you focus on what you've left behind, you will never be able to see what lies ahead!"

Day #3: From an old school Disney movie
Can't get much old school than Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

DDC #4

Day #4: Saddest death
There are several sad deaths in Disney movies. I'm gonna go with Ellie's death in Up! Because that one truly got to me.

Day #4: From a Disney movie that you think is underrated
A few days ago, I stated that one of the Disney movies I thought was underrated was The Sword in the Stone. And in that, I'm picking one of my favorite songs from that movie. 

DDC #5

Day #5: Your favorite scene from your favorite movie
Off hand, I'm going to pick a scene from Mulan. If I really thought about it, I might have come up with a different scene or different movie. But oh well, I like this one. I actually already used it, but in a different context. But this scene makes me giggle immensely.

Day #5: The song that is the most beautiful
There are many beautiful songs in Disney movies. Some I've already used, others I have not. For now, I'm gonna stick with Mulan and pick Reflections.

DDC #6

Day #6: A movie that makes you cry
Gonna go with the Fox and the Hound. The one scene always gets me!

Day #6: The song with the best lyrics
I've used many songs with good lyrics. So as to not repeat any of those songs, I will pick one I haven't used yet. I'm gonna go with Just Around the Riverbend from Pocahontas. 

DDC #7

Day #7: A movie that makes you laugh
Most of the Disney movies make me laugh at some point. I'm going to shoot for Disney-Pixar this week though. There is one in particular that really makes me laugh every time I watch it: Up!

Day #7: A song you would play at your wedding
 There are many Disney songs that are worthy and appropriate for a wedding. A few of them I've already used and do not wish to re-use. But there is one I specifically love and would love for it to be played at my wedding. Trevor, you'll enjoy this!