My last day

Today was my final day working at Innoventions. It has not quite hit me yet, but yesterday people started saying goodbye to each other which was very sad and today I said goodbye to even more amazing people. I cannot even believe that January 11 was already four months ago and I have essentially completed my program. I am going to miss driving into work every day and seeing the Walt Disney World arches and living in Florida. Working here has been exhausting, difficult, but all at the same time absolutely amazing. However, it is going to be nice to no longer have to say 100000 times a day... "How many?", "How old are you?", "This is not a ride this is just a test vehicle, the actual ride is over there.", "Universe of energy is out the doors next to sum of all thrills and straight ahead.", "test track is closed for refurbishment until the fall", "Soarin' is through the green breezeway and straight ahead to the land", "you walk pas the fountain and over the bridge to get to the world showcase", "welcome designers. numbers one through four on your left, five through eight on your right. you have four minutes to design your ride", "are you two riding together?", "please empty out your pockets and put all loose belongings in a locker", "this is your emergency stop button, do not press this unless you want the ride to end" then they press it and look at you dumbfounded when their ride ends and you tell them to leave, "Welcome to the great piggy bank adventure presented by t.rowe price. have you been here before?.....etc", "Welcome to run time by IBM have you been here before?... etc", "What do you do here" (while in UL), and pretty much everything else we had to say by the book over and over again. Regardless though, I have learned so much while working here and will remember everything I have learned and take it back with me as soon as I leave. This was a fantastic experience and I do not regret one minute of it.

Goodbye Innoventions :(

 Where it all began Four months ago

January 11 check in: Stephen, William, Suzy, Casey, Mike, Donna, and Me.

The Final Countdown

My program officially ends on Friday, but I am finished working on Wednesday. The fact that the last four months is about to be over is mind boggling. I knew that the time would go by fast, as it always does when you are doing something you enjoy day in and day out, but I never would have imagined it would go by this fast. Today was my 5th day out of 9 straight days of work before I leave. The last 5 days were pretty long, but today started off pretty smoothly. Once 6:00 rolled around things took a turn for the not so pleasant as a guest that was very unhappy, rude, and dissatisfied decided I was the perfect person to take out all of that frustration on. If the last four months has taught me anything, patience is for sure number one. It is key to be able to smile at all times and bite your tongue even when you are getting yelled at, sworn at, or treated badly. No matter what, the guest is always right and that can be very difficult to stomach, but it is crucial. I have definitely learned more than I can put into words from doing this program, but moments like today make me realize that it is time for me to start a new adventure and continue moving forward. Yesterday I had a meeting with one of my managers to discuss my end of the program evaluation. We talked about my overall experience during the program, what I learned and gained from it, etc. She also gave me very good advice on how to now work my way up in the professional world using this internship as a starting block. She gave me a lot of encouragement and inspiration to be able to use this program as a tool to help me achieve my goals rather in the company or elsewhere. Even though this internship was at one specific place, I will be able to take everything I have learned here and apply it to all aspects of my life. I have loved working here the last four months, meeting all of the people I have, and gaining all of the knowledge I have. However, it is getting time for me to close this chapter of my life so that I can start a new one using all of the skills I have gained from this experience. No matter how hard things have gotten at times, I would not take back this experience for anything and would recommend it to any college student who has a love for the most magical place on earth like I do.

Why I love working here even on the roughest days.

The days here can be long, very long... a 6 hour shift can feel like 12 hours and a 12 hour shift can feel like 24. However, this is definitely a magical place to work and when you surround yourself with amazing people it makes the day go by that much quicker and keeps you smiling no matter how tired you are. Each night we close with a manager and they give us a talk at the end of the night to wrap things up and sum up the day. One of the managers in particular is the exact vision of Disney and goes above and beyond when it comes to all of us cast members. He spends the day on the floor with us periodically, checking in on us, seeing how our day is going, if we need anything, etc. He always has his energy level at 1000% and each night his talks are completely inspiring and make me love coming to work. No matter how exhausted I am I see how much he loves working here and how much he appreciates each and every one of us and that makes everything I go through with guests and cast members worth it that much more. With my program ending in 12 days I am realizing more and more how sad it is going to be to leave this unique work environment. This place is like no other place I have ever worked and and will ever work at. The experience I have gained here personally and professionally is one of a kind and I will never forget everything that I have learned. Not only have I gained a lot of business insight and skills learning the ins and outs of this company, but I have also put my psychology degree to good use dealing with all of the people I come across each and every day. When these next 12 days are said and done it will be hard to look back on the last four months and leave everything behind.

One of my few days off left...

Today I spent the day off on a hunt for Princesses with my roommates. We were pretty successful. With only 18 days left to go in the Program and about 20 until I head back to Virginia time is ticking for me to check more things off my to-do list.

 Tiana!

 Mary Poppins!

 Rapunzal!

 Aurora!

Cinderella!

Belle!

Nearing the end of the program = evaluating my life plan

At the beginning of my program my dream job was to be a lawyer for the company a long ways down the road. Not only did this entail me raising my GPA at UMW a massive amount, studying for the LSAT (uhhh not so much), doing well on the LSAT (guess that means I should actually study for it), applying to law school, and then getting into law school (hey Yale, looking for any students?), but it also required me to be so spectacular that this program would help put my foot in the door to one day become a big shot lawyer for the company. Although I still absolutely love this place and plan to come here on as many vacations as possible, the idea of working here as a lawyer does not necessarily seem like my ideal job. I still think there are aspects that would be fantastic about it, but after all I have learned from being behind the scenes here I am not so sure I could actually be one of the lawyers. Granted doing the entertainment side of it would be very interesting, but the corporate, injury, etc, side would be far from glamourous. There are many aspects to the way the company is run from a business and legal standpoint that I do not agree with at all. I will not go into detail at this moment in time, but I bet you can imagine things that would be able to get hid under the table or brushed off thanks to top lawyers and the ability to write very large checks. With that being said, law school is still a goal of mine (if I can get to that point which seems pretty daunting thinking about it), but where that law degree could take me I am not so certain at this point. I would love to keep creating magic one way or another, but I need to figure out how to do that all while being a lawyer that people love to hate. Like I've been told, people hate lawyers until the day that they actually need one... With that being said, my program ends in less than 19 days which is unbelievable and I need to star thinking beyond summer classes and get working on my life plan.

1 Month Left :-(

Tomorrow will mark exactly one month until my program ends. I cannot believe how fast time has gone by here. The first two months flew by especially when the work, people, and places were all brand new. Although things have become pretty routine, especially with work, it is still amazing to be here. Not many people can say that they got to spend a semester at such a magical place. My dream come true, no pun intended. I feel like I have fulfilled the working and learning part of the internship, but I still have so many things here I have yet to do and want to get done. If you have read my to do list it may seem like I've got a lot done so far, but this is a HUGE place and I have lots left to accomplish. With our minimal amount of pay (yes the fact that I am getting paid for an internship is a miracle) it is difficult to really go adventure and see the rest of Florida which I had wanted to do while I was here. Even though my work is routine each day brings something new and I am still learning so much every single day. The job experience I have gained here and the people skills I have acquired will help me every single day for the rest of my life. No matter how bad my memory gets (and trust me it is pretty bad) I will never forget all that I have learned here. Usually, I am exhausted after getting home each day and just plan to crash, but after I get back from my short visit to Virginia next weekend I plan to spend all my days off cramming in as much as I can possibly do before May 11 comes. Wish me luck!

 Flower and Garden Festival!

 Thanks Easter Bunny!

Beaches and Cream for the Kitchen Sink!

I thought it was peak season?

For the last two months we have been warned that once March and April come sleep will no longer be a priority and our hours will jump from 30-40 to 50-60 hours per week. Well... apparently that is the case for everywhere, but Innoventions. For some reason majority of the CP's in Innoventions are only getting scheduled for somewhere between 30-40 with the occasional odd ball out. For the last 3 weeks my hours have been between 34-36 which seems ideal, but once rent gets taken out, you buy groceries, and you buy gas you have about $2 left of your pay check from that week. Not really ideal. So basically all you can afford to do is go to work and go home. No exploring around Florida on your days off with that sad state of funds. Regardless of how minimal my pay check is each week now I am still learning new things every single day and still absolutely love Disney World. Although some guests can be far from friendly each day I always encounter at least one group of guests that brightens my day and makes me realize why I do come to work at Disney World every single day. Each night our manages give us a closing meeting where not only do we get a wrap up of the days events, but they try to inspire us in some way so that the next day we can come to work and inspire the guests. The whole way that Disney is run and how it began never ceases to amaze me. It is amazing how one man's dream turned into such a huge successful company and I am just in awe that I am able to work for that company. I have about 5 weeks left in my program and am trying to absorb and retain as much information as I can so that I can help become more successful as a person and be able to make my dreams become a reality just like Walt Disney did.

 Flower and Garden Fesitval at Epcot!

  Flower and Garden Fesitval at Epcot!

 Seaworld!

 Seaworld!

Checking things off my to-do list

Places and Things to eat:
1. Mickey bar
2. Mickey ice cream sandwich
3. Dole Whip
4. Mexico
5. England
6. France
7. Chocolate from Germany
8. Hollywood Brown Derby
9. Ohana's
10. 1900 Park Fare
11. Portabello's
12. Rainforest Cafe
13. Raglan Road
14. Disney Popcorn
15. Giant Mickey Cookie
16. Captain's Grill
17. Boatwright's Dining Hall
18. Morocco
19. Beaches and Cream
20. Earl of Sandwich
21. Ghirardelli
22. Japan
23. Chocolate covered banana
24. Ice Cream Parlor in Magic Kingdom
25. Carmel Apple from the Confectionary

26. Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Attractions I have done:
1. The people mover
2. Space Mountain
3. Buzz lightyear
4. Speedway
5. Splash Mountain
6. Haunted Mansion
7. Train around MK
8. Test track
9. Finding nemo
10. Everest
11. Kilimanjaro Safari ride
12. Dinosaur
13. It's a small world
14. Jungle cruise
15. Mad tea party
16. Monster's Inc laugh floor
17. Pirate's of the caribbean
18. snow white's scary adventure
19. stitch's great escape
20. spaceship earth
21. innoventions
22. rock 'n' roller coaster
23. star tours
24. tower of terror
25. muppet vision 3D
26. voyage of the little mermaid
27. finding nemo- the musical
28. kali river rapids
29. Jungle trek
30. exploration trail
31. wildlife express train
32. affection section
33. discovery island trails
34. cross country creek
35. teamboat springs
36. melt-away bay
37. downhill double dipper
38. runoff rapids
39. crush 'n' gusher
40. Soarin'
41. Dumbo the flying Elephant
42. Peter Pan's Flight
43. The Barnstormer
44. Mickey's Philharmagic
45. Prime evil Whirl

 Kitchen Sink!

 Nachos at Mexico!

 Chocolate Mousse at France!

 Giant mickey cookie at Hollywood Studios!

 Fried dough at Magic Kingdom!

 Chocolate cake at France!

Chocolate covered banana and mickey bar at Hollywood Studios!

Ice Cream at Ghirardelli!

 Space Mountain!

Buzz Lightyear!

Carmel apple from the Confectionary!

 Last Mickey Bar of the program :(

 Everest!

Dinosaur!

Getting there slowly but surely!

How did you create magic today?

My biggest worry going into the program was that after the four months was over I would feel completely different about this place and not love it nearly as much as I did back when I was just a guest. However, so far that is proving to be completely false. My family came down to visit earlier in the week and I spent 2 days as a guest with them going around. It was even more fun and magical than before I began working here. Now knowing the ins and outs of the company and being involved in creating the magic every day makes the experience of being a guest that much more special. Not only on my days off do I get to experience the magic, but when I work I get to experience it and create it. Working here has given me job and life experiences that I would never have been able to get anywhere else. At our closing meeting last night one of the managers asked all of us to give examples of a magical moment we had with a guest. People went around and described what they did that made the guests experience just that much better and helped bring the magic to another level. Hearing all the stories of fellow co workers going above and beyond made me realize how much I enjoy working here and how happy I am to be a part of all of this. In a month and a half when the program is all said and done and I go home I will be able to put more than this on my resume. It has definitely been a life changing experience and makes me realize how much I want to be a part of a company like this in the future.

 Breakfast at the Grand Floridian!

Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios!

Things I have Learned This week...

1. Contrary to popular belief had sanitizer is not magical. When you encounter tens of thousands of people on a daily basis from all over they are bound to carry all sorts of lovely germs. No matter how many times you lather on that hand sanitizer their germs will come into contact with you... Sooner or later you will get sick. That small, cute, child that comes up to you and coughs will catch up to you. If you do not get sick, lucky for you I probably will.
2. No matter how sick you are, the people above you will still thank you for pushing through and coming to work anyways. It does not matter if guests are terrified by your cough that sounds like your lungs are about to fly out of your chest, or the other painful sounds your illness makes. Because half the battle was deciding to come to work in that condition and you did that. High five!
3. Once you call in sick because you sound like death is knocking at your door and people have taken notice of your pitiful state and tell you to go home and rest, you've caused a lot of hassle. Not only do you get a mark on your attendance card for calling out sick, but then your shift is floating around with nobody to work it. Not necessarily your fault, since you are sick, but none the less it becomes a big-to-do.
4. Getting a day off to heal up and relax seems ideal... Until you've realized that you lost 10+ hours of pay and no matter what that lovely chunk of your pay check will still get taken out on pay day for rent. Urgh...
5. Florida oranges are delicious, but they do not have magical healing vitamin-c powers.
Those are my thoughtful life lessons from the job this week. Do enjoy!

The Joys of Peak Season

When we first got here we were warned our hours would be terrible and our schedules would have no rhyme or reason because we were CP's and we got the short end of the stick. For the most part over the last two months my schedule has been 35-45 hours a week and my hours have been around 6-10 per day. Lately though, the lovely 12-13 hour shifts have gotten thrown into the mix and the hours have gotten much later than usual. Instead of getting out at 7:30 every day like I usually did, with the occasional 9:30 shift in there, next week and the week after I get out at 9:30/10 every night. Hello peak season! As I was laying on the ground in the back area because of exhaustion two days ago, one of the managers walked up to me and laughed and pretty much said get used to it because that's what happens when you are a CP. Although I'm not a night person and fully enjoy going to bed early and sleeping a good 8-9 hours a night I have no choice but to change my sleep schedule for the next 2 months to get used to the joys of peak season. 

On an unrelated note, today is my Saturday! Yay! (yes I know it is technically sunday). It is pouring down rain here so there isn't much to do, but stay inside and clean and such, but its definitely nice to just relax. Last night a few of us from work went to see the Lorax in 3D. I consider that educational for work... If you have not seen it it was very cute and I definitely suggest going! My whole plan to start studying for the LSAT's is still an epic failure... I need some motivation if anybody has any suggestions. In 2 months I'll have to be back in school so I need to get used to studying and doing homework again... Well have a good day everybody and hopefully it is starting to warm up up north!

Learning and Earning!

Tuesday night we had a meeting after work regarding what our roles here are the next two months and what expectations our leaders have for us. Although most of us have already been here for two months, so it was a little late to have that meeting, it was still beneficial and educational. Our managers basically sat us down and went over the basics and keys of the workplace and that although we are all young and in college and want to be able to enjoy ourselves and have a good time we ultimately signed up to work and learn about the company. It is always important for us to show up to work each day on time and put forth 100% in order to maximize the guest experiences. We watched two videos made by guests who had come to where we work and both videos showcased those of us who work here and the great experience we give to the guests each and every day. After sitting through the meeting and watching the videos the guests had compiled and put on youtube, I realized even more why I love working here. Although the days can be very long and are always exhausting, at the end of the day I get to go home and realize that I helped create magic in peoples lives that make them come back here day in and day out, year after year. The experience guests get here is like no other place in the world and being able to say I am a part of that is amazing. I do not know that I will be able to say I work for a business that is run as well as this one is and where all the people who are a part of it love there job and enjoy making an impact on the lives of others. This place is truly magical and I am not ready to leave in two months.

After working hard and learning about the company my roommates from Fredericksburg stopped by to visit me for the day and we had some fun on my day off in the parks!

Hollywood Studios!

 The Magic, The Memories, and You!

 Wishes!

 Dinner at the Polynesian at Ohanas!

Somebody is always a critic

The last week of work has been a little slow because the sponsors of one of the new venues I work at decided to close it down last week after a lot of negative press. If you have not heard about this, feel free to google it. It is all over every huge new source and blog. The thing that bothers me is that I bet majority of people criticizing the new venue did not even go through it nor do they actually know what it is really about and what its intentions were. For those of us who worked at the venue and got trained just when it opened it was hands down the best venue we have ever worked at and so much fun. It was extremely interactive and got all of us working hands on with the guests and really getting into our job. It made going to work each day really fun and gave all of us something extra to look forward to. It is a real shame that critics do not see how much the guests enjoyed the venue as well as those who worked at it. Instead they just rained on our parade and caused a bunch of bad press and drama. It is amazing to see how quickly the company works to bring back the positive image and energy to the guests in the midst of all of the drama. Our managers have made it their priority not to have us get harassed by guests because of the negative press as well as to work on damage control to try to turn the bad press into good press so that guests are not deterred from going to the venue if and when it opens up again. It is amazing to see how many people work together to deal with damage control here to continue to have the magic shine as bright as possible each and every day no matter what happens. It is truly impressive to work here and see how everything works day in and day out from all different areas.

Leap Day!

The last few days since my last post have been pure insanity. For more reasons than one that is. But regarding work, we were all getting geared up for the 24 hour day in honor of Leap Day on the 29th. I was scheduled to work as normal since I am not cross trained anywhere they can only work me in the very specific area I am at. Work has been fairly quiet the last few days. It was very busy the week before, probably because of elementary, middle, and high school's February vacation. This week things are starting to slow down again. The calm before the storm I'd like to call, Spring Break. However, our hours are still extremely inconsistent regardless which makes no sense to any of us. Some weeks I work 35, 5 days in a row, others I work 45, 6 days in a row. Like this week. So today is technically my Wednesday. Leap day was definitely a sight to see here. One of the areas was open for 24 hours which was complete madness. I went at 10PM with a bunch of people and stayed until 1:30AM and the crowds were HUGE! I was shocked by how many people were all over and it was almost impossible to walk around let alone actually do anything. I'm not a late night person as it is and I really do not enjoy waiting in line so I cut my night short. Some peoples I work with stayed until 4AM or 6AM which I never could have done. Props to them. Now I can say I was a part of that event, that was probably once in a life time, so that at least is cool. The weather here has been fabulous. Which is not so good for me, because I work inside all day. Today is going to be 89 degrees and tomorrow it is supposed to be 90... I work both days. Oh well. That's the whole reason I am here to begin with. Luckily before my crazy work week started I got to go out and enjoy my favorite ride of all time on Monday, Rockin' Roller Coaster. Just three more days of hard work and then a day off awaits me. Next week, as some may know, is Spring break for UMW. My roommates at school are coming down Tuesday-Thursday so it will be nice to see some familiar faces. Too bad they can't bring my horse with them...