When I started the countdown on my phone after I found out I had the job I had over 100 days to go- now all of a sudden its only 60 left! How time flies! It’s been a good 40 days though.
So preparation for Disney is going slowly but surely. There’s actually not as much to do at the moment as anticipated (though that may change!). I’ve printed and filled in some paperwork sent to my by Disney, and completed my CRB check. I had my visa documents come through last week, and discovered I had to go and get a new picture done. It seems the US don’t use the same passport pictures as we do; so I had to go to a photobooth and get a new set taken. Hardly the most flattering photos ever taken, but when I logged on and did my online application form they were accepted so well worth it.
The online visa form took just over an hour to complete- Yummy Jobs had sent a really useful step by step guide on how to do it with FAQs so I knew all the information I would need to have to hand before. Took me a while after that to figure out how to actually book my appointment, but I managed to do it and have my visa appointment at the embassy down in London on the 12th September. The only slots they had available were at like 8 or 8:30 in the morning, so I’m not sure whether to drive down with my Dad from Birmingham REALLY early to whether to come down the night before. I’m actually really looking forward to going down to the embassy 🙂
I still haven’t actually sorted my insurance out yet. My plan is to get a 4 month plan and then move over to Disney health insurance, but not sure whether or not to get travel insurance as well. I’ve been looking at flights and there are massive price differences, but most are around the £500 mark which is a lot considering you can get return flights for a similar price. I’m going to go as cheap as I can, but would be willing pay more if it meant travelling with someone.
Talking of which, I now know a few other people going on my date! When I got my offer one of the girls who I knew from my applications added me into the big facebook group for everyone that had a place, including people from other application rounds. It’s strange that some people who applied with me are going out earlier than people who had applied 6 months or so before! Many arrival groups seem to be made of quite large numbers, but from what I could see there was no one else going on my date. This didn’t bother me too much, but it would be rather lovely to get on the plane with someone! So I emailed Yummy jobs asking them to let me know if other people had my date, in case they were those who hadn’t got hold of facebook details of anyone else at the interviews. And after a little waiting around, I had 3 people email me! I swiftly added them to the facebook group and got chatting to them- they seem well friendly so that’s calmed the nerves down a lot! One girl had been on the opportunity list for 9 whole months before getting a place, so i was so happy for her and it gavce me hope for the people still left on the opp list. 3 months felt like ages for me!
Since I got my offer, 2 more people from the opp list have gotten a place, so the list seems to be dwindling slowly but surely. I just hope everyone gets a place as there really are some lovely people on that list who I would love to see out there. It’s strange though, out of all the people who applied with me, and who I’ve spent the most time talking to, most (bar about 3/4) aren’t going out until between jan-april 2014. So I’ll have been there for a few months already! It means that I’ll be able to welcome them in hopefully but I’ll be sad that they;re not there as I like them so much. But there’ll be some lovely girls that I DO know which is great and I’m sure I’ll be able to make plenty of friends over there!
Also discovered how great the Walt Disney World Forum is- I’ve been speaking to people from several different countries, whether they’re applying and want advice or if they’re going and want to say hi in advance!  So  that’s been wonderful and got me very excited to meet people!
I’ve started sorting out all my stuff back at home- in a serious way. I realised that anything that isn’t important enough to take to America will be left behind unused for at least a year, possibly more if I do travelling afterwards. So anything that I leave behind needs to be usable in the future, otherwise it’s just wasting space in my Dads house! So I’ve sent bags and bags of stuff to either the charity shop and the tip, and there’s a lot of stuff like clothes I’ll use for the remainder of my time in England and then get rid of. Going to get loads of new clothes for America! Lovely summer wardrobe 🙂
I had my first twinge of worry the other day. Nothing serious at all, but I went to Blackpool for a couple of days for a break and to see a friend from uni, which was lovely as it had been far too long since I’d seen her properly. I love going to the beach as I find the sea so calming, maybe because of all the family holidays spent on the good ol’ British  beach. Then after 2 days at home I had Creamfields, which was amazing. I’d never been to a Festival before but I had such a good time! I went with one of my flatmates from uni and a bunch of her friends who were really good fun. Was knackered after though!
We were all talking about wanting to go again, and I realised that I wouldn’t be able to for at least two years because of America. While I obviously know I would always choose America, it suddenly hit me all the things I am leaving behind. It’s been great catching up with my friends and doing things in what has been a great British Summer, and I guess because I know I’m leaving it I’m getting a bit nostalgic about it all! But despite all this there are absolutely no doubts. I know America and Disney are going to be amazing! And this countdown is going by very fast 😀
Anyway, this has been an epically long blog post which I wasn’t expecting! Will update further when I have more news
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Emma's Disney Blog 