I actually started training at All Star Resort yesterday. Yesterday was really all about an orientation of the resort and today was starting to get into more merchandise specific stuff. It has been really busy, but I promise I will still try my hardest to blog as much as possible.
Yesterday's training we were with the food and beverage people, housekeeping, lifeguards, and front desk/concierge CP's. I made a couple of friends in food and beverage and we hung out throughout the day. We learned how to clock in then we sat down and went over an overview of the hotel. It turns out the All Star Resort is the busiest resort on property and it is the 3rd largest resort in the world! Then the manager of the resort came and talked to us. He was a very nice man and I think I will enjoy working for him. Then we took a tour of the resorts three themes, music, movies, and sports. We learned where all the break rooms were and where our cast member areas are backstage.
After our tour we got our beautiful costumes (uniforms.) They are high waisted royal blue pants with a bright red top. I must say it doesn't look good on anyone. The pants run REALLY small, which meant that we had to get pants two to four sizes bigger!! After our costumes we had to go over some SUPER boring safety stuff, but at least our trainers made it less painful. Then I clocked out and arrived home about an hour and a half later, I think I'll start driving!
Today was more merchandise specific, which was better. I got to wear my costume for the first time! It certainly made it easier to get ready this morning. The first thing we did was some e-learning. I was sincerely worried I was going to fall asleep I was so tired after an hour and a half of it! Then they pulled us away to begin our merchandise training. It was another orientation really, we took tours of all three merchandise stores in the hotels and learned all the rooms attached to it and behind it. I'm really nervous about having to work in all 3 stores because of the differences in the 3 resorts. It will definitely take some getting used to all of the differences so I don't lead the guests in the wrong direction!!
After today I decided that I was put in a resort because of my Disney World knowledge. This way I can help the guests with the questions they have about the park when they get home. I met a couple of managers and they seemed super nice. Also, my trainers said the managers are really nice and will never humiliate us in the store, they try to help us out by joking around. That's definitely more of what I'm used to! I made more friends today!!
One of the last things we did today was receive our lanyards and pins! The trainer told us to watch out for the pin traders who are out to make money on it. Apparently there are people out there who see the pins as a money making scheme, which makes me sad. I can't wait to make that magical moment for a guest, and maybe with a pin! I am really excited about this journey I get to take and I can't wait to see what the next 4 months has in store for me!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Traditions
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| First day in the Disney Look |
According to Webster's Dictionary, tradition means the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another. So yesterday I had a Traditions class with Disney. They taught us all about the values that Walt himself put in place for the large company. Even today the company is still using those values at keys to success in anything and everything that they do. We started off in a classroom at Disney University and received our employee id's!! Then we got to observe the values in action... In the Magic Kingdom!!!!
We all got earpieces to be able to listen to our tour guide/teacher. The teacher that took us on our tour is currently the manager of entertainment in Magic Kingdom! He knew everyone that we saw. We entered the Magic Kingdom through the underground tunnels, which was SUPER cool. Then we walked down Main Street USA looking for examples of the values in action! I mentioned something about the number of trash cans, and he asked if anyone knew the number of trash cans down Main Street up to the castle... 168!! Then we went back to the classroom and talked about the examples some more.
In the middle of our training class there was a knock on the door... it was MICKEY!! He came in and was so excited to see everyone. I got to hug Mickey and got a little character for answering a trivia question. When Mickey came in he brought a present with him, which had our name tags. We all got our name tags and became official Disney employees.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Checking In!
Today has been absolutely crazy! It started at 7 am, but it wasn't very hard to get up this morning considering I was headed to Disney. We left my grandma's condo right on schedule, only to be stopped by a stopped train. After going around that obstacle we made it to check in at Vista Way Apartments right outside of Disney World. I hopped in line with my roommate and our suite mates were not far behind. It was a little chilly, but the banana man provided us with bananas!
Since so many people arrived early we were allowed to start checking in early. We proceeded to the check in building where we received our College Program Guides, aka our best friend, and our room assignment. When we were getting our room assignment I was chosen to be the "leader" and the other 3 got to hang out with "the cool people." I walked up to the counter and began talking to the lady about anything and everything while she was doing some paperwork. Then she asked the big question, "Where do you want to stay?" I knew exactly what we all had discusses, a two bedroom in Patterson Apartments. There were none left!! I was freaking out, I didn't know what to do. So I looked back at them and asked if they wanted a 3 bedroom in Patterson. The lady told me they had a two bedroom in Chatham Square. We all decided that would be a good pick! After getting our room and car decals we were on our way to the Walt Disney World Casting Center!!!!
I almost cried when I realized where we were headed next. This is the place EVERY cast member goes through when they first become a cast member. The bus ride there was SUPER fun with Cameron! He was hilarious and had us all sing Happy Birthday to my roommate. Then we arrived! It looked as magical as Cinderella's Castle inside and out. As soon as we walked in we learned where we would be working for the next four months. I was blessed with working in All Star Sport Resort in Merchandise. I have to admit that I wasn't excited at first, but I have come up with tons of advantages to working there!!
1. Pretty normal hours, the stores won't stay open until midnight!
2. I'll see the same guests pretty regularly and be able to make relationships with them.
3. I won't get sick of the parks.
4. It will be really easy to drive to.
5. I won't have to learn how to deal with crowd control.
6. It will be pretty slow compared to the park merchandise stores.
7. I'll get to work with pins and trade pins!
That's a pretty strong list. No reason to be upset there! After the exciting part came all of the lines and paperwork. There were so many lines and "stations" for us to go through, like background check, direct deposit for paycheck, I-9 documents, Disney Look, and so on and so on. Then we got back on the bus with Cameron and went back to Vista Way. I met up with my mom and dad, then we had lunch and headed to Chatham Square!
At Chatham we found out that my apartment is on the THIRD floor. But its good exercise for me to add to my running routine. My parents were awesome and helped me move in. Everyone got settled and my bed looks AMAZING!! My room looks like a princess room, very fitting for Disney. All of our parents left, and it dawned on us that this is our new home. So we all went out to Wal Mart after unpacking some. We discovered there were no bed risers there so we went to a Super Target for a few groceries. Again, they didn't have bed risers. Apparently that's a good thing to buy BEFORE you come to Orlando. Glad mom suggested I get mine earlier this week! Then we took my roommate to Chic Fil A for the FIRST time in her life. We decided to get the food to go so we could have our first meal in our new home!
She loved the food and we all laughed until we spit food, or choked on it. So many great moments! We have so much in common, but not enough to make us crazy. I think the next four months hold a lot for the four of us! And I will be sure to share it all with you right here!!
Since so many people arrived early we were allowed to start checking in early. We proceeded to the check in building where we received our College Program Guides, aka our best friend, and our room assignment. When we were getting our room assignment I was chosen to be the "leader" and the other 3 got to hang out with "the cool people." I walked up to the counter and began talking to the lady about anything and everything while she was doing some paperwork. Then she asked the big question, "Where do you want to stay?" I knew exactly what we all had discusses, a two bedroom in Patterson Apartments. There were none left!! I was freaking out, I didn't know what to do. So I looked back at them and asked if they wanted a 3 bedroom in Patterson. The lady told me they had a two bedroom in Chatham Square. We all decided that would be a good pick! After getting our room and car decals we were on our way to the Walt Disney World Casting Center!!!!
I almost cried when I realized where we were headed next. This is the place EVERY cast member goes through when they first become a cast member. The bus ride there was SUPER fun with Cameron! He was hilarious and had us all sing Happy Birthday to my roommate. Then we arrived! It looked as magical as Cinderella's Castle inside and out. As soon as we walked in we learned where we would be working for the next four months. I was blessed with working in All Star Sport Resort in Merchandise. I have to admit that I wasn't excited at first, but I have come up with tons of advantages to working there!!
1. Pretty normal hours, the stores won't stay open until midnight!
2. I'll see the same guests pretty regularly and be able to make relationships with them.
3. I won't get sick of the parks.
4. It will be really easy to drive to.
5. I won't have to learn how to deal with crowd control.
6. It will be pretty slow compared to the park merchandise stores.
7. I'll get to work with pins and trade pins!
That's a pretty strong list. No reason to be upset there! After the exciting part came all of the lines and paperwork. There were so many lines and "stations" for us to go through, like background check, direct deposit for paycheck, I-9 documents, Disney Look, and so on and so on. Then we got back on the bus with Cameron and went back to Vista Way. I met up with my mom and dad, then we had lunch and headed to Chatham Square!
At Chatham we found out that my apartment is on the THIRD floor. But its good exercise for me to add to my running routine. My parents were awesome and helped me move in. Everyone got settled and my bed looks AMAZING!! My room looks like a princess room, very fitting for Disney. All of our parents left, and it dawned on us that this is our new home. So we all went out to Wal Mart after unpacking some. We discovered there were no bed risers there so we went to a Super Target for a few groceries. Again, they didn't have bed risers. Apparently that's a good thing to buy BEFORE you come to Orlando. Glad mom suggested I get mine earlier this week! Then we took my roommate to Chic Fil A for the FIRST time in her life. We decided to get the food to go so we could have our first meal in our new home!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Pre Arrival Event
So tonight I met my roommate and suite mates!!! I think we'll all get along just fine. My suite mates are from Alabama and my roommate is from Michigan. We all loooove Disney and can't wait to check in tomorrow!
Tonight's event was eating at Captain Cook's and watching Wishes from the beach at the Polynesian hotel. I met so many people, including someone from CP apartments and a professional intern who will be working for disney wedding planning!!! So jealous. I would love to pick her brain and talk about how she got to where she is. The girl from CP apartments is a full time cast member now, but she used to be a seasonal cast member. I learned tonight that a seasonal cast member just has to work 140 hours out of the year. There are so many options when it comes to continuing with Disney that I can't wait to see what the future holds.
Tomorrow morning is checkin and I'm going to be there at 7am!!! But I finally get to move in and figure out where I work!! It feels like Christmas because I'm so excited.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Bittersweet Endings
This morning I taught my last Pure Barre class at work. It was a fun class with five people at 6 am. I wasn't upset or depressed about it until it was over though. Throughout these next few days I need to stop and smell the roses a little bit longer than usual. If I don't cherish these moments they'll be gone before I know it.
It feels like its graduation time, I keep counting all my "lasts." I guess it is like graduation in a way because I'm starting a new chapter in my life. Graduation wasn't a sad affair for me and neither is this. I feel bad for not being sad about leaving everyone, but I'm leaving for Disney! I won't lie, I have shed a few tears already, especially when I think about how much I am going to miss my boyfriend.
I have already downsized and taken things out of my room that aren't going to Orlando with me. Now that I have started to pack it's starting to hit me that this is for real! I still have a few things on my to do list. I need to buy bed risers and a dust ruffle, and I need to sign up for calculus at Chattanooga State.
Over the next week I'll be busy getting ready for my move and helping my grandma get ready for her move. On check in day I'm sure I will have tons to share!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Counting Down
It is officially two weeks until we leave and three weeks until I check in! Looking back it is kind of crazy how it all started.
It all began when I was walking up to the bus stop on campus one day. There was a girl wearing Mickey ears standing there. She thought they looked ridiculous, but I didn't find anything strange at all! After talking for a while I found out she did the Disney College Program. I had always told myself I would apply for it, but kept putting it off.
After class, I went and applied online for Spring 2012. I was then asked to complete the web based interview. The email invite suggested that I do it in a quiet area and allow a lot of time for it. Since I hadbfive days to get it done I waited until the weekend to do it. Instantly following the web interview they asked me to continue on to the phone interview.
I scheduled the interview for the following Monday morning. I decided morning was best since they ask you to allow fifteen minutes before and after your interview time. I was reading all kinds of tips and possible questions anywhere I could find them online! It helped me a little bit, but I was still nervous. That morning I woke up and got. Dressed as if I was going to an interview. I wrote down my answers to questions like, what does Disney mean to me, why do I was to do the college program, what would I do if a customer asked for an item I don't have in my store. The interview went well and she asked pretty much what I planned for. I made sure to k a question and smile the whole time. Afterwards she said it would be about three to four weeks before I knew.
Five. Days later I got the email that I was accepted to work in Merchandise for Spring 2012! I was so excited and felt so many emotions. Now over a month later, it still hasn't hit me that I will be working in Disney world for four months! I have signed up for my classes, but I still have so much packing and paperwork to do!
See ya real soon!
It all began when I was walking up to the bus stop on campus one day. There was a girl wearing Mickey ears standing there. She thought they looked ridiculous, but I didn't find anything strange at all! After talking for a while I found out she did the Disney College Program. I had always told myself I would apply for it, but kept putting it off.
After class, I went and applied online for Spring 2012. I was then asked to complete the web based interview. The email invite suggested that I do it in a quiet area and allow a lot of time for it. Since I hadbfive days to get it done I waited until the weekend to do it. Instantly following the web interview they asked me to continue on to the phone interview.
I scheduled the interview for the following Monday morning. I decided morning was best since they ask you to allow fifteen minutes before and after your interview time. I was reading all kinds of tips and possible questions anywhere I could find them online! It helped me a little bit, but I was still nervous. That morning I woke up and got. Dressed as if I was going to an interview. I wrote down my answers to questions like, what does Disney mean to me, why do I was to do the college program, what would I do if a customer asked for an item I don't have in my store. The interview went well and she asked pretty much what I planned for. I made sure to k a question and smile the whole time. Afterwards she said it would be about three to four weeks before I knew.
Five. Days later I got the email that I was accepted to work in Merchandise for Spring 2012! I was so excited and felt so many emotions. Now over a month later, it still hasn't hit me that I will be working in Disney world for four months! I have signed up for my classes, but I still have so much packing and paperwork to do!
See ya real soon!
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