So my shift ended up being half an hour longer as park hours extended n we dont even get told it just pops up argh. So I was in til 10 but the bus didnt come so wasn't home til 12 gutted.
I met a lovely New Zealand girl though as we moaned about buses!
Then I got home n watched new futurama on the same day it was out for once!
I had a subway in the mousekateria for lunch today but it was a bit rubbish and I had to run back as 30 mins is not long enough to get there and back.
My washing went well today they are nice and big and we can pay by card!
Some guest said my accent was beautiful haha.
US language; strollers = pushchairs and buttons = badges!
I don't start til 6 today ( til midnight) so I'm heading to a park!
Thursday, 20 June 2013
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Very first Disney shift!
So today I was up at 5.15 to get a bus to vista to collect papers to then get a bus to the social security office! Didn't take long to get there but we got shouted at for talking! We were gone at 6, home by 9, boring.
Then I managed to waste the morning and chilled by the pool for 10 minutes! Then it was on the bus to work for me! I found out for the first two weeks I've made $135.
I ended up having a 19 hour day on 4 hours sleep, a bit stupid really! When I got back I was so tired my head dropped and I fell asleep every 10 seconds on the bus it was horrid. Then when I walked to the flat I thought I'd fall on my face! Never been so tired.
I tried to get ER (early release) but it didn't happen. Two no shows etc and it was super busy.
I did 2 hours on the Vs (touch points) had a 15 min break did nothin then 2 more hours on them. Then I had a half hour 'lunch' where it pissed down with rain so that was boring too, I caught the end of the parade but it disappeared mega quick as the rain started coming. I got soaked running back and then got put on old legacy turnstiles for the last 3 n half hours with no water break and it was boiling!
Soso busy too. Nice people and some grumpy people, not my fault their fingers don't work, ah!
The only thing that made it good was a lil girl saying I was pretty and a little boy hugging me after he came in!
I finished at 9.45 and went to change n ran on some rides alone as I figure if I wait for someone else to be free ill never go! I did thunder, haunted and space mountain! Space is good here. On the way out I asked to try a corn dog nugget from Casey's, quite tasty! There's a topping station there too with jalapeños etc yum! Have to try hot dog.
So I'm now off to do my washing sunbathe etc.got the same shift today but half hour less than yesterday!
Then I managed to waste the morning and chilled by the pool for 10 minutes! Then it was on the bus to work for me! I found out for the first two weeks I've made $135.
I ended up having a 19 hour day on 4 hours sleep, a bit stupid really! When I got back I was so tired my head dropped and I fell asleep every 10 seconds on the bus it was horrid. Then when I walked to the flat I thought I'd fall on my face! Never been so tired.
I tried to get ER (early release) but it didn't happen. Two no shows etc and it was super busy.
I did 2 hours on the Vs (touch points) had a 15 min break did nothin then 2 more hours on them. Then I had a half hour 'lunch' where it pissed down with rain so that was boring too, I caught the end of the parade but it disappeared mega quick as the rain started coming. I got soaked running back and then got put on old legacy turnstiles for the last 3 n half hours with no water break and it was boiling!
Soso busy too. Nice people and some grumpy people, not my fault their fingers don't work, ah!
The only thing that made it good was a lil girl saying I was pretty and a little boy hugging me after he came in!
I finished at 9.45 and went to change n ran on some rides alone as I figure if I wait for someone else to be free ill never go! I did thunder, haunted and space mountain! Space is good here. On the way out I asked to try a corn dog nugget from Casey's, quite tasty! There's a topping station there too with jalapeños etc yum! Have to try hot dog.
So I'm now off to do my washing sunbathe etc.got the same shift today but half hour less than yesterday!
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Two Weeks in the Happiest Place on Earth!
I can't believe we've been here two weeks already, its going far too fast! I've only been in 3 of the parks and only then done one or two rides in each, I need to spend more time in them ASAP!
I am now officially a 'qualified' cast member, having passed my assessment yesterday (Sunday).
I wanted to start this post with some random stuff that I forgot to put in other posts about living here and things I've done and seen at work!
- I saw a little girl yesterday with a t shirt that said 'cutie' and then had the Pi symbol! aw maths. Made me wonder if she knew what it was though
- There are SO many squirrels and lizards living around here, especially in Chatham! Two ran near Jen's foot the other day and scared her, they were definitely up to something haha!
- When we put on the costume, we are immediately question magnets! I have already been asked about restrooms, ATM, lockers, etc alot, and even if the maps are free! That is why we are not allowed to use on stage loos as we will get asked things in there too!
- When I have my super high-waisted (as all the clothes seem to be for some reason) work shorts on and my waterbottle hanging off my belt loop and all kinds of useful things in my huge pockets I feel like a pack mule! Also the costume sizes are funny here and not at all what they should be for example all my tops are XS but my bottoms are a size 8 US which is a UK size 10 when really i'm a 6-8, and apparently one poor girl cried because she had to go to mens sizes! Also the raincoats start from Small but go up to 5XL ha I may check out one just to see if i can live under it.
- We have started getting into a good routine now of taking a banana, raisins, and a pitta with salad and houmous for lunch yum! and sometimes a freshly baked tollhouse cookie :) however the other day we were told we had to try the Philly cheese steak.We shared one and it was good! I had hot sauce yum.
- We kept getting lost in the tunnels but we now have our bearings which is nice as our shifts are no longer the same and we cant rely on eachother!
- Whenever we get talking to a new CM, and they find out we are here two months they're all shocked and say 'oh im sorry, you can extend though?' no, gutted :(
- and finally, i didnt realised how much id like getting to watch the parades setting up backstage and having them wave to us as they go out!
- CMs have some great names here, ive seen a Santa, a Chapel, and a male and female Angel!!
- Being on maingates at MK is so important as we are the frontline for the busiest theme park in the world! And we are the first and last thing guests see, so we have to keep smiling :D
- America has crazy m&m flavours! So far I've seen:
- chocolate,
- peanut (both like ours),
- Peanut Butter
- Dark choc Mint (YUM),
- Almond,
- coconut
- pretzel!
- mini m&ms
- dark chocolate
- dark chocolate peanut butter
- However no crispy ones...damn. PB is massive over here, everything has a PB version, or already has PB in it. And all the crisps are cheesy, so much cheese! (sorry Matt!)
Friday 14th
Today we were in 8-4.30 and we had Chris Lee as well as Cathy training us.
We got to try out the Legacy turnstiles again (i.e the old ones with lots of problems, funny that once we have learnt them they are now going behind a wall to be updated to the new kind with no problems!)
We got a tour of the TTC (ticket and transportation center, duh) which meant going on the monorail all the way round the resorts and hopping on a boat back!
We got a tour of the TTC (ticket and transportation center, duh) which meant going on the monorail all the way round the resorts and hopping on a boat back!
We all got given a penny and if we hit the buoy (pronounced boo-ey, oh americans) we could make a wish! we all missed it though, damn.
We also tried our 50 q multiple choice assessment for the first time, I got a few that I wasnt sure about as we hadn't discussed them but mostly fine. We got to watch the opening show again, and after work we bought Mickey earrings! I find I have parade songs in my head alot these days.
Friday night was uneventful and we had a cosy night in watching a new love, Carrie Diaries and baking cookies, eating ice creams and strawberries!
Saturday 15th
Training Day 3. We finally tried out the touchpoints today. They are fancy and cant go wrong really, green light come in, blue light, get guest relations to help! sorted! only scary thing is that no physical barriers now, we are the barriers, bit dodge I think but guests are loving the new technology, and even young childrens fingers can be scanned now. We connect with an ipod and it has a Mickey app for the touchpoints and then guest relations fixes issue with their ipads! oooh.
We were up at half 5 today again ugh. We saw some of the opening show again. We tried the test again and I got 100% woo. We went on the legacys again too, and at lunch we got vouchers to test the new starbucks at the bakery on main street for free though juliette got a cold drink and i got a hot one, gutted since it was boiling!! vanilla creme thing though, nice. And we drank it while we watched MiSciCi for the first time and danced in the street party at the castle, all in all a good lunch break you could say!!
There was one funny moment where we saw a girl with a tollhouse cookie icecream thing and we decided we might try to make one at home and Jules got so excited she hit herself in the face hehe.
Finally, we took a roof walk up to the training room, awesome view over the bottom of mainstreet and across to space mountain!! Plus its always fun to be walking on a roof. and once in the training room we watched two videos of a family who visit WDW every year with 2 cute kids and our trainers teared up bless them! I will try to find the link....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm-rBxjCwKo
there we go, watch it if you like! Great video editing and really what Disney is all about.
Saturday evening and we (jen jules hannah and I) all fancied a meal out and spent ages picking from the Downtown ones, choose TRex and grabbed a bus, once one we rang up and found out that the wait was 2 hours, ah! Turns out we choose the dumbest time, sat night for a start, and a big car event was happening at downtown disney and everywhere was jam packed. Ended up at Splitsville the bowling restaurant and was actually lovely! wished it was a thursday though because theyd have done 30% CM discount, but we got none. I got a lush mahi mahi with spicy sauce, nice chips and brocolli!
And it was a lovely atmosphere as there was a live band playing songs like Uncle Kracker Follow me! We got some free samples of choc from Ghiradellis too yum. On the bus back home we had a good laugh discussing what we would name our bats (Haunted mansion get hats with bats on, and have to name them...)
Sunday 16th
Assessment Day eek!
I started later, 12.30 so had time to skype the family which was lovely. Then it was off to work for the first time by myself scary! I had Michael assessing me who is a legend and has a good laugh with everyone. I took the written test first and got 100% in about 5 minutes! Then we had a talk with some managers about what would lead to 'separation from the company' scary.
Then i answered some elearning stuff, and hit the legacys and the touchpoints which went fine. We had a guy come up though and claim and staff member (later said a guest) had taken his ticket....right. Michael said he'd never heard that one before!
Actually the best part of today was in the break room before i started, Snow White bought me my first Butterfinger!! As we were both stood there choosing and i said i couldnt choose and didnt know what they were and then she said she wanted to buy me my first one bless! Princesses dont usually talk to us commoners...
So anyway i guess i passed! i took my 'earning my ears' off, yay! and Michael found me some rare 'pixie dust' (mickey confetti) and put some in my hair! These were like that one mickey i got in my offer letter for those who remember!
Then i was put into rotation for real. Water break (asking people if they want one) then an exit, pan and brooming, but it starting raining like crazyyyy and flooding so i stopped for a bit! There was a gorgeous rainbow over MK with huge stripes but couldnt take a photo, shame.
Then i finished up on a legacy turnstile til 6.30pm where i had fun handing out mickey stickers, and one little boy shook my hand and said nice to meet you Emma! bless!
Got home, showered and got ready as we went clubbing for the first time House of Blues at downtown!
Also, our UK housemates moved out today, so now Jen has her own room again!
We had a group of US guys over juliette met by the pool, and a group of US girls and drank wine from red cups and played never have i ever US style. Fun!! the guys were all under 21 though so didnt come out, although they blamed the early morning, as under 21s are allowed in too. As we got ready there was crazy lightning and when the bus stopped at DD, it was full on pelting down and we ran like mad in it to planet hollywood and i went through puddles that splashed all the way up my legs argh! Hannah ran ahead and gave me 'deep puddle!' warnings too late everytime ha. We dried off a bit and dashed through the cinema and out to HoB where we looked very drowned, but headed straight for the bar. Free entry for over 21s and ladies drink free til midnight, sex on the beach was one of them, awesome! We saw some great breakdancing and stuff, and the music was very 'remixed' but got better later on, and dancers came out on stage. Only thing was guys are very forward here and constantly getting asked to dance etc and had some funny moments rejecting strange guys ha!
So we danced all night til about 2 and then headed for the bus, the whole night we didnt spend a cent!
We had to run through sprinklers to get back and were so tired, we got in about 3 am...and had to be up at 7!!
Great day, Sundays seem to be my most eventful days here!
Today
We got up after 4 hours sleep for our character breakfast. We ran for the bus then got a monorail to the park and walked down an empty main street for the first time all together. It was at crystal palace and was lovely, we met tigget piglet eeyore and pooh! Piglet held my hand!
I got yummy french toast, hot choc with whipped cream, pink grapefruit juice, and fruit and then a cooked breakfast after! They had 'breakfast pizza' on offer ...only in america!!
Also pastrami salmon which wasnt the best :/
We also tried our 50 q multiple choice assessment for the first time, I got a few that I wasnt sure about as we hadn't discussed them but mostly fine. We got to watch the opening show again, and after work we bought Mickey earrings! I find I have parade songs in my head alot these days.
Friday night was uneventful and we had a cosy night in watching a new love, Carrie Diaries and baking cookies, eating ice creams and strawberries!
Saturday 15th
Training Day 3. We finally tried out the touchpoints today. They are fancy and cant go wrong really, green light come in, blue light, get guest relations to help! sorted! only scary thing is that no physical barriers now, we are the barriers, bit dodge I think but guests are loving the new technology, and even young childrens fingers can be scanned now. We connect with an ipod and it has a Mickey app for the touchpoints and then guest relations fixes issue with their ipads! oooh.
We were up at half 5 today again ugh. We saw some of the opening show again. We tried the test again and I got 100% woo. We went on the legacys again too, and at lunch we got vouchers to test the new starbucks at the bakery on main street for free though juliette got a cold drink and i got a hot one, gutted since it was boiling!! vanilla creme thing though, nice. And we drank it while we watched MiSciCi for the first time and danced in the street party at the castle, all in all a good lunch break you could say!!
There was one funny moment where we saw a girl with a tollhouse cookie icecream thing and we decided we might try to make one at home and Jules got so excited she hit herself in the face hehe.
Finally, we took a roof walk up to the training room, awesome view over the bottom of mainstreet and across to space mountain!! Plus its always fun to be walking on a roof. and once in the training room we watched two videos of a family who visit WDW every year with 2 cute kids and our trainers teared up bless them! I will try to find the link....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm-rBxjCwKo
there we go, watch it if you like! Great video editing and really what Disney is all about.
Saturday evening and we (jen jules hannah and I) all fancied a meal out and spent ages picking from the Downtown ones, choose TRex and grabbed a bus, once one we rang up and found out that the wait was 2 hours, ah! Turns out we choose the dumbest time, sat night for a start, and a big car event was happening at downtown disney and everywhere was jam packed. Ended up at Splitsville the bowling restaurant and was actually lovely! wished it was a thursday though because theyd have done 30% CM discount, but we got none. I got a lush mahi mahi with spicy sauce, nice chips and brocolli!
Sunday 16th
Assessment Day eek!
I started later, 12.30 so had time to skype the family which was lovely. Then it was off to work for the first time by myself scary! I had Michael assessing me who is a legend and has a good laugh with everyone. I took the written test first and got 100% in about 5 minutes! Then we had a talk with some managers about what would lead to 'separation from the company' scary.
Then i answered some elearning stuff, and hit the legacys and the touchpoints which went fine. We had a guy come up though and claim and staff member (later said a guest) had taken his ticket....right. Michael said he'd never heard that one before!
Actually the best part of today was in the break room before i started, Snow White bought me my first Butterfinger!! As we were both stood there choosing and i said i couldnt choose and didnt know what they were and then she said she wanted to buy me my first one bless! Princesses dont usually talk to us commoners...
So anyway i guess i passed! i took my 'earning my ears' off, yay! and Michael found me some rare 'pixie dust' (mickey confetti) and put some in my hair! These were like that one mickey i got in my offer letter for those who remember!
Then i was put into rotation for real. Water break (asking people if they want one) then an exit, pan and brooming, but it starting raining like crazyyyy and flooding so i stopped for a bit! There was a gorgeous rainbow over MK with huge stripes but couldnt take a photo, shame.
Then i finished up on a legacy turnstile til 6.30pm where i had fun handing out mickey stickers, and one little boy shook my hand and said nice to meet you Emma! bless!
Got home, showered and got ready as we went clubbing for the first time House of Blues at downtown!
Also, our UK housemates moved out today, so now Jen has her own room again!
We had a group of US guys over juliette met by the pool, and a group of US girls and drank wine from red cups and played never have i ever US style. Fun!! the guys were all under 21 though so didnt come out, although they blamed the early morning, as under 21s are allowed in too. As we got ready there was crazy lightning and when the bus stopped at DD, it was full on pelting down and we ran like mad in it to planet hollywood and i went through puddles that splashed all the way up my legs argh! Hannah ran ahead and gave me 'deep puddle!' warnings too late everytime ha. We dried off a bit and dashed through the cinema and out to HoB where we looked very drowned, but headed straight for the bar. Free entry for over 21s and ladies drink free til midnight, sex on the beach was one of them, awesome! We saw some great breakdancing and stuff, and the music was very 'remixed' but got better later on, and dancers came out on stage. Only thing was guys are very forward here and constantly getting asked to dance etc and had some funny moments rejecting strange guys ha!
So we danced all night til about 2 and then headed for the bus, the whole night we didnt spend a cent!
We had to run through sprinklers to get back and were so tired, we got in about 3 am...and had to be up at 7!!
Great day, Sundays seem to be my most eventful days here!
Today
We got up after 4 hours sleep for our character breakfast. We ran for the bus then got a monorail to the park and walked down an empty main street for the first time all together. It was at crystal palace and was lovely, we met tigget piglet eeyore and pooh! Piglet held my hand!
I got yummy french toast, hot choc with whipped cream, pink grapefruit juice, and fruit and then a cooked breakfast after! They had 'breakfast pizza' on offer ...only in america!!
Also pastrami salmon which wasnt the best :/
Overall it was great and about $27 each. We watched MiSiCi on stage for once then got FP for splash mountain as it was very hot! While we waited we hit thunder mountain for the first time since we've been here and Jungle Cruise for my first time ever! "If you've got wet feet, you're on the wrong side, so get back in and try again!"
We then got on the front of splash, and got water completely chucked in our faces on the way down!! As soon as we got off it rained just like last time, weird. On our way out we got pineapple and vanilla dole whip (a famous thing apparently) it was nice but really just like mr whippy, and i preferred the vanilla side.
Once home we slept for ages! I found i got half my time off approved but wasnt allowed any of my last week off. We spent the evening looking at possible travelling plans, NY, Vegas and a Bahamas cruise that includes a stop at the Mk and Ashley Holiday in the Sun Atlantis hotel!!
I got Dominos for dinner, cheaper than UK but rubbish, the garlic sauce was rank! Pizza was fiery
Crazy weather!
New room
Thursday, 13 June 2013
First day of work!
Today was For Our Guest. I was in 9-5.30 today. The morning consisted of boring e-learning but Bill the trainer bought us lil Herscheys choc to try n lighten the morning. Herscheys does NOT taste good. Then in the afternoon I was shown lots of stuff for PAC (parade audience control) and it was 80 something degrees F but felt like 100 as it didn't rain, and was in the lovely trousers shirt waistcoat etc so bloody boiling! I can't remember what else I did but I'm sure i watched the 3 o clock parade and attended a PAC meeting.
And some lovely chips at the Yacht Club.
Empty Main Street!
Boardwalk
What was left of kitchen sink!
That morning I popped to company D and brought a CM mug and pin yay :)
That evening I had pasta for dinner for the first time, a bit boing, and popped to publix fr sone bits n pieces including black socks for work! Oh and Hannah from interviews came over.
Today, (thursday) I was up at 5am joy! Had park greeter (ie turnstiles) training today with the lovely Cathy so there was a different outfit with shorts, much airier if no more attractive, and it consisted mostly of Disney gossip and walking around Main Street at 7am with a completely empty park and having a photo in front of the castle, riding the train, seeing the opening show for the first time (which has a bit of the Casey Jr song from Dumbo, and I actually surprisingly quite loved it), having an hour on the turnstiles-not without drama (massive group with dodgy tickets trying to get in etc)- seeing the mickey and princess meet and greet room, getting waved by all the parade people, seeing MiSiCi show feat Hannah Montana songs (pumpin up the party, breakout, and Metro Station's-(Miley's brother)- Shake It) and seeing a few characters with no heads! And trying some weird super sweet drink, Squeechers or something. Also, heard the best story. We have fingerprint things on the turnstiles and most people manage it fine, some need some direction... But one person once tried to put their eye on it! LOL. How they were not blinded I do not know! Heard lots of other good stories too.
After work I popped on Pirates, not as good compared to Paris! Then came home 12 hours after first bus!
This eve I went with some of the girls to the boardwalk for a kitchen sink. Just ended up feeling a bit ill though! We only managed half of it, we had cocktails too....
Then we watched a bit of wreck it Ralph on the beach there. Had a lovely time with the girls.
Tomorrow (Friday) is day 2 of training and starts at 8.... Hope it will be ok!
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
Traditions...
Friday 7th June
Today I got up and washed some clothes in the sink (fun!) and filled out some forms for job stuff back home, and hung around til Jen and I caught the bus at 12.30 for.....Traditions! At the Disney University!
We had homemade pittas for lunch (thanks Jen!) with humous and salad, the healthiest thing ive eaten in ages. Traditions was in a classroom with about 30 or so of us, mostly UK and HK, a few americans. The start was boring 'business standards' stuff and we nearly fell asleep but there were some fun games in our tables (Jen Dan Blair and Laura and I) like naming as many disney characters in 90 seconds (32, we didnt win) and placing disney events in order. Most importantly we got our Disney ID's and badges!
So we could go into the parks!!!!!!!! Woop. and discounts on merch etc.
We were there 12.30 til 7ish, and the best part was getting 'whisper units' i.e earpieces and going into MK for the first time with our trainer and did a little walktrhough whilst discussing the 'four keys' (SO MUCh about them drummed in!) SafeD begins with me!!
For any of my disney friends reading this in the future...this is when the "barriers" incident occured. LOL.
It was very hot in our professional gear! Then we went back and the Mouse himself came to give us our badges.
On the bus home i got my first glimpse of tower of terror and got so excited i shook jens arm and she nearly dropped her phone, love ToT!
We got in and Jules had pizza cooked and ready for us (star!) and wine poured in red cups (of course!). I have to add, she did manage to cook the cardboard with one of the pizzas too haha! Was still yum though!! We had a mini housewarming with a few of the guys and girls we have met and then headed out to MK for Wishes!! (a fireworks show.)
We walked in from the Contemporary hotel (original hotel) and then watched the fireworks and went on Buzz lightyear (Paris one is better). Then I got a Mickey mouse red velvet cake pop( looked good, not great..theres a photo of it somewhere!) and we watched electric parade before heading home. On the bus the lights were off and we all nodded odd!
By the way, in case u cant tell, im going to be spending 60% of my time on a bus! only way to get anywhere here.
Saturday
Day off YAY. I got up late (8.45!) and had a lay in, had some brekky (raisin bran i.e. healthy cereal i could find, everythings packed with sugar, no muesli!)
and headed to the pool for a bit. I think Vista's is nicer. A little about the complexes; Vista is the oldest but the 'party' one where most ICPs are, patterson is the newest but quite quiet, The Commons has washign machines and is where year long people usually are and Chatham Square where we are is the best of both really, party but not too party, not the newest but just as nice and only $4 more a week than Vista. When i put a pic up, you see that you get two letter for what complex you are (i'm CS) but Chels and Matt will enjoy the fact that commons is 'TC'!! lol.
So anyway, I burnt my feet from 10 mins at the pool but didnt realise til later and will not be making that mistake again, itchy! We headed to Mall at Millenia for a one off treat, SHOPPING! We got a taxi for $30 and headed straight to cheesecake factory as none of us had ever been. We shared nachos (best ive had here by far!) between us and 2 cheesecakes which we could barely finish. Lush vanilla milkshakes too but i could only manage a few sips. So many cheesecakes to pick! Family if you are reading this we have to go when you come visit!
Victoria's Secret!
Shopping
Milkshakes YUM! Laura you'd approve.
We were there from 3 til close at 9. I used my Post Office card which worked great, no charge and puts remaining balance on the receipt! Good choice Mum!
Once home we chilled and watched Carrie Diaries, our new thing, and ate houmous and pitta with our duvets. Good Day!!Went bed at midnight, had to be up at 5am...
Sunday
Definitely the craziest Sunday i've ever had. Jen and I were up at 5 to catch the bus at 6am. I was out til midnight, and working from 7.15 til 4 (but actually 4.30) so crazy day!!
Anyway, up at 5am and my bloody toilet overflowed because i think i blocked it as id put lots of kleenex down it (always blowing nose) oops! not what you want at 5am when you're stressed getting ready for work! So we got to the tunnels/Utilidors under MK and met at the Mousekateria. The tunnels were wider than I imagined and quite smelly due to the AVAC system that sucks guest's rubbish away.
We grabbed some break (a bad tasting bagel for jen, muffin for me) they had 'S'mores' pop tarts though, must investigate them! and then got given the ear pieces again and headed up for a 4 hour full MK tour. it was fun being in the parks before opening and got some evils from guests who thought we were queue hopping, got soem good pics to put up! Learnt some interesting facts...although Jules got told totally different, so many fake rumours floating around!!!
We were going on the people mover (an original world's fair ride- pre disney) but it was closed, ill have to go some time, and then we did all get to go on (and be paid to go on) the Haunted mansion yay!
I got my 'earning my ears' thing on my badge too which stays til end of training. We got American style lockers that are hard to use and then i put my bag in and we headed for lunch at the mousekateria. we saw a few princesses in joggers! Jon paid for my lunch as i didnt have my money bless him and we all got mac n cheese n cut up sausages!! not that good but reminds me of Friends- chandler's fav meal!
Had a lovely afternoon walking around with the two of them and learning about my area. I got home at 5.30 and worked out I had to catch a 6.15 bus so i got changed and headed out again, this time to HS woo!! I met Blair (from scotland, works outdoor foods at HS) and Dan there, and we got to experience the last Star Wars weekend of the year! First time igot the bus by myself and i survived phew.
Today I got up and washed some clothes in the sink (fun!) and filled out some forms for job stuff back home, and hung around til Jen and I caught the bus at 12.30 for.....Traditions! At the Disney University!
So we could go into the parks!!!!!!!! Woop. and discounts on merch etc.
We were there 12.30 til 7ish, and the best part was getting 'whisper units' i.e earpieces and going into MK for the first time with our trainer and did a little walktrhough whilst discussing the 'four keys' (SO MUCh about them drummed in!) SafeD begins with me!!
For any of my disney friends reading this in the future...this is when the "barriers" incident occured. LOL.
It was very hot in our professional gear! Then we went back and the Mouse himself came to give us our badges.
On the bus home i got my first glimpse of tower of terror and got so excited i shook jens arm and she nearly dropped her phone, love ToT!
We got in and Jules had pizza cooked and ready for us (star!) and wine poured in red cups (of course!). I have to add, she did manage to cook the cardboard with one of the pizzas too haha! Was still yum though!! We had a mini housewarming with a few of the guys and girls we have met and then headed out to MK for Wishes!! (a fireworks show.)
We walked in from the Contemporary hotel (original hotel) and then watched the fireworks and went on Buzz lightyear (Paris one is better). Then I got a Mickey mouse red velvet cake pop( looked good, not great..theres a photo of it somewhere!) and we watched electric parade before heading home. On the bus the lights were off and we all nodded odd!
By the way, in case u cant tell, im going to be spending 60% of my time on a bus! only way to get anywhere here.
Saturday
Day off YAY. I got up late (8.45!) and had a lay in, had some brekky (raisin bran i.e. healthy cereal i could find, everythings packed with sugar, no muesli!)
and headed to the pool for a bit. I think Vista's is nicer. A little about the complexes; Vista is the oldest but the 'party' one where most ICPs are, patterson is the newest but quite quiet, The Commons has washign machines and is where year long people usually are and Chatham Square where we are is the best of both really, party but not too party, not the newest but just as nice and only $4 more a week than Vista. When i put a pic up, you see that you get two letter for what complex you are (i'm CS) but Chels and Matt will enjoy the fact that commons is 'TC'!! lol.
So anyway, I burnt my feet from 10 mins at the pool but didnt realise til later and will not be making that mistake again, itchy! We headed to Mall at Millenia for a one off treat, SHOPPING! We got a taxi for $30 and headed straight to cheesecake factory as none of us had ever been. We shared nachos (best ive had here by far!) between us and 2 cheesecakes which we could barely finish. Lush vanilla milkshakes too but i could only manage a few sips. So many cheesecakes to pick! Family if you are reading this we have to go when you come visit!
We were there from 3 til close at 9. I used my Post Office card which worked great, no charge and puts remaining balance on the receipt! Good choice Mum!
Once home we chilled and watched Carrie Diaries, our new thing, and ate houmous and pitta with our duvets. Good Day!!Went bed at midnight, had to be up at 5am...
Sunday
Definitely the craziest Sunday i've ever had. Jen and I were up at 5 to catch the bus at 6am. I was out til midnight, and working from 7.15 til 4 (but actually 4.30) so crazy day!!
Anyway, up at 5am and my bloody toilet overflowed because i think i blocked it as id put lots of kleenex down it (always blowing nose) oops! not what you want at 5am when you're stressed getting ready for work! So we got to the tunnels/Utilidors under MK and met at the Mousekateria. The tunnels were wider than I imagined and quite smelly due to the AVAC system that sucks guest's rubbish away.
We grabbed some break (a bad tasting bagel for jen, muffin for me) they had 'S'mores' pop tarts though, must investigate them! and then got given the ear pieces again and headed up for a 4 hour full MK tour. it was fun being in the parks before opening and got some evils from guests who thought we were queue hopping, got soem good pics to put up! Learnt some interesting facts...although Jules got told totally different, so many fake rumours floating around!!!
We were going on the people mover (an original world's fair ride- pre disney) but it was closed, ill have to go some time, and then we did all get to go on (and be paid to go on) the Haunted mansion yay!
My friend Katy works there, SO JEALOUS. And we saw jack sparrow!
We had a presentation about magic + and then i got separated off with one other girl, american, to meet our trainer Jon. He was lovely! Then we had another 4 hours of tour about Main street specifically and got to watch the 3pm parade. Sorry insurance, but theres no way youre going to be this exciting!! It was so hot the dancers dripped sweat with every hop and twirl! I learned the fairy godmother here is apparently an original snow white who was handpicked by Walt for Disneyland at 16! (But Jules heard it was a cinderella....so may not be true!)
We also got our costumes- i have one for PAC (parade audience control) and one for park greeter, pics to follow, i do NOT look good! Theres a bow tie and waistcoat ("vest" to americans) involved.. and some awful culottes!
We also got our costumes- i have one for PAC (parade audience control) and one for park greeter, pics to follow, i do NOT look good! Theres a bow tie and waistcoat ("vest" to americans) involved.. and some awful culottes!
I got my 'earning my ears' thing on my badge too which stays til end of training. We got American style lockers that are hard to use and then i put my bag in and we headed for lunch at the mousekateria. we saw a few princesses in joggers! Jon paid for my lunch as i didnt have my money bless him and we all got mac n cheese n cut up sausages!! not that good but reminds me of Friends- chandler's fav meal!
Had a lovely afternoon walking around with the two of them and learning about my area. I got home at 5.30 and worked out I had to catch a 6.15 bus so i got changed and headed out again, this time to HS woo!! I met Blair (from scotland, works outdoor foods at HS) and Dan there, and we got to experience the last Star Wars weekend of the year! First time igot the bus by myself and i survived phew.
First view of swan n dolphin! 
I got my first sight of the swan and dolphin hotels, and headed in. We went on star tours (better than Paris) and looked round 'Darth's Mall' that had starwars souvenirs,
I got my first sight of the swan and dolphin hotels, and headed in. We went on star tours (better than Paris) and looked round 'Darth's Mall' that had starwars souvenirs,
and then watched the Hyperspace Hoopla at 8pm which was an brilliant dance off between good and bad guys with storm troopers etc!!
(will post a youtube link but this PC wont let me on youtube!) here we go, WATCH IT or at least the end!
So back to today, Tuesday. 2 hours later and i'm all caught up with my blog and starving. I think its raining now as i head thunder from the clubhouse but i've got my Hollister raincoat now so we'll still be doing something fun for the afternoon!
It turned out we just had the girls over and watched MIC and ate more cookies and some pizza and wine and had the first day we haven't left the complex! Was lovely! We also had Hannah from the interviews over as she's just arrived so was great to see her again. Working 9-5.30 tomorrow, normal office hours argh! But how many people can say their office is the Magic kingdom ....
(will post a youtube link but this PC wont let me on youtube!) here we go, WATCH IT or at least the end!
It involves them doing the harlem shake, gangnam style and if yovue ever seen that taylor swift Trouble video with a goat, they replaced it with Chewbacca lol!
And this is the chewbacca bit!
Then we got a "dark Force' cocktail, lush! and shared a PB and chocolate Darth vader cupcake (pic to follow). and then...TOWER OF TERROR yay i was so excited and it was great! Will have to go lots more. Unfortunately there was no time for Rock n roller, and we headed to Fantasmic to queue and went in for the 10.30 showing, got great central seats. I'd never seen it, and it was great!! headed home after that, and got back after midnight. LONG day, but so great!!! 
So back to today, Tuesday. 2 hours later and i'm all caught up with my blog and starving. I think its raining now as i head thunder from the clubhouse but i've got my Hollister raincoat now so we'll still be doing something fun for the afternoon!
We made Nestlé cookies n watched Carrie diaries!
Part Two...
Thursday 6th June
Happy Birthday Mum! The same in UK and US thank god....06/06!
I woke up to a lot alot of rain! Warmer than the UK but constantly going. However i decided to hit Universal with the guys as I'd already bought an expensive annual pass and my roomies werent interested in going at all and i didn't know when id get to go again. We got a taxi and luckily Juliette leant me her rain coat!
There were 9 of us (6 girls 3 guys) and we got two taxis, $30 for one way for each group. It was only 10 mins down the road though- need a car!
It rained ALL day with the only breaks being inside rides (wet+aircon=freezing Emma!) and when it turned to jsut drizzle occasionally. My shoes still smell and i squeezed my socks in the loo and put them in the hand dryer and water poured out!! But we still had a great time, and got to do HP world!!
Windy!
Butterbeer!!!
MIB
Spiderman.
I made a lovely friend too called Rosie who will be my Universal buddy, she works at Epcot.
We did Islands of Adventure; spiderman, HP ride, got butterbeer in the Hogs head (creepy) and got a choc frog!
and Dueling dragons which now no longer run simultaneously, lame, sort it out universal! and then saw Poseidons fury show, fun but cold inside. Was going to do hulk but it rained so must go back!
We then went to the Studios, grabbed lunch (chilli cheese fries nice but so bad!)
and went on MIB (got 80,000 woo) We had to put our stuff in lockers and they are fingerprint controlled, fancy! Then ET shich id never done before and freaked me out, Simpsons, and Disaster (which was a waste of 45mins in my opinion). Then we wentto Mummy, but it was 101 (broken down) gutted. Then we queued for new transformers and then that went 101.... so we gave up, did Despicable me and went home. We saw Gru as a character and Vector which was cool! and the Minions having a dance party. Was fun but im a bit sick of simulators now at Unviersal....youve got spiderman, HP ride, Desp me, Simpsons and new transformers among others which are all simulators. Bit rubbish really.
On the way out through City Walk we popped to the worlds first Whopper Bar! (aka a BK where u can only get whoppers...) i got an angry whopper which was lovely but then had a stomach ache the whole next day! oops.
That evening i went to Publix (nearby supermarket, healthier food than Walmart) and Downtown Disney with Rosie and browsed the shops then met the others at the Irish Pub where they informed me that we were getting roommates gutted. I got a choc strawberry from Goofys sweet shop that was yummy!! Not a good day for the diet.
Happy Birthday Mum! The same in UK and US thank god....06/06!
I woke up to a lot alot of rain! Warmer than the UK but constantly going. However i decided to hit Universal with the guys as I'd already bought an expensive annual pass and my roomies werent interested in going at all and i didn't know when id get to go again. We got a taxi and luckily Juliette leant me her rain coat!
There were 9 of us (6 girls 3 guys) and we got two taxis, $30 for one way for each group. It was only 10 mins down the road though- need a car!
It rained ALL day with the only breaks being inside rides (wet+aircon=freezing Emma!) and when it turned to jsut drizzle occasionally. My shoes still smell and i squeezed my socks in the loo and put them in the hand dryer and water poured out!! But we still had a great time, and got to do HP world!!
I made a lovely friend too called Rosie who will be my Universal buddy, she works at Epcot.
We did Islands of Adventure; spiderman, HP ride, got butterbeer in the Hogs head (creepy) and got a choc frog!
and Dueling dragons which now no longer run simultaneously, lame, sort it out universal! and then saw Poseidons fury show, fun but cold inside. Was going to do hulk but it rained so must go back!
We then went to the Studios, grabbed lunch (chilli cheese fries nice but so bad!)
and went on MIB (got 80,000 woo) We had to put our stuff in lockers and they are fingerprint controlled, fancy! Then ET shich id never done before and freaked me out, Simpsons, and Disaster (which was a waste of 45mins in my opinion). Then we wentto Mummy, but it was 101 (broken down) gutted. Then we queued for new transformers and then that went 101.... so we gave up, did Despicable me and went home. We saw Gru as a character and Vector which was cool! and the Minions having a dance party. Was fun but im a bit sick of simulators now at Unviersal....youve got spiderman, HP ride, Desp me, Simpsons and new transformers among others which are all simulators. Bit rubbish really.
On the way out through City Walk we popped to the worlds first Whopper Bar! (aka a BK where u can only get whoppers...) i got an angry whopper which was lovely but then had a stomach ache the whole next day! oops.
That evening i went to Publix (nearby supermarket, healthier food than Walmart) and Downtown Disney with Rosie and browsed the shops then met the others at the Irish Pub where they informed me that we were getting roommates gutted. I got a choc strawberry from Goofys sweet shop that was yummy!! Not a good day for the diet.
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