Cracking start to the new year!

This programme just continues to be amazing. The longer I’m here the more things I can see there are to do, so I’m trying my best to do as many things as possible. I went to the cinema to see Saving Mr banks with a few of the girls from work which was great, and really nice to do a casual outing out rather than a full day or a night out. We saw it in the morning as I had work in the afternoon, so I got a bus to the boardwalk resort and then was going to walk straight over to Epcot, but it turned out that I had more time than I thought to spare, so when I got to boardwalk I had a slow walk along the front and then continued round to beach club, where I sat to eat my lunch. It was a bit cooler and cloudier, which was lovely as combined with the theme of the resort I felt like I was out of Orlando entirely, maybe on a seaside resort in England or the north of America. It was at that moment which I started to get a few pangs of homesickness, just because it brought to my attention how different things are now to my life before. I love every second of my time here, but it doesn’t mean I don’t miss the things from home that are familiar. It was great though to just sit on my own in the peace for a nit, and I resolved to try and find time to do it again, especially now its the quieter season and the resorts and parks aren’t as busy.

I went to House of Blues for the first time as well recently. On Sundays cast members get in free so its almost like a big cast member party, and they play house music which is great as in general the music in clubs over here is a bit too pop-y for my tastes. It was so much fun and I really want to go again, even though with it being on a Sunday it means its the night before lasses, so being hangover on a Monday doesn’t really set you up to go out again. Another first was that I went to Panera  for the first time, and I think it’s my favourite coffee shop out here that I’ve been to so far. The food is really good, as is the coffee, and it feels kind of less American than places like Starbucks which is quite refreshing.

Some other nice nights out have happened recently, though I’ve also had a few nice nights at peoples apartments which has been just as fun but also a lot cheaper, and also some meals out. I love some of the big nights put I’ve been on, but they do happen very regularly and I don’t want drunken nights out all the time. I think it’s because I did that throughout university, and I want this experience to be more than just drinking, which I could do at home. It has meant that I’ve said no to more nights out in the last few weeks than yes, but I’ve been able to do the other nice things that I’ve mentioned instead. It’s so hard out here because you want to feel involved in everything and do every night out, every meal, every day out, but you can’t do everything as you don’t have unlimited time, and you still need to find time to sleep!

I’ve tried to make better use of my maingate pass and go to the parks more frequently. Hollywood studios is good because its only half an hour walk from Epcot, so I have been able to pop there a couple of times before work. Sometimes I get into Epcot early as well to explore in more detail the world showcase and future world. It’s nice to feel like I’m getting to know the parks so well, as I can answer guests questions better, and I have to admit the place really is starting to feel a lot more like home now! I’ve also got to magic Kingdom a few times more which is great, as I love love love it! The night time show Celebrate the Magic is probably my favourite one is Disney, and its followed by the wishes fireworks which are beautiful. Another reason I want to get to Magic Kingdom regularly is because I’ve discovered this new card game, where you have to use trading cards at different points in the park to defeat villains. Its a mix between a treasure hunt game as you have to track down the locations and a card game as you decide which cards to use, and every time you go to the park and defeat a villain you can get another set of cards, and then try to collect them all. I.ve done 2 villains now, so I’m going to try and collect as many as I can in the year that I’m here. Although I can’t believe I’m almost 3 months into the experience already! Lets not think about that…

Another wonderful thing that I have done recently is that I went to stay in Caribbean beach resort in Disney with Sarah for 2 nights. It was so good to get away again, and we upgraded to a waterfront room so we could see the beach and the lake from our window which was fabulous. Staying there for 2 nights was a great idea as it meant we could wake up and go to bed in a resort so it felt like a proper little holiday. On the first day we had a good look around the resort and then popped to MK as its much quicker to get there on a guest bus than the cast one, and as we were walking around the beach after MK we heard the music from illuminations-and then saw the fireworks! I hadn’t realised how close Caribbean beach was to Epcot, and it was so strange seeing the fireworks I see very night as a guest and outside of the park!

The next day I met up with a big group of people from the UK to go to iHOP and the universal studios. I think there had been a bit of a change in scheduling that week because a few people were there who I don’t think usually have that day off, so it was nice to get to see them outside of work when I usually don’t have chance. It was also only my second day in universal since arriving here- I’d bought an annual pass and was starting to think that I needed to start using it more to get my moneys worth, so I was glad I got to use it again. We managed to get on so many rides because it was quiet in the park which was fantastic, so we did a lot in the day. And it was great to return to the hotel for a good nights sleep after so much walking.

Work has still been really good. The only thing I’m quite annoyed about is that it seems like it’s going to be longer than I expected to get into service. They don’t train new people over candlelight because its so busy, and its created a backlog of people that need to go through before it gets to us. It seems that how long you spend on podium depends on when you come out-many of those that come out earlier in the year can get in within 3\4 months from my understand, but those later in the year may be waiting between 5-8 months, which I think is a little unfair as there is such a big difference it what you earn, and it gives some people the chance to earn a lot more money over the year than others. It also isn’t something that’s decided based upon attainment or hard work- it goes purly onyour avvival date. So it means that it doesn’t matter if you work super hard, or if someone else barely lifts a finger as it doens’t impact your progression within the company.What does work in my favour is that people who came on my date the year before got extensions because they need more people over food and wine and the Christmas period, which means they not only get a longer Disney experience in general but they get to make up their earning time. So there are pros and cons for any time of the year that you come out I guess. I do really like podium, but knowing that service pays so much better is an incentive to want to move forward, and all the servers have told me that the work in service is a lot more fun and you have more room to work independently.

Sometimes work is still a bit surreal. Being on chippe reg at night always reminds me how crazy my working life is-i’ll be chatting to the guests, while watching Alice in Wonderland interact with people with the British Revolution (a band we have that plays British Rock in the pavilion) playing in the back ground. And visiting the parks as a guest always perks me up and reminds me that work isn’t like normal work, and reminds me to try my hardest to make guests feel as welcome in the park as I do when I’m a guest in a park.

Writing this has reminded me that this exact time last year, I was in my university library revising for an exam which was 2 days away. I couldn’t stop thinking about writing my Disney application, but was trying to force myself to get through my exam first before doing my application. And now I’m here, just a few months into my programme and already so much has happened. Can’t believe how much has changed in a year! Here’s hoping things continue to go as well as they have been so far

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Miami, Christmas and the New Year!

Wow, what a time it had been recently! I feel like so much has happened since I last updated this blog!

The first big thing that happened is that I took my first trip outside of Orlando- to Miami no less! I was chatting to Tom about travelling saying that there were so many places I wanted to go that I didn’t even really know where to start, and he asked if I wanted to go with him and Ashleigh, a lovely south African girl from our arrival group to Miami for a few days. We all had the Wednesday off, and him and Ashleigh had Thursday off also- I had the Tuesday off instead, but luckily Sammy wanted to swap so we did that and it meant I could go!

On the Wednesday we got up super early and got the bus into the dolphin resort, where we picked up our car, as Tom drives. We took the toll road down as it was the quickest way, even though it cost us like an extra $20, but it did mean that we got there in just over 4 hours. Tom and Ashleigh had found a backpackers hostel right on South Beach which was just over $22 a night which I thought was pretty sweet- there was a big parking lot nearby for us to use ans it was only a few minutes walk from the beach-and what a beach! It was absolutely beautiful, and even though it was December it was still wonderfully hot and pretty busy. We had a walk up and down the beach and the over the front and had a little explore. The area has a lot of art deco buildings as it was that period that Miami seemed to get its big boom, and it was incredibly beautiful. It looked just like what I imagined it to look like but more so- the art deco buildings, neon lights and palm trees. That night we headed to a sushi restaurant and had another wander through town.

The next day we agreed we didn’t want to spend only at the beach, so we got the bus downtown, and then walked for ages in search of an area called Wynnewood. We must have walked for about an hour and a half and went through some really dodgy areas that made me glad that it was the daytime- at one point we had to walk over train tracks and I honestly wondered if it would be worth it…but it so was. So Wynnewood was this really poor area in Miami (hence the scary outskirts) and all of these graffiti artists suddenly started to decorate the area. But not just a few graffiti tags-the covered entire walls and streets with massive art works that all try to make some sort of statement. Some of them were really breathtaking, and in fact there was a little gallery and bar set up for tourists like us. So we got to chat to someone about the history of the place and then have a drink and a bite to eat. It was definitely worth seeing and would tell everyone to see it if they get the chance.

 

After we went back downtown and got a bus into an area know as little Havana  this is where lots of Cuban immigrants came in the 60s after all the troubles in Cuba to settle and make a new home, and the area is indeed its own little community.  there were loads of cigar she, coffee shops and everything seemed to be in Spanish  we stopped and had a cup of coffee in this little corner shop which was actually a gorgeous cup of coffee, and just as we decided to have a mojito we were joined by a fellow traveller also having a wander around, who turned out to be in the wine business, so we had a good chat with him. The whole experience of being in a hostel, travelling and good conversations with strangers kind of reminded me of being a backpacker, and made me miss it so much! Just before it got dark we headed back and then had a great Mexican dinner on the historic Spanish street in south beach.  The whole trip was different to how I imagined a weekend in Miami would be-I guess I imagined more partying and shopping etc, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way as I had such a fantastic time.

We got up early again on the Friday as I had a safety training class  1:45. The journey was fine but the closer it got the more nervous I was that I would be late- Tom dropped me off in the guest car park and I ran through backstage and just about clocked in right on the dot! Best timing ever for sure.

On the 23rd I was sitting in the break room on lunch when Sarah came in for hers as well, and had the bright idea that we book a hotel for Christmas eve night, so that night we booked into all star movies. We both had Christmas eve off, so we checked into our hotel and then had a lovely afternoon in Epcot. I wasn’t feeling too well unfortunately as I was coming down with a cough that a few people at work had, so we didn’t stay too late, but instead headed back to the room and ate pizza and watched films! It was just what I needed actually, as the beds were so big and so comfy and as I don’t have a television it was a real treat to get to see a film.

The next morning, after a cracking nights sleep, we opened our presents, I had a secret Santa gift filled with chocolate and green tea (they chose well!) and a box of gifts from my dad. He’d chosen really thoughtful presents and they all meant a lot to me, as it just shows he knows me so well. It was more emotional than I was expecting it to be, but I just had to not let if get to me as I was working that day. I was actually scheduled to have Christmas day off, but I really wanted the experience of working Christmas so I took Maireads shift as she had flown home to surprise her family. Work itself was strange, as a lot of guests were actually in a bit of a bad mood and I think quite a few staff members were withdrawn because they missed home. But overall it was worth it, especially a few families who were so grateful we were working so that they could enjoy their Christmas! Another lovely present I had was from Anna- she had written me something called a four keys card.  In Disney there are four ‘keys’ to being a good cast member- safety, courtesy, show and efficiency, and these cards are written when you are recognised as doing one or more of these well.  I was so grateful for it, as merchandise people seem to hand them out quiet regularly, but they don’t seem so common in food and beverage, and it was sweet to feel like someone had taken the time to write one for me and it was nice to be recognised for working hard. After that I resolved to start handing them out myself to anyone that I saw being a good cast member. I also got one on Christmas day from a random member of staff after I fixed a rope that was a potential trip hazard, which was nice but pretty random.

A few days after Christmas I was randomly talking to a guest while stocking the condiment bar in chippie, and she said that her mother had fallen over on her way to Epcot and was in hospital for surgery, but had made her daughter and grandkids go into Epcot so as to not spoil their day. Poor thing seemed pretty stunned, so I told her to wait at her table for a few minutes and rushed into the Toy Soldier shop, and asked Danielle and Alex for some help to help her feel better. so we gave her a Winnie the pooh plush toy to give to her mother in hospital and wrapped its arm in a bandage, telling her that it wasn’t to be removed until her mothers arm was better. She was so happy and grateful, and I felt like I had really made a difference to her day. It was exactly this sort of thing that made me want to work for Disney, and I even got recognised yet again with a four keys card!

So in terms of me giving them out myself, I gave one to a girl who worked on Mission: Space, because she was wonderful with this young girl who was crying because she was so scared, and really took time to comfort her and make her feel better. Then on NYE (more on NYE in a moment) I had ordered a chocolate milkshake with my drink, but when I got to the counter they had ran out, and the girl who served me was so helpful about it, offering me any alternative (even more expensive things) and a desert to make up for it so I gave her one as well, and she was so happy for it I was glad I had taken 2 minutes to write one for her.

In other news, I had my first solo stocker shift on the 30th. I was nervous about it but Tom and Natalie gave me some help with it which was really appreciated, and overall it went pretty well-generally I managed to keep on top of things even though I obviously was nowhere near as good as Connor or Mark, who nearly always do it, but now that I’ve done a shift on my own hopefully I can start getting better at doing it. Overall I’ve been working more than previously, as I’ve been asked or have asked myself to come in early a few times and for Christmas week and new years week I have worked 6 days, and several shifts have been between 8-12 hours, when before I often worked only 6. I’m pleased to have more hours, even though it can be tiring!

New years eve I worked from 9 in the morning until 9 at night which was crazy. It meant that me and will, one of the newbies, had to open chippie, even though neither of us had opened since training, which seemed like a flaw in the scheduling. It was easy to be honest though as it’s basically opposite to closing chippie which we do every night, even though there were a few changes because they were expecting it to be so busy, one example being that we weren’t to sell any hot drinks because comparatively they take too much time to make. We also had to create a que line that extended much, much further than usual, and we had to pre bag many more cookies than usual because we would sell so many. For the first 45 minutes after opening, I thought everyone had been over reacting… and then the crowds came. And came. And came. An hour after opening, we had a que for chippie 4 times longer than I had ever seen it before, and it stayed like that ALL THE TIME. Most of us were working today, but we needed it. I was chippie filling for 2 hours, but we had 5 people inside rather than the usual two, and even with all the extra man power we just kept everything running on time. I had my first break at 12 and then took position on chippie register, but I’m pretty sure that inside they had at least 5/6 people working, plus 3 instead of 2 chefs. There were also 2 chippie stockers all day, which is a position that usually only exists for one person for a few hours, and there were 2 people doing the rest of the stocking.  Instead of the usual one, there were up to 4 people on beer cart. Everyone had to work so hard all time  and within a few hours I’m pretty sure many people were starting to get tired, but I have to say I’m pretty proud of everyone because we managed to get through the day well without any major mishaps. There was a terrible moment when on register we were told not to sell any fizzy fountain drinks because the machine had broken, but it was soon fixed and then things carried on as before. And what really impressed me was that all the managers and coordinators got stuck right in, even doing stocking and chippie filling when needed. So even though I was bloody knackered by thru time my shift finished, I left happy. I bumped into Sarah from HRC on the way out, and we got some food at the American Adventure (where I gave out the aforementioned four keys card) and then got a space to watch the fireworks. It was incredible actually, as Epcot had had a showing of illuminations at about half 6, for those with young families that needed to get home early on.  They then showed illuminations again at half 11, finishing with the Christmas section for the last time. For the final 5 or so minutes before the next year was about to start, they listed in turn which countries had celebrated their new years at one time, listing them in order. So china and Japan had celebrated theirs first, so they had a mini firework display set of in turn behind each of their pavilions set to themed music. They did this for all the countries around the world showcase, and the fireworks for the UK was set to Rule Britannia, and was had red white and blue fireworks.  it was way more emotional that I thought it would be, especially because at 7 in the evening everyone had cheered for the UK and I had had to not let myself think about it too much because I didn’t want to get upset while I was working thinking about everyone back home. But watching the UK fireworks was incredible, and it made me so incredibly proud to be working in Disney. And the fireworks that went off at 00:00 were literally the best I have ever experienced, especially with the atmosphere of everyone there cheering and singing and hugging each other. I just couldn’t believe that I was ending one year and opening another in such a wonderful place with so many wonderful people, and it’s made me excited all over again for the time I have left on the programme.

So, happy new year everyone! I hope you all get what you dream for in the new year

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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