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...