Happy Holidays

So, it's January 9th. The holidays are finally over. It's been a long couple of weeks. Leading up to the weeks before the holidays, we were all getting maybe 32-40 hours a week. Then the holidays started and hours went up. I was working 50-60 hours a week. I started working six days a week. Then the week of Christmas came. That week I worked all seven days, making about a 13 day stretch without a day off. I worked 80 hours that week. And then 70 hours the week after for New Year's. So you think then that the long weeks are over.

Wrong!

Right after New Year's, all of the college program kids finish their programs. The new college program kids don't start right away. So we are currently in what we call the CP-Gap. What this means is that all of the full- and part-time cast members are still working long hours. So I'm still working 50-70 hour weeks.

Don't get me wrong, I love having hours and good paychecks. But, I've not had a real break from work until right now. This is the first time I've had two days off in a row for several weeks. I'll be happy for the hours to get back to 40 in a week. I say that now, but as soon as they do, I'll want more hours again.




I received my first point on my record card. Actually, it was only half a point, for clocking in five minutes late. Normally, I start work around 8:15 or 8:30 in the morning. At this time, traffic is not bad at all since the park does not open until 9 usually. But as soon as 9 comes along, the parking plaza gets super backed up. I can usually make it to work in 20 minutes. This includes walk-time, from the moment I lock my front door to the moment I clock in at work. I usually leave 30 to 35 minutes before my shift just to give me some extra time. The other day, I strangely started at 9:45. Without thinking, I left my house at 9:15. Bad decision. The entrance to Hollywood Studios was super backed up. It took me 15 minutes alone to get from the turn-lane into the entrance to the parking spot. I did not park until 9:43, plus there is about 8 minutes of walking after that. I was so upset but oh well. It's my first notation. And it's only half a point.




I received another first the other day. It was my first Applause-o-gram. When a guest has a really great experience with a cast member, if they tell Guest Relations about it, guest relations will normally fill out an Applause-o-gram for that cast member. Here's my story:

I encountered a family around 8pm. They were a party of five: mom, dad, and three kids. The youngest, probably about 10 years old, suffered from some ailment. He was in a wheel chair and the parents explained that he is currently on chemo and medication. Because of this, they were not able to get an early start to their day. They arrived at Hollywood Studios at 1pm that day, about two hours after we had run out of fast passes. They did not have a Guest Assistance Card (which under the circumstances, they probably could have gotten). The boy really wanted to go on Toy Story. The standby wait time at 8pm was about 2 hours long. We explained that between 9pm and 10pm, the wait time would be considerably shorter. The parents responded that 2 hours was just too much to spend in line, and that they were unsure that coming back between 9pm and 10 pm would be a good option. The boy would only last about an hour longer before the meds started to kick in, the should really be leaving the park within an hour. With heavy faces, they turned and started to leave. I looked at my coordinator Jesse and stated that I feel horrible. Without hesitation, Jesse allowed me to grab the family and bring them through the fast pass line without fast passes. The family was so happy, but realized it was breaking the rules, so they only wanted to send in half of their party. I made sure the whole party was able to ride. I took them through the fast past line, got to know them a little bit while we waited. And told them that it might be an additional 20 minute wait or so. They were so very appreciative and humbled. As I walked out of the building, I almost started crying. Thirty minutes later, I was actually put in the positions where wheel chairs are loaded onto the ride. AS I got there, this family was just getting off the ride, and once again thanked me profusely. The little boy was so happy. And the parents couldn't thank me enough. Honestly, it was my pleasure. I'm happy that I got an Applause-o-gram for it. But, I would have done it regardless. The satisfaction I received from the action alone, was more than enough for me. This is why I work for Disney.