MLID: work

Most people have now heard of the website called MLIA or My Life Is Average. Well, I've started using the term MLID or My Life Is Disney. I seriously love working for Disney. I love living in Florida. I love the perks. It's absolutely fantastic.

Don't get me wrong, I miss IL. And I miss my family a great deal. But this is the experience of a life time. Being so far away is hard, but I (usually) don't let it get me down. I've had some moments of complete vulnerability. Every once in a while, I just get really down and feel partially unsafe. At those times, I feel like I don't have anybody to lean on. My family and close friends are all over a thousand miles away (except Jordan, but she's still too far away!). And I don't have a significant other to provide the comfort I desire. But these times have been few.

I stay busy with work. I work around 40 hours a week. I work five to six days each week. I usually have Tuesday and/or Wednesday off. I believe that will change once October comes and I start my Disney Heritage Class. Then, I will probably have Mondays off. During training, I worked in the morning and afternoon. But now that I'm on my own, I have only worked afternoon and night shifts. More times than not, I am closing. Which is fine. I enjoy closing. Park Greeters who work a closing shift stay till the park is completely cleared of all guests. This is approximately an hour and a half to two hours after the designated park closing time. So right now, that means I work till 11pm most nights.

It's super fun to work late. There is a definite lull in the middle of the shift where things kind of get monotonous. But if you're closing, it's interesting to see everybody leave and say good bye and interact with them all. We have a nightly show called Fantasmic. When the amphitheater is full, it holds over 8,000 people. And when Fantasmic is over, most of these people head for the exit. It's a slightly awe-inspiring moment to see this many people come straight at you!

The other fun part about working late is what we call the Finales. Normally, park greeters are stationed at the front of the park, working entrances and exits. This is what they do all day long. But if you close, four people are assigned Finales. We are the only park out of all the Disney parks where Park Greeters (and not Security) do this. The four people each are assigned a main road in the park. We walk to the back of the park, and then usher all the guests to the front. It doesn't sound that exciting, but it's a lot of fun. And after spending 6-8 hours up front, it's nice to move about the park.

I work with a lot of fun people! There are a handful of college interns, and then quite a few more part- and full-time workers. But all of them are really nice and fun to be around. I really lucked out with my placement.

I don't want to make this too long, but I have a lot more to say so (hopefully) look for more entries coming  your way!