"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." WD

Goodness gracious I feel like it has been lightyears since I last posted! I have never felt so overwhelmed, giddy and exhausted at one time. This whole week has been such a wild ride! Let me tell you all about it!!
Wednesday-
Traditions! Today we were all in groups with different traditions times at Disney University! 

Mine was from 8-1 and it was also my first time to clock in for the Disney company. Cool right!? This day was focused on learning about the company, its values, goals, history and more. I was able to answer some questions right because a wonderful family member of mine recorded a documentary of Walt Disney before I left. It came in handy! I sat with and met 6 new girls from all over the U.S. We were together for the day. After a couple of hours of presentations, we took a tour of the Magic Kingdom! While walking around we were supposed to be able to see the core values we ad learned earlier that morning. Disney has such a unique way of doing everything. Trash cans are strategically placed and buildings, benches, and curbs are all layed out so that they can accommodate people with disabilities. I really admire the fact that every type of situation is thought about! Later on that afternoon we received our Disney I.D. (with all of the neat perks) and our name tags! 

After this day I was beyond excited to begin my journey! We were able to learn about Walt Disney's plans and dreams and that alone fired me up! Thursday was a completely different day. We were in much smaller groups during this day due to our work locations and the area we will be working in (merchandise, restaurants, costumes etc.) I was with a group of about 25 people and we went all around Epcot for out Discovery Day! This was so that we could become more acclimated to the park and its wonderful features. We rode Spaceship Earth which is the ride inside of the big ball and also went on a boat tour of all of the countries resembled in Epcot. 1.2 miles of diversity and I can't wait to deeply explore all of them. Since we are working at Epcot, we were required to read and learn ore about cultural diversity. I am considered an International Cast Member while working at Epcot because really, I am the minority! I am so thrilled to be able to work in a park that is run so smoothly by people from all over the world. I hope I meet so so many new friends so that when I travel (later on in life) I have places to stay  :) I looked at my watch at about 12:30 and was happy to be able to go home and eat lunch! Little did I know I would be meeting my managers, training and staying clocked-in until 4:30. Surprise! Yesterday afternoon was filled with mountains of information. I could hardly keep my head on strait. Between trying not to concentrate on the worst blisters I believe I have ever had (we have to wear professional wear all throughout the first week of training, even when touring the parks) and listening to my operational trainer talk about everything we need to know, I was absolutely exhausted by the end of the day. 

Within 3 hours I met all of my new managers, met more trainers/leaders of my location, learned where to go and how to get to my location, what not to do while on-stage, the in's and out's of my restaurant, had some lunch, read through paperwork, signed documents, took some online classes and toured more of the park. Wewwhh! 
Friday was another early morning and by now I kind of think I am used to it! Today I got my schedule for the first week (which is filled with 40 hours), learned all about how to find more hours, request off, look at my schedule etc. and had to go through a food and beverage training. "This is how to wash your hands. This is how you clean a table. This is how you stack food." Ya know, the important stuff. Today was a little less exciting, but even more anticipated because tomorrow is my last day of training, classes and orientation! 
I START MY FIRST DAY OF WORK ON SUNDAY. 
Can you even believe that? I can't! My first shift is 230-1030 on Sunday and I work about the same hours everyday this week except Wednesday and Thursday which is my weekend! 

In between alllllll of the work and craziness, my roommates and I have explored Downtown Disney, Magic Kingdom and Epcot! We rode Soarin' (which is SO cool), Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain, and more! What a plus that we get to walk in to any park at any time and go have a good time! We are some lucky girls! 
Something I really admire about Disney is the fact that every employee and I mean EVERY goes above and beyond their role and expectations a cast member. For example, tonight I was walking down Main Street near Cinderella's Castle only to find a Custodian with his broom and janitor cart. He was doing his job perfectly and then suddenly saw this little boy and his family leaving the park. He then got the boy's attention and started making some art with his broom! In the bucket where normally trash would go, there was some water. He began looking at the ground and moving his broom in different motions, making different shapes and lines. By now, the boy was very interested. The boy is so excited and kept asking "what is it?! Is it goofy!? Mickey!?" The man patiently gave him clues until finally the little boy saw that was we was doing with a broom and some water from his cart was in fact a Mickey Mouse!  The family was over-joyed with how happy this janitor was making their little boy after a long day at the park! They were taking pictures with the cast member and so complementary of his expertise! My point of this story is that the little children and ecstatic families might come here to see Mickey, Winnie or even Buzz Lightyear but leave finding that every single Cast Member is at work to make their day. That is just what this man did! 

I am looking forward to 24 hours of rest before I begin my first official day as a cast member! If you made it all the way down here, thank you for reading! I really appreciate it. 

xoxoxo, B

Employeeeee for Disneeey!

Wow! I feel like I have been here for weeks! What a whirlwind it has been already! Yesterday I moved into my apartment with my 6 other roommates: Jacqueline from Illinois, Lexus from New York, Jess from Pennsylvania, Danielle from New Jersey and Kelly from Georgia! So clearly we all have different experiences and unique personalities to bring to the table.  

After everyone was moved in, we headed to the busses at our apartment complex and went to the Casting center in Downtown Disney. There is where we found out where in Disney we are working, background checks, payroll and all that official stuff! I will be working in Epcot! I am working in Futureland as a hostess! I think there will be A L O T of responsibilities and different jobs I will have in that specific area, but I will find out more about that later! Every person that I talked to at the Casting center said my location is one of the busiest. I am so happy about that because the time will go by fast and I love staying busy busy busy! Later that night all of my roommates and other friends we met (they live in our complex on the third floor) all went to dinner together!! 

After seeing our apartment, we decided that some adjustments needed to be made! We needed to make it our own! I swear we spent about 2 hours at Target last night. Today we had a meeting about everything expected of us, rules, apartment guidelines, conduct etc. and after that we went to the pool, got some sun, and went shopping! I am so glad that I have already found a group of girls to have fun and hang out with! We are so lucky! 


Tomorrow is my first day of work! (Wednesday) We are going through Traditions which is basically Disney Corporate Orientation. We get to find out the in's and outs of the company, cool secrets and find out all about the company we are working for. I am extremely excited and will have a lot more to talk about after tomorrow! Every time I go to work, I will see this my friends! 

So now I am off to bed, I have to be on a bus at 6:30am! 

I can't wait to be back on with more exciting details! 

LOVE to alll yallllllllllll---- B

Last stop, Orlando!

Last stop, Orlando, Florida! 
My mom and I arrived in Orlando yesterday, ending our weekend road trip through the south. We spent the night in Biloxi, Mississippi Friday night and ate at an Oyster House. I obviously did not order Oysters because I am not exactly a fan, but! I had the best almond crusted chicken… it was so yummy! Our hotel room had a Jacuzzi in the actual room. We felt like we were on our honeymoon! Later on that evening the ceiling started leaking pretty bad and the nice hotel attendants credited back our room! Free night at a hotel on the beach, I’ll take it! 

Saturday was another long day. We left Biloxi pretty earlier, stopped in Tallahassee for some good ol' Crackle Barrel country cookin, and got to Orlando around 6!

 Today my mom and I drove all around Orlando to see where things are, visit my new apartment and investigate all of the other things my new home has to offer! One thing I have learned so far... just about every road is a Toll Road! I am going to need to purchase a Sun Pass so I am not stoping every 2 miles! Or at least find some back roads :) 

So far I am beyond overwhelmed. I don't I can think of one thing that Orlando does not have! Any restaurant, hotel, resort, attraction, mall, store of any kind, dessert, or anything you could ever want is right at your finger tips! I am living in such a large city and it is definitely going to take some getting used to! 

I can’t believe I move in tomorrow morning! I am excited to meet all of my other roommates and get acquainted. I wonder where they are from, what they are like, if they will want to go to the beach with me on days off work! (Either way, I am going!) 

All these questions will soon be answered. For now, I am going to get a long nights rest and be ready for the amazing opportunity I have been blessed with that begins in about 13 hours! 

xoxoxo, B

The countdown is coming to an end. I leave for Florida in 43 hours and feel unprepared, scared, out-of-my-mind excited and intimidated beyond belief. Thankfully I have already met one person to share this process with my roommate! We were lucky enough to get to opt in to a roommate matching system and find each other! She is from Illinois, I am from Texas and I am sure we will have so much to learn from one another.  
So far I have packed my coffee maker, toaster oven, candle warmer and some DVD's I want to have there. The necessities, right? I have a long way to go to pack for 5 months. 
I am excited for a fun road trip with my sweet momma before embarking on this journey. We are making our first stop in Biloxi, Mississippi and eating at a yummy restaurant right on the beach. 
By Monday morning I will be all moved in to my new apartment! Until then... wish me luck!


Burge.